Chapter 22: Painting

Chapter 22 - 22: PaintingMorning light bathed the streets of Marawi as Richard and Jack maneuvered their Yamaha DT bikes through the bustling city. The roads were alive with people going about their daily routines—vendors setting up stalls, shopkeepers sweeping storefronts, and men in traditional Muslim attire heading to morning prayers.

Jack led the way, weaving through the streets with ease, until they finally pulled up in front of a hardware store. The familiar scent of paint, wood, and metal filled the air as they parked their bikes.

A young man with burly arms, likely a worker, approached them with a polite nod.

"Good morning, sir. How can I help you?" he asked.

Jack rubbed his chin, scanning the shelves. "Do you have any light green-colored paint?"

The young man nodded. "Let me check, sir." He disappeared behind the counter and returned a moment later, holding up a 4L can of paint. "We have Rain or Shine Temptation Ros-518, sir."

Jack inspected the can, then gave a satisfied nod. "I'll take two. Also, give me two thinners, two roller brushes, and a couple of trays."

The worker quickly gathered the items, while Jack fished out ₱1500 from his wallet and handed it over.

Richard, already holding onto the paint cans, glanced at Jack. "Where to next?"

Jack stretched his arms and sighed. "Since it's still early, we'll come back later. Most of the printing shops won't be open yet—it's only 7 AM."

Richard nodded. "Makes sense. So, what's the plan in the meantime?"



Jack smirked. "Well, I still need to design our studio logo, and I'll look for some creative gaming artwork online. We can also have Grandpa's workers paint the office for us. If we pay them ₱2000, that should be enough for the labor."

Richard chuckled. "Easy money for them. I doubt they'd refuse."

Jack grabbed the change and supplies, carefully placing the roller brushes, trays, and thinner inside a large plastic bag.

Richard slung one of the paint cans onto his bike, securing it. "Alright then, I'll head back first. I still need to get my workout in. I'll join you later in the office."

Jack revved his engine, a playful grin on his face. "Sure thing, gym bro. Try not to flex too hard while lifting those dumbbells."

Richard rolled his eyes but smirked as they both kicked their bikes into gear, roaring back toward home.

As Jack and Richard arrived at the gates of the estate, the security guards swiftly opened them, recognizing their approach. The two roared inside, their Yamaha DT bikes kicking up dust, before coming to a stop near the dormitory building of the workers.

It was early, and some of the workers who had the day off were lounging outside, smoking cigarettes, sipping coffee, and chatting idly. The air smelled of tobacco and brewed coffee, mixing with the crisp morning breeze.

As Jack and Richard approached the dormitory entrance, a worker in his mid-20s stepped forward, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Good morning, sir," he greeted, his voice still groggy from just waking up.

Jack nodded briskly. "I need a couple of guys who are on their day off for a quick job—painting an office in the basement. If you can get it done by today, I'll throw in an additional ₱1000."

At the mention of extra pay, the relaxed atmosphere vanished.

Several workers sitting nearby immediately perked up. Mugs of coffee were set down hastily, and cigarette butts were flicked away as they rushed toward Jack, all eager to grab the opportunity.

"Me, sir!""I'll do it, sir!""Pick me, sir!"

Jack chuckled at their enthusiasm before scanning the small crowd. He pointed at two random men—one stocky with a muscular build, the other lean but wiry. "You two, hop on."

The chosen workers grinned as they hurried toward the bikes. Richard hopped onto his, and the leaner man climbed onto the back, gripping his shoulders for balance. Meanwhile, Jack motioned for the stocky worker to climb onto his own bike.

With everyone in place, Jack revved the engine. "Hold on tight!" he warned before speeding off, leading the way toward the basement garage where their office awaited its transformation.

Richard followed close behind, the early morning ride kicking up dust in the estate's winding roads as they headed toward the heart of their project.

As Jack and Richard rode toward the basement garage, the workers behind them held on tightly, adjusting their grips every time the bikes hit a small bump. The estate was large, with neatly paved roads leading through various buildings, passing by storage areas, green fields, and the grand mansion itself.

They arrived at the garage entrance, where a security guard on duty pressed a button on the wall, causing the heavy steel door to slide open with a low mechanical hum. The cool air inside the basement contrasted with the warm morning sun outside, making it a comfortable place to work.

