Yeah, Silas woke up at 12:01. So, of course, he failed the first day’s workout challenge. And, naturally, he had to pay for it.
Failing pissed him off so much that he jumped straight into workout mode. First thing after rolling out of bed, he nailed 10 push-ups like his life depended on it.
“Alright... just 90 more to go,” he muttered, already regretting his life choices.
“Ff—uck...” he groaned, switching to sit-ups.
Next, squats.
“Fuck... fuck... fuck,” he grumbled with every squat, his legs shaking.
Then came wall sits.
“This is weird,” he whispered, pressing his back against the wall and pretending to sit in a chair for what felt like forever (but was really two minutes).
Huff... huff... huff.
“Jump rope time,” he said, forcing himself upright despite his body screaming to stay down.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound of his feet hitting the floor echoed through the house.
Downstairs, the caretaker was sound asleep... until the noise started.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A groan came from below. “What in the actual hell...?”
Thud. Thud.
“Damn that—damn kid!” the caretaker growled. “What is he, an elephant doing gymnastics?”
Silas goes for it for several hours then he got back to sleep saying again that he will continue the rest later on when the sun shines.
Then comes breakfast time.
"Silas have you seen my— wait why do you look like you get no sleep huh?" Maria asked Silas with concerned.
"No I'm just fine hehe" silas chuckled with serious face.
"HAAAAAA!!! What the hell!" Maria shouted in shocked when she saw the caretaker.
"What?" The caretaker asked.
"Nothing." She replied then whispering to Silas. "She looks like a ghost and she also look like she doesn't get so much sleep at all for days." She said.
After the breakfast and doing chores silas started working out again and then he finished it.
[Congratulations! You finished your workout for today]
You get the following:
30 XP
"Huff.... great!" He barely try to speak.
When he finally get to rest in his bed he checked the shop menu. "Lifetime... lifetime.." he said finding the shop menu for lifetime.
Current XP: 40
[Lifetime]
Add 5 days (20 XP)
Add 10 days (30 XP)
Add 20 days (50 XP)
Add 30 days (60 XP)
Add 50 days (80 XP)
Add 100 days (120 XP)
Add 500 days (350 XP)
"Hmm? Seems i got to just pick the 10 days huh?" He said while clicking the add 10 days.
Kring!
[Added 10 days to your lifetime]
Current lifetime: 15 days
Current XP: 10
"Alright that's great.. for now." He said while closing his eyes to sleep again.
~
A week had passed since the selection. Silas stuck to his routine every single day. Eventually, his body started adapting. The workouts felt less like hell, and he finished them faster.
Then, out of nowhere:
“Silas, a call for you!” the caretaker shouted.
“A call?” Silas muttered, confused. Who would call him? He didn’t have family or anyone who’d bother.
He picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, kid. It’s me, the muscular man—David. Tex said to get your ass here. We’ve got a car coming for you,” David said bluntly.
“What?” Silas barely managed before the call ended.
Bing! The line went dead.
Silas stared at the phone, trying to make sense of it. Why would Tessa want him to come over? He couldn’t think of any reason. Curiosity, maybe? Did she want to size him up? No clue.
“What’s with the face?” Maria asked, appearing out of nowhere.
“Tessa,” Silas said, looking at her. “She called me over to her turf.”
“Wait, what? That’s great! So, why do you look like that?” Maria asked, puzzled.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll find out when I get there,” Silas replied sitting on a chair inside the living room
Maria tilted her head. “Silas.”
“Hm?” Silas looked at her, sensing she was about to say something heavy.
“What do you think is waiting for us out there?” she asked softly.
Silas hesitated. That question hit harder than it should’ve. “Probably hell,” he answered honestly. There wasn’t a point in sugarcoating it anymore.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Maria said, a bitter disappointment in her voice.
“Huh?” Silas blinked. He wasn’t expecting her to agree so easily.
“Yesterday,” Maria started, her voice quieter now. “I saw Leo. He was running through the streets... fighting off some guys. He had a knife stuck in his stomach, Silas. There was blood everywhere.”
She didn’t look at him as she spoke, her gaze fixed blank.
Silas stayed silent, letting her continue.
“They caught him. He collapsed, and they just... took his body like it was nothing.” Her voice broke, and tears spilled over as she finally let herself cry.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Silas didn’t know what to say. Instead, he offered his shoulder, letting Maria lean on him.
“Dry those tears,” Silas said, trying to lighten the mood. "I'll be coming back later."
Several minutes passed before the car sent by Tessa arrived. Silas got up and headed out, still unsure why she wanted him there.
The drive was quiet at first. Silas didn’t bother asking the driver for details. What would he know, anyway?
Then the silence was broken when the driver turned on the stereo.
Alternative rock blared through the speakers.
“Coughing Roses, huh? Nice choice,” Silas said, smirking.
