The early morning sun filtered through the hospital window, casting a warm glow across the room. Jaehwon stirred awake, his muscles still sore from the previous day’s ordeal. He blinked groggily, the memory of the desert and the sandstorm beast flashing vividly in his mind. It had been terrifyingly real, and the thought of it sent a shiver down his spine.
But today was different. Today, he wasn’t going to let fear control him. The system’s daily mission was still fresh in his mind, and he knew he had no choice but to complete it. There was no way he was going through another penalty like that.
Jaehwon sat up, stretching his stiff muscles, and glanced around the room. It was still early, and the hospital was quiet. He could hear the distant hum of machines and the occasional murmur of voices from the hallway, but otherwise, it was peaceful.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the day ahead. “Alright, let’s get this over with,” he muttered to himself, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
The glowing screen appeared before him as if on cue, displaying his daily mission:
---
**Daily Mission:**  
- 100 Push-Ups  
- 100 Sit-Ups  
- 100 Squats  
- 10-Kilometer Run  
**Time Left: 24 Hours**
---
Jaehwon sighed, mentally preparing himself for the grueling tasks ahead. “It’s just one day,” he reminded himself. “One day, and I’ll be done.”
He started with the push-ups, dropping to the floor and setting a steady pace. His muscles ached with each repetition, but he pushed through, determined to complete the task. The memory of the penalty was enough to keep him motivated.
By the time he finished the 100th push-up, his arms were trembling with exhaustion, and sweat dripped from his forehead. He collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. “This… is harder… than it looks,” he panted, wiping the sweat from his brow.
But there was no time to rest. He still had the sit-ups and squats to do, not to mention the 10-kilometer run. Jaehwon groaned as he sat up, his abs burning from the effort. “Come on, Jaehwon, you can do this,” he muttered, trying to psych himself up.
He moved on to the sit-ups, gritting his teeth as he pushed through the pain. Each movement felt like a battle against his own body, but he refused to give up. The thought of failing and facing another penalty was enough to keep him going.
By the time he finished the sit-ups and squats, Jaehwon was completely spent. His entire body felt like it was on fire, and he could barely stand without wobbling. But he wasn’t done yet. There was still the run.
“10 kilometers…” Jaehwon muttered under his breath as he leaned against the wall for support. “I can barely walk, and they want me to run 10 kilometers?”
He glanced at the door, knowing that running inside the hospital was impossible. He would have to go outside, where people might see him struggling. But there was no choice. The system didn’t care about his condition or his surroundings—it just demanded results.
With a determined grunt, Jaehwon pushed himself off the wall and limped toward the door. Each step was a challenge, but he forced himself to keep moving, driven by the fear of what might happen if he failed.
As he made his way through the hospital corridors, he passed by several nurses and doctors who gave him curious looks. He could see the surprise in their eyes as they watched him, probably wondering why a patient was limping around so determinedly.
“Jaehwon, where are you going?” a nurse called out, concern evident in her voice.
“I… I need some fresh air,” Jaehwon replied, forcing a smile. “I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
The nurse frowned but didn’t stop him. “Don’t push yourself too hard. You’re still recovering.”
Jaehwon nodded, but he knew he couldn’t afford to take it easy. He had a mission to complete, and nothing was going to stand in his way.
Once he was outside, Jaehwon took a deep breath, letting the cool morning air fill his lungs. The streets were still relatively empty, with only a few people going about their early-morning routines. He looked around, trying to gauge the distance he would need to cover.
“10 kilometers… I can do this,” Jaehwon muttered, more to convince himself than anything else. He started at a slow jog, his legs protesting with every step. Each stride felt like he was running through mud, his muscles screaming in agony.
But he kept going, determined to see it through. He focused on his breathing, trying to find a rhythm that would carry him forward. The world around him blurred as he pushed himself harder, ignoring the pain that threatened to overwhelm him.
Minutes turned into what felt like hours as Jaehwon forced himself to keep running. His vision started to blur, and his chest burned with each labored breath. But he refused to stop. He couldn’t afford to stop.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jaehwon slowed to a stop, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. He bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for air. The screen appeared before him, and for the first time since he started, it displayed something different:
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**Daily Mission Completed.**
**Reward: 3 Stat Points**  
**Additional Reward: Dungeon Key [Shadow’s Lair]**
---
Jaehwon stared at the screen, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten as he processed what he was seeing. “3 stat points… and a dungeon key?” he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.
