"97… 98… 99… And 100! Thirty sets and I am still not tired. This hero's body really is perfect!"
I wiped away the sweat and got to my feet, stretching lightly. Hours of push-ups and sit-ups had left me thoroughly drenched. As for why I was doing all this exercise, the first reason appeared the moment I opened the system.
[Quest completed.]
[Coins obtained: 600.]
As the words [QUEST COMPLETED] slowly faded from my vision, a strange sense of satisfaction spread through me. Six hundred coins. The number itself looked small, but the amount was not the point. What mattered was that the system actually worked.
I steadied my breathing and looked around. The room still felt unfamiliar. Stone walls, heavy curtains, furniture chosen with aristocratic taste. None of it felt like it belonged to me. But as time passed, one inevitably began to get used to it. I lay down on the bed and rested my eyes for a few seconds.
And then, I entered the system shop and clicked on the potions tab. I only had 600 coins, but I had already decided what to buy. Physical enhancement potions, priced at 100 coins each.
The moment I added six of them to the cart, the coin counter dropped rapidly. At the purchase screen, I noticed the option to send the potions directly to my Void Storage. I selected it and pressed confirm.
[Purchase confirmed.]
[Remaining coins: 0.]
"Good," I said flatly.
When I activated my ability and reached my hand into the portal, the potions immediately appeared in my grasp. Small, dull glass bottles. The liquid inside was a pale red, and although it did not move, it somehow felt alive.
I took out the first bottle and opened it without hesitation.
A sharp, metallic stench filled my nose. I had expected it to taste bad, but not this bad. Even so, I did not pause. I drank it in one gulp.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then.
Something inside my body snapped.
My muscles tensed violently, my knees gave out, and I collapsed to the floor. I clenched my teeth. The pain was sharp and intense, but not chaotic. On the contrary, it was controlled. As if an invisible hand was tearing my muscles apart fiber by fiber and weaving them back together.
[Effects being applied.]
[Physical endurance increasing.]
[Muscle density increasing.]
[Nerve transmission speed being optimized.]
My breathing quickened. My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest, yet strangely, I did not feel panic. There was pain, yes. But it was familiar. The kind of pain that comes after training, the kind that tells you something is improving.
"Better than I expected…" I whispered.
I stood up and stretched. Even while stretching, my body felt different. It was like suddenly increasing mouse sensitivity in a video game. According to the shop description, only one could be used per week, and I had no intention of breaking the instructions.
Even though possessing a hero's body gave me the option to experiment with higher usage frequency, there was no need to take risks for now.
As for why I had spent all my money on these potions, the reason was simple. This was preparation. Preparation before using the knowledge I had from the novel to advance to another level in this world. To handle that power, my body needed to be far more resilient.
Of course, strengthening my body was good in itself, but compared to the power I would gain through this, it was almost insignificant. I would need to make a few more adjustments to obtain it, but it would absolutely be worth it.
"System, can you open a screen where I can see all my stats and abilities?"
The moment my words left my lips, a translucent window opened before my eyes. This one was different from the quest notifications. More organized. More… official.
[- Status Screen -]
My name appeared at the top.
[Name: Aurelius Emberforge]
[Level: 12]
[Class: Chosen Hero]
[Talent: SSS]
[Fate: Rejected]
[Strength: 12]
[Agility: 11]
[Endurance: 14]
[Charisma: 31]
[Wisdom: 25]
[Perception: 10]
My eyebrows lifted slightly. The numbers alone meant little, but when I compared them to the information from the novel, the picture began to clear. An ordinary person usually had an average of 2 or 5 points, though most people had a few stats that stood out.
As the hero of the story, most of these values were within expectations, with a few exceptions.
My Charisma being this high made sense. Being the hero, in other words the main character, explained that easily. But my Wisdom being this high was surprising. It was one of the hardest stats to raise in this world.
Then again, when I thought about it, coming from a world with far more advanced and modern educational institutions, being more knowledgeable than the average person here was not that strange.
A new section opened at the bottom.
[- Skills -]
[Void Storage]
[Calamity Cut]
[- Passive Skills -]
[The Hero's Body]
[The Hero's Tools]
[Predator's Awareness]
This was the first time I had seen such a detailed character window. And it was also the first time I learned that I possessed the passive skills The Hero's Body and The Hero's Tools.
"System, explain my passive skills," I said quietly.
As soon as the words were spoken, the lower part of the window trembled. Then, line by line, the text sharpened into focus.
The first heading glowed.
[The Hero's Body]
[Effect: Continuous - Passive]
[Description:]
Represents a physical body shaped by the Hero Core. This body possesses adaptability and endurance beyond natural limits.
Physical damage resistance is increased.
Basic tolerance against magic-based damage is granted.
Gains from training, potions, and temporary enhancements are processed with increased efficiency.
The body attempts to stabilize itself under conditions of extreme strain.
[Note: Skill effects will expand according to the user's level progression and increased statistics.]
I slowly let out a breath.
So it was not just durability, as I had assumed. This was a foundation that fundamentally altered the body's growth coefficient. Two people could perform the same training. One would see normal results, while the other would improve exponentially. I was the latter.
Which meant the potions I had just consumed had not produced ordinary effects. For me, had twice the effect.
My gaze shifted instinctively to the next heading.
[The Hero's Tools]
[Effect: Continuous - Passive]
[Description:]
The hero does not wield weapons as mere tools, but as extensions of their will.
Basic proficiency is granted with all weapon types.
Learning speed related to weapon usage is significantly increased.
Compatibility penalties between weapon and user are reduced.
Hero-class-exclusive techniques are more easily triggered when using appropriate weapons.
[Note: Mastery deepens through conscious use and real combat experience.]
The corners of my lips lifted unconsciously.
"So that is why I handled the sword so easily during training…"
On paper, this skill looked simple. But remembering the examples from the novel, I understood exactly what it meant. In this world, weapon mastery took years. Holding a sword correctly, sensing the balance point of a spear, engraving a bow into muscle memory. All of it required blood, sweat, and time.
For me, that path had been shortened.
"So," I murmured, "when I pick up a sword, I will not be a novice. Just inexperienced."
The difference between the two was enormous.
"This is truly amazing… but it is definitely not enough."