House of The Dragon: House Nightshade

As Vincent exited the dining room, a familiar, cold robotic voice echoed in his mind.

[System Alert] 

[Daily Quest Issued]

Vincent's steps slowed as the holographic panel appeared in front of him, visible only to his eyes. The contents of the quest scrolled before him:

Daily Quest: Preparations to Become Stronger

- Push-ups: 100

- Sit-ups: 100

- Squats: 100

- Running: 10 km

Reward: 3 Stat Points

Vincent's eyes moved down to the reward section, and a smile tugged at his lips. Three stat points to allocate as he pleased—he could already envision the improvements to his strength, speed, and other attributes. The quest seemed simple enough, and Vincent felt a surge of excitement at the thought of completing it and reaping the benefits.

He quickly made his way to the vast garden of his manor. It was the perfect place to complete the quest—a spacious area with lush greenery, isolated from the prying eyes of others, or so he thought.

In the middle of the garden, Vincent stood shirtless, his muscles flexing under the sunlight as he began the first set of exercises. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats—they seemed like basic exercises, but he quickly realized just how unprepared his current body was. Each push-up felt like a struggle, and the sit-ups left his stomach burning as though he was on fire.

Beads of sweat formed on his brow, trickling down his face as he gritted his teeth and pushed through the discomfort. His breaths became ragged, and his vision started to blur from the strain. 'How is this so damn hard?' Vincent thought, cursing his weak stamina.

Unbeknownst to him, several maids had gathered discreetly at a distance, their curious eyes fixed on their young master. Vincent had never been known for physical exertion, so seeing him working out so intensely was surprising. They exchanged hushed whispers, admiration growing for the dedication he was showing. Some thought that he was trying to cope with his new responsibilities as head of the house, while others simply marveled at the change in him. Despite their curiosity, none dared to approach, simply observing with a mix of concern and awe.

Vincent, focused entirely on his grueling task, was oblivious to their presence. He had no time to worry about what others might think; his mind was set on completing the quest. Each movement pushed his body to its limit, and with each repetition, the realization set in—his body was far weaker than he had imagined.

His muscles ached, and the temptation to quit was strong, but the thought of those three stat points kept him going. 'Just a little more,' he told himself, his determination outweighing the pain.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the voice of the System rang out in his head once again.

[Daily Quest Completed]

Vincent collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air, his entire body trembling from exhaustion. His vision swam, but the sweet relief of having finished the quest washed over him. He couldn't believe he had finally done it—completing the seemingly simple task had been far more challenging than expected.

As he lay there, catching his breath, a holographic panel appeared once more, showing his stat points counter now reading 3. A triumphant smile spread across Vincent's face as he mentally issued his next command.

'System, I want to allocate my stat points.'

---

Upon issuing his command, the System responded immediately.

[System Alert] 

[Attributes Menu Opening]

Before Vincent's eyes, a new holographic panel appeared, displaying several attributes. He scanned the list, each attribute presented with a numerical value beside it:

- Strength: 6

- Stamina: 4

- Agility: 9 

- Intelligence: 15   

- Endurance: 5

As Vincent pondered how to allocate his points, the System's voice echoed in his mind once more, explaining each attribute in detail:

[System Alert]

- Strength: Represents the physical power and force you can exert in combat and other activities.

- Stamina: Measures your body's ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort, reducing fatigue over time.

- Agility: Reflects your speed, reflexes, and overall physical coordination.

- Intelligence: Determines your ability to learn, understand, and apply knowledge, particularly in strategic planning and magic use.

- Endurance: Increases your resilience to physical damage and helps you withstand harsh conditions.

[System Note]

The average stat for an adult male human is 10.

Vincent listened intently, absorbing the information. His gaze fell on the 3 stat points he had earned. After a moment of contemplation, he made his decision.

'I'd like 2 stat points to be allocated to stamina, and 1 stat point to be allocated to strength,' Vincent instructed mentally.

He had learned the hard way just how important stamina was during his workout earlier, and he didn't want to struggle so much again. Building up his stamina was crucial, especially if he wanted to train effectively in the future. Allocating a point to strength also seemed wise, knowing that increased physical power would aid him in mastering swordsmanship.

As soon as Vincent confirmed his allocation, he felt a subtle shift within himself. It wasn't an overwhelming sensation, but rather a quiet, underlying change—a newfound vitality coursing through his veins. His muscles seemed to relax, and his breathing felt easier. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed, but he knew something had.

Exhausted from the day's exertion, Vincent decided it was time to rest. He had pushed his body beyond its limits, and sleep was the only thing on his mind.

As he walked back towards the manor, his steps were slightly heavier, the fatigue settling in. Unbeknownst to him, Alfred had been observing from a distance. The butler had watched his young master's workout, silently impressed by Vincent's determination and grit. As Vincent headed to his room, Alfred allowed himself a small, approving smile.

Reaching his quarters, Vincent collapsed onto his bed, the soft sheets welcoming him. His mind, though swirling with the thoughts of his newfound strength and the System's possibilities, couldn't resist the call of sleep any longer. Within moments, he drifted off, his body and mind succumbing to the much-needed rest.