Scouted By An Elite Academy

The sun rose over the horizon, its golden light spilling over the summit of Mount Dumbbell. A goliath-like figure lay slumbering atop the peak, his colossal form vast enough to fill an entire residential pool.

As the first rays of light touched his face, his eyes shot open. Deep cracks lined his forehead, his expression twisting into a frown across his frying pan-sized face.

Ged had awoken at dawn, his bones cracking in a chorus as he pushed himself upright.

"I fell asleep…" he muttered, his voice tinged with mild surprise.

Examining his scarred body, he traced the newly formed flesh. Along his skin, he found cracks of raw, healing tissue that resembled grisly wounds.

Dismissing it as the price of growth, he braced himself to stand. However, the moment he tried to steady his footing, a sudden wave of vertigo overtook him, sending him crashing back onto the rocky ground.

"What is this…?" A wave of unease settled over him. His limbs felt foreign, his motor functions sluggish and uncooperative. He had heard of something like this before.

"Soul Misalignment…" he whispered solemnly.

Raising his hand, he attempted to summon his Soul Sprout, but nothing happened.

"Not good." He clenched his jaw.

His relentless pursuit of strength had come at a price. His body's rapid growth had outpaced his soul. Now, his soul rattled restlessly within his newly enormous frame, each movement causing internal strain and wreaking havoc unseen within him.

He flexed his fingers, wincing as sharp headaches pulsed through his skull.

For soul growth, only proper soul stretching could realign it. But Soul Misalignment was a tricky thing, and even the best techniques would make for an uphill battle.

The only true solution was the Soul Stone, a rare and precious artifact. Without it, his soul would remain permanently stunted. Worse, forcing movement in this state could lead to Body Rot, a fate far worse than death.

"So be it…" His voice was grim but steady. "I'll have to risk it. Once I survive this week, I can purchase a Soul Stone with the profits from the Blue Crystal Mine."

Even with the pain clawing at him, Ged refused to remain idle.

"I still have a few hours before my meeting with Gore. I should get going."

Dizzy and laboring for breath, he forced himself to stand, even as his body screamed in protest. Getting used to his movements, he activated Goat Walk. His calves flickered with blue light like malfunctioning bulbs, but his footing remained unsteady. Struggling to adjust, he lost balance and tumbled down the mountainside, colliding violently against jagged rock.

Catching himself on a ridge, he steadied his breathing, spat out a mouthful of blood, and continued his descent without hesitation.

Despite the turmoil in his body, he pushed forward, finally reaching the mountain's base. Trevor's bunker wasn't far now.

He could only use sixty percent of his total strength, but each step forced him to adapt to his misaligned body and soul.

Arriving at the familiar bunker, Ged exhaled in relief. The door thudded open as he slumped inside.

Trevor lay awake in bed, his eyes hollow from a sleepless night.

"Boss… is that you?" he asked hesitantly.

Ged didn't respond. His movements were unnatural and grotesque, like a creature stitched together from broken parts. Pain clouded his mind, making speech impossible as he trudged forward, his large, scarred frame filling the dimly lit room. The flickering light cast long, distorted shadows against the walls.

Trevor's breath hitched.

"M-m-monster." His voice cracked.

He yanked the covers over his face, peeking out in sheer terror as Ged dragged himself toward the entrance of the Blue Crystal Mine. Trevor's instincts screamed at him to hide from the unnatural creature invading his home.

"How… how did that thing get inside?" His mind raced. "Did Boss leave the door open when he left last night?"

Then, his blood ran cold.

Ged was heading straight for the mine.

"Our fortune… he's after our precious cave!" Panic overtook him.

"What am I supposed to do? That thing… it could kill me with a single swing of its arm!"

But then, an even greater fear settled in.

If Ged found out he had allowed this thing inside, Trevor couldn't even imagine the punishment he'd suffer.

His stomach twisted. "It would be best to stop it now. At least then, I might only receive a quick death."

Swallowing his terror, he forced himself out of bed.

