Muscle Cultivation - I Will Destroy Reality

Somewhere within the ninth ring of the universe, on the surface of a solitary blue planet, the ominous shadow of an incoming moon loomed, blotting out the once-bright sky. Dislodged from its orbit, the massive sphere hurtled toward the planet, carrying the weight of impending annihilation.

For most civilizations, such an event would herald the end of days. Yet, for the inhabitants of Planet Blue Eagle, it was little more than a disruption to their daily routine. Some glanced skyward with groaning indifference, retreating underground to their shelters. Others scrambled for higher ground, their hardened gazes defying the celestial threat with an almost reckless sense of curiosity.

Among the defiant stood Ged.

Perched atop the peak of a dumbbell-shaped mountain, Ged's muscular silhouette carved a heroic figure against the glowing horizon.

He squinted at the incoming moon, its fiery surface fractured with glowing cracks. "Which Celestial is it this time?" he muttered, his voice laced with sardonic curiosity as his focus lingered beyond the descending meteor.

Far above, a towering figure hovered alongside the moon, his frame sculpted with muscles that seemed forged from the stars themselves.

Like a master conductor directing a symphony, he guided the moon's descent with a series of precise and commanding bodybuilding-esc poses, each movement radiating an almost divine intensity.

As the moon dipped closer to the planet's atmosphere, the cosmic conductor grew serious, striking a powerful 'front double bicep.'

The moon shattered into countless fragments that rained toward the surface like a fiery storm.

But the celestial body sorcerer was not finished. With a more calculated, deliberate 'vacuum pose', he controlled the descent of each fragment, guiding them with precision to their destined targets scattered across the planet.

A fragment spiraled toward Ged, its fiery glow reflected in his eyes.

"Celestial iron again," he muttered, shaking his head. "Something new would be nice for a change." He sighed and rolled his shoulders, loosening the tension in his muscles.

Below him, the circular city of Elpida sprawled across the barren landscape. Home to hundreds of thousands, its true nature lay hidden underground, where vast bunkers and cave systems housed its residents. Above ground, only temporary wooden buildings and indestructible stone spires broke up the monotony of the surroundings. Cracked roadways wove through the city like veins, leading to its heart: a vast, fog-shrouded pit known as the Abyssal Mouth.

The moon fragments crashed into the many Abyssal Mouths dotting the planet. Their impacts sent violent tremors rippling across the surface, tearing the stone ground like paper. Rivers of magma bubbled up through the cracks, spilling across the land in glowing torrents. The acrid stench of sulfur filled the air, and the suffocating heat turned the atmosphere into an oppressive haze.

Ged wiped the sweat from his brow, grimacing. Even his extraordinary physique strained against the unforgiving environment, the heat pressing against him like a suffocating weight.

Then, a deep, guttural sound rumbled through the air. A noise so primal it seemed to vibrate through his very bones.

The sound of unimaginable chewing.

The planet itself was feasting, grinding the celestial body sorcerer's offering with the monstrous tremors of its vast, unseen jaws.

"Can't this damn eagle chew quietly?" Ged muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.

The tattoo on his neck flared to life, a brilliant blue light illuminating the intricate image of an eagle with outstretched wings. The mark shimmered as though it were alive, mocking him with its vibrancy. Ged's hand shot to the tattoo instinctively, his nails digging into his flesh in a futile attempt to claw it away. Raw, bloody streaks appeared on his neck, but the mark remained untouched, pristine, eternal.

An unyielding symbol of his servitude.

The chewing subsided, replaced by a grotesque, resonant swallow.

Finally, the planet grew still as colossal orbiting body sorcerers appeared in the sky. Through commanding poses, they absorbed the planet's excess heat. Among them was the moon's guide, Koh, whose cosmic frame hovered as he performed his final pose.

