RAIJI: "Oh, come on! How am I supposed to get home? The whole sector's locked down."
KIRO: "All my stuff is still there... Guess it's time to buy new clothes."
VEYRA (smirking): "Too bad, boys. So, Raiji... the room next door is free. Same as this one." She jerked her thumb toward the ceiling. "And I'm on the top floor." Her smile was full of mischief.
KIRO: "And you're my neighbor? Oh, come on..."
VEYRA: "And you, my pet, are coming with me. I want to show you around."
KIRO: "Too bad. Got fight pits to find, people to punch, money to make."
RAIJI: "There's a main one right here. More high-tier. Better prizes."
KIRO (already heading for the door): "Sorry, Veyra. Places to go."
VEYRA moved faster than he expected, her hand clamping down on his shoulder. "Hold it. You're injured. You need to heal. And you're coming with me."
RAIJI (laughing as he slipped out the door): "Good luck, Kiro!"
KIRO (calling after him, trapped by Veyra's grip): "Help me!"
The door clicked shut, leaving him alone with a very determined mechanic and her "tour."
KIRO's account balance blinked: 3 000c.
VEYRA: "Alright, listen up. I'm taking you for a simple shopping trip—I know a place with a discount. Then, we hit the gym. You need to get stronger for the new arena and we need to test that Cube properly. After that... we can earn real money."
KIRO: "How? Rob a bank?"
VEYRA: "Bounty hunting."
KIRO (stops walking): "Bounty hunting? Isn't that for, you know... professionals? With licenses and stuff?"
VEYRA (waves a hand dismissively): "Pfft. It's for anyone with guts. I can get you certified. I know a guy."
Their first stop was a clothing shop. It was clean, lit by soft blue neon signs instead of the slums' harsh red glare. Kiro's eyes immediately locked onto a sleek red jacket and a pair of sturdy, reinforced sneakers.
KIRO: "I like these." He didn't hesitate, swiping his cred-chip before he could second-guess the price.
His balance updated: 2 000c.
VEYRA: "Next stop: the gym."
They arrived at a building with a glowing sign: FUTURE FITNESS. Underneath, in smaller text, it read: "Where the strong get stronger, and the weak get forged." Inside was a mix of huge, augmented bodybuilders and determined, regular people trying to change their lives.
Kiro walked up to the counter and, without flinching, paid the 500c membership fee. He was officially investing in his new life.
He walked onto the gym floor, a flash of crimson in his new jacket against the sterile chrome and neon of the equipment. His eyes scanned the free weights, dismissing the smaller ones, and landed on the largest disc-loaded barbell in the corner. It was stacked with plates, a crude "505 kg" scrawled on a piece of tape on the floor beside it.
VEYRA followed his gaze, her eyebrows rising. She remembered a exhibit in the city museum showcasing old-world strongmen. One had lifted a weight like that—a legendary feat of human strength.
"You sure about that, pet?" she asked, a hint of genuine concern cutting through her usual teasing. "That's... not a joke."
KIRO: "Yes."
He stepped up to the bar, gripped it with both hands, and lifted. The massive weight didn't just rise; it practically launched upwards, his body stabilizing it with an effortless lockout. He held it for a second, not a single muscle straining, then set it down without a single crashing sound. As if it were made of foam.
Without missing a beat, he picked up a pair of heavy dumbbells and started doing perfect, controlled curls.
Veyra just stared, her tools forgotten in her hands. The casual display of impossible power was staggering.
VEYRA (a slow, impressed whistle escaping her): "Okay. I'll admit it. You look... really cool in that jacket doing that."
KIRO almost dropped the dumbbell. He turned away, a deep blush spreading across his cheeks, desperately hiding his face by examining the weights. "Uh. Thanks. Anything... heavier?"
VEYRA snapped out of her daze, a wicked grin returning. "Oh, yeah. There is. They call it the 'Super Weight' rack. It's in the back. For guys with cybernetic augments." Her eyes glinted. "Let's see what that Cube can really do."
VEYRA led him to a secluded section of the gym, away from the regulars. The equipment here looked different sleeker, humming with a low energy, made of polished chrome and dark composite materials.
"Okay, muscles," Veyra said, patting a perfectly normal-looking dumbbell. "These are made by Red Dragon Industries. They specialize in this stuff. Try it."
KIRO: "Muscles?"
VEYRA: "That's your new name. A promotion from 'pet'."
KIRO: "...I'll take it."
He gripped the dumbbell. A holographic display above the rack flickered to life, its numbers climbing rapidly as he lifted it with one hand: 500kg... 1500kg... 3000kg... It finally settled at 4,220kg.
KIRO (a grunt of effort finally escaping him): "Okay... now I feel it. That's impressive."
Eyes wide with a mix of excitement and scientific curiosity, Veyra guided him through the other advanced stations.