The driver grinned. “You’ve got good taste, kid. They’re a great band.”
“You listen to this kind of music?” the driver asked.
“Of course. One of my favorite genres,” Silas replied. “Bands like AC/Battery, Greasy Day, Red Hot Silly Peppers—love all of ‘em.”
“Man, you’ve got solid taste! Those are classics,” the driver said, his voice full of pride.
“Yeah, but I’ll never beat your playlist,” Silas joked, catching the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
The driver laughed. “You’re a funny kid, huh? What's your name by the way?”
“The kid who lived,” Silas teased before adding, “Silas. How about you old man?”
Dante laughed even harder. "Dante.. just Dante hahahaha."
Their small talk carried on for a bit until they reached their destination, a 30-minute drive from the orphanage.
“We’re here, Silas. It was fun chatting with you, kid. Take care!” Dante said with a wave before driving off.
Silas watched him go, muttering, “That old man sure knows how to laugh.”
He turned to face the building in front of him. It was massive—somewhere around 2,500 square feet, all black, with a second floor that loomed over him.
When Silas stepped inside, it wasn’t exactly impressive, but the building was decent enough.
Before he could even reach the main door, the guard-like guy checked him over for any sharp objects.
“You’re good. You can enter,” the guard said, motioning him inside.
Creak. Silas opened the door and was hit with the familiar sight: Dallas and Shane, and an unfamiliar guy sitting around playing cards. On the other side of the room, Tessa had her legs propped up on the table, casually reading a newspaper. So, four people inside.
The room had that pub-like vibe—dim lighting, casual but with decent quality. Nothing fancy, but it didn’t feel bad either.
“Here we go again, the boy who lived!” Dallas shouted looking up towards Silas while holding his cards.
Shane and the other guy barely glanced at him, too focused on their game. Tessa lowered the newspaper just enough to give Silas a quick look.
“You look healthier than the last time we saw you,” Tessa remarked, tossing the paper aside.
It was a random business article she had been reading.
At Tessa’s comment, Dallas and Shane both glanced over at Silas, like they were actually curious if he had changed.
“Huh? Yeah, you really do look healthier!” Dallas exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise.
“Yeah,” Shane added, raising an eyebrow at Silas, “Looks like you’ve been working out, huh?”
Shane snorted, glancing at his cards. "Well, guess you finally decided to get off your ass."
Silas smirked. "Yeah, guess I’ve been 'lifting' myself out of bed every day."
The room went silent as the card game absorbed everyone’s attention. Except for Tessa. Her sharp gaze stayed fixed on Silas.
“What’s your name again?” she asked.
“Silas,” he answered.
“Silas what?”
“Huh?” He blinked.
“Don’t tell me you don’t have a last name,” she said with a serious tone
“It’s Santoro,” he finally replied.
At his answer, Tessa relaxed into her chair, crossing her legs as if she were trying to piece something together.
“I don’t know you,” she said openly. “Never met you. And I’m sure I’ve never shared a shred of personal information with you. So, why does it seem like you know more about me than you should?”
Silas didn’t respond. He just stood there, calm but unreadable. Tessa waited for an answer, the tension hanging thick in the air. Meanwhile, the card players barely paid attention, too busy with their game.
“I saw a picture of you. At the orphanage,” Silas finally said.
“A picture?” Tessa repeated, her brows knitting in confusion. “I don’t remember ever taking a damn picture there.”
Silas shrugged slightly. “Maybe I got it wrong. The girl in the photo had green hair too, so I probably just mistook her for you.”
Tessa scoffed. “What an idiot.” She let the comment hang before cutting to the chase. “Alright, let’s get to why you’re really here.”
“That Leo kid from your orphanage? He got killed while doing delivery work. Some gang we don’t have info on yet got to him. So, I’ll be straightforward.” She leaned forward, locking eyes with him. “Now, you’re gonna be taking his spot.”
Her tone was cold, and she didn’t leave room for questions. Not that Silas had any. He just nodded, like he’d been expecting this. It wasn’t obedience—it was calculation.
“Good,” Tessa continued. “You’re one of the pawns now. Everything you do reflects on me. So, don’t pull reckless shit like Leo did. That’s why Dallas over there is taking heat right now from the boss.” She gestured at Dallas, who didn’t even look up from his cards.
“Hey, don’t drag me into this, Tex,” Dallas said, annoyed. “I’m trying to focus here.”
Tessa ignored him and turned back to Silas. The room fell silent again as their gazes locked.
“Got it?” she asked.
“Yup. Loud and clear,” Silas replied coolly.
“Good. You’re number 30 now. That’s your ID. Pawns like you have numbers, not names that was given to you by the orphanage. And don’t go telling strangers your real name. If anyone asks, give a fake one. Better yet, just don’t talk to people who aren’t involved in our business.”
“Got it,” Silas said with a smirk.
