“Argh!”

Crab wailed, his voice echoing through the cavern as he writhed on the floor. Both his arms had turned a crustacean blue, their grotesque forms clicking involuntarily. Struggling to prop himself upright, he flopped like a fish out of water, his movements frantic but futile.

Resh worked in silence, his hands moving with surgical precision, indifferent to Crab’s screams. The transformation was over quickly, leaving Crab gasping and broken on the stone floor.

Even Ged, hardened by years in the underground, couldn’t fully suppress his discomfort. His expression tightened as he watched, a flicker of pity crossing his face.

“Here.” Resh extended the napkin bearing his scrawled workout plan. “Follow these movements to strengthen your arms. Build them up as much as possible.”

He set the napkin beside Crab, nodding with a calm smile. “Report your progress.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and followed Ged, already moving toward the hallway.

Crab lay motionless for a moment, his grotesque arms twitching involuntarily. Resentment burned in his eyes, but he could do nothing except stare at their retreating backs, left to grapple with his fate in solitude.

Ged and Resh emerged into the bustling main hall of the Hidden Olympian, where the air buzzed with activity.

Having spent several days locked away in his private room, Resh scanned the bustling room with a renewed intensity. His gaze swept over the seedy atmosphere of the Hidden Olympian, but when his eyes landed on the stage, his expression hardened.

“Ged...” Resh’s voice cut through the noise, halting Ged mid-step. “Wait a moment. I need to handle this.” He gestured toward the pole-dancing woman with a critical frown.

Ged sighed, already anticipating what was coming.

One of the female bodybuilders clung to the pole like a human flag, her arms and legs trembling under the strain. She swayed, her form faltering, while the crowd below shifted restlessly.

“Caroline!” Resh bellowed. “How many times must I correct you? That form is a disaster. You’re wasting mass and losing the audience!” He jabbed a finger at the dissatisfied customers below, some of whom had already turned their attention elsewhere, their interest waning.

Caroline’s face tightened as she struggled to maintain her position. A loud tearing sound followed, and she collapsed onto the stage, clutching her abdomen in pain.

Resh watched in silence, his face a mask of cold disdain. Employees and bodybuilders rushed to the scene, scrambling to restore order, their frantic movements only adding to the chaos. Without Resh’s leadership, the usual chain of command had crumbled.

Finally, Resh stirred. “What are you fools doing?” His voice cut through the commotion like a whip. “Have you forgotten how to handle workout injuries?”

A worker in a crisp white suit darted to Caroline’s side, placing a glowing hand on her abdomen. Pulsing blue waves spread from his fingertips across her skin, massaging and reconnecting the torn muscle fibers with precision. Gradually, her color returned, and her pained grimace softened.

Resh’s expression remained unreadable as he observed. “This is unacceptable,” he said coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade. “If her injury had escalated to muscle necrosis and she needed to be replaced, it would have cost more than your life.”

“I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again,” the therapist stammered.

Resh stepped forward, anger burning in his eyes. But before he could continue, Ged’s firm hand landed on his shoulder.

“Come on, Resh,” Ged said evenly. “Deal with it later.”

Resh blinked, his fury momentarily tempered. After a grumble and a sharp glare at Ged, he relented. “Caroline, rest and recover. We’ll talk later. And you,” his gaze shifted back to the therapist, colder than ever, “learn to be useful, or I’ll send you to the Blue Crystal Mines to work it off.”

Finally, Ged led the way out of the Hidden Olympian, Resh trailing behind with a solemn expression.

“Isn’t this far enough? Do we really have to go all the way to the surface? What good is there in seeing a little sunlight?” Resh asked impatiently, his gaze flickering with blue.

Ged didn’t answer, continuing to move forward. Without pause, he began drilling into the wall, creating an angled slope for them to climb. As they ascended, the stone walls behind them sealed shut, as if the earth itself were alive, leaving them in complete darkness.

At last, they breached the surface. Sunlight poured over them, illuminating their forms and bathing the rocky terrain in a warm glow.

