Your life belongs to me.

If one desires a body of a demon, long, unending daily training is essential. Throughout this process, unwavering willpower is needed to resist all temptations.

Yet, Cassius could clearly bypass this ordeal.

Excluding the daytime's diligent practice, which honed his physique and stamina, merely the eight hours of nightly calisthenics brought Cassius remarkable improvements. In terms of time alone, he accomplished in a day what others might achieve in a month.

In fact, with his limitless stamina and fixed state advantage, a single day for him was worth nearly two months of another’s effort.

A thin mist rose as dawn gradually broke.

On a patch of open ground atop the hills, Cassius, clad only in shorts, was training, performing deep squats. The long, resilient muscles on his thighs entwined like tree roots, pressing against each other with every rise and fall.

Sweat dropped in thin lines, running down his abdomen across the firm, powerful muscles.

Training ceased.

Shunan didn’t bother having Cassius return to the cave, instead heading directly toward the beach. There, he took a brief bath and, with a wooden spear, skewered two fish.

"Congratulations, you completed fishing: 60 times."

"Fishing (Intermediate): 420/500 fish."

"Fishing (Intermediate) proficiency has increased."

"Fishing (Intermediate): 480/500 fish."

After some simple preparation, Cassius carried the two fish back near the cave. Picking up yesterday’s fire-making tools from the ground, he kindled a new fire.

"Congratulations, you completed fire-making: 30 times."

"Fire-making (Advanced): 540/500 times."

He encircled the burning branches with stones.

On either side, he fashioned a crude rack from branches, then placed two sticks, each skewering a fish, on the rack.

"Congratulations, you completed grilling: 30 times."

"Grilling (Basic): 30/60 fish."

"Grilling (Basic) proficiency has increased."

"Grilling (Intermediate): 60/300 fish."

Grilling is but a minor category within survival skills.

By the time Raiga awoke, the two fish were nearly done, though somewhat burnt in places.

"Up early today?" Raiga approached.

"Here."

Cassius handed him a grilled fish and a coconut the size of a basketball, its top already opened.

A bite of fish, a sip of coconut water—quite refreshing, if only they weren’t stranded on a deserted island...

The entire day, Cassius devoted himself to learning survival and hunting skills from Raiga. There were mishaps; at one point, Cassius accidentally fell into a deep pit skillfully disguised with branches and leaves.

The hole was deep, and its walls unnaturally steep. Cassius tried several times to climb out, even utilizing meditation time...

Eventually, Raiga heard the commotion and rescued him, tending to Cassius’s scraped skin.

Cassius thus learned to chew wisteria leaves and apply the pulp to wounds for disinfection.

Another day passed, and Cassius welcomed his third day of survival on the island. The morning was as tranquil as ever, Cassius still busily at work. But before the screen, Shunan sensed impending misfortune.

If he remembered correctly, the coach could only remain for three days, while Cassius had to stay on the island for fifteen.

So how would Raiga disappear? Would a rescue team arrive searching for shipwreck survivors? Or... death?

On the forest's edge, Cassius suddenly turned, gazing at the distant cliff. Where Raiga had been catching marine iguanas, he was now gone—vanished without a trace.

Controlling his character, Shunan made Cassius dash toward the cliff’s edge and look down. Not far off, on the sea’s surface, a figure struggled and drifted, the harder he fought, the farther he was swept away.

Cassius quickly maneuvered along the side, charging onto the rocks below. Shedding restrictive clothing, he plunged into the sea, swimming at breakneck speed toward Raiga.

Crash... Crash... Crash...

Waves battered the rocks, white spray shattering like bones. These thunderous waves became obstacles to Cassius’s approach.

Fighting against the surf, Cassius’s powerful arms and legs drove him forward with unyielding energy. Yet reaching Raiga remained an arduous task, as if fate itself opposed him.

Through the headset, Shunan heard labored breathing and splashing water. The screen alternated between above and below the surface.

With relentless effort, Cassius finally closed within five meters of Raiga. But the waves grew even fiercer, rising and falling over half a meter high.

Utterly abnormal—likely a plot-driven calamity.

Shunan could see Raiga’s condition: he was flailing with only one hand and one leg, clearly injured from the fall off the cliff.

Now, Raiga could barely keep his head above water, waiting for his strength to fade...

"Give me your hand! Raiga!!"

Cassius reached out; Raiga extended his only usable hand. But their first attempt failed—just missed by a hair.

Raiga swallowed a mouthful of seawater.

Violent coughing echoed across the waves.

"Huff! Huff! Huff!"

Cassius adjusted and tried again, their fingers touching, when a monstrous wave crashed between them.

Raiga and Cassius were separated once more.

"Damn it!"

A curse burst from Shunan’s lips.

Third adjustment, third reach. This time, Cassius grabbed Raiga firmly.

He tried to pull Raiga in and swim back.

Yet the water between them surged, pushing them apart, making it impossible to get closer.

Moreover, the sea in this area was streaming toward the deep ocean, gradually distancing them from the island.

Cassius’s arms were taut as steel, but he refused to let go. Shunan desperately wanted to save Raiga!

Waves roared, spray soared skyward.

"Let go, Cassius! Don’t risk your life for me! Perhaps this is divine retribution..."

Raiga’s voice was nearly drowned by the surf.

◎ Raiga (Interactive)

A. Let go, he’s telling you to let go.
B. Let go, this is fate’s punishment.
C. Let go, don’t risk your own life.
D. To hell with it—I'll save whoever I want!

"D, D, D, D, D, D..."

Shunan hammered the mouse, nearly breaking it. In real life, he might hesitate, but in the game, reason meant nothing to him! Impulsive? Reckless? Impossible! He would accomplish what he set out to do!

"To hell with divine punishment! Your life is mine now, because I saved it!"

Cassius would not let go; unless the sea itself tore his hand away, he would not release Raiga.

Raiga, still coughing painfully, managed a faint smile—he seemed to have made his decision.