The virus spreads through the blood. It decides their fate the mont they’re infected..."
She exhaled slowly.
"After death... they don’t stay human."
"They beco sothing else... monsters."
{Thirty minutes rest is over, Host.}
"Oh yeah..." Ivy exhaled, pushing herself up to her feet. She rolled her shoulders once, ignoring the lingering soreness in her muscles. "Let’s get this last training over with."
She paused for a second, recalling the system’s words.
"Static plank, right?" she muttered, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "I’m ready."
Without wasting another mont, Ivy lowered herself to the ground.
Her palms touched the cold floor first, fingers spreading slightly for balance. Then she adjusted....bringing her forearms down instead. Her elbows aligned directly beneath her shoulders, forming a stable base.
Her legs stretched out behind her, toes digging firmly into the ground.
A straight line.
Perfect form.
{Static plank initiated.}
{Target duration: Until failure.}
Ivy’s jaw tightened slightly, but a dry chuckle escaped her lips.
"...Of course it is."
She lifted her body.
For a brief mont....nothing.
No pain. No strain.
Just stillness.
Then it began.
A slow, creeping burn ignited deep within her abdon, subtle at first... almost ignorable.
{20 seconds.}
Her breathing remained steady, controlled.
In... out... in... out...
{30 seconds.}
The sensation spread.
Her shoulders began to feel it next....a dull, growing pressure that seeped down into her arms, settling heavily into her joints.
This is nothing, she told herself firmly. After everything I just did? This is nothing.
{90 seconds.}
Her core trembled.
Just slightly.
Barely visible to the eye but she felt it. Every tiny vibration echoed through her body.
{110 seconds.}
The burn sharpened.
Her abdominal muscles felt like they were being pulled apart, fiber by fiber. Sweat ford along her temple, sliding slowly down her skin before dripping onto the floor beneath her.
Her elbows pressed harder into the ground.
Don’t move.
{130 seconds.}
Her legs began to shake.
Not violently....just enough to remind her that her body was reaching its limit.
Her breath hitched.
"No..." she whispered under her breath, her voice tight with strain. "Steady... stay steady..."
In... out... in...
{150 seconds.}
Sothing snapped.
Not physically.
ntally.
The pain surged all at once, flooding her senses.
Her entire body trembled now....arms, core, thighs....every muscle screaming in protest as they struggled to maintain that single, unmoving position.
Her hips dipped slightly.
{Warning: Form deviation detected.}
Ivy clenched her teeth so hard it hurt.
"Not yet..." she growled, forcing her body back into alignnt through sheer will.
{180 seconds.}
Her vision blurred for a split second, the edges of her sight darkening before snapping back into focus.
{200 seconds.}
A drop of sweat fell from her chin.
Then another.
Her arms felt like they were on fire now, heat radiating through her shoulders, down to her elbows, into her very bones. Every instinct scread at her to stop to collapse to just rest for a single second and amidst all, she couldn’t stop thinking about Scarlett and her brother.
Just one second...
Her body betrayed her again.
Her hips dipped lower.
{Warning: Form deviation....}
Her breathing broke completely now, coming out in short, strained bursts.
Her lungs burned as well as her muscles.
Everything burned.
{240 seconds.}
Her hips gave out entirely.
Her knees slamd against the ground as she collapsed, barely catching herself with her hands before her face could hit the floor.
For a mont, she stayed there on all fours...her chest heaving as she dragged in deep, ragged breaths.
Ding!
{Static plank completed.}
{Duration: 4 minutes.}
{Evaluation: Excellent.}
{Congratulations, Host.}
Ivy let out a shaky breath, her arms trembling as she slowly pushed herself upright into a sitting position.
Her entire body ached....her core felt like it had been torn apart and stitched back together but her eyes remained steady.
Focused.
Determined.
"Good..." she murmured to herself, wiping the sweat from her chin with the back of her hand.
{Host may proceed to rest. Training will continue tomorrow.}
"Yeah... rest sounds nice," Ivy replied quietly.
The thought of her daughters surfaced imdiately, softening her expression.
I should check on them.
With a tired exhale, she lowered herself briefly onto the ground before forcing herself back up again. Her muscles protested, but she ignored them.
Reaching for her phone, she unlocked it quickly, her eyes scanning the screen.
Scarlett.
No new ssages.
A flicker of worry crossed her face, but she pushed it down just as quickly.
"I really hope she’ll be fine..." Ivy muttered, though the unease lingered in her chest.
With another heavy sigh, she tightened her grip on the phone and made her way back into the shelter.
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