From the depths of the Abyssal Mouth, a thunderous voice boomed, its tone majestic and cold. "Celestial Koh, your offering was adequate. Six quintillion kilograms of mass have been deducted from your debt. You now owe 5,872,564,347,431,234,128,123,000,888,167 kilograms left to repay in full."

Koh, unmoved by the staggering number, closed his eyes for a moment, before nodding. He resumed his orbit with the rest of the cosmic body sorcerers, their radiant figures slowly fading into the vastness of the sky.

Ged watched them go with a dark expression. "A six quintillion kilogram payment and he's still in so much debt," he muttered, shaking his head.

His gaze dropped to the faint glow of the Abyssal Mouth below, frustration simmering within him. "Can our freedom really ever be achieved?" he whispered, his voice thick with bitterness.

On Planet Blue Eagle, debt was not measured in coins but in kilograms. Even the mass of a single meal was meticulously recorded, with the debt compounded by crushing interest. Those who ascended to the stars became indentured servants, wandering the cosmos in search of offerings to appease their master and reduce their amounts.

For Ged, nothing mattered more than breaking free from the planet's control and exploring the stars as a free man. However, as a third-rate body sorcerer, he still had an impossibly long way to go. Only those whose mass rivaled that of a moon had even the slightest chance of freedom. Yet even among the few who ascended to become orbiting giants, none had managed to repay their debts in full. The cost of freedom seemed to come with an impossible price tag.

Despite his considerable size of 1,500 kilograms, Ged was not even one percent closer to achieving the mass required to join the celestial sorcerers high above. His dreams of true freedom felt less like achievable goals and more like childish delusions.

The planet's oppressive gravity seemed to bear down on him, as if mocking his ambition.

"No," Ged growled, his fists clenching. His gaze lifted to the sky where Koh had hovered moments before, a dim silhouette against the burning atmosphere. "I cannot despair." His voice hardened. "I'll break the chains they dare to make unbreakable. I'll carve my own path away from this hell."

His eyes burned like caged lions. He turned his gaze toward the distant town of Elpida with a derisive sneer. "But before I reach the stars, I have to endure this suffering on the ground."

Determination burning within him, Ged turned away from the mountain's peak and began his descent toward the city of Elpida. An intricate pattern of glowing blue lines lit up his calves, activating his muscle ability, 'Goat Walk.' His movements over the jagged terrain became smoother and significantly faster.

Passing through quarries and loose, rocky terrain, Ged maintained his stride without hesitation, his ability allowing him to traverse the treacherous path as effortlessly as flat land.

The barren fields soon gave way to the smooth stone streets of Elpida, where the city was already stirring to life. After every planetary meal, crowds flooded the streets to resume their routines, while merchants scrambled to capitalize on the sudden influx of foot traffic.

"Rare earth metals! I've got high-grade Turtle Stone. Perfect for growing out your quads!" one stall owner called out, holding a sign emblazoned with his merchant group's logo of a swan. His eager gaze scanned the crowd, but when it landed on Ged, he froze. Awkwardly, the merchant averted his eyes, pretending not to notice him.

Ged recognized the man. "That's Barry," he thought, frowning slightly. "I haven't seen him place an order in a while." His expression darkened. "Maybe he's found a new dealer."

Shrugging off the thought, Ged continued down the strip, weaving through the bustling crowd. "Workout passes! Daily deals for locals or top-tier access to the Great Barbell Palace!" shouted another merchant. Beside him, a teenage boy held a sign, his sheepish demeanor betrayed by a strange glint in his eyes. When he spotted Ged, he flashed a peculiar smile.

Ged returned the smile nonchalantly, his expression betraying nothing. "Damn it, Trevor," he clicked his tongue internally, noting the boy's pale, jittery appearance. "Rolling on Beehive mid-day? I get that you're off work, but at least try not to make me look bad." Shaking his head, Ged continued past his loathsome employee.

As he made his way through the bustling streets, Ged recognized more familiar faces. Some worked the stalls; others wandered aimlessly. They all had one thing in common: their lives had crossed paths with his during his time as a drug dealer.