Ged surveyed the surroundings with a genuine smile, breathing deeply of the fresh air. Nearby, the planet’s rocky surface gleamed, casting long shadows around the jagged grotto that mouthed the mountain.

Resh grimaced, shielding his eyes with one hand. “Fuck, it’s worse than I remembered,” he muttered, stumbling back toward the shade of the grotto’s entrance.

Before he could retreat fully, Ged’s voice cut through the stillness. “I spoke with Crab. He said you’d gone completely mad. But it seems his concerns were... exaggerated.”

Resh frowned, his expression darkening. “People have called me all kinds of names behind my back for as long as I can remember. As long as they fall in line, their words are meaningless,” he said with indifference. “You could stand to learn a thing or two from them.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Ged’s gaze sharpened. “Your men don’t look like they’re falling in line, Resh. Their loyalty is slipping. I saw it in their faces. They’re uncertain of your leadership.”

He hesitated. “It’s the drugs. You’re not handling them well. What was your last cycle? Have you increased it since we last spoke?”

Resh harrumphed, crossing his arms. “I’m at six stacks and handling it just fine. Compared to your ten, I’m practically restrained. If anything, I’ve thought about increasing it. I’ve fallen behind in training recently.”

Ged’s frown deepened. “Resh...”

“Don’t start,” Resh interrupted, his tone softening slightly. “I don’t need you of all people to worry about me.”

He paused, his voice dropping lower. “I’ve got too much going on. My enemies circle me every day, waiting for me to stumble. Even my brothers eye my seat like it’s already theirs. If I show weakness now, I’m as good as dead.”

His eyes blazed with blue fire as he stared directly into the sun. The light burned his irises a charcoal black, drying his eyes. Despite the pain, he didn’t flinch.

“I can’t give up yet... I still have things I want to achieve,” he said, his voice quieter now. After a moment, he massaged his eyes, the blackened pupils slowly returning to a faint blue glow.

Ged watched silently, his expression unreadable.

“I must transcend this life,” Resh declared, his voice trembling with intensity. His eyes continued to burn and heal as he stared into the sun.

“Transcend?” Ged looked at him, puzzled.

“I’m tired of always being behind,” Resh said quietly. His voice grew sharper as his gaze remained fixed on the sun. “This sun is not hot enough to blind me, yet it still dares to burn my eyes.”

“When I look at the sun, I want my gaze to be the one that burns it.” He balled his fist, raising it in defiance, his expression hardening with resolve. “But the life I have is still too weak.”

Turning to Ged, his face twisted into a crazed smile. “The sky, the ground, the stars, they all trample over me like second-rate trash. They will never listen until I force their submission. With the entire universe underneath me, I will create a universal body, walking beyond this reality as a transcendent being, above all.”

Ged felt a strange stirring within him. Though Resh’s words were tinged with madness, they resonated deeply. “I feel similar,” he said thoughtfully.

“I want my freedom from this world. Perhaps that too is a form of transcendence... unfettered by anyone’s control, I want to live my life as I choose, unbound by others.”

“Freedom?” Resh laughed harshly, his eyes blazing once more as he turned back to the sun. “That won’t ever happen.”

His voice dropped to a mocking growl. “Even you will fall beneath my feet eventually.”

Ged gave a sly smile, shaking his head. “Why must it always be like this? Perhaps there’s room for both our desires. Let me claim my freedom, and the rest of the universe is yours to conquer as you see fit.”

Resh sneered. “If you truly believe that, then prove it.” He crossed his arms, his voice taking on a commanding edge. “Audacious words demand action. Show me your conviction.”

“I saw about twenty Cumulus Gang members at the Abyssal Mouth today,” Ged said, his tone shifting. “Some high-ranking ones too. I got a good look at their physiques and an estimate of their total mass.”

Resh’s ears perked up, his focus sharpening. His expression darkened slightly when Ged stopped talking, a faintly teasing smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Not bad,” Resh said, his tone measured and his curiosity piqued. “Tell me, what would it take to keep you talking?”

“How many vials do you have on you?” Ged asked quickly.