He couldn’t believe it. The system was actually rewarding him for completing the tasks. And not just with stat points, but with something far more valuable—a key to a dungeon.
Jaehwon’s heart raced as he looked at the glowing key that appeared in his hand. It was made of dark, obsidian-like material, with intricate patterns carved into its surface. He could feel the power emanating from it, almost like it was calling to him.
“How… how is this possible?” Jaehwon muttered, turning the key over in his hand. The implications of what he was holding were staggering. A dungeon key was something only high-ranking hunters typically had access to, and here he was, an E-rank hunter, holding one in his hand.
He knew he had to keep this a secret. If anyone found out that he had a key like this, they would start asking questions—questions he wasn’t ready to answer. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself before he understood what was happening.
Jaehwon slipped the key into his pocket, his mind racing with possibilities. The system, the daily missions, the rewards—none of it made any sense, but it was real. He had to figure out what it all meant, but for now, he needed to play it safe.
He slowly made his way back to the hospital, his mind still buzzing with the revelations of the day. He had survived the system’s punishment and completed its mission, but he knew this was only the beginning. Whatever the system was, it was far more powerful and dangerous than he had imagined.
As he reached his hospital room, Jaehwon collapsed onto the bed, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion. The screen appeared once more, this time showing his updated stats:
---
**System Status:**
- **Strength:** 10
- **Mana:** 12 (+3)  
- **Health:** 11
---
Jaehwon stared at the screen, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He had added the stat points to his mana, hoping it would give him an edge in whatever lay ahead. But more than that, the increase in his stats was a reminder that he was no longer powerless.
He was changing—growing stronger with each passing day. And with the dungeon key in his possession, the possibilities were endless.
“I’m not the weakest hunter anymore,” Jaehwon whispered to himself, a newfound determination burning in his chest. “I’ll figure out what this system wants from me… and I’ll use it to become stronger.”
As he closed his eyes, exhaustion finally overtaking him, Jaehwon knew one thing for certain: his life had taken a turn, and there was no going back. The shadows had chosen him, and now, it was up to him to see where this path would lead.
With the system by his side, Jaehwon was ready to face whatever challenges came his way—even if it meant walking through the darkness alone.
Thirty days had passed since Jaehwon first woke up to the mysterious system, and each day had been a trial of endurance and willpower. He completed every mission, pushed through the pain, and forced himself to keep going even when his body screamed for rest. 
As the 30th day dawned, Jaehwon stood in front of the hospital bathroom mirror, his breath catching in his throat as he took in the sight before him. The man staring back was almost unrecognizable—a stark contrast to the weak and gaunt figure he once was. 
His once thin frame was now filled out with lean muscle. His arms were defined, his chest broad, and his abs sharply cut. Even his face had changed, the harsh lines of exhaustion smoothed out, leaving behind a strong jawline and striking features that he had never noticed before. 
He looked… powerful. Confident. 
“Is this really me?” Jaehwon murmured, running a hand through his now fuller, slightly tousled hair. His reflection didn’t seem real; it was as if the system had sculpted him into something more than he had ever imagined. 
There was a soft knock at the door, pulling him from his thoughts. Jaehwon quickly grabbed a shirt, pulling it over his head before opening the door.
The nurse, a petite woman named Mi-young who had been looking after him for the past month, stood there with a clipboard in hand. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him, and for a moment, she seemed at a loss for words.
“J-Jaehwon?” she stammered, her eyes flicking up and down, taking in his transformed physique. “Is that really you?”
Jaehwon smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, it’s me. I guess those daily exercises paid off more than I expected.”
Mi-young blinked, clearly astonished. “Paid off? Jaehwon, you look like a completely different person! I’ve never seen such a drastic change in such a short time.” She stepped closer, her professional demeanor giving way to genuine curiosity. “What kind of training did you do? This is… incredible.”
Jaehwon hesitated, his mind racing. He couldn’t tell her about the system or the grueling tasks it had forced him to complete. No one would believe him, and even if they did, it would raise too many questions—questions he wasn’t ready to answer.
