As he arrived at the ground floor, Luca was welcomed by the warm smile of the Ardenthal secretary– the one whom they’ve come to know as Selien Van Ardenthal.

’I guess not all Vassal Households are pricks like those four.’

He genuflected at her as he approached her counter.

"I need a Chamber."

She nodded once and tapped a button on the polished counter.

A holographic keyboard and screen popped into the air as she began typing on it.

"How’s the session been?" She asked, absent-mindedly after scanning him with her eyes.

Luca shrugged. "It’s been alright. I can see what you mean by personal strength."

Truthfully, he did.

With the Instructors, they would spar, perhaps train, but not as much as he did now.

He had pushed himself to a brink that he felt his body began to recalibrate to fit his needs.

The more he pushed himself, the stronger his body would grow, and thus, his personal development would improve.

"That’s good to know."

She stretched her arm for his card and he handed it to her.

Then she swiped it along the keyboard and gave it back.

"Room thirteen. Forty minutes."

Luca froze just as he was about to leave.

"Forty?"

The chambers were usually for premium members who had paid.

For their last three sessions, Jorash had taken the brunt of the payment and allowed them to benefit from the chamber’s effect.

But now... he should have gotten the limited amount of time– ten minutes.

"Take it as an investment from us."

Luca arched his brow as he walked away.

’An investment, huh? Was she watching our sessions?’

He wondered as he headed down the hallway, searching for the number until he found it.

It was a plain, silver door with a disc-sized imprint where the handle should be.

He placed his card on it, and the door clicked open.

Then he pushed the door, stepped in as a cool, refreshing breeze brushed past him and closed it behind him. A bright red chimed out of the four corners of the door, signalling it was being used.

’I just can’t get used to this sight.’

Luca admired the interior with a word of thanks to all twenty gods.

Before him was a miracle of relaxation. A world born to heal muscles, relax the nerves and cause a sensation of euphoria.

When Luca had first used it, he couldn’t believe the level of guard he instantly dropped.

Everything felt relaxing– too relaxing, like he was in a haven of pure sensational resting.

Even the smell made it hard to resist.

The scent of olives, laxatives and a sweet smell that caused his olfactory nerves to tingle with such pleasure.

Just standing at the door was enough to evoke such an effect; then, what would descending into the pool feel like?

Luca couldn’t hold his excitement as he went further in.

The room itself was large, with shallow pools, the size of half a swimming pool in a circular diameter and it filled both sides of the room in a row. The floors were clean tiles that reflected the colour of the white ceiling.

At distinctive corners, tall trees stretched onto the ceiling with silver trinkets dangling from the canopies.

They were Large Bonsais, a beautiful plant from the Kenzora Syndicate.

Luca found the plant to be quite amusing as it served no nutrient or food purpose, but rather was lucrative.

He found the idea of trees and plants as forms of decorations amusing, at first, but eventually leaned into liking it.

They spread some kind of calming effect, and their trinkets dangled with such delicacy that silver light etched along the trees.

Luca couldn’t wait any longer.

He stripped his workout clothes and kept them on a wooden cabinet arranged by the side of the door and headed to the closest pool.

Usually, large Guilds or Army groups took one of the rooms for all their members, but Luca had this one entirely for himself.

It wasn’t the norm, but thanks to a certain Musclehead and seemingly generous receptionist, he was able to soak in it in peace.

As Luca dipped his leg, high-frequency pulses vibrated through his cellular structure and immediately began the process of erasing elevated lactic acid and micro-tears from his training session in seconds.

It was like a hungry fire had been set in motion. Thousands of tiny, fragmented immaculate bites that stacked into a world of comfort.

Luca gasped in pleasure, before descending his whole form into it.

’Jorash said they once had a case where some deranged Egoist couldn’t help himself and ejaculated in the pool.’

He held his chin as the uncomfortable memory resurfaced.

’Crazy people everywhere you go.’

Luca didn’t seem to realise that he was one of them.

After breathing out, he soaked in the clear, light yellow liquid.

He rested his head at the edge and simply carried out the purpose of the Chamber.

*

*

*

Forty minutes later, Luca headed back to the first floor, and on finally getting there, he was welcomed by quite the scene.

It seemed like Jorash had finally gone and done it.

Caedun lay sprawled on a bench with two Gym instructors beside him. One sat him to give him a bottle of water, the other fanned him with an electric small fan.

The sight was both comical and brutal.

Luca turned to Jorash who stood by the Viscosity Pillars. His calm demeanour was a contrast to the whole situation.

He walked over with a wave.

