For a century, the blue rain poured relentlessly, drenching the universe in its torrent. When it finally ceased, it marked the end of an era, leaving behind the ruins of a stagnant age and heralding the rise of new kinds of heroes forged from their ashes.
In this reborn age, nestled within the ninth ring of the universe, a lonely blue planet awaited its scheduled meal.
The ominous face of an incoming moon loomed large, blotting out the sky. Pulled from its original orbit, it plummeted toward the planet, as though intent on erasing all life in its path.
For most civilizations, such an event would herald an apocalyptic end. Yet, for the planet's inhabitants, it was little more than a shift in weather. Some glanced skyward with groaning indifference, retreating underground for protection. Others scrambled for a better view, eager to witness the event from prime vantage points.
One such individual was an ambitious young man named Ged.
Perched atop the peak of a dumbbell-shaped mountain, Ged stood tall, his silhouette evoking the image of a heroic barbarian.
With broad shoulders and a muscular frame that exuded raw, primal strength, his eyes burned with the intensity of caged lions as they tracked the falling moon with deliberate focus.
He spoke with detached curiosity. “I wonder which Celestial Slave has come to settle their debts this time.”
Far above, hidden within the clouds, stood an ordinary-sized man beside the moon’s colossal mass. Though dwarfed by the celestial body, his rippling muscles radiated immense power. Dressed in a sleeveless shirt and athletic pants, he directed the moon’s descent through a series of elaborate poses.
When the moon reached a critical point in the atmosphere, the man flexed, striking a dramatic bodybuilder’s pose. The sheer force of his movement caused the moon to shatter, fragments exploding outward and scattering across the planet’s surface.
With the precision of a master puppeteer, he controlled the fragments with another flex. Each piece seemed to take on a life of its own, hurtling toward predetermined destinations.
One of these pieces of the moon barreled straight toward Ged.
He sighed, watching its fiery descent. “Celestial iron again,” he muttered. “Always the same material. How am I supposed to build a body with this low-tier scrap?” Shaking his head, he added, “Well, at least it’ll sell for something...”
A small distance away from Mount Dumbbell lay the circular city of Elpida. Home to hundreds of millions, its true nature was hidden from view. Most residents lived in underground bunkers, leaving the surface sparse and desolate. Only temporary wooden buildings and indestructible castle spires dotted the cityscape. Cracked stone roadways wove through the area like veins, connecting the disparate structures.
At the heart of Elpida lay a vast abyssal pit, shrouded in dense fog. Known as one of Planet Blue Eagle’s many "mouths," the pit was said to descend impossibly deep, rumored to reach the planet’s core.
As the asteroid descended, it splintered into thousands of flaming-hot pebbles. The sky turned crimson as these fragments hurtled toward the many abyssal mouths scattered across the planet.
The ground quaked violently with each impact. Fissures tore across the surface as magma bubbled up from the planet’s core, filling the cracks and expanding the planet’s surface area.
The heat was unbearable. Volcanic eruptions transformed the landscape into a fiery, hellish wasteland. Even Ged, with his extraordinary body, struggled against the suffocating atmosphere. Sweat poured from his body as he gritted his teeth and endured.
A deep, guttural sound emerged from the planet, a noise of unimaginable chewing. It reverberated through the air, setting Ged’s teeth on edge.
“Fuck me,” Ged muttered, wiping his face of sweat. “Why does it always have to be so loud?”
He turned toward the abyssal mouth in front of him, his frustration boiling over. “Can’t this damn eagle chew quietly?”
His voice rose in anger. “What a shit life I have to endure. Fuck this stupid, fucking planet!”
On his neck, a tattoo of a blue eagle glistened vibrantly, marking him as a slave. Sweat streamed from his skin as Ged scratched at the tattoo like it was an unbearable itch, his nails leaving raw, bloody streaks. Yet, no matter how much damage he inflicted, the eagle remained pristine, its vibrant luster undiminished by his efforts.
Over time, the chewing subsided, ending with a grotesque, resonant swallow. The planet slowly returned to stillness. High above, Celestial Slaves began absorbing the excess heat radiating from the surface with the help of mysterious gym equipment within their possession. Gradually, the temperature cooled, and the planet returned to its usual bleak and desolate state.
From within the abyssal mouths, a thunderous, eagle-like voice boomed, addressing the man who had brought the moon.
“Builder Koh, your meal is much appreciated.”
“For your great service, I have deducted six quintillion kilograms of mass from your debts.”
“You now require only 5,872,564,347,431,234,128,123,000,888,167 kilograms to repay in full.”
With that, the planet lost interest in further conversation and returned to its dormant slumber.
Koh, accustomed to such exchanges, simply nodded before resuming his orbit around the planet, diligently fulfilling his duties as a planetary guard.
Ged looked at the retreating Koh with a solemn expression.
“Builder Koh still has so much more to go?” he muttered, shaking his head. “He ascended to the skies such a long time ago, yet he still carries so much debt.”
“Does it ever end?” he whispered, his voice tinged with bitterness.