“I just… pushed myself harder than I ever have before,” Jaehwon replied, carefully choosing his words. “I realized that if I wanted to get stronger, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I had to give it everything I had.”
Mi-young nodded slowly, still looking at him like he was some kind of miracle. “Well, whatever you did, it worked. You’re the picture of health now, Jaehwon. In fact…” She glanced down at her clipboard, checking his final test results. “You’re completely cleared for discharge. I just need you to sign a few forms, and you’re free to go.”
Jaehwon felt a surge of relief. He had been itching to leave the hospital, to finally test the limits of his newfound strength. But there was also a nervous excitement bubbling within him—the anticipation of what awaited him in the dungeon.
“Thank you, Mi-young,” Jaehwon said, taking the clipboard from her. As he signed the discharge papers, he couldn’t help but notice her lingering gaze. He caught her eye, and she quickly looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
“It’s nothing,” she said quickly. “Just… take care of yourself, okay? Don’t push too hard too soon. We don’t want to see you back here for any injuries.”
Jaehwon chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. But I have a feeling that the next time you see me, I’ll be even stronger.”
With that, he handed back the clipboard and flashed her a reassuring smile. As he walked down the hospital corridor for the last time, Jaehwon could feel the eyes of the staff on him—doctors, nurses, even other patients staring at him in awe. The whispers followed him like a shadow.
“Is that Jaehwon? The weak E-rank hunter?”
“He looks like a completely different person…”
“He’s so handsome now! What happened to him?”
Jaehwon tried to ignore the attention, focusing instead on what lay ahead. The system had been generous with his rewards, and over the course of 30 days, he had accumulated 90 stat points. Distributing them evenly across his stats, he could feel the surge of power that coursed through him with every point he added.
---
**System Status:**
- **Strength:** 40
- **Mana:** 42
- **Health:** 40
---
His physical abilities had improved dramatically, but what intrigued him the most was the increase in his mana. He could feel the energy pulsing within him, more vibrant and potent than ever before. It was as if the shadows themselves had taken root in his very soul, waiting to be unleashed.
As he exited the hospital and stepped into the cool morning air, Jaehwon reached into his pocket and felt the smooth, cool surface of the dungeon key. It was time.
He found a secluded alley, far from prying eyes, and pulled out the key. It gleamed darkly in the morning light, the intricate patterns on its surface seeming to shift and writhe as he held it. 
“This is it,” Jaehwon murmured, his heart pounding in his chest. “My first real challenge.”
He held the key up, feeling its power resonate with his own. The air around him seemed to ripple, and a soft, low hum filled the alley as a door materialized in the wall before him. It was a dark, ancient-looking door, with the same obsidian patterns as the key.
Jaehwon swallowed hard, his mind racing. He knew that once he stepped through that door, there would be no turning back. But he also knew that this was what he had been working toward for the past 30 days. This was his chance to prove himself, to break free from the label of “the weakest hunter.”
He reached for the door handle, his hand trembling slightly. “I’m ready,” he whispered to himself, trying to steady his nerves. “I’ve come this far… I won’t back down now.”
With a deep breath, Jaehwon turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open. A wave of cold, shadowy energy washed over him, sending a shiver down his spine. But he didn’t hesitate. He stepped through the doorway, into the darkness beyond.
The door closed behind him with a soft click, and Jaehwon found himself standing in a vast, cavernous chamber. The walls were lined with jagged rocks, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth. Shadows danced around him, flickering like living creatures in the dim light.
In the center of the chamber stood a massive, ornate pedestal, and atop it lay a glowing orb of pure darkness. Jaehwon felt a pull towards it, as if it was calling out to him.
“This… this is it,” he breathed, his eyes fixed on the orb. “The heart of the dungeon.”
As he approached the pedestal, the shadows seemed to grow thicker, coalescing into a tangible force. The air crackled with energy, and Jaehwon could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
He reached out, his fingers just inches away from the orb. The power radiating from it was overwhelming, but Jaehwon forced himself to stay focused.
“I’m not the weakest anymore,” he whispered, his voice filled with determination. “I will prove myself… no matter what it takes.”
With that, he grasped the orb, and the world around him exploded into darkness.