"H-Hey! What are you doing? Get away from my precious cave, you horrible monster!"

Ged halted, releasing his grip on the doorway. Through great effort, he turned. The immense pain surging through his body twisted his glare into something fierce, his eyes burning with unrestrained anger.

Trevor instinctively stepped back, regret hitting him instantly.

"What did you just say?" Ged's voice dripped with contempt.

Trevor's legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto the floor.

"G-Ged… I didn't know…" he whispered weakly before passing out.

Ged grimaced but said nothing. Without another glance at Trevor's unconscious form, he stepped into the cave, his thoughts fixed on the Eagle Spawn.

"What the hell…"

Ged stood frozen at the entrance of the Eagle Spawn cave, his eyes widening in horror.

All the Eagle Spawn were calmly mingling. No more frenzied attacks, no more chaos.

The first two of the three original creations frolicked, playing tag with grotesquely cheerful faces.

The third, who had once spent all his time running in circles, was leading the rest of the Eagle Spawn, preaching philosophy like a chimeric Socrates.

Its prattling voice echoed off the cave walls, somehow cutting through the already obnoxious and chaotic noise.

Ged's stomach churned.

"Why aren't they struggling?" His frustration mounted. "What am I doing wrong?"

The cave and its fortune were his only hope of curing his Soul Misalignment. Yet, as he stared down the possibility of Body Rot, the abnormal scene before him muddled his already strained mind.

"Answers." Ged rubbed his temple, his thoughts racing.

"I must find answers. I must check the library. If they rebel for too long, they may choose to be reabsorbed by the Planet. I can't let that happen."

Without another moment's hesitation, he stepped over Trevor's unconscious body and bolted for the door.

Without a second thought about his grotesque appearance, Ged hurried toward Elpida and the Elpida Library.

The morning was still young, and merchants were just beginning to set up their stalls for the day. However, as soon as people caught sight of the hulking, disfigured figure barreling through the streets, fear spread like wildfire.

"Wildlands body sorcerer!" a woman stammered, dropping the wooden sign she had been adjusting.

"Heavens! Someone call the Equalizers! He looks dangerous!" a man shouted, ducking behind his makeshift storefront.

Wherever Ged moved, the crowd instinctively parted like the sea, their wary eyes filled with terror. In the distance, red spotlights flared against the sky, emblazoned with the Equalizers' crimson hand insignia. The authorities had taken notice of the public outcry and were closing in.

Ged gritted his teeth, quickening his pace. "Just my damn luck." He muttered

As Ged moved through the streets, a colossal lizard-like beast loomed in the sky like a specter, slithering between the towering spires of Elpida. Its enormous frame cast a long shadow over the city.

On the creature's side, a massive car door was grotesquely stitched into its flesh, serving as an entryway to its interior.

Inside the lizard, reclining with casual grace, was a woman whose frame rivaled that of an apartment building. She wore a sleeveless dress that did little to conceal the rippling mass of her muscles. Beside her, a male body sorcerer sat with a scholarly air, his sharp gaze focused.

The lizard's eyes acted as windows, allowing those inside to observe the world below.

"Dill, what do you think of that man?" the body sorceress asked, peering through the beast's enormous eye.

Only she had the vantage point to see what was unfolding. Lifting Dill with one massive hand, she carefully positioned him so he, too, could observe the scene.

The assistant adjusted his glasses, scanning Ged with a critical eye.

"Hmm. Well-developed traps. Good muscle bellies on his arms. Nice v-taper." Dill nodded to himself. "Not bad. He might just be good enough to make the cut for our great academy."

Dill paused in thought before raising a brow. "Beatrix, don't tell me... have you taken an interest in him?"

The colossal woman shrugged.

"I have," Beatrix admitted. "I think he'd do well in a show." She paused, watching as the Equalizers closed in on Ged from all sides. "Too bad… it seems he already has many admirers."

Without another word, she reached into her abs and retrieved several items, handing them to Dill.

