Kairo stood in the corner of the newly built gym, arms crossed as he watched the soldiers and knights crowd around the strange equipment. At first, he had expected clumsy mistakes, maybe even laughter at the "toys" he had brought from his old world.
But then—
BANG!
A massive general lay on the bench, gripping the iron bar Kairo had designed. His face turned red with strain, veins bulging across his neck and arms. The number on the side of the plates made Kairo's eyes nearly pop out of his skull.
"Eight… thosand… kilograms!" a soldier shouted as he spotted.
The general roared like a wild beast and pressed the impossible weight skyward. The floor shook as he racked the bar back into place with a thunderous clang.
Kairo's mouth twitched.
W-what?! They're bench pressing 8000 kg like it's nothing?! In my old world, that's beyond human record… That's like watching a truck being lifted off the ground! What kind of monsters are these people?
Before he could recover, his gaze drifted to the far side of the gym.
There, a group of women trained with equal intensity. One knightess squatted with nearly 3,590 kg across her shoulders, her body trembling with effort but her eyes blazing with fierce determination. Another woman deadlifted a weight that would have crushed Olympic champions back in his old world — 500 kg.
Kairo's jaw dropped.
No way…! Professional strongmen in my old world would barely compete with the women here? The women?! And the men… The men are even stronger than this?
He ran a hand down his face, completely overwhelmed.
No wonder they laughed when I said I could make them stronger. To them, I must have sounded like a complete fool. But… no, wait. Even if they're already this strong, the gym will still push them beyond their limits. Even monsters can evolve.
Across the room, one of the knightesses noticed him staring and smirked.
"What's wrong, young prince? Surprised that women train too? In this world, strength is for everyone!"
Kairo blinked, then quickly composed himself and gave her a small, polite smile.
"…No, I just think this world keeps surprising me."
Inside, though, his heart was racing.
This place is insane.
But as the thought settled, a quiet smile tugged at his lips.
Maybe that's why I like it. In this world, even the impossible feels normal.
He watched the soldiers roar with effort, the ground trembling under their power, and felt a strange sense of excitement bubbling up.
The gym had only just opened, yet already it was clear — this was only the beginning of something far greater.
Kairo clenched his fists lightly, eyes shining with determination.
Even monsters can grow stronger.
And he would make sure they did.
The clang of iron echoed across the gym as Kairo approached his father. The soldiers and knightesses were still buzzing with energy, cheering loudly as they tested their limits.
Kairo tugged lightly at his father's cloak.
"Father… can you really deadlift 10,000 kilograms?"
The King raised an eyebrow, then gave a small smile, his beard shifting with the motion.
"Ho… so you've heard the rumors, eh? Well… it has been some time since I last tested my full strength. Once should be enough."
His words spread like wildfire. In moments, the entire gym fell silent. Soldiers, generals, and even the women knights stopped their training and gathered around. Excitement buzzed through the air like thunder.
"His Majesty is going to lift!" "Watch closely! This is the strength of our king!"
Kairo watched with wide eyes as a massive barbell was prepared — loaded with plates so heavy the floor beneath it groaned in protest. Ten thousand kilograms. A weight that would crush even the strongest men of Earth like insects.
The King stepped forward. His towering frame cast a long shadow across the gym floor. He wrapped his hands around the bar, knuckles turning white as iron. For a moment, the entire world seemed to hold its breath.
Then—
"HRRRRAAAAHHHH!!!"
The King roared, his muscles bulging like living mountains as the impossible weight slowly rose from the ground. The bar shook violently. The floor cracked beneath his feet. Sweat beaded across his brow. Slowly, surely, he stood tall, locking the barbell in place with raw power.
The crowd exploded into thunderous cheers.
"THE KING! LONG LIVE THE KING!" "10,000 kilograms like it's nothing!"
With a controlled exhale, the King lowered the bar back to the ground. The impact rattled the entire gym like an earthquake.