A deep frown crept across his face as anger boiled within him, his stomach churning with frustration.
“I must secure my own freedom,” he growled, his fists clenching tightly. “I can’t live like this. Even if it kills me, I will find a way to escape this torture.”
He glared at the sky lost in heavy thoughts, moments passed and his gaze turned towards the city structures and the abyssal pit, he remembered something important.
“Shit, I need to hurry."
"If I don’t get down to the Abyssal Mouth soon, all the easy-to-grab celestial iron will be gone.”
Centering his thoughts, Ged turned away from the lofty vantage point. He descended the mountain, navigating through a rocky field that separated its base from the slowly awakening city of Elpida.
His movements were swift, his powerful legs propelling him forward in bounding motions, reaching speeds that could outpace even the fastest of rabbits.
The terrain was uneven and treacherous, with large, jagged crags jutting from the ground. Ged had to constantly weave and adjust his pace to navigate the challenging path. Occasionally, weed-like stalks of grass and strange flowers sprouted from cracks in the rocks, adding small bursts of life to the otherwise monotonous scenery of the several-kilometer journey.
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After traversing the long stretches of barren terrain, Ged’s feet finally struck the smoother city streets. Slowing his pace, he transitioned from bounding strides to a brisk, purposeful walk.
The streets buzzed with activity as businesses hurried to set up their stands again. After every planetary meal, the city would fill with crowds eager to return to normal life, and merchants scrambled to capitalize on the sudden influx of foot traffic.
“I'm selling rare earth metals! I’ve got high-grade Turtle Stone; perfect for growing out your quads!” one stall owner called out, holding a sign high above his head indicating the merchant group he was selling for.
The man’s eyes scanned the crowd eagerly, searching for potential buyers, but when his gaze landed on Ged, he froze. Awkwardly, the merchant averted his gaze, pretending not to notice him.
Ged recognized the man.
“That looks like Barry,” he thought, frowning slightly. “It’s been a few months since his last order, but the guy’s a total drug fiend. I think he bought something like 100 grams of powdered frog tongue from me last time...”
“He’s usually a bit more sociable than this,” Ged mused. “Maybe he’s found a new dealer. I’ll need to ask him about it when I have time.”
Ged continued down the strip, passing by other peddlers.
“Gym passes! Daily deals for locals or top-tier access to the Great Barbell Palace!” shouted another merchant, his eyes glinting strangely. He gave Ged an unnerving smile as he walked past.
Ged returned the smile nonchalantly, pretending not to notice anything unusual.
“Looks like Trevor’s out too,” Ged observed, noting his pale, jittery appearance. Inwardly, Ged clicked his tongue. “Damn, he’s not looking good. He must be rolling on some Beehive right now..."
"Fuck me, there's a time and place for this shit, don't be out looking like this, it makes me look bad." Ged shook his head.
As Ged made his way through the bustling streets, he recognized more familiar faces. Some worked at stalls, others wandered the streets, but they all shared one thing in common—they were connections from his life as a small-time drug dealer.
“So many people are out working today,” Ged thought. “Looks like I might have a busy few days ahead."
"I should stock up, just in case they’re eager enough to buy again so soon.” He sneered inwardly.
As Ged moved through the main streets, something caught his eye, bringing him to an abrupt stop.
Near the abyssal pit, a crowd of protesters had gathered. They seemed to target only the bodybuilders in street clothes, while those who were finely dressed or in uniform passed by without interference. Waving picket signs and shouting venomous slogans, the protesters jeered and cursed at the approaching giants, their eyes burning with hatred.
"Crack down on underground bodybuilding!" A group of protestors chanted. "Ban Blue Water!" Another group added.
A hulking figure dressed in a white tank top walked through a group getting an earful from those within the crowd.
“You sick bastards!” a frazzled woman screamed, clutching a photo of her deceased son. Tears streamed down her face, and her voice cracked with anguish. “My son died of an overdose from taking the drugs you sold! Is building your bodies worth the damage you do to ordinary people?”
The hulking figure had never seen the women in his life. His life was far from the shores of underground bodybuilding.
He looked at the lady with confused looks, regretting his decision on exiting his bunker in his drab outfit. But no amount of words could clear his innocence, for the protesters, retribution was all they sought, lashing out indiscriminately like a swarm of stinging wasps.
"My daughter got victimized because of your crime sprees. She now spends her days paralyzed from the waist down. Have you no shame?" An elderly man screeched with pain in his voice.
The man in the white tank top stood silently, his massive frame betraying the guilt in his eyes. He lacked the heart to push past the grieving individuals and instead tried to calm them with kind words, though his efforts hardly seemed in vain.
Ged on the other hand was not as polite.
When he arrived at the scene, his contempt was clear. Rolling his eyes, he muttered to himself as he surveyed the chaos.
As one of the so-called “underground bodybuilders” targeted by the crowd, Ged felt no need to justify himself. If anything, he was ready to meet their scorn with unshakable iron will.
