Chapter 41: Endless Mode

[Endless Mode: survive while completing constant tasks for a certain period of time]

[Pestering: Inflict 10 damage onto a living being, for every minute you go without completing the task, your body weakens.]

Bewildered, Jin's countenance altered itself to in turn match the emotion he felt. Today was packed with system screens he hadn't seen before.

And every time he got a new message he hadn't gotten before, it came out stunning on his end.

[Your body weakens]

Tristan had been wearing black skinny jeans, and a white and black plaid shirt. He also had a golden chain around his neck, resting upon his chest.

Additionally, his haircut was modern and stylish. His hair was covered in jell, and the sides of his head were shaved neatly, whereas the top of it remained long.

Out of the friends, Tristan had always dressed the best; which was expected of him as the richest of the boys.

He raised a brow slightly higher than the other, "What's with that face, Jin?"

Jin was about to lie, but then he relented. He relented because he remembered that there was nothing to hide anymore. Tristan was a Successor too after all.

He simply smiled at him. "Uhm, there's this new system screen in front of me and I—"

"Your bedroom," Tristan quickly interjected, "let's go to your bedroom … we don't want to wake Dobby up." he stood.

"O'kay."

Jin had slowly entered his bedroom, Tristan followed with not the slightest bit of reluctance residing within his mind.

[Your body weakens]

"So … what system screen are you talking about?"

Jin shifted on his feet, "Well, there's this screen in front of me that says something about some 'endless mode' …"

"What level are you on?" he blurted; obvious interest to his tone.

Jin scratched behind his head. "I'm pretty weak actually. Just reached level four this morning."

Tristan paused for a brief moment.

"Well that's something," he put a hand on his chin, "I started getting endless modes after reaching level five … you're starting at level four. Interesting."

Tristan inched closer to him, "What task is on screen?"

"One that wants me to do ten damage to someone …" Jin responded.

[Your body weakens]

"Then that shouldn't be hard. Endless tasks can get obnoxious, so you want to take your time with 'em'. The faster you complete a task, the faster another one appears right after."

"Yeah but it says I'll get weaker every minute."

He looked at Jin in a strange way. Silence, then he raised a brow, and asked, "Are you sure?"

Jin walked over his bed and sat on it. "I mean I don't feel like I'm getting weaker, but the system keeps telling me that I am. The system hasn't been wrong yet … at least not for me."

Tristan turned to him. "Then that's strange. The systems are different, I see."

It became silent for a while until Tristan decided to volunteer to help Jin complete his task.

"Hey, Jin. Your task," he inched closer, "I'll help you complete it."

"Okay … but how are we gonna complete it?" Jin remained on his bed.

Tristan gripped his plaid shirt, and pulled it higher up his body. His rock hard abs were promptly revealed to Jin. It was clear that his workout regimen was no joke.

"Why'd you take your shirt off?"

"So that you can punch my stomach directly."

"What!? You're kidding, right?"

He had been meaning to test how great his abdominal muscles were anyway; punching the shit out of them would be a perfect way to experiment.

He dropped his shirt on the floor. "Kidding? Pfft. I'm being serious here. C'mon, your body's only getting weaker y'know."

"You're not kidding?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" his eyes twitched pretentiously.

Jin stood, "Alright," he raised his shoulders in a half shrug, "If you say so … I guess."

Tristan tensed up for the punches that were about to be thrown his way. He put his best foot forward, and hunched his back remotely. His shredded six pack was even more conspicuous now.

"Alright, hit me with all you got…"

Jin tilted his head along with yet another shrug. He raised both his forearms to the level of his head; his fists balled tightly. "You ready?"

"Of course I'm—"

Jin launched his fist into Tristan's abdomen; catching him off-guard. He whimpered a bit. Then he looked up at Jin again and shook his head in dismay. "Cheap shot."

A screen had appeared before Jin as soon as he had delivered the unexpected blow to Tristan's body. It displayed health. This time however, it wasn't displaying his health, but his opponent.

[HP: 65/67]

Having seen the screen, he quickly noticed that Dobby was beyond his league. If they were to fight head on, Jin knew exactly who the victor would be.

[Progression: 2 / 10 Damage]

"Two health? Not too bad. That's all you got?" a smirk materialized on Tristan's face.

"No, but it's nice of you for asking," Jin grinned.

"Then what are you waiting for? Gimme your best shot!"

Jin stood there stagnantly in silence.

"Well? Are you gonna hit me or—"

Jin jabbed him to the stomach, with all the might his fist could amount to. Immediately after punching Tristan, he brought his hand toward himself. He started rubbing it with a wince on his face.

It felt as if his hand had run into metal. No way that was human muscle!

'He's not even muscular like a body-builder, he's slim with it.'

[HP: 64/67]

[Progression: 3/10]

This time only one damage was inflicted.

Tristan smirked, "You thought you caught me off guard again, didn't you?"

Jin scored a fist to Tristan's abdomen yet again, this time it was his hardest punch yet. He caught Tristan by surprise one more time.

[HP: 61/67]

[Progression: 6 / 10 damage]

Tristan whined in agony; doubling over. "You little fucker…" he said in a high-pitched wheeze yet a smile remained on his face.

Jin couldn't help but smirk. "Well … you said give you my best shot. You ordered, I just delivered."

"Screw you," he straightened out. "We're going at it again, but no distracting me this time, okay?"

Jin raised his forearms to the level of his face again. "Fine, if you say so…"

Tristan tightened up, muscles becoming more prominent. "Alright I'm ready…"

Jin thrust his left arm forward. His balled fist struck into Tristan's abdomen. His body jolted remotely. He regained his balance.

"Not even one damage this time?" Tristan's face screwed up in alluding wry.

[HP: 61/67]

Jin raised a brow, "Really? How come?"

It did not take him too long to realize that his left hand wasn't his dominant one such that it was far weaker. At times, he even deemed his left arm retarded.

"C'mon, strike again. This time with your right hand …" instructed Tristan; tensing up his body for the forthcoming blows.

Jin raised his arms in unison, his brows faintly furrowed. "Okay." more determination to his tone this time.

His right hand was agonizing; his fists swollen from a faulty blow that was launched into Tristan's rock-hard muscles.

He shook the hand; and clenched it again. His attention shifted to Tristan. He pulled his arm back. Subtly, he twirled on his feet. Quickly, he then quickly thrust his fist into Tristan's belly, with all his might.

[Progression: 8 / 10 damage]

[HP: 59/67]

Having received the blow, Tristan's body jerked back a bit. "Good shot, two damage ain't that bad. Again."

Jin didn't think. He quickly raised his forearms. He then meteored a fist into Tristan's abdomen as best he could.

[Progression: 9 / 10]

[HP: 58/67]

A vein manifested at Tristan's temple, as he bent forward from the impact of the blow. "Good … felt that one. You hit the same spot you scored a hit last time."