Two days had passed since Thenma started the Physical Conditioning Program. His body had pushed past every limit—each set of push-ups, each sprint, each hold until his muscles burned. He was too focused on one thing: getting stronger. The pain was temporary. The end goal was what mattered. [Physical Conditioning Program] Objective: Complete exercises to improve strength, endurance, and agility. Exercise Focus: Push-ups, Sprints, Endurance Training. Current Status: Injured. Reduced efficiency. Exercise Results: Strength: +3 Endurance: +4 Agility: +2 But something wasn’t right. His left arm—the one still recovering from injury—was throbbing with sharp, painful jolts. His legs felt like lead, and his breath came in ragged bursts. Sweat soaked his clothes, dripping to the floor. [Warning: Current physical state is critical. Health at 35%. Continuing strenuous exercise could result in permanent injury.] "Just a little more," Thenma grunted, as he dropped to the floor f

The sky was clear, and the gentle hum of student chatter filled the air around Blackridge University. Hidden under the shade of a tall oak tree, Thenma sat in his car, his sharp eyes fixed on the school gate. His cold, calculated stare betrayed no emotion as he waited. “Reve,” he murmured. “Any sign of her yet?” [Scanning… Target detected: Katarina Whittaker. Exiting campus grounds.] Thenma’s lips twitched into a smirk as his gaze landed on the familiar figure stepping out of the gate. Katarina walked arm-in-arm with a group of friends, her laughter blending seamlessly with theirs. She looked carefree, happy, just another ordinary girl among the crowd. But Thenma knew better. “There she is,” he muttered. His voice was low, almost a growl, as he observed her. Moments later, a tall, broad-shouldered guy approached her, his brunette hair catching the sunlight. He reached out, grabbing Katarina’s arm gently at first. The gesture seemed harmless, but Thenma didn’t miss the flick

The car rolled to a stop in front of a modest two-story house. Katarina sat silently next to Thenma, her hands fiddling with the strap of her bag. Thenma turned off the engine and unlocked the doors, leaning back against his seat. Katarina hesitated, gripping the door handle, but instead of stepping out, she closed the door and turned back. “I forgot to say... thank you for saving me,” Katarina said, her voice soft, carrying a mix of sincerity and awkwardness. Thenma shrugged nonchalantly, barely sparing her a glance. “Don’t mention it. That’s my part to help my partner.” Katarina blinked in confusion while Thenma straightened his words. “My partner in the mission.” “I want to know,” Katarina began cautiously, “what your real goal is. You seem eager to have my father on your side. But you must know, he doesn’t stand on the wrong side of things. That’s why he refused to help your case.” Thenma let out a bitter scoff, his lips curling into a wry smile. “Your father said that?”

The cold, briny air stung Katarina’s senses as she slowly regained consciousness. A searing pain pulsed through her forehead, her vision blurred momentarily, but fragments of memory flashed in her mind—being dragged out of her house, the view of her helpless father—tied on the floor. “Dad…” she whispered hoarsely, her voice trembling with worry and fear. Her head turned frantically, taking in her surroundings. The damp, grimy floor beneath her was covered in salt stains and dirt, and the sharp odor of fish filled the air. Her heart sank as realization struck—she was in a harbor. She struggled against the coarse ropes binding her wrists, but they held firm. The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the warehouse. A chill ran down her spine as the figure emerged from the shadows, each step exuding menace. “Ah, you’re awake,” Julian Corbin drawled, his voice as smooth as silk yet dripping with malice. He stepped into the dim light. “How’s your feeling, starlight? Can yo

The warehouse was an inferno, the air thick with smoke and heat as the fire consumed everything in its path. Thenma's body trembled, his blood pooling on the floor beneath him. His vision blurred as his consciousness wavered, the knife embedded in his shoulder burning like molten steel. [WARNING: Life-threatening injury detected. Immediate action required.] [Purchase defensive weapon (20 points)?] [Activate self-healing mode (10 points)?] But Thenma's fading consciousness made it impossible to focus. His trembling gaze looking over the options as the panel glitched, the words distorting and disappearing before he could make a choice. No, not now... I can't lose here... Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the warehouse. Julian staggered, clutching his head as a wooden stick struck him from behind. His eyes widened in pain and confusion, his grip on the knife loosening. "What the—" Julian hissed, stumbling backward. Thenma blinked through the haze of pain, his gaze lock