Chapter 17

With a newfound surge of vitality, Klaus was brimming with eagerness to improve his Strength stat. At first, he ventured into a realm of random exercises, but quickly found himself disenchanted. A burning determination set in, compelling him to explore his limits. What better way to begin than with the most fundamental exercise – push-ups? Klaus resolved to understand his current capabilities without the crutch of magic.

A deep breath, and he descended onto the ground, taking the push-up position. His feeble arms trembled under the weight of his own body. With gritted teeth, Klaus motivated himself aloud. "Come on, you can do better than this." Summoning every ounce of strength, he struggled to push his body up, and a mighty groan accompanied the ascent – a singular push-up.

Down he went, quietly attempting to maintain his momentum. But for all his determination, Klaus discovered that one push-up marked his limit. Desperation flooded over him as he strained to raise his body, his arms throbbing with pain.

"Just one? For real?" he muttered in shame, the frustration evident in his voice. The disbelief was palpable. "How can I be this weak, unable even to lift my own body?" Defeated, he lay on his back, gazing at the boundless blue sky as if it held the answers to his questions.

In an effort to make sense of his predicament, he instinctively turned to the Status Window he'd grown so familiar with:

~Status Window~

Name: Klaus Lionhart

Title: Gluttony Apostle, the Youngest Mage in the Continent

State: Decline in Athletic Ability, Decline in Mana Affinity

Trait: Gluttony Lv1, Ten Eyes Mantra (Two-Eyes), Second Circle Mage

Strength: 3

Agility: 3

Stamina: 10

Energy: 7

Perception: 20

Arcane power: ???

Willpower: 20

*Additional Abilities have not been unlocked

~~~~~~

The absence of "Poor Stamina" from the State section offered a glimmer of solace. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," he mused, casting a fleeting glance at his Strength stat. Satisfaction overcame his dejection. "It disappeared because my stamina stat reached 10. No wonder I don't feel as tired as I used to be."

Klaus found solace in the realization that the Ten Eyes Mantra's special attribute allowed him to work out with the aid of magic. This unique ability enabled him to create a miniature Mental World in his mind for each Eye of the Ten Eyes Mantra he unlocked. Yet, the process of mana transfer from his body to this Mental World remained shrouded in mystery. Through a stroke of luck and ingenuity, he had also discovered a way to craft magic circles within each opened eye. While this method spared him from directly depleting his body's mana, it exacted a significant toll on his mind. Casting magic in this manner felt akin to riding a Ferris wheel at breakneck speeds, the constant dizziness bearing down upon him.

Relinquishing the complexities of his newfound abilities, Klaus decided to continue his push-up routine. This time, however, he harnessed magic to amplify his strength and reduce his body weight. Gray light enveloped him, signaling the success of his magical enhancement.

Klaus embarked on the push-ups with newfound strength, making the initial ten seem almost effortless. Yet, as he persevered, an unsettling sensation began to seep into his head, much like ink spreading across a pristine canvas. As he reached the milestone of thirty consecutive push-ups, his mind grew fuzzy, and the dizziness became nearly unbearable. Multi-casting multiple 'second circle' spells at once imposed a significant mental burden.

"Only 30?" he exclaimed in frustration, lying on his back, baffled by the unexpected dizziness. "Something's not right. I should have been able to do more," he pondered, speculating that a lack of sleep and proper nourishment might be contributing to his dilemma.

The rumbling protest of his stomach and his body's exhaustion drove him to the supplies thoughtfully provided by Ludovic. There, he devoured bread filled with cream and fruits resembling multicolored apples. Regardless of the quantities consumed, his hunger remained insatiable. Klaus continued to eat until nearly half of the supplies had disappeared.

"At last, I'm full," he declared, attempting to persuade his stomach and mind. "I should get some rest," he concluded, leaving the training ground for the mansion.

***

After almost twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep, Klaus awoke brimming with energy. His body felt invigorated as if it had been replenished with raw power.

"Now that's more like it," he expressed, satisfied with his newfound vitality. He didn't waste a moment, darting toward the training ground. Even the darkness of the early morning sky couldn't dampen his enthusiasm.

This time, there was no need to test his limits without magic. He dove into his training regimen with the full application of magic from the start. A beaming smile graced his face as he powered through eighty push-ups, and he felt as though he could continue for the entire day.

Upon reaching the monumental one hundred push-ups, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.

*Ding*

[Strength Stat increased by 1]

Klaus couldn't contain his joy, beaming with an overwhelming sense of amazement. "This truly feels like a cheat code," he marveled,

 reveling in the boundless potential of his newfound abilities.