Dill took them with a knowing smile, understanding her intent. The stitched car door swung open, and he leaped to the ground. Landing smoothly, he straightened his glasses before swaggering toward the encircled Ged.

"Disruptor of the peace and bully of the weak, stop right there!" the chief Equalizer bellowed, his voice echoing through the streets.

Another officer, twirling a wicked-looking baton, sneered. "Come with us cooperatively, and you might just avoid a harsher downsizing." His lips curled into a sadistic grin.

Ged frowned, his eyes darting around at the circle of armored figures boxing him in. This is bad. He clenched his fists, bracing himself for the inevitable beating.

Then, a loud, commanding voice rang out.

"What are you idiots doing to our student prospect?"

Dill pushed past the hulking Equalizers, his face a mask of controlled outrage.

"Have you all nothing better to do than harass a young, budding body sorcerer who's merely preparing for his show?" He stepped in front of Ged, shielding him from the armored behemoths.

The chief Equalizer scoffed.

"This one's been terrorizing business owners," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "How do you plan to explain away his lawbreaking and clearly exploitative actions?"

"With this."

Dill pulled out a shining brown tablet, which emitted a glowing holographic insignia of a mountain with its peak missing.

The Equalizers visibly recoiled, several taking a step back in shock.

"The Peakless Mountain insignia…" one officer murmured.

"He's a representative of the School of Mount Existence," another muttered, eyes widening.

The chief Equalizer scowled but stood his ground.

"I don't care if you represent that prestigious institution. That doesn't overrule our authority. We, the Equalizers, have a duty to protect Elpida, and your so-called prospect student is above the civilian mass limit."

The surrounding officers nodded in agreement, their predatory gazes shifting back to Ged.

Dill remained unfazed.

"Have you already forgotten?" He folded his arms. "Students are allowed to bulk up as much as they like before competitions, as long as they have a judge's approval."

He pulled out another document. The chief Equalizer's expression finally faltered.

The officer snatched the paper, his frown deepening as he read it over.

"It seems to be legitimate," he admitted. "But it's not signed, so I can't accept it as is."

Dill's gaze hardened.

"But you agree that if this boy signs it now, you will not pursue this matter further?"

The chief Equalizer hesitated.

"Well… I suppose that's correct," he muttered.

Dill turned to Ged and lowered his voice.

"We haven't met before, but my name is Dill. I'm the assistant to Headmaster Beatrix, the drug and potions queen." He held out the document. "Sign this, and it will officially enter you into the upcoming body sorcery competition, where she will be serving as a judge."

Ged scanned the document, his expression unreadable.

"Do I have to show up for the competition for this to protect me?"

Dill stiffened. He couldn't believe that Ged would say such a thing. Through gritted teeth, he responded, "No, but—"

Before he could finish, Ged scribbled his name across the document and shoved it into the air for the Equalizers to see.

"As you can see," Ged said loudly, "I'm preparing for my next body sorcery competition. I need my muscles, so scram."

The Equalizers gritted their teeth, clearly displeased, but had no choice but to stand down.

The chief Equalizer sneered.

"Lucky brat."

With that, he and his men turned and left, vanishing into the streets of Elpida.

Ged exhaled deeply, slipping the document into his abs. He had barely survived the pressing situation.

Dill stood beside Ged, his eyes bloodshot with frustration. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.

How could someone be so ungrateful?

He had saved this man from certain disaster, yet Ged had offered not even a single word of thanks.

"What's your name?" Dill asked, frowning.

Ged hesitated. His head throbbed from everything that had just happened. "Ged," he finally muttered through a pained expression.

Dill's eyes narrowed as realization set in.

"Soul Misalignment."

Re-centering himself as he pushed away the anger he had felt toward Ged earlier. Dill was a man of gentle patience, and he understood that some people were harder to convince of good intentions than others.

Reaching into his abs, he pulled out a handful of red powder and held it out.