Jack killed the engine, letting the silence settle before turning to the two workers. "Alright, here's the deal."

He gestured toward the glass-walled office, where they had been setting up their workspace. The inside was still plain, with bare white walls, stacks of unboxed equipment, and an empty space waiting for its transformation.

"I want these walls painted light green. Smooth application, no streaks, no missed spots. We've got two cans of paint, thinners, rollers, and trays ready to go." Jack pointed at the supplies, which Richard had already placed near the entrance. "If you finish by today, like I said, there's an extra ₱1000 for you both."

The stocky worker wiped his hands on his pants and grinned. "No problem, sir. We'll have this done before sundown."

The leaner worker examined the area, tapping his chin. "Do you want just the walls done, or the ceiling too?"

Richard shook his head. "Just the walls. The ceiling stays white—it'll reflect light better that way."

The workers nodded in understanding, rolling up their sleeves. One of them opened the first paint can, the thick smell of fresh paint quickly filling the space.

Jack clapped his hands together. "Alright then, we'll leave you guys to it. Let us know if you need anything."

As the workers got to mixing the paint, Jack and Richard stepped out of the office, watching them get to work.

Richard stretched his arms. "Now that we've got this going, what's next?"

Jack pulled out his phone, scrolling through notes. "We'll hit the city later for the posters and the LED logo. But for now, I'm heading to the main house to eat. You?"

"I'll work out, at the gym room. I'll be at the at office basement to continue the vector core, as soon as I finish."

With that, the two parted ways—Jack heading toward the main house, and Richard walking back inside the office, the rhythmic strokes of paint rollers in the background as the transformation of their workspace began.

Richard cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as he strode toward the gym room inside the estate. It was a decent-sized private gym—nothing extravagant like a commercial fitness center, but well-equipped with weights, machines, and a treadmill. The polished wooden floors reflected the morning sunlight streaming in through the high-set windows, illuminating the rows of dumbbells and steel equipment.

As he stepped inside, a familiar blue translucent panel materialized before his eyes, flickering slightly before stabilizing.

[ Daily Quest: Training ]

✅ Push-ups: 0/100✅ Curl-ups: 0/100✅ Pull-ups: 0/100✅ 3-kilometer run: 0/3

Rewards:

+5 Stat Points

+1 Skill Point

+10,000 SP

Failure Penalty:

-10,000 SP

Richard sighed, already feeling the fatigue ahead. "No pain, no gain." He muttered, lowering himself to the floor.

Push-ups – 100 reps

He placed his hands shoulder-width apart, engaging his core and arms before beginning the set. His body moved rhythmically, up and down, his breathing steady.

By the 50th push-up, his arms burned, his shoulders tense. "Damn, my endurance still needs work." He exhaled sharply, pushing through the last 50 reps with determination.

Curl-ups – 100 reps

Richard took a deep breath before laying on his back, knees bent, hands behind his head. He began his curl-ups, feeling the strain in his core and abdomen.

His breathing turned heavier by the 70th rep, sweat dripping down his forehead. "This better be worth it."

By the 100th curl-up, he collapsed on his back for a second, staring at the ceiling before forcing himself up.

Pull-ups – 100 reps

He approached the pull-up bar, grabbing the steel handle with a firm grip. His muscles protested, but he powered through the first set of 20 before resting for a brief moment.

30... 50... 70...His arms shook, his grip barely holding as he gritted his teeth through the final stretch.

By the last rep, he dropped to the ground, stretching his fingers. "This is killing me."

3-Kilometer Run

Richard stepped onto the treadmill, setting the speed to a steady jog. The rhythmic pounding of his feet against the belt filled the room.

After the first kilometer, he increased the speed. His breath came in steady rhythms, his heart pounding against his chest.

By the third kilometer, his shirt clung to his body with sweat, but he kept pushing until the final stretch.

As he completed the final step, a notification pinged in his mind.

✅ Daily Quest Completed!

Rewards:

+5 Stat Points

+1 Skill Point

+10,000 SP

Richard wiped his sweat with a towel, rolling his shoulders as he caught his breath. "Done."

Richard sat on the gym bench, his breathing still steady from the intense workout. He wiped the last bit of sweat off his forehead and leaned back, pulling up his status screen.

