Chapter 67: Brutus

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Brutus

Brutus flexed again.

His muscles bulged. His veins popped. His skin gleamed in the sunlight that streamed through the hole in the ceiling.

"I am Brutus," he said. "Vice leader of the Night Owl Guild. And I am here to help."

Daniel stared at him. At his massive chest. At his rippling abs. At his tree-trunk arms.

"Help with what?" Daniel asked.

Brutus gestured at the destruction around them. "With this. With everything. With life."

He flexed again.

Elara ignored him. She was kneeling beside the teleportation user. Her fingers pressed against his neck. She checked his pulse. She checked his breathing.

"He’s alive," she said. "Barely. But alive."

Paul groaned from the ground. "Unfortunately."

Elara looked at him. "Paul. Be nice."

"He tried to kill us."

"He’s unconscious. And he’ll be punished. That’s enough."

Brutus walked over to Elara. He looked down at the teleportation user. Then at Elara.

"You need help carrying him?" Brutus asked.

Elara shook her head. "I can manage."

"You sure? Because I can carry him. I can carry ten of him. I’ve been training."

He flexed again.

Elara sighed. "Brutus. Please."

"What? I’m just offering."

Daniel watched the exchange. He was confused. Brutus was a vice leader. But he didn’t act like a vice leader. He acted like... a bodybuilder.

"There are seven vice leaders," Paul said, answering Daniel’s unspoken question. "And one guild leader. Brutus is one of them. He’s... unique."

"Unique how?"

"He’s obsessed with muscles. With protein. With training. He spends more time in the gym than he does on missions."

Daniel nodded slowly. "I see."

Brutus turned to Daniel. His eyes lit up.

"You," he said. "You fought the teleporter. You survived. That’s impressive."

Daniel shrugged. "I had help."

"Still. You have potential." Brutus stepped closer. He looked at Daniel’s arms. At his chest. At his legs. "You have a good frame. Solid. Strong. But you could be stronger."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Stronger?"

"Yes. Bigger. More muscular." Brutus flexed again. "Do you want to be like me and my boys?"

Daniel blinked. "In what way?"

Brutus grinned. He flexed his arm. His bicep grew. It was the size of Daniel’s head.

"You know," Brutus said. "Have them big boys like mine."

He flexed again. His chest expanded. His muscles rippled.

Daniel looked at him. At his massive form. At his confident smile.

"Sure," Daniel said. "What do I have to lose?"

Elara and Paul face-palmed themselves.

"Daniel," Paul said. "No."

Daniel looked at him. "What? It sounds fun."

"It’s not fun. It’s torture. He’ll make you eat nothing but protein. He’ll make you train until you can’t move. He’ll make you flex in the mirror for hours."

Brutus nodded. "That’s correct."

Daniel shrugged. "I’ve done worse."

Elara shook her head. "You don’t understand. Brutus is... intense."

"I’m dedicated," Brutus corrected. "There’s a difference."

"There’s no difference."

Brutus ignored her. He walked over to Daniel. He placed a hand on his shoulder. His grip was strong.

"Let me tell you what it takes," Brutus said. "To become like me. To become like my boys."

Daniel nodded. "I’m listening."

"First, you must give up all pleasure. No sweets. No alcohol. No fun."

Daniel nodded. "Okay."

"Second, you must train every day. For hours. Until your muscles scream. Until your bones ache. Until you can’t lift your arms."

Daniel nodded. "Okay."

"Third, you must eat. Constantly. Protein. Meat. Eggs. More protein. You must consume twice your body weight in food every day."

Daniel nodded. "Okay."

"Fourth, you must sleep. Eight hours minimum. Your muscles need rest to grow."

Daniel nodded. "Okay."

"Fifth, you must flex. Constantly. In the mirror. In public. In private. Flexing is life."

Daniel nodded. "Okay."

Brutus stared at him. "You’re agreeing to everything."

"Yes."

"You understand what you’re agreeing to?"

"Yes."

Brutus’s grin widened. "I like you."

Daniel smiled. "I like you too."

Paul groaned. "This is going to be a disaster."

Lyra looked at Daniel. "Are you sure about this?"

Daniel shrugged. "Why not? I want to get stronger. And Brutus seems like he knows what he’s doing."

"He crushes stones with his chest."

"So? That’s impressive."

Lyra sighed. She looked at Fluffy. Fluffy was still in Daniel’s lap. She was watching Brutus with wide eyes.

"Fluffy thinks tall man is scary," she whispered.

Daniel patted her head. "He’s not scary. He’s just... enthusiastic."

Brutus heard him. He turned. He looked at Fluffy. His expression softened.

"Little one," he said. "You are safe with me. I protect all who are small. All who are weak. All who need strength."

Fluffy blinked. "Fluffy is not weak."

Brutus tilted his head. "Oh?"

"Fluffy is shadow. Fluffy is sneaky."

Brutus looked at Daniel. Daniel nodded.

"She’s a Shadow Scout," Daniel said. "Unique class."

Brutus’s eyes widened. "Unique class? At her level?"

"Yes."

Brutus looked at Fluffy again. His expression changed. Respect. Admiration.

"You are strong," he said. "Small, but strong. I like that."

Fluffy’s ears perked up. Her tail wagged. "Fluffy likes being strong."

Brutus nodded. He turned back to Daniel.

"Show me what you can do," he said. "Show me your strength."

Daniel stood up. He set Fluffy down. He stretched his arms.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked.

Brutus pointed at a large stone. It was part of the ruined wall. It was big. Heavy. Solid.

"Crush it," Brutus said.

Daniel looked at the stone. Then at Brutus. Then at the stone again.

"With my hands?"

Brutus shook his head. "With your chest. Like me."

Daniel blinked. "With my chest?"

"Yes. Flex your pectorals. Squeeze the stone. Crush it."

Daniel looked at Paul. Paul shook his head. Daniel looked at Elara. Elara sighed.

Daniel looked at the stone. He walked over to it. He picked it up. It was heavy. But he could lift it.

He pressed it against his chest. He flexed.

Nothing happened.

He flexed harder. His muscles strained. His face turned red. The stone didn’t crack.

Brutus watched. He didn’t laugh. He didn’t mock. He just watched.

"You need more protein," he said. "And more training. But you have potential."

Daniel dropped the stone. He was breathing hard.

"This is harder than it looks," he said.

Brutus nodded. "Everything worthwhile is hard."

He walked over to the stone. He picked it up. He pressed it against his chest. He flexed.

The stone cracked. Then it shattered. Pieces flew everywhere.

Brutus dusted himself off. He looked at Daniel.

"With practice," he said, "you can do that too."

Daniel stared at the shattered stone. At the pieces on the ground. At Brutus’s massive chest.

"Okay," he said. "I’m in."

Paul groaned. Elara sighed. Lyra shook her head. Fluffy clapped.

Brutus grinned. "Then we start tomorrow. Be ready at dawn."

Daniel nodded. "I’ll be ready."

Brutus turned and walked toward the door. He stopped. He flexed one last time.

"Welcome to the guild," he said. "You’re going to love it here."

Then a massive explosion shook the building.

The ground trembled. The walls cracked. Dust fell from the ceiling. Everyone stumbled.

Daniel caught Fluffy. Lyra grabbed Paul. Elara steadied herself.

Brutus didn’t move. He just turned. His expression was calm.

"That," he said, "came from the city."