200 push-ups. 200 squats. Start.

Once I was finished with the 1000 squats and push-ups, the task changed to 2000, and the daily requirement doubled from the Ego. I had been neglecting it for the last couple of days, and he never made good on his threats to kill me, so...

“Fuck you,” I said as I pulled the sleeping bag further up my body and curled up on the ground to try to conserve my warmth.

I was cold. Extremely cold. The wall of bags did nothing to keep the cold out. Giant owls hooted above as they cast their shadows over the ruined tower, and distant bats screamed as they made for the cover of the woods to hide from the burgeoning sun.

You are a child. You are going to die if you do not shape up.

“So?”

Child.

“I am not.”

Child.

I grumbled as a wave of pain assailed me and my whole body began to ache. Ah. I wish they’d allow me to take the rest of the baggie...I just needed one more hit and I’d be good. Just one more…

I stayed curled up like that until the sun rose.

Now, do them.

“No.”

I pushed up and dug through my bags until I found it: the tarp that I had gotten my first day here. I had seen it the evening before a staircase leading up to the second floor. I was too tired to think the night before, but now that I had a bit of rest, I was able to think of a way to hold back the wind.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I climbed up to the second floor and draped the tarp down over the small alcove where my sleeping pad was set up. I used some loose bricks to hold it in place, but if I wanted it to be more steady, I would need something else. A strong wind and it’ll probably fall over. For now, however, this was as good as I could get it. I hurried back inside and stayed until the daylight actually began to cast warmth over the region.

I picked up my PID while waiting there:

ASSIGN AREA AS BASE CAMP? Flashed on the screen.

I clicked the, ‘yes,’ option right underneath it.

LOCATION [LYLE’S STEAD] ESTABLISHED. RE-CALIBRATING JOBS. RE-CALIBRATING ADVANCEMENT TASKS.

Lyle’s Stead? Why was it called that?

The screen flashed black for a second, before the task: CARRY 32,000 POUNDS OF SCRAP BACK FROM THE SCRAPYARD changed to BRING 32,000 POUNDS OF ITEMS BACK TO LYLE’S STEAD 425/32,000.

No. Why is it called Lyle’s Stead? That’s a stupid name.

I went to Jobs and several new ones I hadn’t seen appeared:

[DANGER]BOUNTY ON UNDEAD I 0/10

$1,000, +1% ALL STATS

[DANGER] BOUNTY ON GOBLINS 0/10

$1,000, +1% ALL STATS

CLEAR THE FARMHOUSE

$600, +1.5% ALL STATS

DEVELOP LYLE’S STEAD I

MAKE A ROAD BETWEEN LYLE’S STEAD AND MAIN HIGHWAY

$20, +5% ALL STATS

The rewards were good. A 1% increase in all stats for killing ten things? A 5% for clearing some grass? If only I was feeling better...damn it. If they only let me take the rest of my gram I could get these all done in a single day…

I opened my map. A red dot showed where I was; about five miles from the closest part of the highway, and I didn’t have any tools to make a road so I should put that on hold. The farmhouse, on the other hand, was only about a mile south of here. I suppose that would be my best bet...I only had two days left before my contract was terminated…

Fuck. Not today. I rolled around on the ground and nearly vomited. I was sick. Far too sick...maybe if I took a potion it would help.

I dug around in the bags until I found the jugs of potion that I had bought. At this point, there was 1 and a quarter of one remaining. I tip the nearly empty gallon and swallow.

The liquid drives the fatigue away, and I grumble as I push myself up

Now. 200 push-ups. 200 squats.

“Why should I?”

To make yourself stronger.

“Why should I get stronger? I’m going to die in less than 20 days.”

No, you’ll have 35 days added to your life before you even reach that date.

“...I can’t believe I forgot about that.”

I pushed my way out of the tarp and stood where the stone floor met the dust.

“If I get strong enough, do you think I could kick Liam’s ass?”

I’ll make it so that you’re strong enough to never back down from anyone. But if you get back into that habit; of disrespecting me? I will not hesitate to kill you, alright?

“Make me stronger. I don’t care how...make me strong enough to kill Liam, and I will listen to you.”

Liam. Daniel. Anyone. You will be the most powerful being in the world. Why? Because I, the epitome of power, dwell within you.

“So what do I do to start?”

300 push-ups. 300 squats. Get to it.

Fuck.