"Did you kill my friend?"

Jorash turned to him with a slight spark in his eyes.

"I have to admit I went a bit far, but I expected much more from your friend."

They turned to the boy’s direction.

"I think it’s safe to assume that he reached his potential?"

Jorash grinned.

"Nope." He stated matter-of-factly. "In fact, not even you, I can sense it... There’s something more within you that you keep locked in."

Luca nearly flinched.

"Oh– Is that so?" His thoughts reeled in.

’I have to control my body more, I almost gave his taunt a reaction.’

"Indeed, but let’s not sweat the small stuff.

Caed is looking like he won’t be able to get to the Harmonic Pulse on his own."

Luca nodded. "Got it." He was about to head in their direction when Jorash held him back.

"Go for the Kinetic Inertia-Dampening Omnidrome, and use the AI since I won’t be there to give you guidance on how to use it."

"I see." He changed directions immediately and walked to a series of other high tech exerting equipment.

"Treat Caed well."

"I will." Jorash waved before joining Caedun and leading him out of the floor.

Luca watched for a while before turning his attention back to his new additional session.

The Kinetic Inertia-Dampening Omnidrome was an upgraded version of the former Treadmills.

It was a practical device for exercising speed and durability while running long distances.

’I should start with something light so I don’t drain myself.’

He’ll be facing Caedun immediately after he’s recuperated from his brutal set, and from the looks of things, Luca doubted he would want to try any more with that enthusiastic gym rat around.

’I would like to watch him exercise as well.’

Luca hopped onto the device with ease, balancing his form on the liquid metal surface.

It shifted slightly before relaxing as a ping sound ensued– signalling the equipment had been turned on.

He tapped a button on the sleek handle and a blue face appeared. The AI.

"Good day, citizen! I am Autonomous Military Rose Artificial Intelligence, here to aid in all of your desires.

What may I do for you today?"

"Tutorials on how to use the Kinetic Inertia-Dampening Omnidrome."

"Understood."

The face warped into images and videos, and one began to play.

"Please follow the guided instructions."

Luca watched for a few seconds and soon began to imitate what he saw.

The Omnidrome was actually a magnetic, shallow obsidian bowl with four Inertia-Dampening pillars that connected the handles where the button and imagery of the AI was produced.

As he started with slow steps, the pillars pulsed to life—soft blue light locking the space around him into a sealed pocket.

The liquid metal beneath his feet shifted.

Then it began to move.

At first, it mimicked a standard treadmill—forward motion, predictable, controlled. Luca eased into a jog, matching its rhythm without resistance.

Then the restriction vanished.

The Omnidrome came alive.

The surface twisted beneath him in every direction—forward, sideways, back—an unstable, writhing motion that refused to settle. His footing slipped for a fraction of a second before he corrected, muscles tightening, balance snapping back into place.

’I have to be careful to avoid the edges. A simple mistake, a wrong foot placement and I fall.’

That was the rule.

The Drome didn’t guide—it punished inefficiency. Every wasted step pushed him off balance, every hesitation dragged him closer to the edges. His movements had to be deliberate. Precise.Measured.

For a few seconds, he matched it.

Then he surged.

Luca broke into a sprint.

Golden Ego erupted from his body, flaring outward as his speed spiked. The unstable surface warped faster beneath him, forcing constant micro-adjustments—ankles twisting, calves flexing, every step calculated mid-motion.

His breathing hitched. His chest tightened. Muscles began to lock.

The Drome escalated.

Resistance flooded the surface.

It was like running through wet cement—each step dragged, each push resisted, the liquid metal clinging to his legs as if trying to swallow them whole.

Still, he didn’t slow.

’I know what’s next.’

It came without warning– Pressure.

A crushing force slammed down onto his body and his legs buckled.

A sharp crack split through him.

Bone snapped.

Pain shot up his spine, violent and blinding, his stride collapsing for a fraction of a second before he forced it back together, teeth grinding, breath tearing out of his lungs.

’There it is... gravity.’

The weight increased.

Step by step, it climbed higher—pressing into his shoulders, his spine, his limbs—turning every movement into a battle against collapse.

His muscles screamed. His vision flickered.

Still, he ran. Faster. Harder.

Like his life depended on it.

It was like he had forgotten it was meant to be a light run.

Then Luca’s expression broke.

A jagged grin tore across his face and he laughed. Raw. Unhinged. Alive.

’This is fun.’

________

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Drop your comments, reviews, and don’t forget to vote. Support this Author and The World Greatest Egoist.

Creation after all, is hard.