Sunday had slipped by like a shadow. Quiet. Uneventful. A rare kind of peace.

Jayden had run through his daily quests, trained, and even pushed himself at the gym, but nothing remarkable had happened. It was the kind of calm that almost felt suspicious in his life.

Now it was Monday.

The morning was brisk, the sky still pale with the soft gold of dawn when Jayden hit the park. His boots thudded rhythmically against the gravel path of the park, his jog a steady, pounding beat that matched the quiet pulse in his chest. His breathing was controlled, precise, not a hint of strain despite the speed he carried. To any onlooker, he looked like just another morning runner… a young man chasing fitness.

But Jayden wasn't here to keep in shape.

He didn't even need this anymore.

His stats were already beyond even an evil human… his body was an apex machine of speed, power, and endurance. He could bend steel, tear through concrete, outrun vehicles if he wanted. The daily quests were technically beneath him now. But to Jayden, repetition meant more than raw necessity. It was the grind. The discipline. The sharpening of habit. And besides, the System still rewarded him. More stat points, more experience… and the quiet sense of control that came from routine.

By the time he reached the park, the System chimed in his head.

*Daily Quest (1/3):

[Run a total of 3km] (Complete)

Jayden exhaled hard, slowing to a halt near the weight-station section of the park. His dark eyes shifted to the massive boulder that had been his barbell for weeks now, a boulder that most men couldn't even dream of moving, let alone lifting. It was exactly 200 kilograms of stubborn rock. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, gripped its rough surface, and heaved. His muscles tightened like coiled cables, veins pressing against his skin, and in one smooth motion, the boulder rose.

*Daily Quest (2/3):

[Lift a total of 200kg] (Complete)

The notification faded from his mind's eye, but Jayden didn't move immediately. He dropped it back with a low thud that rumbled through the earth. Dust puffed into the air, but Jayden wasn't done. He straightened, his sharp gaze locking onto the highest tree in the park, branches swaying in the early wind. That was supposed to be his next challenge.

But then he stopped.

His head turned slowly. His eyes narrowed on a skyscraper just beyond the park's edge, its mirrored glass flashing cold light. Its body rose high into the sky, nearly five hundred feet of sleek silver stabbing upward like a spear. It dwarfed everything around it, its reflection of the morning sun almost blinding.

Jayden's lips curved. "Perhaps I should change taste for once," he muttered to himself.

Then instead of heading toward the tall oak tree he usually climbed, Jayden veered off, crossing the park's boundary, and walking up to the colossal building. His boots crunched the gravel path until he stood at the building's base.

The surface gleamed smooth and metallic beneath his touch. For a normal person, climbing it would've been suicide. But Jayden wasn't normal. He placed his palm flat against the steel wall, feeling its cold bite, and grinned.

This was a challenge he simply couldn't resist.

He flexed his hand, letting his claws slide free with a metallic shnk. They gleamed faintly under the morning light. His grin widened.

He inhaled deep, then…

WHOOSH!

Jayden launched himself upward, his body slicing through the air like a missile. In one leap, he cleared 70 feet of sheer vertical space before slamming into the wall.

CHINK!

His claws stabbed into the steel with a vicious scrrrk, embedding deep as if the wall were butter. Sparks flickered from the friction, as his body was anchored firmly.

Without pausing, Jayden moved. Leaping upward again, his claws lashed out, hooking the wall, then launching himself even higher. Each bound carried him dozens of feet at once, his telekinesis giving him bursts of thrust to propel forward. The skyscraper groaned under his repeated impacts, but Jayden only climbed faster. Higher.

In less than a minute, he burst over the building's edge and landed on the rooftop, boots hitting solid ground with a heavy thud.

He exhaled, chest rising and falling, a mix of effort and satisfaction in his breath. Then, the System chimed:

[Daily Quest Complete]

[+10 Stat points received]

[+10 Exp received]

Jayden smiled, tilting his head to the horizon. Below him sprawled the glittering veins of the city… hovering cars streaking past in neon trails, glass towers gleaming in the sunlight. The wind whipped across his face as he stood there, drinking in the sight.

He lingered there for a while, calm and sharp all at once, admiring the urban landscape.

Later he turned, crouched, and leapt down, descending in controlled bursts until he landed safely on the ground again. He brushed the dust from his hands, feeling the pleasant burn in his muscles, not exhaustion… but the satisfaction of pushing himself

By the time he got home, the day had properly begun. He bathed, the water washing away the grit of the climb, then joined the family for breakfast. The smell of eggs, toast, and freshly brewed coffee filled the dining room. After eating, he dressed sharp, fastening his jacket as he stepped outside.

His hover bike hummed alive under him, purring with restrained speed. He mounted, kicked off the ground, and the bike roared forward in a surge of energy.

Jayden leaned in as he accelerated, the city rushed past in blurs of neon and chrome as he leaned low, wind tearing at his face.

His destination wasn't random. He had to attend a gala tonight, which meant no midnight hunting. So he decided to hunt during the day instead.

And where better than the notorious Jade City outskirts… the wild zone, where danger lived and the thrill of the hunt never disappointed. The beasts there didn't fear him, and that was perfect.

His lips curled into a half-smirk as the cityscape blurred past him

The hunt was calling.

And Jayden was ready to answer.