Kaizen wiped the sweat from his forehead, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The sun bore down mercilessly, but he refused to stop. If he wanted to survive—no, thrive—on this brutal island, he had to push himself beyond anything he had ever imagined.
His training was relentless. The island was his gym, and every part of it had something to teach him.
The first thing he needed was stamina. Running through the dense jungle was no easy feat. The roots and uneven terrain were natural obstacles, forcing him to stay sharp. Every day, he pushed himself a little further, running until his legs burned, until his lungs screamed for air. It wasn't just about speed—it was about endurance, about outlasting whatever enemy he might face in the future.
To build strength, he crafted a routine using what the island provided. Fallen logs became weights, boulders became lifting stones. He hoisted them over his shoulders, using every muscle in his body to keep them balanced. His core, his legs, his arms—everything burned, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
[Skill Enhancement Available]
He ignored it. Not yet. He had learned that using his enhancements wisely was key. If he used them now, he wouldn't be truly maximizing his effort. He needed to push to his natural limit first before enhancing beyond it.
Next was combat training. He couldn't afford to just rely on weapons. His body had to be just as deadly. He trained his reflexes by setting up crude traps—hanging stones from vines and triggering them to fall, forcing himself to dodge in split seconds. He shadowboxed against the air, imagining opponents, countering their invisible strikes. His fists grew calloused, his strikes sharper.
But brute force wasn't enough. He had to be fast. The creatures on this island weren't going to give him a fair fight. He needed to react, to move instinctively. He climbed trees, leaped from branch to branch, using his surroundings to enhance his mobility. He studied the predatory animals, mimicking their movements, learning how to strike with precision.
Every day, he pushed harder. Pain was temporary. Weakness was unacceptable.
Days turned into weeks. His body transformed. He was no longer just a ten-year-old boy—he was a fighter, a survivor, a warrior in the making.
One night, as he sat by the fire, muscles aching but heart pounding with satisfaction, he smirked.
[Skill Enhancement Available]
This time, he didn't hesitate.
"Enhance Strength. Enhance Endurance. Enhance Reflexes."
[Enhancement Applied. Strength +100% | Endurance +100% | Reflexes +100%]
The moment it happened, he felt it. His muscles, his breathing, his very awareness—it was like stepping into a new body, one that was twice as powerful as the one before.
Kaizen clenched his fists. His journey was just beginning.
He would become strong enough to conquer this world.