A blue holographic panel materialized before his eyes, displaying his current attributes.

[ Status ]



Name: Richard Santamo

Age: 23

Weight: 136 lbs

Height: 5'11"

SP: 20,000

[ SHOP ] [ SKILLS ]

Stat Points: 10

Attributes:

STR: 10

CON: 18

AGI: 9

PER: 9

VIT: 12

INT: 13

Technology Learned: Vector Core

Skills: Information Processing (Lvl 2), Knowledge Acquisition, Keyboard Warrior ]

Richard exhaled, tapping his fingers against the bench. "Alright, I need more endurance."

He dragged 4 stat points into Vitality, 3 into Strength, and 3 into Constitution—hoping to balance his physical abilities.

As soon as he confirmed the point allocation, a sharp wave of heat surged through his body. His muscles tightened, pulsed, and then expanded, his bones stretching as if they were adjusting to a new form. A dull, throbbing ache spread through his limbs, but strangely, it was bearable—more of a discomfort than actual pain.

Richard stood up, feeling the solid weight of his new physique. He strode toward the gym mirror, eyes widening at his reflection.

His once lean build now carried more definition, his muscles appearing slightly toned and more solid. His shoulders were broader, and his posture felt naturally stronger.

Then he noticed something else.

He was taller.

"...No way," he muttered, stepping closer to the mirror.

He pulled up his status panel again.

[ Updated Status ]

Name: Richard Santamo

Age: 23

Weight: 136 lbs

Height: 6'1"

SP: 20,000

[ SHOP ] [ SKILLS ]

Stat Points: 0

Attributes:

STR: 13 (+3)

CON: 21 (+3)

AGI: 9

PER: 9

VIT: 16 (+4)

INT: 13

Technology Learned: Vector Core

Skills: Information Processing (Lvl 2), Knowledge Acquisition, Keyboard Warrior ]

Richard grinned. "I just hit six foot—hell yeah."

He clenched his fist, testing his grip strength. He felt lighter, faster, and stronger, like his body had fully optimized itself.

But now, another important task—checking the SHOP.

[ SKILLS ]

Richard scrolled through the available skills, scanning for something practical.

One instantly caught his attention.

[ Drowsiness Resistance ]

The ability to remain alert and awake despite fatigue or sleep deprivation.

SP Cost: 5,000

"Oh, hell yes." He instantly purchased it.

A sudden wave of clarity rushed through his mind. His thoughts felt sharper, the lingering mental fog from exhaustion clearing up instantly.

Richard grinned, already feeling the difference.

Then, he found another one.

[ Stamina Recovery ]

Increases the speed at which the body recovers from physical exertion.

SP Cost: 5,000

Another must-have.

The moment he purchased it, his breathing became smoother, and his heart rate stabilized. It was as if his body had learned how to manage exertion far more efficiently.

He stretched, rolling his shoulders, feeling completely refreshed, as if he hadn't just done an intense workout.

But then—his eyes caught something far more insane.

[ Internal Nanite Regeneration & Biological Augmentation ] Allows the use of internally fabricated nanites to accelerate tissue repair, regenerate lost or damaged biological components, and induce temporary biological augmentations. Consumes stamina and energy proportional to the severity of healing or the extent of nanite activity.

SP Cost: 50,000 ]

[ External Nanite Deployment & Manipulation ] Allows the deployment of nanites from the user's body to perform various external tasks, ranging from creating temporary tools and weapons to manipulating environmental objects. Consumes stamina and energy based on the complexity and scale of the deployed nanite structures or tasks.

SP Cost: 100,000 ]

Richard froze.


"Nanites?!" His heart pounded.

The descriptions implied far more than just a game-like system.



"If these exist in the shop... then does that mean..."

Before he could finish the thought, a panel suddenly appeared before him.

[ System Message ]

You are correct. I am an artificial intelligence using a nanite vessel. For more information, gather more SP to gain higher information clearance.

Richard's eyes widened.

"...Holy shit."

His mind raced through possibilities.

This wasn't just some strange game-like interface—it was something much bigger.

The system inside him wasn't just digital—it was made of nanotechnology.

That meant...

Richard clenched his fists.

"If I keep pushing forward... I might be able to unlock something even greater."