Resh reached into his abdomen, rummaging through his storage. “About two hundred.” He pulled out two rubber-banded stacks of ten Blue Water vials and handed them over. “I got two stacks just for you.”

Ged frowned, his disappointment clear. “So low... Have the Blue Crystal Mines dried up? Why are you so stingy?”

“Nothing like that,” Resh said with a shrug. “I just changed my supply chains, prioritizing more pressing needs. You’re lucky I’m even willing to give you these. They’re from my personal stash.”

Grimacing with regret, Ged reluctantly took the vials from Resh’s hands. He began detailing the events at the Abyssal Mouth, describing the Cumulus Gang members and the physiques of some high-ranking individuals. Resh nodded, listening intently. Once Ged finished, Resh pulled out another stack and handed it over.

“Something feels off,” Resh said, stroking his chin in thought. “I haven’t heard about anyone swinging their weight in Ozys to challenge the Cumulus bastards. It doesn’t make sense for them to be this bold.”

He furrowed his brow deeply. “Their motives are hidden. I’ll need to think about this more, but for now, it doesn’t change anything.”

His voice grew serious, his gaze sharpening. “War is coming.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. “Whether it’s this newfound threat with the Cumulus Gang or my own brothers, I need you to be ready when the time comes.”

Resh’s tone darkened as he continued. “Look at this.” Flexing his biceps, he tore the sleeves off his shirt in one swift motion, revealing two massive peaks of muscle. Embedded within each bicep, floating beneath the skin like fetuses in a womb, were the incomplete shapes of semi-automatic pistols.

“From now on, all Golden Suns and their allies will cease normal routines and prepare for war.” Reaching into his abdomen, he pulled out a clay tablet engraved with golden letters and handed it to Ged. “If I’m going to survive this battle, I’ll need you to build me some guns as well.”

Ged frowned as he examined the clay tablet.

Outlined on it was a bicep workout routine designed specifically to create removable firearms. It was an artifact workout, a category Ged had avoided in favor of strength-based training.

Workouts in this world fell into three categories: strength, abilities, and artifacts.

Strength routines focused on building muscle mass and definition, fueled by nutrients. Abilities routines shaped magical skills within muscles, offering combat advantages without contributing to physical growth. Artifact routines allowed bodybuilders to create tangible weapons or tools from their muscles, though this often came at the cost of overall mass, depending on nutrition and training balance.

Of the fourteen muscle groups available for development, Ged focused almost entirely on muscle growth. The only abilities he had allocated were "Goat Walk," "Digging Hands," and "Storage," none of which were suited for offensive combat.

Resh’s personal request forced Ged to reconsider. While he currently enjoyed the advantages of being under Resh’s authority, Ged knew that if Resh pushed too far, he might have to reevaluate their relationship.

“How many do you need built?” Ged finally asked, his voice tinged with indignation.

“Twenty, if you can manage,” Resh said flatly. “Whether you do it yourself or find someone else, I don’t care.” He handed Ged ten stacks of Blue Water vials. Then, almost as an afterthought, he pulled out three more clay tablets. “These are offensive abilities. If you don’t use the guns, at least make yourself useful when things go south.”

Ged nodded. The request, though frustrating, was reasonable. He took the tablets from Resh and began discussing additional trades.

Retrieving the Celestial Iron he had collected earlier from his abdomen, Ged offered it in exchange.

Resh, pleased with its size, traded him a variety of drugs and other useful materials.

Ged stored everything in his abs. With his haul secured, he bid Resh farewell, eager to return home and make use of his spoils.

Resh lingered at the grotto’s entrance, his gaze fixed on the setting sun. The madness that had gripped him seemed to fade with the waning light, leaving his eyes a near charcoal black, though faint wisps of blue still lingered, stubborn and unyielding.

“Good that you brought me here,” Resh muttered as Ged turned to leave. “I expect you’ll manage on your own.”

He paused, his voice carrying an edge of warning. “Remember, if I fall, your territory won’t last. Use your time wisely.”

Ged offered no reply, trekking away into the rocky terrain as shadows stretched across the horizon. Behind him, Resh stood motionless, his silhouette framed against the last vestiges of daylight.