Breaking point

6 days later...

"..."

[...]

"SAY SOMETHING!"

James screamed at the top of his lungs while he shivered uncontrollably due to the cold penetrating the very depth of his bones and soul.

[Host, I apologize for the inconvenience but since you asked for it, the system just couldn't stand by...]

"WHA-SHEEE-!!!"

[Focus and try to stabilize your breathing. You're only making it worse by doing unnecessary movements, thus wasting more energy.]

"Calm, yes. Calm is my best frien-"

Fwisshhh!

"EEEK! COLD! COLD!"

[Host. Stop it. It hasn't even been 1 hour yet.]

James immediately wanted to vent out his frustration, but soon closed his eyes and tried to calm himself...

*FUUUUU*

Letting out a deep breath he looked up and continued climbing.

After all, everybody would be terrified when climbing a mountain over 600m tall, as one mistake can cost you a funeral and earn a lifetime of sorrow and regret from your family members.

And without safety gear at that...

This just further scared the shit out of him, when he just wanted go try something harder.

But he really didn't expect that his difficulty went up to Nightmare mode!

Just yesterday he was running and doing simple exercises with a happy and innocent smile.

Happy because the feeling of seeing self-improvement everyday...

And innocent because he still wasn't aware of what kind of situation he would've end up in if he actually stayed longer in his house...

The system deemed it useless to tell him the reason, so it took the most reasonable and efficient solution.

*[Host we're going on a trip. Pack your stuff.]*

Is what it said...

'Trip?! YOU call this a trip?'

Again, he wanted to give up, again he wanted to just let go of this rock that he clung on with dear life, as his hands bled from the rough and tough edges, but...

[If you finish this. You'll thank yourself later in the future.]

As expected, always trying to encourage him, but he knew that the system was right.

From all the novels he had read, most of the time, those bastards were sadistic little pieces of shits who give out unreasonable punishments, and on top that, their very existence is just to piss of their hosts.

However, this system feels different...

Maybe because it knew how it's like to be at the bottom of the food chain?

The system itself said that it was the weakest out of all the others.

Nonetheless, he was still conflicted and skeptical whether the being connected to him is trustworthy.

Yet at this moment, he couldn't care less.

'I'll leave tomorrow's problem to tomorrow's me.'

With a smile and an undying flame burning deep within his eyes, he continued climbing.

James, with determination, rid himself of such pathetic thinking and steeled his resolve to the max.

[...]

Right now, James' resolve and his overall mindset was akin to a hot piece of iron.

While the harsh training itself was the hammer, constantly hitting the iron, forging it with perfected mastery until it became something a blacksmith would be proud of.

That was the picture the system saw at this very moment.

[Admirable indeed.]

...

...

...

2nd day of the 'field trip'.

"I have something to ask."

[Ask away, Host]

Running through the forest, James ran at a pretty decent speed while the morning sunlight shone through the leaves, onto the flowers, while the awakening and harmony of life could be felt at every corner.

The person who got to enjoy such peacefulness and beauty, ran with all their might, hands were bandaged while sweat oozed out of every pore.

James glanced down at his legs, and saw numerable stretch marks. He knew there were more all over his body while his face was the only place where it was clean of such marks.

It was due to the rapid shrinking of the skin and the fat burning, which was the reason he has these marks all over his body.

However, James thought it was kind of cool.

Doesn't that mean that his efforts are showing itself? These marks are just a reminder of what he used to be and he was still in the process of metamorphous.

[Host, you had a question you wanted to ask?]

'Ah, yes!'

He was a bit flustered and asked the question that had been nagging him since yesterday.

'Yesterday, I asked you what the best course of action was, since I did those exercises you told me to do for a week already. However why is it that I have to go out here in the middle of nowhere? Wasn't the neighborhood a more convenient place? I mean...If I remember correctly, there's even a gym located nearby. no?'

[...Do you wish to know the reason?]