“Why am I to blame for your drug-abusing family members?” he questioned someone blocking his path, clutching a photo of a deceased young boy, as he shoved them aside. “He probably just wanted a temporary escape from his miserable life, like everyone else,” he muttered, pushing past a pair of teenage girls.
He heard someone in front of him yell out a slogan. "Stop this idolization of the murderous Builder Plunk!"
Ged wrinkled his brows at the man.
“For the first time in ten thousand years, a man achieved something many thought to be impossible since the Golden Era. How does that not inspire you?" He looked at the man with questioning daggers in his eyes.
“He…” The man was about to list off all his many terrible deeds, but Ged cut him off.
“So what if he was a criminal and used Blue Water to reach the stars? He achieved what no one else could. Pim let us dream while everyone else demanded we settle for less.” Ged finished resolutely. "What have you done in your life that allows you to be so critical of a man?"
He looked to the man for a response, but none came. Silently, the man stepped aside, no longer daring to block Ged’s path.
Now reaching closer to the lip of the abyssal mouth, the crowds of people grew thick, as the protestors bravely used their own bodies to stand in front of the lip of the mouth, trying to stop bodybuilders from entering.
“The journey from the ground to the sky is not easy, and without clouds in the sky to catch me if I fall, don’t blame me for doing whatever it takes to make sure I succeed,” Ged whispered to himself, his gaze fixed purposefully on the group blocking his path.
Without a trace of emotion, Ged began peeling the protesters away from the edge one by one, flinging them carelessly behind him with no regard for their safety.
“Stop it, you bastard!” a thin, angry man shouted from behind, his voice trembling with a mix of rage and fear. “You think your strength gives you the right to trample over everyone else?”
Ged turned, his expression impassive. “Those people were deliberately blocking my path, so I moved them. It’s nothing worth getting upset about,” he replied coldly.
The thin man glared at him, fists clenched tightly. Around him, injured protesters nursed their wounds, their eyes filled with indignation. “And that’s exactly the problem,” the thin man said, his voice shaking with emotion. “To you, we’re just obstacles to shove aside. We want justice for the people you exploit, but all you care about is yourself.”
“Why must you be such an asshole?” another man shouted, clutching his injured arm. His outburst ignited a wave of angry voices as the crowd rallied, their furious cries rising in unison to berate Ged.
Ged glanced around at the seething mob and let out a cold, mocking laugh, his apathy cutting through their outrage like a blade.
Anger boiled over as some of the more enraged protesters began hurling rocks and sticks at Ged’s superhuman frame. Their attacks rebounded harmlessly, as if striking an immovable steel wall. Ged’s contempt only deepened.
“Does it make you feel superior to shelter the weak while blocking the path of the strong?” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “Or is that just your idea of fairness?” With a single, deliberate motion, he caught a flying stone midair and crushed it into dust in his palm.
Without hesitation, Ged swung his arms out, knocking away the nearest protesters with no regard for injury. Blood spattered the ground as some of his blows left them writhing on the hard stone roads.
“Get back, all of you! Give me plenty of room!” he roared, his voice cutting through the chaos like thunder. “If I see a single one of you step out of line, I’ll toss you into the abyssal mouth.” The crowd fell silent, their complaints stifled as they froze in place, too afraid to move.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Ged said icily, his cold gaze sweeping over the cowering protesters.
A few moments of tense calm passed, and Ged exhaled, glancing at the bloodied and teary-eyed crowd. Regret flickered briefly in his expression.
“I went a little overboard,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I need to control my temper. If I’m not careful, I might attract the attention of the authorities. The last thing I need is less freedom.” He reminded himself.
Scanning the area for any immediate threats, Ged confirmed the situation was under control before shifting his focus to the Abyssal Mouth ahead.
Ged retrieved a grappling device from his bag. The contraption featured a spool of thin wire connected to a magnetic, ball-bearing hook. With a press of the handheld trigger, the line unwound rapidly, the hook vanishing into the foggy depths of the Abyssal Mouth.
As the spool continued its work, Ged scanned his surroundings with a wary eye. On the far edge of the pit, three hairless bodybuilders stood, their foreheads adorned with cloud tattoos where their eyebrows should have been.
“Cumulus Gang,” Ged muttered, narrowing his eyes. “Their turf is Oizys. What the hell are they doing here?”
His gaze sharpened as he examined the ring further. Familiar figures began to emerge from the encircling crowd of bodybuilders.
Blue Wind. Velvet Eclipse. Known and wanted criminals. Thieves, smugglers, and pimps. All bearing the unmistakable markers of Oizys gangs.
“What the fuck?” Ged hissed, his voice low and seething. “Have they all come here looking to steal our business?”
His fists clenched tightly, the veins in his arms straining as his anger boiled over. “This isn’t just a turf dispute. This is a declaration of war.”
“I need to report this to Resh,” he thought grimly, his attention shifting to the swelling mob of protesters behind him. The crowd’s numbers were surging, their collective fury crackling in the air like a storm about to break.
“This protest is going to turn ugly,” Ged muttered, his voice taut with anticipation.