Super Physique

Lucian pulled two cans of beer from an ice bucket labeled "Unlimited supply" and handed one to Jordan.

Jordan pulled the tab, and foam sprayed all over his hand. "This shitty beer."

Lucian swept his gaze across the lawn. Everyone here was a walking progress bar.

He took a few steps forward. A short, black-haired girl stood beside the grill, turning burgers with a pair of tongs. The meat was already burned, its edges curled into black crusts, giving off acrid smoke.

"Is that beef or charcoal?" Lucian walked over and stood beside her.

The girl turned to look at him and smiled. "Depends on how optimistic you are."

"I'm usually pretty optimistic," Lucian said, accepting the burger she offered him. "Until I take a bite."

The girl laughed, fished a bottle of water out of a nearby box, and tossed it to him. "Rinse your mouth out with this."

Lucian caught it, his fingers brushing her knuckles.

"Lucian. Freshman."

"Chloe. Performing Arts major." The girl tapped the grill with her tongs. "Might do commercials someday. Sell shampoo or something."

"You do have nice hair."

"Thanks. It's natural." She shoveled a burned burger onto a paper plate. "My mom said girls shouldn't be on the front lines, so she shoved me into the performing arts school. Someday I'll stand in front of a green screen, smile at the camera, and pretend to fight monsters."

Someone nearby called Chloe's name, asking her to help move a speaker. Chloe called back.

"I'll help." Lucian tucked the water bottle into his pocket.

They crouched down, each lifting one side. Their palms pressed against the speaker's rough plastic casing, and the back of Chloe's hand brushed Lucian's wrist now and then. Lucian deliberately slowed down, maintaining contact and making every movement last a few seconds longer.

"You're stronger than you look." Chloe set the speaker down in the designated spot.

"Maybe it's the Chinese American buff. Hidden depths and all that, you know." Lucian straightened up and shook out his hands.

Chloe smiled and patted his shoulder. "Thanks, Lucian. I'll buy you a real beer sometime, not this horse piss."

She turned and slipped into the crowd.

Lucian stayed where he was as the System Panel at the edge of his vision silently updated:

[Chloe]

[Super Physique LV1-Copy complete]

A faint warmth crawled from his palm into his arm. His muscle fibers trembled slightly, then settled. An LV1 physique, but small gains added up.

"You've been busy." Jordan had wandered over at some point, chewing on a grilled sausage.

"I just like helping people."

"Fuck, take a guess whether I believe that."

A burst of cheering came from the middle of the lawn. A crowd had formed a circle around people wrestling inside.

Lucian and Jordan walked over. Inside the circle, a Latina girl and a white guy were pushing against each other, palms pressed together. The girl wasn't tall, but the limbs exposed by her tank top and shorts were taut with muscle, their contours looking sculpted. A white circle had been drawn around her feet. The rule was that whoever got pushed out first or had both feet lifted off the ground lost.

The white guy's face turned red with effort, veins bulging on his forehead. The girl just smiled, exerted force with one hand, and twisted her wrist. The guy staggered out of the white circle and landed on his ass on the grass.

The crowd roared with laughter, and someone whistled.

"Who else?" The girl looked around, sweat on her forehead but her breathing steady. "Don't let my warm-up go to waste."

Jordan nudged Lucian with an elbow. "You go."

Lucian said, "Me?"

"Weren't you pretty strong moving that speaker just now?"

Lucian shoved his beer into Jordan's hand and stepped into the circle.

The girl looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Want to give it a try?"

"Lucian. Freshman." He held out his hand.

"Sophia. Sophomore." She shook it with her right hand. "Simple rules. Push me out of this circle or get both my feet off the ground. Same goes for you. Our palms can't separate."

[Super Physique LV2]

[Strength Enhancement LV2]

Choose Super Physique. After making his selection in his mind, Lucian crouched and pressed his palms against hers. She had calluses at the bases of her fingers, like the kind left by years of punching a heavy bag.

