The blue screen slowly faded, but my heart refused to calm down.
"No limits on growth…" I whispered.
In my previous life, I had trained harder than anyone, yet I never crossed the wall of mediocrity. Talent had decided everything. But now… that wall didn't exist anymore.
I took a deep breath and focused.
"If this system is real," I said quietly, "then I need to test it."
I clenched my fist and threw a punch into the air.
It was weak. Pathetic.
But the moment my arm moved, a sound echoed in my mind.
[Strength +0.1]
I froze.
"…It increased?"
I punched again.
[Strength +0.1]
Again.
Again.
Each punch was clumsy, my arms trembling, but the blue messages kept appearing.
[Strength +0.1]
My breathing grew heavier, sweat dripping down my face. After a few minutes, my arms felt like they were on fire.
I collapsed onto the grass, gasping.
A new notification appeared.
[Minor Exhaustion Detected.]
[Endless Growth System has optimized recovery.]
Warmth spread through my body, easing the pain.
I sat up slowly and laughed.
"So even exhaustion helps me grow…"
I opened the status screen.
Strength: 6.2
Agility: 6
Intelligence: 7
Just moments ago, my strength was 5.
My chest tightened.
"This is real," I said. "This system is real."
I stood up and began running.
My legs felt heavy at first, but I didn't stop. I ran through the open field, past trees and rocks, until my lungs burned.
[Agility +0.1]
[Agility +0.1]
I stumbled and fell, my knees scraping against the dirt.
Pain shot through my body.
But instead of fear… I smiled.
"In this world," I muttered, "pain is progress."
As the sun began to set, I lay on the ground, staring at the sky.
My body was exhausted, but my mind was clear.
For the first time in two lives, I felt hope.
Just then, the system activated again.
[Daily Mission Unlocked.]
Mission: Train for 2 hours
Reward: +1 Random Stat
My eyes narrowed.
"A mission system too?"
I clenched my fist.
"This time, I won't waste a single chance."
Far away, on the edge of the forest, a pair of cold eyes watched me.
"He's still alive…" a low voice whispered.
Danger was already moving.
💥 End of Chapter 2 💥