The Gravity Room: She dialed the gravity up to 5x. Kiro took a step, the floor cracking under his foot. "A bit heavy," he remarked, like someone commenting on humid weather.
The Boxing Sim: A holographic opponent made of light and force launched at him. Kiro didn't dodge; he met the punch with his own fist, and the entire sim glitched out, the opponent pixelating into nothing.
The Pull Sim: He gripped a handle attached to a complex rig. A screen showed a rope, which then morphed into a boulder, then a car, and then a massive transport truck. Strains and groans came from the machine itself as Kiro pulled, his feet planted firmly, the muscles in his back coiling with unreal power.
"Okay, ultimate test," Veyra said, her voice hushed. She typed a command into the console.
The screen flickered. The truck vanished, replaced by the immense, sheer hull of a cargo sea ship. The handle in Kiro's hand suddenly felt like it was anchored to the center of the earth. The machine's motors screamed in protest, and the entire rig shuddered, bolts threatening to pop from the floor.
Kiro gritted his teeth, his new red jacket straining across his shoulders. He planted his feet, took a deep breath, and pulled.
For a single, impossible second, the force meter on the screen jumped. A number so high it didn't seem real flashed before the entire system overloaded, emitting a shower of sparks and dying with a pathetic whine.
Silence hung in the air, thick with the smell of ozone.
Kiro stood panting, the broken handle in his grip.
Veyra just stared, her data-pad forgotten at her side.
"Well," she finally said, her voice a mix of terror and awe. "We've found your limit. It's a battleship
VEYRA: "Okay, Kiro. Time to go. You must be starving. I've got a theory on your... gift"
KIRO: "That's the second time you've used that word. 'Gifted'."
VEYRA: "It's simple. Because you're a Cube user. All around the world, those who bond with one call it a Gift. Now, my theory is that your body regenerates 24/7 at a crazy high speed. That's why you're always hungry. It's burning energy just to keep you alive and improving."
KIRO: "Oh. Okay."
They headed for a food stall, Kiro's stomach already roaring at the thought of more fuel.
CUT TO: THE ARENA PIT
RAIJI cracked his neck, stepping into the blood-stained sand.
ANNOUNCER MIDAS's voice boomed, dripping with sarcasm. "Ladies, gentlemen, and other gender-broke men! My number is right here Ladies, by the way!"
The crowd responded with a mix of cheers and thrown trash.
"ANYWAY!" Midas continued. "Raiji, the Wind Blade, has officially made the cut! He wants a shot at the big man, the boss, the beast himself... KING CROC! But first..."
The lights focused on four imposing figures standing across the pit from Raiji.
"...he has to get through these FOUR worthy challengers! The winner of this little tournament gets a main event title shot! It all goes down in a multi-round in dday and main event next week. spectacle... so make sure you come back next week with your credits ready!"
He leaned into the mic, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"And for any of you new faces who don't know me... I'm normally announcing in the slums. They stink, but the fights are cheaper. Sadly, they're locked down tight because of some thief."
A wide, evil grin spread across his face.
"If any of you have info on that, I'd be happy to pass it along to the navy. I'm sure there's a... decent reward in it for me."
MIDAS (O.S.): "Okay, first fight! The Drunkard vs. the coffee addicted! Try not to die too quickly, I haven't finished my drink!"
The roar of the crowd and the clang of weapons faded into the background as we...
CUT TO: KIRO & VEYRA
...who were sitting at a food stall. Kiro was devouring his fourth massive plate of chicken and rice.
VEYRA (watching him, fascinated): "You eat a lot. Definitely that power of yours. Your body's a furnace."
They finished eating. Veyra leaned back, giving him a thorough, appraising look.
VEYRA: "Wow. You've filled out well, muscles. You're no longer skinny. You're... fit now. A normal, buff guy." She gestured to his arms and chest, which now had clear definition.
KIRO (rubbing the back of his neck, a blush creeping up): "Uh. Thanks."
VEYRA (leaning forward and poking his stomach): "But... this is funny." She fake-frowned. "Seems like you must still workout your core. Your six-pack is... missing. I guess regeneration gives no free muscles. How's the hand?"
Kiro looked at his palm. The deep cut from the fight was now just an itchy pink line. "No pain. Just... itchy."
VEYRA: "That proves my point. It's healing insanely fast. Yesterday, that was a gaping wound that would take months to heal. Your body prioritized just closing the wound, not making it pretty. Now, come on. Let's go to the bounty hunter guild."
As they exited, Kiro overheard a worried conversation from a nearby table.
RANDOM MAN: "That serial killer is at it again. Who's going to catch him?"
RANDOM WOMAN: "They say he only goes for rich women. The police don't even care..."
The conversation sent a chill down his spine, but Veyra was already pulling him toward a nondescript door with a simple hologram of a wanted poster flickering beside it.
Inside, the air was thick with smoke and low conversations. Veyra walked up to a grizzled man behind a counter.