"So many people out making money today," Ged mused, a sly grin creeping onto his face. "This is shaping up to be a profitable week."

As Ged moved through the main streets, something caught his eye. He stopped dead in his tracks, cursing under his breath.

Near the Abyssal Mouth, a crowd of protesters had gathered. Their seething animosity toward body sorcerers was palpable, and anyone with even a shred of muscle became a target for their ire. Waving picket signs and shouting venomous slogans, the protesters jeered at the approaching giants, their eyes alight with hatred.

"Crack down on underground body sorcery!" one group chanted. "Ban the dangerous drug Blue Water!" another added, their voices tinged with righteous fury.

A muscular man in a white tank top walked through the crowd, moving hesitantly under the barrage of insults.

"Scumbag!" a white-haired old man shouted, shaking his fist. "You better have a well-paying job with that kind of physique!"

"I do…" the man replied cautiously, trying to placate him, but before he could continue, another protester cut in.

"Yeah, right! You're just another selfish punk," a woman with frizzed hair yelled, pointing an accusing finger. "We don't need any more body sorcerers! You're all criminals, selling drugs and ruining lives."

The man opened his mouth to protest. "I uh... just like working out..." Her accusations weighed on him, stealing his words.

A woman stepped forward, tears staining her face. In trembling hands, she clutched a faded photograph of a child. Her voice wavered with raw grief. "My son idolized you people. He wanted to be big and strong like you. But he got caught up in your underground gangs... and now he's dead!"

The man staggered back, numb, unable to speak.

The mob's anger swelled to a fever pitch, their voices rising like a swarm of wasps, each word a sting of judgment. He raised his hands, desperate to defend himself, but their fury drowned him out.

His voice was swallowed by their rage; they were past listening. Despite his size, the crowd trampled him, leaving nothing but a broken shell.

But Ged's arrival was an entirely different story.

He rolled his eyes as he swaggered into the chaos, his presence rippling through the crowd like a spark to dry kindling.

Unlike the man before him, Ged was one of the infamous "underground body sorcerers" the crowd despised. He felt no need to justify himself; their hate meant nothing to him. He welcomed it.

"Screw off. I need these muscles," he snapped at a thin man who questioned his massive frame.

Using his arms like a snowplow, Ged shoved people aside with little effort or regard, clearing his path. Stray comments reached his ears, but only a few earned a response.

"My daughter overdosed on the drugs you sold!" a man shouted, voice cracking. "Can't you have a shred of decency and think about the lives you're ruining?"

Ged didn't stop. "Her decisions were her own," he said flatly, narrowing his eyes. "Maybe if you'd been a better father, she'd still be alive."

The man's face reddened with fury. "You monster! Can't you at least respect the grief of a parent?"

"Respect for what?" Ged sneered, finally pausing. "Was she even your real daughter? No one's had a natural child in over two centuries in Elpida. Don't waste my time with your delusions."

The man's hands shook. "Love isn't only about blood," he shouted, anger heating his voice. "We're all struggling."

"What's wrong with caring for someone beyond yourself?" His voice rose further. "Just because you're another one of those selfish Plunk-worshipping cowards doesn't give you the right to dismiss my hardships!"

Ged froze mid-stride, his gaze locking onto the man like a hawk sizing up its prey. The crowd fell silent under the weight of his stare.

"And what if I do want to be like Plunk?" Ged asked calmly, yet sharply.

"For the first time in a thousand years, someone ascended from the ground to the sky. He gave us something to dream about. What's wrong with wanting the same?"

"He killed millions along the way!" the man snapped, voice trembling with rage. "You can't possibly think that's a path worth following."

"I do. So what?" Ged shrugged. "He achieved what no one else could. Plunk proved we can dream bigger while you people just cling to what's safe. Tell me, what have you done in your life that gives you the right to judge him?"

The man faltered, his fury draining under Ged's unrelenting gaze. "You're too far gone," he murmured. "I hope you burn in hell."

