Luca sat up on his bed, stretched, yawned, and took a moment to meditate.
[Host was unable to complete Tuesday's Daily Quest]
Luca rubbed his sleepy eyes as the System's message appeared. "Oh, I totally forgot. I was so sleepy," he muttered, realizing this was the first time he hadn't finished a Daily Quest. "You did say you give punishments for failing Daily Quests, didn't you?"
"Alright, so go ahead. I'm curious."
[Are you sure, host? The System can pardon this instance.]
Luca's curiosity won over. He'd never faced a Daily Quest punishment from the System, and he was intrigued by what it would entail. "Yes, yes. Just give me the punishment."
[Please note: This action cannot be reversed.]
[Punishment for Failing Tuesday's Daily Quest:
-Persistent Dehydration]
Luca blinked, wiping his eyes to make sure he was reading that correctly. The punishment—persistent dehydration—was there in bold System font. He let out a dry chuckle. "You've got to be kidding me. Why dehydration, of all things?" He asked, biting his lips. "Did you deduct any of my attribute scores…?"
[No, host. Your Tuesday Daily Quest did not have Deduction Punishments attached.]
[Additionally, punishments are randomly selected from a comprehensive database of punishments.]
"Wait, you're serious about this persistent dehydration? You know I drink water all the time."
[Your Tuesday Daily Quest Punishment will last until approximately 8:30.]
Three hours? Really? Luca shook his head, incredulous.
He couldn't believe the System was serious about issuing such a peculiar punishment. Staying hydrated was vital, especially after his intense workouts—it kept him balanced and energized. The status showed 'Issued,' so he decided to see if it was legit.
Reaching for the water bottle on his nightstand, he took a long drink, emptying it. To his surprise, his mouth still felt parched, and his throat remained dry, like a desert. "No way," he muttered. "This is... kinda cool. But why didn't you issue it while I was sleeping? I could've skipped needing water at night."
[System was offline.]
[Host should begin Daily Routine.]
[System has nullified all liquid intake requirements for Wednesday's Daily Routine. You can now complete Wednesday's Routine without failing due to liquid intake.]
Luca's eyes wandered to a stack of Fijee energy drinks sitting on a small table in his hotel room. The curiosity gnawed at him to know how far this could go. "Even that won't help, huh?" he asked.
[Yes, host. All liquids are included. Your thirst cannot be quenched for the next 3 hours.]
"Wow. I didn't see that coming."
He laughed dryly, a nervous edge to his voice. "I might collapse at the gym."
The thought of skipping today's Daily Routine crossed his mind—there weren't any penalties for missing it. But he pushed that idea away. This was just another challenge, a hurdle to overcome. Besides, there was something intriguing about pushing through discomfort. It might even turn into one of those stories he'd tell with a proud grin. "Alright, let's do this," he said, rolling out of bed.
Brushed. Dressed. Drove to the facility. Hit the gym.
The workout was grueling, his body screaming for water as every muscle burned and his throat felt like sandpaper. Dizziness crept up on him, making each rep feel like a battle. But Luca embraced the discomfort, determined to see it through.
After what felt like an eternity, he dropped onto a bench, gasping for air, drained beyond belief. "I might die before I even make it to F1," he whispered between shallow breaths, suddenly regretting his earlier enthusiasm for the punishment. Desperate, he gulped down a bottle of water and even a can of Fijee, but the liquid felt useless, sliding down without any relief, as if his throat and tongue were coated in waterproof film.
Wobbling to his feet, Luca stumbled out of the facility and into his car. Sara, waiting outside, took one look at his pale face and frowned in concern. "Are you okay? You look... drained."
"Just gym fatigue," Luca managed, giving her a weak smile.
Once they returned to the hotel, Luca rushed for a bath, hoping that the steady stream of water against his skin might somehow ease the unrelenting dryness within him. It brought some relief, but it wasn't enough to quench the overwhelming thirst. He avoided eating, glancing frequently at the wall clock, bottle of water already in hand, waiting for 8:30. His foot tapped impatiently on the rug as the seconds ticked by.
[Punishment for Failing Tuesday Daily Quest
-Persistent Dehydration]
Without wasting a moment, Luca tilted his head back and drank deeply from the open bottle, nearly choking in his eagerness. The chilled water rushed down his parched throat, bringing an immediate, soothing wave of relief. He felt the tension in his shoulders melt away as he drank, each gulp producing a rhythmic sound as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
Luca drained the bottle completely. The cool liquid rejuvenated him, spreading throughout his body and clearing the cloudiness that had weighed on his mind. Satisfaction washed over him as he exhaled. "Ahhhh," he murmured, savoring the taste. Water had never been so heavenly.
He set down the empty bottle on the nightstand with a soft thud, staring at its emptiness with relief. "I don't think I'll miss a Daily Quest again," Luca muttered, taking his gaze to the table where his food was kept. It must be getting cold, he thought.
He stood up slowly, a newfound energy coursing through his limbs as he made his way to the table. Despite knowing it wasn't the best habit, Luca browsed his phone while eating the meal, which reminded him of the one he had before the race on Saturday.
He checked the team's travel plans. Everything was perfectly laid out—flight details, hotel reservations in Dubai, and a fully packed itinerary of events. All logistics were in place, ensuring that Trampos Racing was ready for the next step.
Satisfied, Luca set his phone aside and focused on his meal. With the flight scheduled for 3 p.m., he had half the day to himself.
Luca planned his next few hours with leisure in mind, involving nothing more than staying put and enjoying the dim comfort of his room. His gaze fell on his laptop charging in the corner, a smile creeping across his face. He indulged in games and movies, soaking in the rare downtime before taking a short nap. The alarm at 1 p.m. jolted him awake, signaling it was time to prepare for the upcoming journey.