The protest was dense with activity. In the distance, a group of men with golden sun tattoos, shaved just above their ears, entered the crowd. Spotting rival Cumulus gang members, they moved swiftly toward the Abyssal Mouth to intercept them.
Ged flexed his entire body, his muscles radiating an eerie blue light. Gripping the fishing device tightly, he channeled bursts of energy into it, causing it to unwind at an accelerated pace. With each surge, the hook descended faster, vanishing into the depths of the fog below.
Shrouded in the mist was a giant, beak-like mouth. Serrated teeth lined its grotesque jaw, with small deposits of glistening green iron lodged between them. Hundreds of magnetic ball bearings, suspended on strings, flossed the celestial iron from the beak's jagged teeth. Periodically, the mouth opened wide, unfurling its enormous tongue to expose hard-to-reach areas for the fishing bodybuilders.
Ged glanced at the worsening scene above.
Nearby, the Golden Sun gang members confronted the closest Cumulus gang member. The leader charged his fist with golden energy, fiery light coiling brightly around his hand. With a devastating blow, he struck the Cumulus member in the back, sending him tumbling toward the pit below.
The Cumulus gang member furrowed his cloud-shaped tattooed eyebrows as he fell backward. Smoke blurred around his feet, slowing his descent. From his abdomen, he pulled out a thorny, vine-like lasso and cracked it at the legs of a Golden Sun member. The lasso wrapped tightly around its target, its thorns digging viciously into flesh, dragging the victim toward the pit. The two remaining Golden Sun gangsters reacted quickly, grabbing their ally's shoulders to support him. Tiny mountains erupted beneath their feet, anchoring them in place. A tense standoff ensued as the Golden Sun members struggled to untangle the vine, while the Cumulus gang member used the tension to climb back toward the lip of the mouth.
The violent exchange was like a spark in a powder keg, igniting chaos between the protesters and bodybuilders. Weapons were drawn, fists flew, and blood spilled as the sprawling melee escalated. More Golden Sun members emerged from the crowd, engaging the rival Cumulus gang in a fiery clash over contested territory.
The chaos grew so intense that even bystanders were caught in the fray. Fury and desperation boiled over, sending people crashing into one another like bumper cars.
Ged's carefully cleared space quickly disappeared as protesters and fighters alike stumbled into him. A hard shove to his back almost threw him off balance, threatening to send him plummeting into the pit. Ged winced in frustration, his fishing device nowhere near the depths necessary to retrieve anything worthwhile.
"I need to leave now!" Ged gritted his teeth. "But this loss…" A conflicted look flickered in his eyes as he gripped the rod tighter. He wasn't ready to give up.
"I can't do it!" Ged's expression twisted with desperation. "I'm already behind on materials to develop my physique. If I take one more loss, I'll fall too far behind to build a body capable of ascending." He scanned the rim of the Abyssal Mouth, his mind racing. "There must be another way…"
Nearby, one of Ged's bodybuilding neighbors, a man in a red flannel shirt, was frantically reeling in his fishing hook. From the foggy depths, a large chunk of celestial iron glinted on the hook.
Greed flashed in Ged's eyes. The prize was too good to pass up.
Without hesitation, Ged moved swiftly. Hopping down, he activated Goat Walk once more, angling his feet to grip the pit wall. Using his sturdy frame and his glowing calf muscles, he took a few agile steps along the vertical slope.
Not far away, the Cumulus gang member clung to his vine-like whip, his hands bloodied from the thorns. Gritting his teeth, he kicked up clouds to propel himself higher along the edge of the pit.
Suddenly, his grip slipped as a powerful foot slammed into his face. The whip flew from his hands, and he tumbled into the Abyssal Mouth below. A hateful glare burned in his eyes, locked onto Ged's silhouette as he fell to his demise.
Ged, using the Cumulus gang member as a springboard, vaulted upward toward the red-flannelled man, who was just about to reel in his haul.
Like a black blur, Ged twisted mid-flight, adjusting his trajectory as he descended toward the red-flannelled man. He delivered a ruthless punch to the man's exposed jawline. The fishing rod fell from his grasp as he staggered, dazed and unable to process what had happened.
Stealing the rod, Ged swiftly tangled the red-flannelled man in his unwound fishing line, leaving him encumbered as he escaped with his spoils.
The red-flannelled man, groggy but furious, slashed through the fishing line with his fingers. His eyes locked on Ged's retreating form as the thief melted into the chaotic crowd.
"Stop! You thief!" the man roared, stumbling forward in pursuit.
Ged turned to glance over his shoulder, but his attention lingered on the man's discarded fishing rod.
"Some people are just too wasteful," Ged muttered, shaking his head. Ducking and weaving through the brawling crowd, he pushed forward, occasionally enduring retaliatory strikes from enraged protesters.
The man was already extremely disadvantaged, despite his frantic effort to catchup, he found himself further and further behind.
Trapped behind a pair of fighting bodybuilders and Ged, he could no longer pursue any further, unsatisfied and brooding with rage he begrudgingly gave up his chase.
