The first light of dawn had barely crept over the horizon when Elian's alarm buzzed sharply, dragging him from a restless sleep. The cold sweat on his brow and the ache in his limbs reminded him instantly: yesterday's brutal mission was not a one-time ordeal — it was now part of his daily routine.
[ Daily Exercise Mission: Complete 100 Push-ups, 100 Sit-ups, 10 km Run ]Reward: 5000 Pesos for Every Completed Mission
He blinked away the fog of fatigue and sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. His cramped room felt smaller than ever, walls closing in on him like the crushing weight of months spent unemployed and aimless.
But this time, unlike before, there was a spark.
A strange mix of fear and hope fluttered in his chest.
Today wasn't just about survival. It was about transformation.
Rising With Purpose
Elian swung his legs over the side of the bed and planted his feet on the cold, rough floorboards. He winced as the lingering soreness from yesterday's exercise screamed in protest.
He took a deep breath and pulled on his old running shoes. The laces were frayed and stained, but they had carried him this far. He slipped on a loose t-shirt and faded shorts, muscles stiff but ready to move.
His phone chimed with a soft notification.
"Good morning, Elian! Ready for today's mission?"
He smiled faintly. Ready or not, the system's challenge waited for him.
He stepped out onto the small balcony of his modest apartment, overlooking the busy streets of his barangay.
The early morning air was thick with humidity and the aroma of cooking rice mingled with exhaust fumes.
A vendor was already setting up his stall below, arranging rows of colorful fruits under a faded umbrella.
Children ran past, laughing loudly.
The world was alive, vibrant — and he was a part of it now, no longer invisible.
He found his usual spot near the cracked concrete by the corner, already dusted with bits of garbage and scattered leaves.
Elian took off his shirt, revealing a soft belly that he knew was going to be a problem for these exercises.
He forced himself down onto the rough surface.
His hands, roughened by years of typing rather than physical labor, pressed against the ground.
He began the push-ups.
"One... two... three..."
His arms shook with effort. Sweat began to drip down his forehead, stinging his eyes.
His muscles burned fiercely, every repetition a fight against his own body's weakness.
By the time he reached fifty, his arms felt like jelly.
He collapsed for a moment, chest heaving.
The sound of a vendor's cart rolling nearby broke his focus.
A passerby glanced his way, eyebrows raised as if silently judging his slow, shaky movements.
Elian clenched his teeth, forcing himself up again.
"One... two..."
After finishing the grueling push-ups, Elian rolled onto his back for the sit-ups.
He planted his feet firmly on the ground and placed his hands behind his head.
"Come on, you can do this."
The words were a mantra, repeated over and over in his mind.
"One... two... three..."
Each lift caused a sharp pain in his abdomen.
His breath came in ragged gasps, and his back ached against the rough concrete.
Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes—not from pain but frustration.
Why did his body betray him after just months of inactivity?
Had all those wasted days finally caught up?
But he refused to quit.
If the system expected this, then this was what he would give.
No matter how hard, no matter how much it hurt.
He pushed himself until the count reached a hundred.
His muscles trembled violently, but the satisfaction of completing the first half of the mission was a balm.
Elian stood slowly, legs shaky but unyielding.
He began his run through the familiar streets, the humidity clinging to his skin like a wet blanket.
The sun was still low, but it was already threatening to burn the city with relentless heat.
His breaths came in sharp bursts, lungs tightening as if fighting for every inch of oxygen.
"Just keep moving," he whispered.
Passing by vendors opening their stalls and commuters rushing to work, Elian felt out of place.
His pace was slow, his steps heavy.
At the first kilometer mark, he wanted to stop.
His calves screamed.
His knees protested.
His mind screamed louder, urging him to quit.
But he clenched his fists, pushing through the pain.
With every painful step, he thought about the reward waiting for him.
Not just the 5000 pesos.
But the promise of a better life.
Memories flooded his mind.
Rejections. The sting of unanswered emails. The silence of interviews gone wrong.
His mother's worried face.
His father's resigned sighs.
The heavy shame of unemployment.
The crushing weight of unfulfilled dreams.
Yet, here he was.
Running.
Fighting.
Breathing.
The mission was transforming him, piece by piece.
By the eighth kilometer, Elian's legs were trembling violently.
His lungs burned with every breath.
He considered collapsing on the sidewalk, letting the world pass him by.
But something inside refused to give up.
Summoning the last shred of strength, he pushed on.
The ninth kilometer.
Then the tenth.
Finally, he stumbled to his usual park bench and collapsed, gasping for breath.
His body was drenched in sweat.
His heart pounded wildly.
His vision blurred, but a triumphant smile broke across his lips.
The Reward
Elian's phone buzzed softly.
He reached for it with trembling hands.
[ Mission Complete ]
Reward Granted: 5000 Pesos
Balance: 5000 Pesos
He stared in disbelief.
Five thousand pesos.
For completing the hardest challenge he had faced in years.
Tears blurred his vision—not from pain, but from hope.
He was finally breaking free.
Revising the Resume
Back in his room, Elian wiped the sweat from his brow and booted up his laptop.
The weight of his past failures was still there, but it felt lighter now.
He opened his old resume, dusty and outdated.
It was time for a change.
He recalled the other reward he had earned days ago: 5 years of .NET developer experience.
Could he really claim it?
He thought about the missions he had completed—the skills he had gained.
The system wasn't just giving him physical strength or money.
It was crafting a new Elian.
He began typing:
Elian Reyes
Aspiring Software Developer
Contact: 0917-XXX-XXXX | [email protected]
Profile:
Innovative and dedicated .NET developer with 5 years of experience creating and maintaining scalable applications. Proven ability to adapt quickly, learn on the go, and contribute effectively in a fast-paced environment. Strong communicator with experience working remotely and collaboratively.
Technical Skills:
C#, ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework
RESTful API Development
SQL Server, Database Management
Agile Development & Scrum
Version Control (Git)
Professional Experience:.NET Developer (Virtual Experience)System-Granted, 2020-Present
Developed user-friendly, efficient software solutions for multiple projects
Maintained legacy systems and refactored code to improve performance
Collaborated remotely with clients and team members using Agile methodologies
Conducted code reviews and troubleshooting to ensure high quality standards
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Local University, Philippines
Graduated 2025
Applying for Jobs
Elian saved the new resume and set to work searching for job openings.
He found multiple positions looking for mid-level .NET developers.
Excitement and nerves battled within him.
He sent out several applications, each accompanied by a tailored cover letter explaining his skills and experience.
He knew the upcoming interviews would be tough, but he was ready to face them.
The system had given him more than just rewards—it had given him confidence.
That night, Elian sat by the window, the city lights twinkling below.
He reflected on his journey so far.
From jobless graduate to a man with missions and rewards.
From weakness to growing strength.
From doubt to hope.
Tomorrow, the system promised more challenges, more rewards.
And Elian was ready.