5. Surviving the Frigid Abyss

Ryota without wasting any time opened his status panel.

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••Status••

-Name: Ryota Hoshiro

- Level: 1

-Job: None

-Title: None

••Stats••

-HP: 100

-MP: 10

-Fatigue: 80

-Strength: 10

-Stamina: 10

-Agility: 10

-Intelligence: 10

-Perception: 10

-Available Stat Points: 0

••Passive Skills••

-Tenacity: Level 1

••Active Skills••

••Store••

••Inventory••

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'80 Fatigue? No wonder I am feeling so winded,' Ryota shuddered as a breeze blew in the cell.

Looking at the Quest Reward panel, he chose the first two options, Status Recovery and 3 Stat points without any hesitation.

[Would you like to receive the reward]

[Y/N]

Ryota mentally pressed on the 'Y' option.

Instantly after Ryota confirmed his choice, all the weight of exhaustion lifted from his shoulders. His fatigue plummeted from 80 to zero, and a wave of invigoration washed over him, filling him with a renewed energy that pulsed through his veins.

However, this surge of vitality couldn't shield him from the piercing chill of the freezing hell's atmosphere, and he soon found himself shivering once more, the cold biting into his skin as the warmth of his recovery faded into the frosty air around him.

Ryota once again glanced at his system panel, deliberating where to allocate the three stat points he had just earned.

He pondered whether boosting his stamina would be the best choice. Stamina, he reasoned, often related to one's endurance and overall vitality, which might help him resist the harsh conditions longer. A higher stamina could potentially improve his body's ability to generate and retain heat, or at the very least, allow him to endure the cold with less discomfort.

Still unsure, Ryota scrolled through his status panel, considering the potential benefits of other stats like Strength or Agility, which might be crucial for future physical challenges or escapes. However, survival was his immediate concern. Making a decision, he decided to allocate all three points to Stamina, boosting it from 10 to 13.

After Ryota added the three points to his Stamina, raising it from 10 to 13, he felt a subtle but noticeable difference in his body's resilience. His breathing became steadier, and the intense shivering that racked his body seemed to subside slightly. Although the cold still penetrated the thin fabric of his prison clothes, it was less biting, suggesting that his body was slightly more efficient at retaining heat.

As the minutes passed, Ryota realized that while the increase in Stamina did not completely shield him from the cold, it did allow him to manage the discomfort better, providing him with more energy and endurance to withstand the harsh conditions.

He then looked at the passive skill section of the panel which was empty earlier, but now held one passive skill.

Without hesitation Ryota quickly clicked on the name of the skill, hoping the system would explain more about it. Just as he had expected a new panel opened before him titled Tenacity.

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Tenacity: Increases resistance to adverse conditions by 10%. Grants enhanced stamina regeneration during times of physical exertion or stress. Additionally, provides a slight boost to overall endurance, allowing the user to endure harsh environments for longer periods with reduced negative effects.

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This skill seemed tailor-made for his current situation, offering him a significant advantage in enduring the brutal conditions of his confinement.

'No wonder I was able to hold on for so long while doing the quest yesterday,' Ryota wondered when he gained this passive skill.

He tried to recall whether it was during the pushups or sit-ups.

'Did I receive a notification for it?' Ryota was confused as to why he didn't notice the skill while completing the quest. Though a part of him seem to understand why.

While completing the quest he seemed to be in some kind of trance, completely unaware of his surroundings. He was giving his all, like his life depended upon it.

Well actually it did. But still it seemed like he had achieved some kind of peak concentration there.

Ryota had no idea how he was able to do that.

Just as he was thinking about that Ryota's stomach grumbled loudly, reminding him how hungry he was in the freezing cold. Although the Status Recovery had slightly alleviated his hunger, it definitely wasn't a permanent solution. So if he wanted to survive then he still had to eat and drink like a normal person.

He eyed the lone piece of bread on his plate, but it might as well have been a rock, it was so frozen.

'Maybe I'll starve before the cold gets me,' he thought, seeing his breath as mist in the icy air. Despite feeling bleak, he reached for the plate, determined to try eating.

But just as he was about to take a bite, a notification from the system popped up.

________________________________________

Daily Quest

•Push ups (0/100)

•Sit ups (0/100)

•Squats (0/100)

•Running (0/10km)

Time left: 18 hours 32 minutes

________________________________________

'Is it the next day already?' Ryota looked at the remaining time on the panel.

Time didn't make sense here; it was always dim, and he couldn't tell day from night.

'So this is my yesterday's meal,' Ryota looked back at the bread which looked like it wanted to break all of his teeth of he tried to chew it.

Besides the plate of bread there was also utensil that held drinking water which was now had completely turned to ice too.

Despite the bread and water being frozen solid, Ryota refused to give in to his hunger and thirst. With a determined look, he came up with a plan. Carefully, he broke small pieces of the icy bread, holding them in his mouth until they thawed enough to chew. It was slow and hard, but he ate enough to ease the hunger in his stomach.

Turning to the frozen water, Ryota knew he had to hurry before his thirst got worse. He pressed the utensil with the ice-cold water against his body, using his warmth to melt it slowly. After waiting patiently for several minutes, tiny droplets formed at the edges. With shaky hands, Ryota held the utensil, savoring each drop as it melted. Though the water was cold, it soothed his dry throat.

With his immediate needs met, Ryota prepared himself for his quest.

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