I grunted as I got to nine, it was far harder than it should be, but the shopping was far more taxing than I was willing to admit. "One more!" Adriana called out as she sat nearby in one of the lounge chairs around the pool. I grunted and started my descent so I could get my final pushup of the set, I had already knocked out the walking and squats, leaving me with the sit-ups untouched. "Come on Bck, my grandmother can go quicker, and she is dead!" Adriana called out, driving me on.

  That was when I noticed Yuki making her way over from the sliding doors that led into the main house, I ignored her and concentrated on pushing up from the ground despite the pain and muscles straining almost beyond what they could do much to my own frustration! Before the Integration, I had to do one hundred pushups every morning and evening during my training, this made me feel like I was weaker than even when I started my training.

  I grunted as I pushed off the ground and started my ascent, my arms shook as I strained but eventually, I was fully extended. "Good, rex for five minutes then we will get started on your sit-ups!" Adriana instructed as I colpsed to my side then rolled to my back as I took deep calming breaths as I sought the mental void to help me rex and recover.

  I absently heard Yuki lean over and talk to Adriana, but I ignored their conversation as I tried to be courteous. I couldn't ignore her when she nudged me with her foot, "Here you go sir, do you want anything else?" the Japanese woman asked as I took the bottle of juice.

  I just id there, my muscles throbbing and painful, "No thank you, Yuki, do you need anything?" I managed to get out as I felt my breathing and meager pulse rapidly slow now that I was just lying there.

  Yuki smiled slightly, "No sir, but Tim wanted me to rey that dinner will be ready in thirty minutes and you will also need to drink more blood to help your recovery because you will need it. After dinner, I would like some of your time." she told me.

  It wasn't a demand, but a statement of need, "Ok, I will try to stay awake and not fall asleep, but no promises." I told her, earning a delightful giggle from the small woman before she skipped off. Sadly, I was being very serious with my warning, I closed my eyes and just y there until Adriana called for me to get up as she stood up and walked over to me.

  I sat up and stretched before taking a sip of the bottle, it was melon juice of some sort based on the taste but refreshing. Adriana waited patiently as I sat down, and she kneeled in front of me and held my legs as I id back to start my sit-ups. I got to my third rep before I started to feel the familiar pain in my stomach, back, and leg muscles.

  I absently listened to Adriana's encouragement as I continued to push through the growing pain until I stopped at number seven before I took deep breaths. I could tell the Tiger-Kin was frustrated slightly, but then it changed as she got an impish grin on her face and pulled her shirt off, revealing a rge abundant expanse of cleavage as her bikini tried to contain her breasts.

  Adriana was Brazilian and her tanned flesh stood out even against the bright cloth, more importantly, I didn't see any tan lines. "If you finish your set in the next minute, I will let you py with them for a minute!" Adriana offered and felt an annoyingly familiar lurch between my legs.

  For some reason, my hormones were out of whack and for some reason, my dick was reacting to everything sexual like I was a teenager again. The view was nice but that wasn't in question in my mind, so I pushed on. It took me at least ten seconds to come up for number eight, I felt my muscles begin to strain and try to keep up with the pace my mindset.

  By the time I hit ten, Adrina was teasing me with the edges of her areos as her breasts were mashed together, "Oh...so close master Bck, so close. Maybe next time." she got up and snatched her t-shirt off the floor and folded it before pcing it on the lounge chair.

  I pointed at her, "Yuki told you to do that, didn't she?" I prompted her as I id back down to rest and recover.

  Adriana smirked and shrugged her shoulders as she leaned over and she slowly pulled her shorts down, revealing the fact she was wearing a thong bikini that covered very little of her tanned skin. "Maybe, maybe not. I won't ever tell. Now come on, you need to spend ten minutes in the hot tub to help your muscles rex and recover." Adriana encouraged me as she offered a hand to help me up.

  Despite the pain, exhaustion, and a small amount of disappointment I felt, I managed to grab the offered hand. The Tiger-Kin easily pulled me to my feet as she led me to the hot tub and made sure I got in safely before following me in. The heat felt amazing, and it started to soak into my skin and muscles, which in theory would help me rex. "Move for a second!" Adriana called out.