“Haha! Look at him—he’s like a damn obedient dog!” Dallas joked, laughing loudly.
Creak.
The door opened, and a guy walked in.
“This kid Ray has the worst timing,” Arlo, the guy playing cards, muttered, glancing at the newcomer.
“Hey, Arlo! Long time no see!” Ray greeted with a grin.
“It’s been, what, a day since we last saw each other, you dumbass,” Arlo shot back, flipping him off.
Ray ignored him and glanced between Tessa and Silas. “Yo, Tessa! Who’s this guy?”
“He’s a new recruit,” Tessa said flatly. “Don’t start any shit here, Ray.”
Ray’s eyes narrowed at Silas. He tilted his head, clearly sizing him up.
“Nice to meet you, miss,” Silas said with a faint, sarcastic smile.
The entire room went quiet. Everyone turned to look at Ray. Even Tessa, who rarely showed emotion, looked slightly uneasy.
Ray didn’t say a word. His expression darkened as his eyes locked onto Silas.
Silas noticed it right away—something was off. He unknowingly shifted his weight to his back leg.
Thwack!
Ray’s unleashed a kick, aiming straight for Silas’s chest.
Thud!
Silas blocked the kick with his arm, the force reverberating through his body.
Everyone froze, even Ray, who stared in shock at his failed attack.
But when Silas about to counter, Tessa stepped between them, shoving them apart. “That’s enough! Both of you!”
Ray glared at Silas, clearly pissed. “Tch. You ruined my mood, asshole.”
Tessa shocked as she turned to Silas. “Where the hell did you learn to do that?”
Silas took some seconds to answerz then with ease he spoke. “No clue. My body just kinda... moved on its own.”
Ray gritted his teeth but didn’t push it further.
~
Some days ago.
----------------------------------------
Shop:
Current XP: 220
Martial Arts Skills: (You can only choose 3 to master)
Kickboxing
Karate
Judo
Boxing
Taekwondo
Wrestling
Muay Thai
Krav Maga
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Wing Chun
Aikido
Sambo
Jeet Kune Do
Dim Mak
Capoeira
Weapon Skills: (You can only choose 3 to master)
(Choosing to master a weapon increased precision)
Revolver
Pistol
Sniper Rifle
Shotgun
Dual Daggers
Katana
Throwing Knives
----------------------------------------
"Hmm. I’ve racked up a lot of XP busting my ass. Guess it’s time to spend it," Silas mumbled to himself, staring at the glowing interface in front of him.
Every skill was priced the same—150 XP. The catch? Once you bought one, the price for the next shot up.
"Kickboxing?" he muttered, scrolling through the options.
"This is harder than I thought..."
"Taekwondo sounds cool, though."
Minutes turned into hours as he debated with himself.
"Ugh, screw it. Karate it is," he finally decided, tapping on the option.
Kring!
[Skill Acquired: Karate Lessons]
Current XP: 70
A new window popped up:
[Click here to learn the basics and work your way toward advanced Karate!]
Silas clicked, expecting the knowledge to just download into his brain, Matrix-style.
But nope.
Instead, a training manual appeared in his hands.
"Guess I’m not skipping leg day anytime soon..."
[STANCE]
Key element you will know begin training.
Kokutsu-dachi (Back Stance)
Kiba-dachi (Horse Stance)
Zenkutsu-dachi (Front Stance)
Sanchin-dachi (Hourglass Stance)
It took him a full day to get the hang of some moves. The system's feature that let Silas fight against a clone was actually pretty useful for learning faster.
Now, back to the present.
"Kid, you know any karate?" Arlo asked.
Silas knew lying could be risky, so he went with something dumb but believable.
"I’ve seen some moves on TV," he said.
"Hah, on TV? What the hell are you talking about?" Dallas laughed out loud.
"Forget it," Arlo said, shaking his head.
Looks like the dumb lie worked. But Tessa and Ray were still standing there, watching him.
"I'm gonna go get some fresh air," Silas said, trying to make a quick exit.
"Yeah, whatever. Fuck off," Ray muttered.
"Hey, before you leave, here’s your first delivery," Tessa said, handing him a plastic bag. "There’s an address inside. Don’t draw any attention, understood?"
Silas started walking out, but Tessa called out again.
"And stop calling Raven 'Miss,' you idiot," she snapped.
Silas walked out the door, muttering to himself.
"Shit, that Ray guy really is a girl?" he said, kicking a can down the street. "I was just messing around, but damn, I guess I was right. Anyway, that Karate shit’s pretty badass."
Silas glanced at the view beside the road. A beach stretched out, the waves gently hitting the shore.
It had been a while since he'd seen such a peaceful scene. In his past life, he’d been too caught up in taking hit contracts to appreciate moments like this.
Kring!
[Sorry for the late update :< but congrats on using karate for the first time! :>]
Rewards:
- 20 XP
- Blueprint for the Grimhowl R8 pistol