"Ged, you pushed yourself too hard in training, and now you're on a difficult path," Dill said, his voice measured and scholarly. "Body Rot is no joke."

He held the powder up for Ged to see.

"But hope isn't lost. Soul Misalignment has been studied for generations. Recovery takes time, but through proper education, you may just make it through."

He extended the powder toward Ged. "Take this Soul Expansion Powder. It won't heal your soul completely, but—"

Before he could even finish, Ged snatched the powder and swallowed it whole.

Dill stiffened.

His eye twitched as rage surged through him.

For the second time, Ged had completely ignored his words, taking the offered help without so much as an acknowledgment. Dill had never expected gratitude, but being outright dismissed? That stung.

For Ged, however, the effects were instantaneous. His soul realigned itself instantly, his entire body feeling as if he had just woken from a deep, rejuvenating sleep. The cracks in his skin had noticeably healed back to its usual color.

He stretched his limbs, rolling his shoulders with satisfaction.

Meanwhile Dill's anger boiled.

"He won't listen to a damn thing." He thought.

"How barbaric..." he muttered under his breath, already backtracking his goodwill toward the man.

With a sigh, he took a step back. "Well, I really must be going..." He turned, ready to leave.

"Wait," Ged called out.

Dill paused. He narrowed his gaze, his patience hanging by a thread.

"For what reason," Ged asked, his tone suddenly serious, "have you gone so far to help me?"

Dill softened slightly at the question. "It seems that he still does not believe my good intentions, quite yet."

"The School of Mount Existence sees potential in your feats of body sorcery," he explained. "We provide the best education in the land, but only the elite—"

"Got it," Ged cut him off.

Dill's eyebrow twitched in irritation.

Ged folded his arms. "Do you know much about Eagle Spawn rearing?"

Dill scoffed, his irritation returning full force. "Eagle Spawn rearing? Of course I know about it!" He straightened his glasses. "Our school has entire curriculums dedicated to the study of it. Hell Lady Beatrix invented the world-renowned Agitation Powder—a formula that cave farmers have been using for generations."

Ged raised an eyebrow. "Never heard of it. How effective is it?"

Dill pulled out a crystalline bottle filled with azure powder.

"Incredibly potent," he said confidently. "Even this small bottle would be enough to send an entire cave of Eagle Spawn into a continuous frenzy."

Ged shook his head, unimpressed. "I don't believe you."

Dill clicked his tongue. "Of course, you don't. You're still young. That's the beauty of education—you may be ignorant today, but through proper practice, you can learn all kinds of things."

Ged's expression remained unreadable, but his next words carried weight.

"I want to see the results for myself." His voice was firm. "I have a cave I'm trying to mature, but I'm running into issues."

Dill's frustration cooled, replaced by interest.

"Ah, the youth," he mused, shaking his head. "So headstrong." He paused, then gave Ged a knowing look.

"How about this, young Ged?" Dill smirked. "If you promise me you'll show up for the body sorcery competition next week, I'll part with this bottle as a token of our acquaintance."

Ged reached for the bottle without hesitation, his expression shifting.

"Really?" he asked, intrigued.

"Really." Dill reassured.

Ged took the bottle, his lips curving into an actual smile.

"Thank you, Dill."

Dill froze.

For all of Ged's rudeness, for all of his dismissiveness, those simple words nearly caught him off guard.

Even despite everything, Dill found himself forgiving him.

"We are all growing," Dill thought to himself. "How can I judge a sprout when I'm already a full-grown tree? It seems I am the one who still has some learning to do."

With a final smile, he turned and strode back toward the lizard, where Beatrix waited.

Beatrix watched Dill approach, her gaze shifting between him and the departing Ged.

"What did you think?" she asked bluntly.

Dill adjusted his glasses, his eyes misting with emotion.

"I-I almost misjudged him," he admitted. "He's a good kid."

Meanwhile, Ged tucked the crystalline container into his abs, his expression curling into a hidden sneer.

"Useful fool," he muttered as he made his way home.