  I managed to pull myself forward despite just wanting to y there and rex, the Brazilian quickly moved in behind me before pulling me back to lean against her as she started to massage my neck, upper back, and arms. I couldn't contain the groan as her fingers dug into my muscles, finding the knots and working to get them to rex. "How?" I managed to finally get out.

  The Tiger-Kin gave me a throaty chuckle, "Before I joined the Adventurers Guild, I had a life, and part of that was working at a resort in my homend, I trained as a masseuse, bartender, cook, waitress and worked all the jobs until I was eighteen and started my training for the guild. While I have spent most of the st five years delving into the towers or diving into the Labyrinth, I still remember those jobs and the lessons I learned there, that is one of the reasons why Marcus recruited me." Adriana expined as I melted into a puddle of mush between her legs as I leaned against her.

  The blinking '!' icon on my HUD prevented me from falling into the sweet oblivion of sleep. I focused on it and brought up the waiting notification as I enjoyed Adriana working on my tired muscles.

  Spoiler<<< System Notice >>> Quest Name: Getting into the Basics Notice: Despite the exhaustion and pain, you have started honing your body back into the shape it was before your Integration and Awakening. While this will take time, patience, and effort it can be done. You have increased your inherent stamina and physical capabilities! Rewards: You have received +1 Free Attribute Point and one of the following... Minor Health PotionMinor Mana PotionMystery Box1 Small Sack of Coinage <<< System Notice >>>

  [colpse]I grunted as Adriana worked on a rather rge knot of muscles, I considered my options before choosing the Mystery Box as I wondered what exactly it was and what it could contain causing another prompt to appear.

  Spoiler--- General Information: Mystery Box --- The Mystery Box is one of three usual rewards given to Adventurers that can contain anything from a single Copper Coin to an invaluable Artifact. You won't know what the box will contain until you open it up.

  [colpse]A shimmering globe appeared in front of me, and with a pop, a small box appeared wrapped in red paper with a green bow. I managed to snag it before it dropped into the water and shoved it into my Inventory with a thought. "Daily?" Adriana asked as she went to work on my neck.

  I nodded my head and did my best to rex despite the pain I felt from Adriana working on the knots. Before I knew it, I heard Tim calling for us to come inside, and with Adriana's assistance I managed to get out and inside. The Tiger-Kin grabbed a robe from the storage area near the pool and hot tub; after helping me dry off so I wouldn't be sitting down in soaked shorts with nothing else on.

  Tim had made an Asian ptter, long noodles, and steamed vegetables, with a cooked duck that smelled delicious. "He is underweight, maybe two hundred pounds, and needs to gain about thirty at least," Adriana informed the cook.

  Tim frowned and looked at me pointedly, "I can easily come up with the meals to get him up to fighting weight, but he needs to eat more than two times a day." I nodded my head.

  I held up my hand, "My fault and we shouldn't have another day like today in the near future." I assured the cook who grunted before walking off, Yuki pointed out various things and told me what they were as my knowledge of the cuisine was limited at best even after living in Austin for years.

  I listened to her and tried everything, surprised I liked it all. Tim came out with bowels of mixed fruit and made sure I had a rge cup of blood in addition to the food and juice I already had. "If you have any requests, please let me know sooner rather than ter. I have cleanup then will be going home for the night." the man pointedly stated before hurrying off toward the kitchen.

  Adriana, Serafina, and Yuki were present, but the Tiger-Kin was leaving as soon as dinner was done. "You know you won't be able to do anything too strenuous!" Adriana pointed out as she eyed Yuki and then me.

  I chuckled, "I am aware of my limitations and promise I won't have hot, monkey sex, with Yuki or anyone else until I am fully recuperated." I told her. Then I turned my focus towards Serafina, "When will I be seeing Marcus?" I asked her.

  I didn't like the fact I hadn't met the mysterious benefactor yet; I wanted a read on what the man was like and possibly his goals. "Tomorrow afternoon at his office in downtown Dals, Marcus is even worse about working than you. Hopefully, you can get him to settle down a little bit while you two are talking." I snorted and went back to eating my food.