Sophia suddenly pushed.

The force was far beyond LV1, like a hydraulic press suddenly starting up. Lucian secretly released his LV2 energy blast, his heels digging into the turf. His body remained rigid, but with his palms pressed tightly against hers, he slid half a foot backward.

"Oh?" Sophia's eyes lit up. "Interesting."

She pushed harder. Lucian kept retreating but maintained contact between their palms the entire time. They remained locked together for several minutes, every step plowing shallow furrows through the turf. Their palms pressed together and their elbows tensed, like two bulls locking heads.

"You're cheating. What's that light on your hands?" Sophia grinned.

"Maybe seeing you makes me nervous," Lucian forced out through clenched teeth.

Sophia suddenly stopped pushing. The instant Lucian lunged forward, she caught his wrist and flowed into a shoulder throw-but eased off halfway through. Lucian was gently tossed onto the lawn, grass clippings slipping down the back of his neck.

Sophia crouched and offered him a hand. Their palms touched again.

"Nice reflexes, smooth talker."

Lucian pulled himself up with her help and brushed the grass off his pants. "Thanks, senior."

Sophia turned to take on other challengers. Lucian retreated to the edge of the crowd and looked down at his right hand.

The panel refreshed in his vision:

[Sophia]

[Super Physique LV2-Copy complete]

A surge of heat ten times stronger than before exploded from his palm, rushing through his blood vessels toward his shoulders, chest, and thighs. His muscle fibers felt as though countless fine needles were piercing them all at once, then weaving them anew.

Jordan came over and shoved the beer back into his hand. "Quite a haul tonight. Moving speakers, getting thrown onto the lawn, and both with girls."

"Just making a friend."

"Two friends." Jordan rolled his eyes. "I'm the third, all right?"

"Don't gross me out."

The two walked toward the dorms. The party continued behind them, the music still loud enough to make their chests buzz from two hundred meters away.

They opened the dorm room door. Sure enough, Rufus hadn't returned. Lucian closed the door and locked it.

He took off his T-shirt and stood in front of the bathroom mirror. The person in the mirror had slightly broader shoulders. The contours of his chest and abs showed beneath his skin, firm and streamlined. He raised an arm, his biceps rising into a distinct curve as he bent his elbow.

At the edge of his vision, the System Panel floated quietly:

Super Physique LV1 (Quake)-Permanently retained

Super Physique LV1 (Chloe)-Permanently retained

Super Physique LV2 (Sophia)-Permanently retained

Abilities of the same type have been fused. Current level: LV2

Lucian looked at the system notification. Although they had fused, the level hadn't changed. Still LV2.

"Looks like there are differences in strength even within the same level."

Quake's LV1 was the very bottom tier, only a notch above an ordinary person. Chloe's LV1 was a little better. Sophia's LV2 was firmly established, honed through systematic training. With all three now fused, his LV2 should rank in the upper-middle range of the same level.

But this was only the first night.

He put on his T-shirt and lay down on the bed. His phone vibrated. Jordan had sent a photo: the instant Sophia threw Lucian onto the lawn, his expression contorted.

Lucian looked at the photo, his thumb hovering over the screen.

Godolkin. Hundreds of young Supes, their heads full of showing off, socializing, and proving themselves. They reached out willingly, clinked glasses willingly, shook hands willingly, wrestled willingly. Every touch was an opportunity. Every party was a hunting ground.

He didn't need to risk his life like he had with Quake. He didn't need to hide in a room like he had with Rufus. He only needed to smile, chat, brush fingers, and shake hands.

The progress bars would fill themselves.

He turned off the light.

In the darkness, the System Panel glowed faintly at the edge of his vision. He glanced at his current status:

[Shockwave LV2]

[Mind Control LV3]

[Super Physique LV2 (Fusion Enhancement version)]

Not enough. Nowhere near enough.

Godolkin was only the starting point.

He closed his eyes.