3:30 AM – The next day
Ren was woken up at the same ungodly hour by that damn system again. But today, he could handle his drowsiness much better than before.
Perhaps it was because he had actually gotten a good night's sleep for once—despite what happened last night...
Today, he decided not to go jogging like he'd planned. Instead, he headed to a nearby park to practice using his spear.
"This iron spear is way lighter than the dragon spear."
Wiping the sweat from his face, Ren looked down at the silver-coated iron spear in his hands with satisfaction. Even though it was fairly heavy, it was still manageable—he could hold and swing it with both hands. But after only a few moves, he was already drained. Still, he was determined to swing the spear through 100 full sets of motions instead of doing his usual basic workout.
Ren's body had been burning from overexertion yesterday, but he felt surprisingly refreshed after just one night of rest. That might mean that people in this world recover far more quickly. That alone motivated him. He wanted to push his body and test his limits.
So he decided to train as much as possible by mimicking the kind of martial arts drills he'd seen in wuxia films—four basic techniques: thrust, raise, spin, and slash. One set, done. And he aimed to complete a full hundred.
But after only a few sets, Ren's body was practically screaming in protest.
Maybe the spear was too heavy, or maybe some of the moves—especially the spinning ones—were just too much for his untrained body. His hands, slick with sweat, kept losing grip, and the spear clattered to the ground multiple times.
Even so, Ren didn't give up. He forced himself to lift the spear and keep going. He knew this wasn't his limit—not yet. He couldn't quit now.
But just as he was getting into position again, a cold voice rang out from behind him.
"Why are you doing something so pointless?"
"!" Ren spun around in shock, not having noticed the silver-haired girl sitting lazily on a tree branch nearby, looking utterly bored.
She stared at him like she couldn't comprehend what he was doing.
"Uh... who are you?" Ren asked, seeing someone he didn't recognize at all.
"Oh—oops, guess I let that slip. Oh well, too late to hide now."
The girl, realizing she'd been spotted, didn't seem fazed in the slightest. She just playfully put a hand over her mouth like a child caught red-handed.
"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your little kid game. I just couldn't help myself," she said with a grin, jumping down from the tree. Despite her smile, her eyes were cold enough to make Ren shiver.
"This woman..." Ren blinked twice to activate his Eye of the Mind, sensing something seriously off about her.
[Lappland]
[Affinity: 40% (Impressed)]
[Status: Neutral]
[Mood: Irritated]
It's her Lappland!?
Ren's eyes widened.
So the guy who had been giving him all those points and help... was actually this crazy-looking woman?
The girl had silver hair and a face with a visible scar, though it didn't take away from her beauty at all. She wore a rough, black coat—barely anything underneath besides a white sports bra and short black shorts, exposing her pale skin.
More strikingly, her thighs bore black crystal-like lesions that gleamed under the streetlights—less beautiful than grotesque.
"She's Infected...?" Ren immediately became alert. He didn't have a good impression of the Infected.
Even though he wasn't sure, the moment she appeared, it felt like she hadn't even acknowledged him as a person, as if he weren't even there.
Ren had seen that kind of look before—on the doctors in his previous life—and it pissed him off. He gripped his spear tightly.
"If you don't have any business here, then leave. Otherwise, I'll report you," Ren said coldly, still trying to talk it out, even though her mood meter clearly said 'Irritated'.
The woman ignored his words and kept talking.
"With that much talent, and yet you play with a weapon like some kid? It's like watching a wolf pretending to be a puppy."
"Ugh... it's enough to make me sick," she added with a twisted smile, drawing two swords from her hips.
Ren swore under his breath.
"This crazy woman... she's serious!?"
He gathered elemental particles around himself, preparing for what was coming.
But then, the girl suddenly asked—
"Did Texas teach you?"
Ren was visibly surprised to hear Texas's name come out of her mouth, though he quickly masked his reaction.
"Why would I tell you that?" he replied coldly.
He began piecing things together. She might be someone who knew Texas—or worse, an old enemy. Her appearance here might be related to Texas... revenge, perhaps. Maybe she had been watching them for a while, judging by the system message that popped up earlier this morning.
Of course, Ren saw Texas as a close friend—there was no way he was giving anything away to this woman.
The girl raised an eyebrow in amusement, then smiled genuinely for the first time.
"Ah... Texas really does have great friends."
[Lappland Saluzzo (Codename: Lappland)]
[Affinity +1000]
[Mood: Deeply moved]
Then her eyes turned razor-sharp. The status text from the Eye of the Mind turned blood red.
[Lappland]
[Affinity: 45% (Admiration)]
[Status: Enemy]
[Mood: Jealous]
"Then... I bet Texas would be devastated if I—"
BANG!!
Ren didn't let her finish. He summoned a stone pillar to strike her, but she dodged effortlessly—like she had seen it coming.
"Oh? Going for the first strike, huh? Texas really did teach you. If I hadn't seen that move before, I might not've dodged it."
The girl smiled and bent forward slightly, like a gentleman inviting someone to a waltz.
"Then... shall we dance?"
"Go dance by yourself!" Ren shouted, raising both hands and summoning two more stone pillars to strike her from both front and back.
BANG!!!
But Ren was left speechless when his pillars shattered to pieces. Around Lappland, a silvery wolf-shaped aura—two spectral crystal beasts—flickered into view.
It was the first time he'd seen anything like it.
"I'm in deep trouble..."