Arjun wiped sweat from his brow, the humid Tiruppur air clinging to his skin like a bad habit. At 16, puberty hit him like a truck—voice cracking mid-sentence, random boners during math class, and those growth plates in his legs screaming every time he squatted with his rusty 10kg dumbbells. But he didn't complain. Nah, Arjun channeled it all into Fistfight Fantasy, the ultimate Android parody game where OP cultivators punched planets but slipped on banana peels for laughs.His tiny room in the family's two-room house smelled of idli steam from downstairs and cheap protein powder he'd mixed with water—budget gains, Tamil style. School bag dumped in the corner, phone propped on a physics textbook. "One more rep, one more boss," he grunted, curling the dumbbell while tapping the screen. The boar boss charged in-game, tusks gleaming. Arjun mirrored it IRL—pivot, swing. Crack! The weight slammed his makeshift desk.That's when it glitched. Pixels warped like a bad render. The screen pulsed red, heat searing his palm. "Enna da idhu? Cheap phone overheating?" He yanked his hand back, but blue light exploded outward, sucking him in like a vacuum. The world spun—idli scent to misty pine, concrete floor to damp earth.Arjun groaned, spitting dirt. He was in a forest, ancient trees towering like something from a xianxia webtoon. His school uniform—faded blue shirt, knee-length shorts—was torn, but clutched in his fist? The dumbbell. Rusty, dented, but real. "Dream? Nah, feels too gritty." A low growl snapped his head up. A boar, truck-sized, eyes glowing red, charged through underbrush.Panic? Brief. Muscle memory kicked in. Arjun rolled left, boar tusks gouging earth where he stood. "Come on, like cricket practice!" He swung the dumbbell overhead, channeling every street fight from Tiruppur back alleys. Thwack! Metal met skull with a sickening crunch. The beast staggered, blood matting fur.It wasn't done. Snorting rage, it wheeled for round two. Arjun's heart hammered—puberty adrenaline surge. He dropped low, did a quick burpee for momentum, then uppercut the jaw. Bone shattered. The boar collapsed, twitching.Ding![System Notification: Strength +1. Vitality +2. Puberty Qi Unlocked (Stage 1: Awkward Growth). Welcome to the Eternal Combat Realm, Noob Player: Arjun_Kumar_TN. Kill confirmed: Ironhide Boar (Lv. 3). Loot: Boar Hide x1, Fang x2. Bonus: First Blood Achievement – +50 EXP.]Arjun blinked. "Isekai? For real? With dumbbells?" He laughed, a deep bark that surprised even him—voice drop mid-puberty. Mental swipe opened inventory: glowing pouch at his waist held the loot. "This is lit. No mana chants, just reps."Status Screen:
Arjun Kumar | Level: 1 (45/100 EXP)
Strength: 12 (Teen Baseline +1)
Agility: 10
Vitality: 13 (Puberty Bonus)
Qi: Puberty Qi (Passive: +10% gains during workouts)
Skills: Dumbbell Swing (Common), Shadowbox Dodge (Uncommon)"Puberty Qi? Bro, that's savage." He flexed—biceps popped a bit more. Rustles meant more trouble, so he trekked downhill, dumbbell over shoulder.Scene: First Scavenge & Goblin Ambush
Smoke rose—Willowbrook Village. But en route, a loot goblin (Lv. 2, scrawny green freak) jumped from bushes, rusty knife flashing. "Shiny rock mine!"Arjun sidestepped, tripped it with a leg sweep—street fight 101. "Rock? This is my gym iron!" Dumbbell smash to the back. Ding! EXP +20. Skill Upgrade: Dumbbell Swing → Iron Grip Swing (Uncommon). Goblin dropped copper coins and a health potion vial. Arjun chugged it—wounds knit, vitality +1. "Free gains."Scene: Village Welcome (With Tamil Flair)
Villagers scattered at his approach. "Demon!" Grizzled Elder Huo blocked the path, staff trembling. "Outsider! State your sect!"Arjun smirked, squatting to eye level. "Tiruppur Street Sect, anna. Idli-powered. Where's the dosa spot? Post-grind hunger da." He tossed the boar fang. Gasps. Elder bowed. "Hero! But Bandit Lord Razorclaw raids tonight. Our 'cultivators' chase qi pills—years wasted!"Arjun snorted. "Pills? Junk. Real qi from protein and progressive overload." Spotting scrawny kids mirroring his old self, he clapped. "Gather 'em. Boot camp time, machans!"Scene: Training Montage
Riverbank gym: logs as barbells, river rocks for farmer's carries. "Drop for 20 push-ups! Form first—no sagging hips!" Kids groaned. Mei-Ling, 15, ponytail whipping, nailed squats. Arjun adjusted her stance: "Hips back, core tight—like this." Her cheeks flushed. Ding! Charm +1. Affinity: Mei-Ling (Friendly → Admiring).Little Timmy whined: "Qi masters say meditate!" Arjun laughed. "Meditation builds mind, reps build body. Hybrid grind!" He demo'd Tamil-style silambam spins with a stick—blending cricket bat swings and dumbbell flows. By dusk, kids pumped: EXP trickled in (Training Others: +5 EXP/hr).Flashback Interlude: Tiruppur Roots
As stars rose, Arjun zoned out. Back home: sneaking dumbbell sessions between NEET prep and mom's "Eat rice, grow tall!" Puberty woes—sperm myths from dumb classmates ("Masturbate less or shrink!"), but Arjun researched: discipline > dogma. Walking to school burned fat; reps built muscle. "Same here," he muttered. Ding! Willpower +1. Puberty Qi → Stage 2: Hormone Harmony (+5% stamina).Scene: Bandit Raid Climax
Torches flared. Razorclaw's pack—20 thugs on wolves—thundered in. "Tribute or death!" Razorclaw, 2m brute with jagged sword and eye patch, sneered. "Fresh meat for my stew."Arjun twirled dumbbell. "Oi, Razor anna. Ever try curls? Builds traps like yours—minus the ugly." Charge! Arjun shadowboxed first wave: dodge, knee to gut, Iron Grip Swing crumples armor. Wolves yelped as kids pelted rocks (Village Assist: +EXP).Razorclaw leaped: sword arc cleaved air. Arjun parried—clang! Sparks. "Too slow, poda!" Feint low, spinning backfist—jaw crack. Brute staggered. "What qi is this?!""Puberty Qi, loser!" Arjun burpee-jumped, dumbbell overhead smash. Razorclaw blocked, but Arjun chained knee strike (from game combos). Sword flew; brute dropped. Ding! Level Up! Lv. 2 (120/200 EXP). Strength +3. New Skill: Burpee Blitz (Rare). Fame +50. Loot: Razorclaw's Sword (Equip?). Village Loyalty: 100%.Cheers erupted. Mei-Ling bandaged his cuts: "Your form... divine. Stay?" Her hand lingered. Harem Alert: Heart Stir +10%. Arjun grinned. "Trial first, cutie."Scene: Elder Council & Hidden Observer
Elder Huo gathered council in the hut. "Puberty Trial: Demon Forest solo. Survive dawn—sect worthy." Arjun nodded. "Easy reps." But outside, cloaked figure etched jade slip: "Iron Fist Sect: anomaly. Dumbbell qi defies heavens. Capture for study."Arjun overheard rustle, but dawn broke first. Forest loomed—slimes, illusions, puberty dragon rumors. He cracked knuckles. "Game on, system. Max gains incoming."End of Chapter 1