Ged smirked and continued deeper into the protest, unfazed by their glares or curses. As he moved, he spotted gang members and other underground sorcerers, some flinging protesters aside with brutal force. He offered casual nods to those he knew while pushing through the crowd to the Abyssal Mouth.

Ahead, a human blockade formed at the edge of the pit. Their arms interlocked in defiance, guarding the entrance like brave tree huggers. Ged barely paused to snort.

Without hesitation, he began dismantling the blockade, flinging protesters aside as though they were debris. "Get out of my way," he growled.

"Stop it, you bastard!" a thin man shouted, barely dodging one of Ged's careless tosses. His voice trembled with a mix of rage and fear. "You think your strength gives you the right to treat us like pavement?"

Ged turned, his expression unreadable. "They were blocking my path, so I moved them. What about it?"

The thin man's fists clenched as he glared. Around him, injured protesters nursed their wounds, their eyes burning with indignation. "And that's the problem," the man said, his voice shaking. "You live only for yourself, destroying everything around you while we're left to pick up the pieces!"

His voice rose, emboldened by murmurs of agreement from the crowd. "What's the point of your strength? Is it just a tool to bend others to your will? Why can't you just leave us alone and let us live our lives in peace?"

Ged glanced around at the seething mob, their anger swelling like a storm. He let out a cold laugh, slicing through their fury like a blade.

"I just want a better life for myself," Ged said, his voice firm but steady. "You call scraping by every day 'living your life'? What's wrong with wanting more? If my dreams put me at odds with your so-called 'peace,' then I'll gladly bend you all to my will."

The mob erupted in rage. Rocks, sticks, and debris flew toward Ged, but they rebounded harmlessly against his frame, as though striking steel. Ged shook his head, amused by their futility.

Desperation set in. Some clung to his arms and legs in a last-ditch effort to stop him. Ged frowned. With a single, calculated motion, he shook them off, sending them tumbling to the ground.

"I warned you," Ged said icily, his glare cutting through the crowd. "I'm not kind to those who stand in my way."

He turned to the remaining protesters, his voice rising like a thunderclap. "Now get back! Give me room! If I see any of you step out of line, I'll toss you into the Abyssal Mouth myself."

The threat silenced them. The protesters exchanged nervous glances but dared not challenge him again.

Satisfied, Ged nodded and turned his focus to the Abyssal Mouth. He approached the edge, his thoughts already moving beyond the crowd behind him.

From within his abs, he retrieved a fishing device and spun a magnetic ball-bearing hook into the foggy depths below.

As the line unspooled, Ged scanned the pit's edge, searching for anyone else fishing near the lip.

On the far side, a hairless body sorcerer stood, his forehead marked with puffy cloud tattoos in place of eyebrows.

"Cumulus Gang," Ged muttered, his eyes narrowing. "They're far from Oizys. Why risk showing up here?"

Oizys was a distant town, one he knew only through whispers. It was a place where power shifted like sand, where gangs rose and fell overnight. He had heard rumors of the Cumulus Gang's ousting but never expected them to crawl back into the light, let alone in Elpida.

Ged flexed his fingers, his gaze locking onto the swarm of cloud-marked figures lurking near the Abyssal Mouth. Some he recognized. They weren't just grunts, but names that carried weight. Hardened criminals. High-ranking elites.

Their presence wasn't a coincidence. This was a power grab in enemy territory.

"So, they're challenging the Golden Suns." His lips curled into a smirk. "Resh will want to know about this. And he pays well for good information."

But as he scanned the pit, his amusement faded. The sheer number of them was too many for a simple turf dispute. Something bigger was brewing.

Ged exhaled sharply. "Damn it. If this turns into an all-out war, the authorities will shut everything down before I can even get my cut."

His grip on the fishing rod tightened, knuckles white with tension. His line was still descending, the celestial iron still far out of reach.

Time was running out.