The next day dawned, and the remnants of an extraordinary dream clung to my thoughts. As I gazed at my hand, the dimensional crystal bracelet on my wrist affirmed the reality of the experience. My body felt transformed, not merely in appearance but in a heightened sense of all my faculties—an awakening.
After breakfast, I ventured to a remote area for teleportation. Raising my hand, the bracelet emitted a light, and the familiar land below vanished. I descended into a dark void.
"Ah, it hurts! Can't you open the portal in a proper location?" I exclaimed, scrutinizing the bracelet.
Guided by the bracelet, I navigated through the darkness, reaching the laboratory. The surroundings lit up, and Clark materialized, startling me.
"Clark, you scared me to death! Can't you appear like a normal person?" I chided.
"Oh, sorry, sorry. Don't be so angry, bird. You finally came, and I thought you had run away," Clark apologized.
"How could I run away now? I don't think you'll let me go that easily," I responded.
"Of course not. You're my successor; I can't let you go that easily," Clark affirmed.
"I have a question, Clark. You said I can't go to the Outer World because I'm weak. How strong do I need to be to leave?" I inquired.
"Okay, now that you've asked me, let me tell you that this place is separate from time and space. You can train as much as you want," Clark explained.
"So, you're saying time doesn't flow here? Even if I spend tens of years in my world, no time will pass here?" I clarified.
"Yes, that's correct. Isn't it amazing? Now you can spend as much time as you want without any further issues," Clark confirmed.
A thought crossed my mind; I didn't know how much time had passed since I'd been stuck here alone, but I didn't think there was any point in asking now.
"Hey, Clark, how will you help me train?" I asked.
"Do you want to start now? Okay, then say 'status window' in your head," he replied.
Suddenly, a screen popped out from nowhere.
```
-------------------------
| **Status Window** |
-------------------------
| Character Name: Ashr |
| Level: 1 |
| MP: 0 |
| HP: 100 |
| Agility: 15 |
| Luck: 40 |
| Intelligence: 40 |
|Strength: 10 |
| Stamina: 10 |
| Skills: None |
| Attributes: |
| - Earth |
| - Water |
| - Fire |
| - Wind |
| Stat Points: 0 |
-------------------------
```
"It's like I'm in a game; this is my status window. How's my status?" I asked.
Clark took a pause and replied, "Very low. If you go out in this condition, you'll die before you know it."
"I'm just an ordinary person. How can I be strong enough to kill a monster?" I exclaimed.
"Your intelligence is above average compared to others; that will be helpful. Over time, you'll use magic," Clark explained.
"Tell me quickly, what should I do?" I asked eagerly.
"Don't be so excited. Your physical ability is as important as your magical ability. Let's start with your stamina. Here's your first quest," he said.
A quest appeared in my status window, stating that every day I had to run 5 km, do 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 100 pull-ups, etc.
"Do you want me to become a One Punch Man? How can I do this every single day?" I protested.
"You have to. It's to build your strength. If you don't, there will be punishment," he said.
As I glanced at the bottom of the status, I saw there would be punishment. I thought, "What the hell with this system? First, it gives me an uncompletable task, and now there's punishment if I don't complete it. I'll be doomed." As I scrolled down a little, I saw there was also a reward if I completed the quest.
"Hey, Clark, what are stat points? Is this my reward?" I inquired.
"Yeah, attribute points help you level up. You can allocate them to your status. After completing the quest, you'll have 30 stat points, which will be beneficial," he explained.
"Okay, let's get started. I have to finish my tasks as soon as possible," I said.
He took me to an open ground with all the equipment. We started with running, but after 20 minutes, I was completely exhausted. I had only run 2 km, and 3 km were still remaining, along with the rest of the tasks. "How the hell am I going to complete all this?"
After completing all the tasks, I didn't have the energy to move a single inch.
"You've finally completed your daily tasks; you can rest now," Clark said. A robot brought me water and food. For a split second, I wondered where these things were coming from and who cooked the food, but I didn't have the energy to ask. I simply ate, and after the tasks, I returned to my room. It felt like I was going to die just by running.
When I entered my room, my consciousness started to fade, and I fell onto my bed. It felt like someone was calling me. Suddenly, I opened my eyes, and I saw my sister waking me up. It had been past 2 in the afternoon; my family was worried that I was sick.
After lunch, I visited Clark again because I had to complete my daily tasks. I didn't want the punishment, but my whole body ached. How was I going to complete today's tasks?
A week passed, and I started to train—or should I say, exercise. My body began to adapt to the training. Now, my body didn't ache as much; it felt different every day. The feeling of accomplishment was great, and I would be rewarded. My life had become completely different from before. Who would have thought that a lazy boy like me will do these much hardcore training.
Time surged forward faster than anticipated. One month had elapsed; I successfully conquered my quest, and the completion of tasks marked a milestone.
"You have finally completed your first task; look, your status has also increased," Clark said.
I eagerly examined my status, confirming the tangible changes. My height increased, and my physique transformed into a more lean and muscular form.
"It's time for my reward. I got my 30 stat points, which I can use to raise my level rapidly," I declared.
"So, how are you going to use your points? Which stat are you going to increase?" Clark inquired.
Contemplating my options, I formulated my plan. "I'll put 15 points in my luck. Anyone would think I've gone crazy, but that's because stats can increase with training or by gaining EXP. However, luck cannot be increased by those methods. I'll put 10 points in my agility because, for me, speed is more important than strength. The remaining 5 points I'll leave for the future; I'll use them when I need them."
The infusion of these points into my status felt like a pivotal moment, laying the foundation for my continued evolution in this extraordinary realm.
```markdown
-------------------------
| **Evolved Status** |
-------------------------
| Character Name: Ashr |
| Level: 2 |
| MP: 0 |
| HP: 200 |
| Agility: 25 |
| Luck: 55 |
| Intelligence: 40 |
| Stamina: 30 |
| Strength: 20 |
| Skills: None |
| Attributes: |
| - Earth |
| - Water |
| - Fire |
| - Wind |
| Stat Points: 0 |
-------------------------
```
The journey into the unknown continued, marked by growth, challenges, and the unwavering pursuit of strength in this enigmatic dimension.