Golden rays from the sun pierced the early morning sky, casting a warm glow over the landscape as Ged and Brit arrived at the registration facility.
The building stood tall and imposing, dominating the horizon with its massive size. Its architecture hinted at a more significant purpose than just registration.
The entrance to the building had a doorway so immense that even a dragon, whose size rivaled houses, could pass through easily.
Surrounding the facility was an outer ring of green grassy fields where transportation creatures roamed about.
As one approached the facility, a sprawling green garden unfolded, with intricately patterned hedges leading to the entrance. The hedges were being meticulously trimmed by strange green figures, lacking normal features.
In a small section beside the building a car park filled with black vehicles stood, standing out sorely among the vibrant scene.
Although Ged had spent the previous night with little sleep, he couldn't help but be excited when he saw the magnificent sight.
He turn towards Brit, who appeared more fatigued.
"What do you think, Brit? A fresh start in a different place. No more farming, just freedom."
Brit, gave a bittersweet response. "I don't know Ged, I'm a bit worried at the thought of starting over again."
Ged reassured her with a beaming smile, "No need to worry, Brit. I'm sure everything will work out fine."
Brit managed a faint smile. Although she heard her brother's words, she wasn't listening.
The constant shifting between different homes, the encounters with abusive and unsavory individuals, and the never-ending battle for stability had left her with a deep sense of pessimism about a future she felt powerless to influence in the present.
The words "everything will work out" felt meaningless to her.
"Could you ask Carl if he has any water?" Brit requested, feeling a bit parched.
But, before Ged could act, the dragon began its descent.
As they flew closer to the ground the creatures below made way for their landing, clearing a neat path.
Carl opened the carriage door, declaring, "come, follow me."
The trio disembarked from the dragon, traversing through the diverse scenery.
Upon reaching the entrance of the registration building, Ged couldn't help but crane his neck and admire its towering pillars.
The lobby stretched out before them, its high ceiling imparting a certain feeling of significance. Sunlight streamed in through the open doorway and from the natural ceiling lighting illuminating the interior with a shiny glow.
Inside was bustling with activity, with people forming lines at various reception tables.
Amidst this bustling scene, Carl's purposeful stride led them to a particular desk. There, a young and beautiful lady was immersed in her work.
With a subtle lean, Carl modulated his voice to a more intimate tone, "Emily! it's been quite some time since I last had the pleasure of seeing you. You always manage to bring a bit of life to this otherwise dull and monotonous building."
Emily chuckled at Carl's flattery and replied, "You're too kind, Carl." She looked at Carl with curiosity, "it is a bit unusual seeing you in your work attire."
She thought about something, before concluding with, "so, what brings you here today?"
Carl glanced at Ged and Brit before returning his attention to Emily. "Nothing too complicated. I need these two registered in Toto-Ka."
In response to Carl's words Emily put on her work attitude.
"OH, welcome to Toto-ka! Is this your first time registering in a fighting region, or are you transferring from another one?" She inquired warmly.
"Yes, ma'am. This is our first time registering," Brit replied.
As Brit spoke, the receptionist's demeanor shifted, as she prepared herself to recite a well-rehearsed speech.
"This is a Fighter Card," she held a glowing, white acrylic card in her hands in demonstration. "Every citizen in the region has one. This will be your main form of identification, make sure you do not lose it."
"Registering as a fighter allows you to take part in 'battles' at the arena," she clarified. "To take part in a battle, visit your town's fighting arena, provide your Fighter Card, and they'll match you with another fighter of equal skill. Your compensation depends on the outcome of the fight and the ranks of the fighters involved."
Emily concluded by explaining the tiered compensation system. "Your earnings are determined by the lowest-ranked fighter involved. It is spread across eight tiers: rookie, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, diamond, master, and the elite 100. At the pinnacle of our system being the 'Strong King,' His Excellency Yors."
Ged's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he couldn't contain his curiosity. "Yors... How strong exactly is Yors?"
Emily giggled at Ged's childlike enthusiasm and replied, "Yors is rumored to have incredible strength. They say he can bench press the moon, squat a sun, and even deadlift our entire planet's mass. He's our planet's top fighter."
"How does someone get that strong?" Ged wondered aloud.
"If one diligently trains hard enough to earn a place in the elite 10, they can then seize the opportunity to challenge the king. If they win, they have the option to become the next Strong King. Yors became king right after defeating the previous strong king, his highness Gustoff, after a ten year long rivalry." Emily answered in a dream-like tone.
The idea of attaining the title of the "Strong King" brimmed Ged with ambition and exhilaration.
In his mind's eye, he dreamt of himself enthroned on a golden seat, draped in majestic green robes, his muscles flexed in an imposing posture.
"You two will be starting in the Rookie tier, which will earn you 5 fit for a win and 2 for a loss," Emily informed them.
