She offered her hand. I took it. Her palm was warm and callused.

〘Physical contact established. Temptation Gauge +1%. Current level: 26%.〙

She pulled me up with enough force that I stumbled forward. Almost crashed into her. Stopped myself with my hand on her shoulder.

〘Physical contact maintained. Temptation Gauge stable. Subject comfort threshold maintained.〙

"Sorry," I muttered.

"For what? Being slow?" She smirked. But she didn’t move away from my hand.

Heat crept up my neck. "For assuming I could track you."

She stepped back. My hand fell away from her shoulder.

"At least you learn quick," she said. "Let’s try something else."

For the next hour, Sloane ran me through basic defensive postures. How to protect my head. How to absorb impacts I couldn’t avoid. How to fall without breaking anything important.

I was drenched in sweat. My muscles burned. But I was learning. Actually learning.

〘Physical stats increasing: Stamina +1, Durability +1. Current values: 11, 11.〙

A notification popped up in my peripheral vision.

〘📋 SIDE QUEST UNLOCKED

Quest: No Pain, No Gain

Description: The host body is a disgrace. Its physical parameters are below the acceptable baseline for a protagonist. Fortunately, an opportunity for state-sanctioned improvement has presented itself. Do not waste it.

Objective: Complete ten (10) training sessions with Heroine Candidate Sloane Fitzgerald.

A ’session’ is defined as a minimum of 60 minutes of continuous, good-faith physical training.

Time Limit: 30 Days

Rewards:

One (1) Random Skill Pull Ticket (Guaranteed Rarity: E ~ B)

+10 Stat Points

System Note:

Progress is its own reward. But a tangible incentive has a documented history of improving compliance. Consider this an investment in your future utility.〙

Well, that was convenient. Almost like the system was finally working with me instead of against me.

"Let’s take a break," Sloane said. She tossed me a water bottle from a mini-fridge I hadn’t noticed.

I caught it one-handed. Small victory.

She grabbed her own bottle and drank half of it in one go. Water spilled down her chin, dripped onto her chest. Her sports bra was dark with sweat, clinging to curves that—

Stop staring, idiot.

〘Target susceptibility increased during physical exertion. Quest completion probability rises to 58% if attempted within next 5 minutes.〙

Sloane caught me looking. Wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "What?"

"Nothing," I said. "Just surprised you’re taking this seriously."

She frowned. "I said I would, didn’t I?"

"Yeah, but..." I hesitated. "You were pretty clear about how pointless this is."

Sloane sat down on a weight bench. Patted the spot next to her. I joined her, keeping a careful distance.

"Look," she said. "You’re Unmarked. That’s a fact. But..."

She trailed off. Stared at her water bottle like it held answers.

"But what?"

"But I respect that you’re trying," she said finally. "Most people would just accept it and move on with their lives. Find a normal job. Be a normal person."

"I’m not most people."

She snorted. "Clearly."

We sat in silence for a moment. The quest timer continued its countdown. 14:47:22.

"Can I ask you something?" I said.

"You just did."

"Ha ha. Seriously though."

She shrugged. "Go ahead."

"Why do you care if I apply to Halloran? It doesn’t affect you either way."

Sloane went very still. Her knuckles whitened around the water bottle.

"Because you’ll get hurt," she said quietly.

"People get hurt all the time."

"Not like this." She turned to face me. Her blue eyes were intense. "The exam isn’t just hard, Lukas. It’s designed to break people who shouldn’t be there."

"You think I shouldn’t be there."

"I think you’re Unmarked in a world that wasn’t built for you." She looked away. "And I think watching you get hurt trying to be something you’re not would be..."

She didn’t finish the sentence. Didn’t need to.

〘Temptation Gauge +2%. Current level: 28%. Subject experiencing protective instinct conflict.〙

The moment stretched between us. I could have reached over right then. Put my arm around her shoulders. Pulled her close. The quest would have been done in seconds.

It would also have been the douchiest thing I’d ever done.

I stood up. "Let’s keep training."

Sloane looked up at me. Something unreadable crossed her face.

"Right," she said. "Break’s over."

We moved back to the mat. Sloane adjusted my stance. Her hands on my shoulders. My elbows. My wrists.

〘Physical contact increasing subject comfort threshold. Temptation Gauge +1%. Current level: 29%.〙

"You’re too stiff," she said. "Loosen up."

"I’m trying."

She moved behind me. Put her hands on my hips. Turned them slightly.

"Power comes from rotation, not just pushing forward." Her voice was close to my ear. "Feel the difference?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Her chest was pressed against my back. Her hands still on my hips.

Sloane stepped back. "Try the combination again."

I threw the punches. Jab, cross, hook. They felt better. Smoother.

"Good," she said. "Again."

We drilled the combination twenty more times. My arms felt like lead. Sweat dripped into my eyes.

〘Endurance +1. Current value: 11.〙

"Last one," Sloane said. "Put everything into it."

I summoned what little energy I had left. Threw the combination with everything I had.

The last hook sent me off-balance. I stumbled to the side.

Sloane caught me by the arm. Steadied me.

"Careful," she said. "Don’t hurt yourself."

Our eyes met. She was still holding my arm. Her face was flushed from exertion. Pink hair plastered to her forehead with sweat.

〘Quest completion probability: 92%.〙

I could have done it right then. Ended the ridiculous mission. Saved myself from anatomical disaster.

But I couldn’t. Not like that.

"Thanks," I said, pulling my arm away gently. "I think I’m done for today."

Sloane nodded. "Not bad for a first session. You didn’t cry or throw up."

"Setting the bar real high there."

"For an Unmarked? Yeah, actually." She grabbed a towel, tossed it to me. "Same time tomorrow?"

The quest timer read 14:22:15. I didn’t have until tomorrow.

"Maybe we could train again tonight?" I suggested. "After dinner?"

Sloane raised an eyebrow. "Eager much?"

"Just making the most of your generosity before you come to your senses."

She laughed. "Fine. Eight o’clock. Don’t be late."

I nodded. "I’ll be here."

Sloane headed for the door, then paused. "Hey, Lukas?"

"Yeah?"

"This was... nice." She didn’t look at me when she said it. "Training someone. It’s different."

Before I could respond, she was gone. The door swung shut behind her.

I collapsed onto the mat. Every muscle screaming. Two training sessions with Sloane. One quest with an impossible deadline. And a steadily increasing Temptation Gauge that made me feel like the world’s biggest asshole.

〘Host experiencing moral hesitation. Reminder: quest failure consequences are permanent.〙

"I know," I said to the empty room. "I fucking know."

I checked the quest timer again. 14:21:04.

I had until tonight to figure it out. One more training session. One more chance.

Or I lost half my manhood to a system that didn’t care about my ethical dilemmas.

I laughed bitterly. This wasn’t even close to what I’d expected when I woke up in someone else’s body.

〘Suggestion: focus on mission parameters. Moral considerations are secondary to survival.〙

"Easy for you to say." I stood up slowly. My legs wobbled. "You’re not the one who has to live with the consequences."

〘Incorrect. System functionality is directly tied to host status. Your failure impacts operational parameters.〙

"So you’re saying we’re in this together? How heartwarming."

〘Sarcasm noted. Ineffective as problem-solving mechanism.〙

I grabbed my towel and water bottle. Headed for the door. Tonight’s session was my last chance. I needed a plan that didn’t make me feel like complete garbage.

The quest timer continued its merciless countdown.

14:18:22.

14:18:21.

14:18:20.

===

[A/N:]

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