"30 hours? I have to wait for 30 hours? Why can’t I take it right away?"

Leon was actually excited. His whole life, he had been nothing but useless. Weak... talentless... But now this scope to finally get stronger was something he was really looking forward to. Also, the system that felt like a game was something he wanted to try further.

No more writings popped out in the panel.

Leon sighed. "I will just wait then." He said in a dispirited tone and then collapsed onto the bed. Soon, tiredness took over, and he drifted off to sleep. This time, there were no more dreams. At least not that nightmare that had been haunting him for months.

The next morning, he woke up full of energy. Sitting up, he stretched a little. "Having muscles feels good." He got up from the bed with a chuckle.

He freshened up and started getting dressed for class. But his eyebrows quickly furrowed in frustration. The sleeves of his shirt were hugging his muscles, leaving no gap at all. And his pants... the waist was so loose that the excess fabric gathered in messy folds when he tightened his belt. "Guess even good things come with problems."

He looked at his watch in a hurry. "There is no time to get new dresses. And no way I am going to class like this, like a tyrant.

He quickly changed into another pair of loose clothes and then came out of his room.

Jenny had already prepared the breakfast.

"Eat up." She looked up as she said that. But looking at Leon, her eyes narrowed. "Are you planning to bunk your classes today?"

"I wasn’t intentionally. But I have to. My old dresses... They won’t fit anymore. So before I can attend the classes again, I need a new pair of dresses."

Jenny looked at her brother. The person who had been skinny and weak until now suddenly looked fit and full of vigor. "Leon, you really aren’t taking any harmful things, are you?"

Leon looked at her. "Do you see anything here?" Leon pointed at the air before him.

"What? There is nothing there." She panicked and rushed toward him. "Let’s go see a doctor. You are having side effects of the drugs you took." She was sure that Leon was on drugs or steroids. What else could explain his overnight growth? And now, pointing at the air where there was nothing, he asked if she could see anything there. That question just confirmed her suspicion.

Leon smiled warily and tried to calm her. "You stupid brat. Why would I ever try those things? They are more harmful than providing any actual help. And about the change... Give me some time. I have a big surprise waiting for you." He pinched her nose and said playfully.

’I can’t say anything about the system to anybody. It’s not like she will believe it either. Even I am having a hard time believing it’s really happening. But when I am strong enough, I can at least say to her that I have awakened. Like many, her brother is also a knight now.’ He told himself.

"The surprise should be good," Jenny said with a pout. Though she had some suspicions, she knew her brother was anything but a liar.

"It’s good. Really, really good." Leon said playfully. "Now, let’s get done with our breakfast so that you aren’t late for your classes. And after that, I will come to pick you up. We will head together to visit mom."

Jenny sat happily at the table. Leon joined. Even with just two people, the breakfast was full of banter and teasing. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

After breakfast, Jenny left for her school.

Leon had nothing to do. But there was something he wanted to try. Before going to the gate, the system mentioned, before he could fully invest himself in this path, he wanted to try what this change could really do.

He left the house as well. And then soon headed toward a gym. Gyms were places where one couldn’t just train but had the means to test one’s strength as well. And the word ’Train’ didn’t just mean weight lifting and other workouts to pump one’s muscles. Here, training meant pushing one’s own talent or skill to a higher level through different arrangements in the gym.

Leon soon reached a gym. The LED board at the front read, ’Knight’s Bar’.

Leon clenched his fist and stared at it. ’Let’s see what the system is really capable of.’

Leon walked through the main entrance.

A receptionist welcomed Leon. "Welcome, sir. Which facility would you like to use?" A gorgeous-looking woman asked.

"I want to use the level 1 room for reinforcement magic users."

"Sure, sir. This way, please."

She led Leon to a chamber.

"This one, sir. The room costs 50$ for one hour, sir."

"Thank you. I think one hour will do." He then handed a 50$ note to the receptionist.

Without a monthly membership, anyone could use any gym on an hourly basis.

The receptionist accepted the money and headed back to her seat with a smile.

Leon looked at the door and exhaled. "Here I come."

He tapped the switch.

Click!

He entered without hesitation.

On the wall opposite the door, there was a red circular foam-like object.

Leon walked toward it. He drew his hand back and clenched his fist.

"Show me something great, buddy."

And then....

Whoosh!

He let the tension explode. His fist slammed on that red foam with every ounce of his power.

Bam!

The meter beside the foam came to life.

[10 kg...

20 kg...

40 kg...]

The readings started to blur.

Soon it crossed 100 kg. Then 200 kg. 300 kg. Finally, it came to a stop after hitting 379 kg.

Leon’s eyes widened in shock.

"I... I really am on par with an F-class knight now." He grinned with ecstasy.

His eyes darted toward the left, next.

"Strength is good. Let’s try my speed now."