IDOL System

Chapter Eleven: Breaking Through

Jiwon could barely recognize himself in the mirror. His body had transformed—dramatically. In just a matter of days, he had gone from 90 kg to 75 kg. The exhaustion was written all over his face, but it didn't diminish the visible change in his appearance. His once round cheeks were now sharp, his jawline defined, and his body, though still sore and tired, had shed an astonishing amount of weight.

He stepped onto the scale again, just to be sure.

75.3 kg.

The numbers were surreal. He had pushed through the relentless fasting, the HIIT routines, and the near-constant hunger. But the system's reward for enduring this trial was bittersweet.

[Congratulations! Task Complete: Target Weight Achieved Ahead of Schedule.]

A small moment of triumph flickered through his chest as the notification popped up.

[New Reward Unlocked: Nutritional Supplementation and 100g of Vegetables.]

He exhaled in relief. Food. Even if it was only 100g of vegetables, it was the first solid thing he had been allowed to consume in days. His hands shook as he prepared the portion—100g of raw spinach. It looked pitiful on the plate, but to him, it was a feast.

Jiwon ate slowly, savoring each bite. He chewed each leaf carefully, almost reverently, as if it were his last meal. The blandness of the spinach didn't matter; it was real food, a lifeline after days of deprivation.

As he finished, he received another notification.

[Nutritional Supplements Provided: Multivitamin, Electrolytes, Protein Powder.]

He downed the multivitamin, followed by the electrolytes in a glass of water. The protein powder, though tasteless and gritty, was a welcome source of fuel for his starving body. He felt the faintest hint of satisfaction for the first time in days.

But the system wasn't done with him yet.

[Vocal Skill Update: Level E Achieved.]

His eyes widened. This was the real reward. The system had promised him incremental vocal improvements as he hit his physical milestones, and now, after losing so much weight, his voice had officially leveled up from G to E.

The improvement was subtle but undeniable. His voice was now smoother, more controlled. He tried singing the same notes he had struggled with before, and though he still wasn't perfect, there was a noticeable difference in how his voice carried through the room. It didn't crack or strain like it used to.

[New Goal Assigned: Further Vocal Training Required to Reach Level D. Continue Physical and Skill Training.]

Jiwon exhaled heavily, setting down his water bottle. The system was relentless, but he knew this journey was far from over. Still, for the first time in weeks, he felt a small flicker of hope. He was getting closer, inching toward the dream that had once seemed unreachable.

The scale had shifted, both physically and metaphorically.

His body was no longer the same, his vocal skill had improved, and he felt more connected to his goal. The weight loss had come at a steep cost—days of starvation, hours of mind-numbing exercise, and pushing himself to the brink of collapse—but now he was starting to see a glimmer of the person he had always wanted to be.

That night, as he sat on his bed and stretched his sore muscles, he reflected on how far he had come. He had been bullied, humiliated, and driven to despair, but now, in his reflection, he saw someone different—a fighter. A boy willing to break himself down to rise from the ashes, even if it meant enduring more pain than he ever imagined.

Jiwon clenched his fists, feeling the strength in his arms that hadn't been there before. Tomorrow would bring new challenges—more vocal training, more weight maintenance, and surely, more obstacles set by the system. But for now, he had achieved something he never thought possible: he had made progress.

As he drifted off to sleep, he heard the system's cold voice echo in his mind.

[Reminder: Stay Disciplined. New Tasks Begin Tomorrow. Prepare for Increased Physical and Skill Training.]

The road ahead was still daunting, but for the first time, Jiwon wasn't afraid. He had endured this far, and he would continue to endure, one task at a time.

Tomorrow was another day, and another step toward becoming an idol.