"You won't get away with this!" the man roared, his face flushed, veins bulging with rage. "Don't think you've won! The Equalizers will hear of this injustice. Mark my words, I will return this enmity tenfold!"
Ged didn't slow his pace, his frown deepening as the man's shouts echoed behind him. He pushed through the chaotic crowd with steady determination.
"Another loser who can't handle a single setback in their life," Ged muttered under his breath, shaking his head. He sneered, "I don't believe you have even seen my face. Do you really think the Equalizers are so omnipotent that they can honor every claim of injustice submitted to them?"
"Delusional," he added with a cold chuckle, disappearing deeper into the crowd.
The uproar of the crowd continued to escalate as reports of more deaths spread rapidly. Cries of anger and dissatisfaction filled the air. The bodybuilders, weary from the relentless attacks of the weak but persistent protesters, retaliated with brutal force. Protesters were shoved aside in waves, many trampled to death in the chaos. Without intervention, catastrophe was inevitable.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Thunderous drums boomed across the city. Their deep, resonant beats swept over the masses, electrifying and commanding.
A cold wave of clarity rippled through the crowd. Weapons were lowered, tempers cooled. Like a parent forcing quarreling children into uneasy compromise, the violence ebbed, replaced by tense, hostile stares.
Even the rival gang members faltered. Moments earlier, they had unleashed their most vicious strikes, but now they hesitated, dropping their weapons. Some hastily covered their faces, retreating into defensive postures, as if sensing the impending storm.
From beneath the city's stone roads, red and blue flying saucers emerged, their smooth, gleaming forms hovering ominously around the Abyssal Mouth.
Bodybuilders descended from the saucers like otherworldly beings, suspended in bright yellow beams of light.
"I figured the peacekeepers would show up eventually," Ged muttered flatly. "Good thing I got what I needed before they shut everything down." Relaxing his stance, he stopped pushing his way out and stood still, waiting to see how the situation would unfold.
The yellow beams scanned the masses like searchlights. When they found a troublemaker, the beams froze them mid-air in a glowing halo, rendering them weightless. Flailing helplessly, the captured individuals spun slowly, as though adrift in space.
Several gang members, too slow to hide or reckless enough to keep fighting, were quickly caught in the lights, their bodies dangling like marionettes.
Suddenly, a new beam of light appeared at the crowd's center. Within it stood a towering male figure, as tall as a full-grown oak tree. Gasps and murmurs of awe rippled through the crowd.
"The Abyssal Mouth is now closed to the public."
"Prepare to be dispersed immediately."
"City governor..." people whispered, pointing at the giant man in reverence.
Ged remained unmoved, his expression flat.
The oak-tree-sized figure reached into his body and pulled out a metallic faucet. Fixing it into his palm, he turned one of its knobs. A waterfall of shimmering, illusory water gushed forth, cascading onto the crowd below.
Though intangible, the water moved with immense force. It swept protesters and bystanders alike in a raging, invisible current, scattering them far from the Abyssal Mouth. The peacekeepers skillfully directed the torrent, ensuring no one was pushed toward the pit.
In seconds, the crowd had vanished, carried off by the unseen flood. Only those trapped in the yellow beams of light remained, suspended above the now-empty plaza.
Ged was no exception. The current flung him away like a kite cut loose. He tumbled over uneven stone streets, gritting his teeth and flexing his body to soften the blows. After being carried nearly half a kilometer from the Mouth, he managed to use the city's many spires as brakes, finally crawling to a halt.
The shouts and clamor of the protest were now a distant memory. Ged's shoulders relaxed slightly, and as he tested his bruised limbs, he found himself largely unscathed. Surveying the vacant streets and toppled spires, he noted other washed-away protesters in varying states of disrepair. Letting out a sigh of relief, he realized he'd avoided any immediate danger.
He scanned the area carefully, ensuring that none of his enemies or troublesome acquaintances were in sight. Only when he was certain there were no immediate threats did he fully relax and push himself to his feet.
A wry smile tugged at his lips. "Looks like I got lucky this time," he said quietly, savoring a rare sense of relief.
Reaching into his body, Ged felt around for the stolen goods he had just acquired. When his fingers brushed against them, a satisfied grin spread across his face.
The fishing rod he had taken proved far superior to his old one. Its sleek black handle gleamed with a polished finish, and as he tested the mechanism, he noted it could release and retract at twice the speed of his previous rod.
"No wonder that rich idiot snagged celestial iron so easily. With a rod like this, anyone could," he muttered, his tone touched by begrudging admiration.
Ged examined the magnetic ball bearing that served as the hook, hefting the cluster of green celestial iron in his hands.
"Thirty kilograms!" he exclaimed, genuinely impressed.
"Not bad," he said, his grin widening. "This should trade for a month's worth of vials."
After brushing the dust from his clothes, Ged carefully navigated away from the stone spires. He scanned the quiet streets again, satisfied that no one hostile lingered nearby. With his valuable spoils secured, he was eager to leave the city behind.
"This looks like the Sixth Sector," he mused, recognizing the repetitive pattern of the spires. "For now, I'll head toward the outskirts of town and see if I can find any trace of the new hideout."