VEYRA: "Hey, Bob. Get my friend here registered."
The man, Bob, looked Kiro up and down, unimpressed. He slid a temporary license across the counter.
BOB: "Temp license. Don't get excited. Prove yourself on a real bounty first. Then we'll talk."
Kiro picked up the flimsy plastic card. It was a start.
VEYRA scrolled through the holographic bounty board, her eyes scanning for the perfect first target. She stopped on one and tapped it, expanding the details.
A flickering image of a short, incredibly muscular man with a thick beard materialized.
BOUNTY POST
ALIAS: Big Man
RACE: Dwarf
BOUNTY: 10,000c
CUBE: Super Strength
CUBE RANK: E
KIRO: "Ten thousand? That's... so much money! We should hand these out more often!" He leaned closer, squinting at the details. "Wait. His race is 'dwarf'? And his alias is 'Big Man'? (He snorts a laugh) And... wait. 'Race'? There's more than human?"
VEYRA: "Yes, there is. You can learn all about the other races some other time. For now, we have a bounty to hunt. Well... you have a bounty to hunt. I'm just a poor, helpless girl who can't fight." She fluttered her eyelashes dramatically. "I'll just take a 1k finder's fee for my invaluable assistance."
She leaned in close, her playful smile turning into a sharp, warning grin.
"Oh, and by the way? Stop calling me an 'evil woman'. Or... no more of this." She gestured around the bounty hunter guild.
KIRO (holding up his hands in surrender, a real smile on his face): "Deal. But only if you stop calling me 'pet'."
VEYRA (turning back to the board, her smirk victorious): "No promises, muscles. Now let's go find a dwarf."
VEYRA (tapping on her holoscreen): "Got a hit. The dwarf 'Big Man' spends his time at a few dive bars in the industrial sector. He just left 'The Rusty Nail.'"
KIRO: "On it."
Kiro checked the bars, moving with his new, purposeful speed. At the third location, a bartender pointed a thumb toward the back. "Just left. Headed toward the old park."
Kiro gave chase, finding his target cutting through a sparse, neon-lit park.
KIRO: "Hey, Big Guy! You've got a pretty price on your head. I'm here to collect."
The dwarf stopped and turned, a weary sigh escaping his beard. "A bounty hunter? Must be new. No fresh-faced hunter can take me in." To emphasize his point, he stomped a heavy boot on the pavement, causing a localized tremor that cracked the concrete at his feet.
Kiro just grinned, jumping high to avoid the shockwave. "Yep, I'm new. And you're small." He launched a kick at the dwarf's head.
To his surprise, the dwarf dodged with matching speed and leaped to equal Kiro's height, delivering a devastating jab to his chest. The impact was like a piston blow, and Kiro coughed, tasting blood.
KIRO (skidding back): "Ouch. That hurt."
BIG GUY: "What's your name, bounty hunter? I take the names of strong guys I fight. You took a punch that knocks out average men. You are no average man."
KIRO: "The name's Kiro. And I recently got a Cube. 'Evolution,' they call it. Don't know what it means. Just that it's rank... Negative-F."
The dwarf's eyes widened in disbelief. "Funny. You got no allies, and your Cube is an F-Rank? ARE YOU JOKING?!" he shouted, the sound echoing in the park. "NO CUBE LIKE THAT IS F-RANK!"
Enraged by the perceived mockery, he thrust another punch. Kiro blocked, parried, and returned a blow of his own, striking the dwarf square in the shoulder. The big man grunted, stumbling back from the surprising force.
KIRO: "So? What did a criminal like you do?"
The dwarf looked up, his expression shifting from anger to something more complex a deep, weary resentment.
BIG GUY: "Nothing. I am no criminal."
A flash of memory hit him: the heat of a forge, the clang of hammer on steel, crafting beautiful swords and guns... only to have them all seized by a corporation that claimed they owned his labor.
The dwarf's patience snapped. With a roar, he unleashed a furious flurry of punches, his movements a blur of raw, compact power. He stomped again, this time cratering the ground where Kiro stood a second before, and lunged forward for a devastating haymaker.
Kiro's body reacted on instinct. He matched the dwarf's speed, but his new strength was a wild, untamed thing. He threw a counter-punch meant to block, but it was way overboard.
His fist connected with the dwarf's head. The sound wasn't a dull thud it was a CRACK of overwhelming force meeting unyielding defense. The dwarf's eyes went wide with shock an instant before the impact lifted him off his feet and sent him flipping through the air. He landed hard on the pavement with a sickening crunch and didn't move.
Silence returned to the park.
Kiro stood over the unconscious form, his chest heaving. He looked at his own fist, then at the defeated bounty.
KIRO (whispering to himself, horrified and awed): "Wow... I've got to learn to hold back."
He tapped his comms link.
"Veyra. It's done."