'Well, yes, I can't seem to focus that much if I have something in the back of my mind that I want answered...'

[During your stay in the house, the system has confirmed the presence of a 'dangerous' individual.]

'...Why?'

[?]

'Why does trouble always find me even if I don't intend to seek it out!'

James shivered due to the possibility of what would've happened to him.

Shaking his head, he ran faster until he felt the wind against his face.

[I think you're perhaps misunderstanding something Host. The individual was 'dangerous' due to the extreme fluctuations of several overwhelming emotions the system has detected. The system was also very surprised since the ability to feel other's emotions was only unlocked once upgraded. Though, in a sense, the individual is also considered an ally since the system didn't see any act that the system deems as a threat to the host. In fact, that person was acting more like a bodyguard. The system can only deduce that it was someone hired to protect you.]

"Sir System, I don't feel so good."

[The system understands your uneasiness, however, fear not as you're safe.]

"No system, I really don't feel good, half of my body is stuck in mud..."

Looks like it didn't realize that James accidentally had the lower half of his body stuck in mud while he was running...

[...I'll guide you right away.]

"Thank you."

...

...

...

3rd day of the "field trip".

[Impressive, to think that Host had this in mind long ago.]

On a cold hard ground filled with dead leaves, a crawling lizard man could be seen in his natural habitat.

The specimen moved its right hand in front of itself while its left other leg moved up all the way to the waist.

The system watched, as the mythical creature crawled its way along the road.

It was even growling and grunting while 'its' face was sweating profusely.

[However, you look ridiculous...]

'Shut up.'

Yes, James was doing an exercise called 'the lizard crawl'.

He had seen it coincidentally when watching MMA fights, and was surprised by the amount of benefits it could bring if done properly.

So he did the most logical thing.

He copied it.

Now here we are...

'I heard *growl* that this will boost my coordination with my body or something and *grunt* it also is a good movement that targets a ton of muscle groups especially the upper body, so I decided *growl* why not learn it?'

[Your reasoning is truly astonishing Host.]

'Oh my, didn't know you were capable of sarcasm.'

[Quit your babbling and stop wasting your mental energy.]

'Yes, yes.'

James continued lizard crawling and silence descended upon the forest.

Too awfully quiet actually...

20 minutes later, he couldn't stand it anymore and stood up while wiping the sweat off.

'System, I smell sus.'

[Judging by the situation and the use of a word called 'sus', the system has deduced that the Host was meaning to say 'suspicious'?]

'...System, I can't hear the animals anymore...why is that?'

James looked around and didn't see anything until he concentrated his sight on a huger boulder that seemed to camouflage with its surroundings.

Nevertheless, what made it unnatural was that James saw how it slightly moved up and down like it was breathing and if he looked closed enough...there was also fur?

'What...'

[...Host. Run]

The system didn't say more and James didn't need to hear more either.

He ran with all his might in another direction.

'Fuck! I can hear it!'

The breaking sounds of sticks and several large tress fell down while something chased him from behind.

At this moment, James could feel it.

The natural instincts that hid deep within humans ever since they first roamed earth.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart beat faster while adrenaline coursed through every cell of his body.

The instinct that humans have honed through hunting and escaping for millennia.

Natural fear.

Real terror.

[Dodge!]

...

---Unknown POV---

I was tasked by the Miss to guard my James.

I wonder why though...

The way I see it, James is totally doing fine!

Even if there are people that threaten him, I can just kill them!

"Hehehehe~"

I laugh to myself whilst in bed.

More specifically his bed.

Now that he's gone...I can...

Gone...

Gone...

He left me...

Wait, throwing away my feelings, aren't I supposed to guard him?!?!

Oh no...

WAIT, calm down, I saw him texting the Miss a few days ago.

Maybe, the Miss invited him to the 'meeting'?

It should be fine, but just in case...

No!

I'll stay here in case he comes back!

...

...

...

[Host...?]