The city of Arcanum Nexus experienced darkness as night descended.
The city lay under a thick blanket of ash-colored clouds that remained stationary while they shrouded the entire area in a dull gray mist. The lanterns cast weak orange glows into the foggy alleys where the howling wind sounded like a starving animal.
The Outer Slums existed in the dark recesses of the towering spires which kept a safe distance from the guildhalls and noble towers.
The streets showed signs of decay through their broken cobblestones and rotting wood and rusted gutters which dripped a bitter liquid while shanty homes clustered together for warmth.
Kairo Vale lay in his bed as he screamed into his pillow while a single crystal shard provided dim light.
His body was on fire.
The entire length of his body burned with intense pain which surpassed any medical condition or physical wound. The pain started from his internal structures before spreading through his bones and tendons. His skin crawled with heat.
His muscles trembled, cramped, grew; then tore, then rebuilt.
Again.
And again.
And again.
He folded his body into a ball while his face streamed with sweat and his jaws locked so tightly they threatened to break. His tunic stuck to his body like a wet rag while it absorbed blood and fluid.
The system chimed.
DING!
~----~
[WARNING: Nutritional Deficiency Detected]
Daily Caloric Requirement: 2,000 kcal – Current Intake: 0 kcal
Muscle Growth Efficiency: 12%
Result: Involuntary Fiber Rupture. Pain Surge Active.
[Recommendation: Consume protein-based food. Immediately!]
~----~
Kairo gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the floorboard. The wood beneath him cracked.
He blinked… looked down.
Did he just crack the floorboard?
Then he noticed. His hand had grown, just slightly; thicker fingers, tighter skin, veins raised like battle lines across his knuckles.
His entire body was transforming beyond his hand.
His forearms appeared stronger and his shoulders expanded in size. He moved his body while feeling the new mass that formed around his ribcage.
His body was changing.
But the pain…
It wasn't strength yet.
It was raw material. Unrefined. Unstable.
And he was starving.
'Damnation!'
Kairo emerged into the street one hour later wearing a damaged cloak while his eyes appeared hollow and his legs shook uncontrollably. His stomach clenched painfully.
The world swam in and out of focus. The evening crowds had already cleared all the meager wares from the vendors who were now shutting down their stalls.
No coin. No favors to call. Just hunger.
A butcher cart passed by as a thick-armed man pushed it while singing a tavern tune. The smell of meat hit Kairo like a punch to the chest.
He attacked the cart without thinking to grab the smallest piece of fat-stripped scrap before he fled into the alley.
The butcher shouted, furious. "Hey...! THIEF!"
Kairo ran.
Kind of. More like staggered at high speed.
He didn't look back.
Every movement he made through the alleys and across the rusted bridge and down into the half-flooded trench caused his muscles to scream in agony but he continued until the shadows consumed him.
He began chewing the meat like a dying animal after he fell to the ground.
It was raw. Cold. Barely edible, but he ate it still.
To the ravenously hungry him? It was divine.
DING!
~----~
[Nutritional Intake Detected: 267 kcal]
Nutrient Composition: Animal Protein (high grade), Saturated Fat (low), Iron (moderate)
Converting…
Muscle Efficiency: 31% ~ 52%
Pain Resistance: +2%
[MUSCLE INDEX: 0.7%]
~----~
He lay there in the mud, panting, eyes wide.
The burning eased.
The trembling faded.
And in its place, a low, humming heat began to rise.
It wasn't pain now.
Rather, it was power.
…
The next morning, Kairo stood shirtless on a crumbling rooftop, facing the rising sun.
The city skyline stretched before him; towers, smoke, banners rippling in the wind. The noble districts gleamed like gold-etched thrones. The slums below reeked of desperation.
He stood between both worlds.
His fists clenched.
This was where he'd begin.
No weapons, no magic, no teacher.
Just one thing… muscle.
He bent his knees, lowered into a squat, and then he began.
One.
The pain stabbed between his thighs. His knees popped.
Two.
His back spasmed.
Three.
Sweat rolled down his neck.
He didn't stop.
Four. Five. Six. Seven…
By ten, he collapsed. Vision blurred. Legs twitching violently.
But the system chimed.
DING!
~----~
[Training Detected: Muscle Load Threshold Exceeded]
Analyzing stress points… adapting growth patterns…
…
[MUSCLE INDEX: 1.0% REACHED]
…
ABILITY UNLOCKED: [HYPERMUSCLE CREATION]
>You can now consciously grow and harden new muscle fibers to enhance strength temporarily. Growth requires energy input and recovery period.
~----~
Kairo's eyes snapped open.
He felt it; something inside him shift. A flexing, like a new organ had grown in his soul.
He looked down at his arm.
Focused.
And then… his bicep expanded, visibly. Kairo's breath hitched as he watched his veins bulge, the skin stretched tight.
His strength spiked.
He blinked, shocked.
~----~
[Muscle Charge: 1/5]
>Each Charge increases strength by 30% for 10 seconds. Overuse may result in muscle tear or temporary paralysis.
~----~
He exhaled slowly, a grin cracking across his face.
'Now we're talking'.
…
Later that night, back in the ruin he called home, he lit a stolen crystal shard and looked over the interface again.
The system now hovered in his vision at will, transparent but readable, tailored to him and only him.
~----~
[MUSCLE GENESIS INTERFACE]
Muscle Index: 1.0%
Ability Unlocked: [Hypermuscle Creation]
Muscle Charges: 1/5
Pain Tolerance: +2%
Daily Intake (Required): 2,000 kcal
Current Intake: 267 kcal
[WARNING: Nutritional Deficiency Detected. Efficiency dropping.]
Next Unlock at 2.0% - [Muscle Lock]
~----~
His stomach growled again.
But this time, Kairo didn't complain. This time, he smiled, because now he understood.
Every pain he endured fed his growth. Every punch he took made him stronger.
No allies, no mentors, no bloodline, but if muscle was all he had?
Then f*ck bloodline! He would grow so much of it that the gods themselves would kneel beneath the weight of his strength.
He rose again, slow but steady, his eyes filled with undiluted clarity now.
And he began another set.