"Now do either of you have any questions?" Emily continued smiling politely, her gaze shifting toward Brit.
Brit didn't quite share Ged's enthusiasm. The adrenaline rush from the previous night had long dissipated, leaving her exhausted. The prospect of fighting for money didn't hold much appeal for her. She felt disoriented, fatigued, and, above all, apprehensive about her new life as a 'fighter.'
"Is there any other way to earn fit?" Brit asked.
Emily responded with, "While you earn fit in other ways, it's advisable to take part in some fighting."
Brit nodded, but Emily's words did little to quell her concerns.
Carl cast an enigmatic glance at Brit, his expression unreadable.
Ged, spoke up with another question, his eyes wide with wonder, "Do fighters eat a lot of meat?"
Emily giggled at Ged's question replying, "Although meat is rare for most fighters to get a hold of. Generally its only those who are of the highest ranks who get to eat a lot of meat."
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"Is meat that difficult to get a hold of." Ged felt a little defeated.
"Meat is essential to all fighters, as one of the best supplements for building mass and mass is the essential building block for all great fighters."
Ged followed along with great interest.
"By working out diligently and eating the right foods, anyone can become massive."
"And those who have the most mass, generally have the most benefits. If you work hard enough, build up enough mass, and earn enough fit you can eat all the meat you desire."
A radiant smile illuminated Ged's face.
"Would you like to get your total mass measured?" Emily asked, "see how you measure against other Rookies your age?"
Ged agreed without a moments hesitation, eager to learn more about the art of mass building.
Brit, on the other hand, had reservations.
Noticing Brit's reluctance Emily added, "This test is not necessary to complete. Feel free to skip it, if you are feeling overwhelmed."
Taking her advice, Brit politely declined the invitation.
"No problem at all," Emily reassured her. "Why don't you go ahead and fill out your rookie card while this young man and I head into the back?"
Emily handed Brit the thin, white acrylic Fighter Card. On the front, a single line of text displayed, "Please enter your name."
Ged and Emily left Brit by herself disappearing down a hallway to the side of the registration booth.
Using a keyboard, similar to a mobile device, Brit filled out her name and a few more other personal details.
After a short few minutes she had finished setting up the card, and was now alone with nothing to do.
***
Emily led Ged down the hallway to the entrance of small glass room. Inside the room stood three different bars floating above the ground each raised to different heights. A small kiosk with a muscular attendant with his eyes closed sat by the locked entrance.
The man opened his eyes, asking, "Is this one here to test the three holy workouts?"
***
Brit sat on a bench next to the receptionist, her hands holding up her face. She tried her best not to fall asleep in the unfamiliar registration building. The hallway was drafty, and the open doorway did little to prevent a chilling breeze from entering, leaving Brit shivering as it washed over her.
But, almost as if the world had transformed from winter to spring, the breeze suddenly ceased, and warm sunlight replaced it. A hand holding a flagon of water was extended toward the seated Brit.
"Are you hungry or thirsty? I have water and bread," Carl offered, his voice light and spring-like.
***
Ged gazed inside the glass room. Here, he could see three floating bars: one just about shoulders height, the second near the ankles, and the third floating above a velvet red bench. Each exercise was marked with a red mat and an accompanying floating white tablet used to adjust the exercises' settings
The muscular attendant explained, "Bench press, squat, and deadlift. By adding up your highest weight total for all three exercises, we can calculate your mass." He pressed a button, opening the door for Ged to enter and begin his test.
Ged stepped into the room, and the attendant followed through a connecting door.
"Hello, my name's Viktor, and I will be your instructor. First, we are going to measure squats," Viktor explained as he approached the horizontal bar suspended in the air.
"Watch closely," Viktor continued, manipulating the tablet, adjusting the weight.
He then positioned the bar just below his neck, letting out a loud HAGH as he vaulted the bar up. He staggered backward, adjusting his knees and feet to form a slight "V" shape, before dropping down and powering the bar back up with a NNHE. Afterward, he staggered forward and rested the bar back to its original position.
"Now, try it." Viktor commanded.
Ged went to the tablet to change the weight, there he saw that Viktor's attempt had been over 2000 kgs. Figuring that he might struggle a bit more than his instructor, Ged opted for a more modest weight, selecting 100 kgs for his squats.
***
Brit looked up from her bench, her fatigue evident in her eyes, but a glimmer of gratitude shone through. She accepted the flagon of water from Carl's outstretched hand with a small, appreciative smile. The cool water was a welcome relief, quenching her thirst and revitalizing her momentarily.
"Thank you," she replied softly, her voice carrying a mix of weariness and genuine thanks. As she took a sip of the water, she felt a bit more energized and less overwhelmed by the new surroundings.
