Ashbrook came into view beneath the pale morning light, its crooked rooftops huddled together like something trying to hide from the world. Smoke drifted lazily from a few chimneys, carrying the familiar scent of damp wood and old ash. Osric slowed his steps as he approached the slums of Lowbrook, every movement sending a dull ache through his body. This place hadn't changed at all — the same broken streets, the same wary silence. Yesterday, he had nearly died in the forest. Today, the town greeted him as if nothing had happened.
As Osric was walking slowly through the slums, he remembered that he didn't show up at the inn since he had morning shift today.
'Shit! How could I forget?'
He ran in an uneven pace since he was still injured, but luckily the rundown inn was right around the corner.
As soon as he arrived he saw the inn owner waiting for him outside the inn.
When Osric was close enough, the old man with the tired but angry face started talking.
"Hey you brat! You are not only late but you caused trouble for me yesterday with that knight apprentice!"
"I can not have this kind of trouble here, so you are fired. Don't show up here again and be grateful I even paid you."
The old man threw a small pouch with 35 copper crowns inside.
"Now get lost!"
Osric was frustrated but he couldn't do much about it.
'I got fired after working only for little over a month and only got this pathetic amount of money.'
'If I want to grow stronger I need at least enough money to buy proper meals.'
'A single loaf of bread costs 2-3 copper crowns so there is no way I can survive on this money.'
Osric started walking towards a different corner of lowbrook until he arrived at a small abandoned and broken wooden hut.
He had been staying here for the past few months.
The only things in there were a chair with small cracks, an old blanket on the floor and a dusty bag with some old clothes and personal belongings of Osric.
He sat down on the chair and played with the money pouch in his hand.
'What am I supposed to do now?'
Osric wanted to at least become a mercenary or adventurer to earn money, but he needed at least a silver crown to buy a weapon.
He didn't want to go back to stealing or begging for money.
Just when Osric was starting to get darker thoughts, he heard the system's voice again.
[ Host's crisis has activated a Challenge. ]
[ Training Challenge ]
Objective: Finish the training exercises in the limited time available.
Condition: Complete 50 push ups and march for 5 hours without rest before sundown.
Failure: Vitality -1
Reward: Strength +1, Stamina + 1, Pain Resistance (F) progress increases slightly
Osric just looked at the system screen with a confused expression.
'How is this supposed to help my money crisis?'
He then shook his head.
'No. I'll do anything to get stronger.'
Osric didn't wait and immediately started doing push ups.
Thankfully he knew how to do them, but he was strongly criticized when he did them during enlightenment.
Although he understood the form, he didn't have the strength to perform many.
'Shit. I forgot how difficult this was.'
After only doing three push ups he was already sweating and in pain.
Although he was doing better than the night before, he was still injured.
The bite wound on his shoulder caused him the most pain and it made the push ups much more difficult.
Osric was just relieved that he could take breaks unlike with the march he was going to so later.
He was only done with the 50 push ups when it was already slightly past noon.
It was already late autumn so Osric couldn't waste much time and had to start his march right away. Sundown was going to be pretty early this time of year.
He walked towards the front gate of Ashbrook to leave and march outside of town since he needed space to keep moving.
When he was about to walk through the gate he was stopped by a guard.
"Hey you, slum brat. Come here."
'Shit what now? I can't afford to waste time.'
Osric was annoyed but he couldn't do anything against a town guard of Ashbrook.
The guard in his thirties with a rough beard and sneaky face then spoke.
"Why do you look so suspicious?"
"Aren't you sweating way too much in this cold weather?"
"What are you hiding, huh?"
Osric was nervous but answered.
"Nothing sir. You can pat me down if you want."
The guard then looked at Osric's handsome face with a sneaky grin.
"Although that sounds fun, I will just let you go if you offer me a small fee."
Osric was extremely annoyed at this situation since barely had any money, but he was powerless against this corrupt soldier.
He handed him 10 copper crowns which wasn't much but just enough to be let go.
Since Osric was obviously from the slums, the guard didn't expect to get more out of him.
Osric walked out with a disgusted look.
'That pervert definitely wanted to touch me, but I'm lucky that he prefers money.'
He then walked further away from town and decided to just circle the whole territory for 5 hours.
Osric was already tired after the first hour but kept going.
After the second hour he could feel his injuries more intensely.
After the third hour his whole body felt like it was under water.
And after the fourth hour he was barley conscious.
Osric had about 30 minutes left and he felt like dying, but he didn't give up.
'This is worse than when I was beat half dead by Ruben and the others.'
'How much longer do I have to do this?'
'I'm going to collapse any second now.'
'Please just end this already you cruel system!'
Osric's legs were numb and his mouth was completely dry.
His arms were hanging like he was a walking corpse.
After he was almost about to fall face first onto the ground, he heard the emotionless voice.
[ Training Challenge Completed. ]
The words barely registered before Osric collapsed to his knees.
His vision swam. His lungs burned. Every muscle screamed in protest.
Then—
Something shifted.
The crushing heaviness in his limbs eased, just a fraction. Not enough to feel strong — but enough to feel less broken.
His breathing steadied.
[Reward applied.]
[Strength +1]
[Stamina +1]
[Pain Resistance (F) progress increased.]
Osric lay on his back, staring up at the dim sky.
It hadn't been a miracle.
He still hurt. He was still poor. Still alone.
But today—
He had endured.
And tomorrow, he would do it again.