The First Mission

March 4, 2023, 5 AM - Project 6, Quezon City, Philippines - Daniel's Apartment

*Ding!*

"The first mission is being assigned."

Daniel was jolted awake once more due to the sound of the notification that appeared in his mind. Although he has already accepted the existence of the system he is still not used to it and is still trying to adjust to it being with him.

"Take care of yourself," the system had instructed him.

Daniel couldn't believe it. "That's it?" he muttered to himself.

The system responded immediately, "Yes, your well-being is the foundation of overcoming everything."

Daniel was bewildered. He had expected a more challenging mission, something that would test his skills and intelligence. But as he thought about it, he realized that the system had a point. If he wasn't healthy, he wouldn't be able to tackle more difficult challenges in the future.

"So, what do I have to do?" he asked the system.

"You must improve your Physical, Emotional, and Mental well-being in the next seven days," the system replied. "You must complete a list of minimum requirements in order for the mission to be considered a pass, if you exceed the expectation however the system will determine a bigger reward for you."

Daniel listened attentively as the system explained the requirements.

- For Physical well-being:

- Engage in at least 1 hour of physical activity every day. (e.g., jogging, yoga, strength training)

- Eat at least three healthy meals a day, including fruits and vegetables

- Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night

- For your Emotional well-being:

- Spend time with friends or family at least once this week

- Do at least 1 thing that makes you happy every day, like a hobby or a favorite activity.

- Practice gratitude journaling - Write down three things you are grateful for each day.

- For your Mental Well-being:

- Read a W******l or Any Book for pleasure for at least 1 hour every day. (I recommend catching up with Mutagen, Exallion has been adding new chapters regularly recently. You have been lagging behind on its new chapters already.)

- Practice positive self-talk and challenge negative thoughts

- Practice deep breathing exercises to reduce stress and anxiety

The mission starts in 24 hours

Time limit: 7 days

The requirements seemed doable, and he was glad that the system wasn't expecting him to do anything too extreme. He knew that he needed to start working on his well-being, and the mission would give him the push he needed to do so.

"Okay, I can do this," Daniel said to himself.

The system reminded him of the reward that he could get if he exceeded the minimum requirement. The thought of getting a bigger reward was enticing, and it motivated him to aim for more than just the minimum.

With that concluded, Daniel slept for the first time in 3 days.

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March 4, 2023, 4 PM - Project 6, Quezon City, Philippines - Daniel's Apartment

When Daniel woke up, it was already 4 PM. He slept for 11 whole hours. Daniel realized that he must have been really exhausted and that he needed that rest. Although the mission will only start tomorrow morning at 5 AM, He decided to start taking care of himself already. He hasn't eaten or drunk anything yet for the past few days, so he decided to take a bath, go out, and grab some early dinner.

After taking a refreshing bath, Daniel put on some clean clothes and headed out to grab some food. Since he had money to spend now, he decided to go to an unlimited food restaurant near him. He booked a Grab car to #14 Examiner, Quezon City. He chose to eat at Hodai, an unlimited K-bbq and seafood place.

When he arrived at Hodai, the smell of grilled meat and seafood welcomed him. It was already past lunchtime, so the restaurant wasn't too crowded. He went straight to an empty table. He ordered a bunch of meats, greens, and seafood.

When Daniel entered Hodai, the aroma of grilled meats and seafood greeted him. As it was past lunchtime, the restaurant wasn't crowded, and he easily found an empty table. After ordering a variety of meats, greens, and seafood, he was about to start grilling when he noticed a woman sitting alone at a nearby table. Her downcast expression tugged at his heart, and he felt the urge to approach her.

"Hi," he said, gesturing to the empty seats at her table. "Although there are a lot of empty seats, it's kinda lonely to eat alone. Do you mind if I join you at this table?"

The woman looked up at him, surprised. "Sure," she said with a slightly awkward smile.

"I'm Daniel. What's your name?" he introduced himself. "I'm Molly," she replied.

Daniel sensed that Molly was going through something, so he decided to strike up a conversation. "How's your day going?" he asked. Molly sighed. "Not so great, to be honest. I got some bad news this morning, and I'm still trying to process it." "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?" Daniel asked, hoping to provide some comfort.

As Molly shared her troubles, Daniel actively listened, asking her questions and offering empathy and support. They talked for a while, and as their conversation progressed, he noticed Molly's mood beginning to lighten. "Thank you so much for listening to me, Daniel. I feel a lot better now," Molly said, smiling at him. "It was my pleasure, Molly. Sometimes, all we need is someone to talk to," Daniel replied, returning her smile. "Do you mind if I add you on F******k? Err... I don't mean any harm. I just want to stay in contact and maybe be friends."

Molly hesitated for a moment but then nodded her head. "Sure, I don't mind," she replied.

Daniel felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that making new friends as an adult could be difficult, but he felt like he had found someone special in Molly. They exchanged information and promised to keep in touch.

As they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

Daniel felt good about their conversation and was glad that he was able to help Molly in some way. He realized that sometimes, all it takes is a listening ear and a kind heart to make a difference in someone's day.

As Daniel traveled back to his apartment, he noticed that the sky had turned a beautiful shade of orange and pink. The sun was setting, and the world around him was bathed in a warm glow. Daniel took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over him.