Carl nodded in understanding, recognizing the strain Brit had been under. "I know it hasn't been easy for you," he sympathized. "I'm not a fan of these sudden arrangements either. The Strong King has been cracking down lately on the lack of fighting, forcing more people immigrate to fighting districts."
He reiterated his distaste, saying firmly, "I don't like it. It shouldn't be that way."
"That boy should be fine, but I worry about you. People shouldn't be forced to fight if they don't want to," Carl continued, his tone gentle and empathetic.
Brit appreciated Carl's words and his gentle demeanor. They were words she didn't realize she needed to hear. She set the flagon aside, gazing at Carl, who still wore his mask and glasses.
"This whole experience has been awful," Brit confessed, her tears falling. "Seeing Ross... like that."
Carl moved over, sitting next to Brit and putting his arm around her shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"I apologize for what my partner did to Ross. It was completely unforgivable and deplorable on our part as Ono officers," he said deceptively.
"I assure you, he's safe and sound now, receiving care from the best doctors in the Toto-ka region. They work swiftly too. By the time you arrive at your new home, he will have made a full recovery and long been settled in." Carl continued warmly.
Brit wiped away her tears. The warm sunlight continued to stream into the registration building and in that moment, Brit and Carl shared a quiet connection.
"Thank you," Brit repeated, her voice softer this time. She couldn't deny the comfort and reassurance she felt in his presence.
"Pretty lasses shouldn't suffer alone. Here I have an idea, let me see your fighter card," Carl said softly, his voice filled with genuine concern.
Fully trusting Carl's words, Brit handed over her Fighter Card. Carl took the card and began entering some information onto it.
"This is my contact information. If you ever find yourself in danger or just need a friend, give me a call, and I'll personally answer and ensure that you get what you need," Carl assured her. He returned the Fighter Card, his hands lingering on it a moment longer than necessary.
"How do I call you?"
Carl pulled out his fighter card, fiddling with it for a moment, before a light buzzing came from Brit's fighter card. On its display was the text "Carl" and the options "Accept" and "Decline."
"Your name is Carl?" Brit asked.
"Your name is Brit?" Carl responded with a playful smile.
Brit giggled. "I thought you already knew."
Carl smiled, pausing for a moment to let things sink in. "I'm sorry, but I must be going now. I won't be taking you and your brother to Shark Village. I do wish you the best, however."
Carl turned away walking towards the exit.
Brit hesitated for a moment before asking, "Wait... How can I be sure I can trust you?"
Carl turned back around to face Brit, pausing momentarily in thought.
"I understand it's difficult to trust a stranger," he responded charmingly.
He took off his disguise and revealed his appearance.
With his long flowing golden brown hair, piercing green eyes, and a strong appealing facial structure, he could capture anyone's attention in the room.
Carl was undeniably a handsome man. He smiled at the observing Brit.
"Now, there are no secrets between us," Carl said smoothly.
Brit found herself lost in a daze, as if she had been transported into a fantastical world. A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in her mind, but one feeling stood out crystal clear: for the first time since leaving the farm, she felt safe.
Carl replaced his concealment and signaled to a standing by officer. They exchanged a few words before Carl headed for the exit.
The officer was very large, wearing a red cap with white "Rua" lettering, with heavy steps he walked over near Brit.
Brit remained in her dazed state, the peculiar turn of events with the enigmatic Carl still fresh in her mind.
Her reverie, however, got interrupted by a familiar voice.
Ged, walking alongside Emily, couldn't shake the desire to retake the strength test. He pleaded with Emily.
"Is there any way I can retake the test?"
"A mass of 180 isn't bad, Ged. It places you just above average for 13-year-old boys," Emily replied, attempting to reassure him.
"I know, but I can do better. I wasn't prepared. I want to retake the test," Ged persisted.
"You can retake the test at the proper facilities in Shark Village. For now, let's finish setting up your fighter card," Emily insisted.
Ged reluctantly accepted Emily's response and retrieved the fighter card handed to him. Then, turning to his sister, Ged innocently asked, "Hey Brit, is the fighter card hard to fill out?"
Brit, still transitioning from her dreamlike state, felt Ged's question pierce through her thoughts like a sharp jab to the skull.
"It's stupidly easy, Ged. Figure it out yourself," Brit responded with a trace of venom in her voice.
Ged, stung by his sister's harsh reply, pouted in response.
While Brit completed her card in a timely manor, Ged took a bit longer, but with Emily's help, he managed to fill out the card with the correct information.
Ged, noticing the arrival of the new figure, couldn't help but point to the new government officer.
"Who is that?" He asked.
"My name's Greg, and I'll be the one taking you to your new home," the officer spoke.
Ged's Stats
Mass: 180kgs
Rookie Rank: 0-0
Holy Lifts:
Flat Bar Bench Press 60kgs Standard Grip Deadlift 80kgs Bar Back Squat 40kgs