He traveled with fast steps as he left the city, many other protestors and bodybuilders were nursing wounds, crying out for medical treatment.
As Ged traveled farther from the city center, the cries of the injured and desperate grew softer. He maintained a brisk pace, but as he approached the city's edge, his steps slowed, eyes narrowing at the sight before him.
"It seems the Equalizers are out on duty. Just my luck to run into that bastard Wattkinz right when I'm on my way out," Ged muttered, his tone heavy with displeasure as he spotted the man on the opposite side of the street.
The Equalizers were a scattered but fervent group, claiming to uphold justice in a lawless universe. Acting as judge, jury, and executioner for anyone who dared to abuse the weak, they were funded by taxes collected from the city.
Ged loathed their meddlesome ways. To him, they upheld nothing but mediocrity, ensuring no one was left behind while punishing those who sought to get ahead.
Ged veered aside, hoping to avoid the troublesome group entirely.
Ahead, three bodybuilders in trench coats and sunglasses pursued a bloodied fugitive. The wounded man staggered, his injuries sapping his strength.
"Stop right there, you bully!" one of the trench-coated men shouted.
"Your days of preying on the weak are over. The Equalizers have caught on to your degenerate behavior!" another yelled.
"I didn't do it!" the bloodied man pleaded, voice raw. "Please, spare me!"
The third Equalizer, a scarred figure puffing on a cigar, trailed behind at a leisurely pace. He seemed to savor the fugitive's desperation. But then his focus shifted. Turning his head, he spotted Ged heading toward the city's edge.
With a sudden burst of speed, the scarred man slammed his heel down onto the fleeing bodybuilder's back. The man collapsed with a howl as the other Equalizers pinned him to the ground.
Exhaling a plume of smoke, the scarred man, Wattkinz, grinned and waved at Ged.
"Little brother Ged," Wattkinz called, his gravelly voice cutting through the air. "Why are you ignoring me? Up to no good again, I assume?" He coughed softly, lips curving into a smirk.
Ged halted, keeping his expression neutral. "You're on duty. Why would I bother you?"
"Duty?" Wattkinz scoffed, grin widening. "This? Hardly. I always have time for my beloved brother."
Reaching into his abdomen, Wattkinz retrieved a white capsule and dropped it beside the paralyzed criminal. It expanded with a hiss, unfolding into a sleek mechanical hatch. The other Equalizers lifted the man inside and sealed it shut.
With this done, Wattkinz turned back to Ged, his gaze keen.
"I heard the protest at the Abyssal Mouth turned into a riot," he said, tone mockingly curious. "I hope you behaved and didn't stir up any trouble."
Ged shrugged. "I did nothing."
"Nothing?" Wattkinz laughed, his scar twisting with amusement. "Maybe my delinquent brother is finally turning over a new leaf. Perhaps we should celebrate."
One of the Equalizers leaned in to whisper something to Wattkinz. He frowned, whispered back, then returned his attention to Ged.
"We'll have to finish this another time. Apparently, I'm needed elsewhere." He began wheeling the capsule away, its metallic wheels clattering softly on the stone street.
He paused, glancing back at Ged to lock eyes one final time.
"Not everyone can become a Celestial," he said, his voice growing colder. "Don't go climbing a mountain with no peak. Try to find at least one thing that brings you peace, even if it means settling for less."
As he moved on, the wheels clacking softly in his wake, he spoke a final line over his shoulder, his voice quieter now:
"It would be nice to actually see you happy..."
As Wattkinz walked away, his broad back and sculpted muscles dominated Ged's vision, a silent display of authority and power that rankled him.
Ged clenched his fists, allowing his glare to surface only when Wattkinz was safely distant.
"You want to see me happy?" His face grew solemn. "I want to be happy too," he said softly, looking up at the cloudless sky. "But for me, the ground is suffering, and the sky is freedom. There's nothing in between. It's one or the other…"
He knew better than anyone that his odds of becoming a Celestial were impossibly slim. Wattkinz's words were nothing new; Ged had heard them often, yet each time they stirred fresh despair in his heart.
He wished he could settle for less, give up, and live a life free of desperation. But whenever he tried to rest, it felt like his skin was boiling, as though stillness itself was a form of torment.
"What can I do?" he lamented. "There's no peace for me on the ground. My only choice is to keep striving upward and trust the stars to hold something better."
His teeth clenched as his resolve solidified once more.
Turning his back on Wattkinz, Ged strode toward the city's outskirts, eager to leave the encounter behind.
As he made his way through the outskirts of town, he frequently stopped to scan his surroundings. Periodically, at intersections between jagged rocks, he crouched down and pressed his hand to the ground, sending a vibrating pulse into the earth.
Occasionally, a resonance would return, prompting him to adjust his path.
After weaving through an irregular zigzag pattern, Ged finally arrived at an inconspicuous stone grotto.
Having found what he was looking for, his arm spun like a drill into the grotto floor. The ground crumbled beneath his efforts, revealing a crystalline cave below that glowed with a hazy, red-tinged light.
Carved into a nearby wall was what appeared to be a nightclub bar. Its entrance was flanked by two massive bodybuilder bouncers standing stoically behind a red velvet rope.