He straightened up, rolling his massive shoulders, and glanced down at Kairo with a calm, satisfied smile.
"There. Once is enough. Power is not for show, my son. But sometimes… it is good to remind them why I am called the strongest."
Kairo stood frozen in place, eyes wide, his mind reeling.
He… he just did it. He actually lifted ten thousand kilos. Back in my world, even the strongest men couldn't dream of it. Here… it's reality. And that was just one lift.
The Queen, who had been watching quietly from the side, clapped her hands together and laughed softly.
"You nearly broke the floor again, dear."
The King chuckled, scratching his beard.
"Hah, then perhaps next time I'll lift outside the palace grounds."
The cheering continued, soldiers roaring with pride, women smiling in awe. And Kairo… could only stand there, utterly beyond shocked.
This world… it wasn't just different.
It was terrifying.
Yet as the roar of the crowd washed over him, a strange spark of excitement mixed with the awe in his chest.
If this was what "normal" looked like here… then maybe, just maybe, he could still catch up.
One day at a time.
The clang of iron echoed across the gym as Kairo approached his father. The soldiers and knightesses were still buzzing with energy, cheering loudly as they tested their limits.
Kairo tugged lightly at his father's cloak.
"Father… can you really deadlift 10,000 kilograms?"
The King raised an eyebrow, then gave a small smile, his beard shifting with the motion.
"Ho… so you've heard the rumors, eh? Well… it has been some time since I last tested my full strength. Once should be enough."
His words spread like wildfire. In moments, the entire gym fell silent. Soldiers, generals, and even the women knights stopped their training and gathered around. Excitement buzzed through the air like thunder.
"His Majesty is going to lift!" "Watch closely! This is the strength of our king!"
Kairo watched with wide eyes as a massive barbell was prepared — loaded with plates so heavy the floor beneath it groaned in protest. Ten thousand kilograms. A weight that would crush even the strongest men of Earth like insects.
The King stepped forward. His towering frame cast a long shadow across the gym floor. He wrapped his hands around the bar, knuckles turning white as iron. For a moment, the entire world seemed to hold its breath.
Then—
"HRRRRAAAAHHHH!!!"
The King roared, his muscles bulging like living mountains as the impossible weight slowly rose from the ground. The bar shook violently. The floor cracked beneath his feet. Sweat beaded across his brow. Slowly, surely, he stood tall, locking the barbell in place with raw power.
The crowd exploded into thunderous cheers.
"THE KING! LONG LIVE THE KING!" "10,000 kilograms like it's nothing!"
With a controlled exhale, the King lowered the bar back to the ground. The impact rattled the entire gym like an earthquake.
He straightened up, rolling his massive shoulders, and glanced down at Kairo with a calm, satisfied smile.
"There. Once is enough. Power is not for show, my son. But sometimes… it is good to remind them why I am called the strongest."
Kairo stood frozen in place, eyes wide, his mind reeling.
He… he just did it. He actually lifted ten thousand kilos. Back in my world, even the strongest men couldn't dream of it. Here… it's reality. And that was just one lift.
The Queen, who had been watching quietly from the side, clapped her hands together and laughed softly.
"You nearly broke the floor again, dear."
The King chuckled, scratching his beard.
"Hah, then perhaps next time I'll lift outside the palace grounds."
The cheering continued, soldiers roaring with pride, women smiling in awe. And Kairo… could only stand there, utterly beyond shocked.
This world… it wasn't just different.
It was terrifying.
Yet as the roar of the crowd washed over him, a strange spark of excitement mixed with the awe in his chest.
If this was what "normal" looked like here… then maybe, just maybe, he could still catch up.
One day at a time.
The crowd was still buzzing from Leonhart's impressive attempt when Kairo's gaze drifted back to the barbell.
Two hundred kilograms… and he lifted it. Back in his old world, even top athletes struggled with that weight. But… he wasn't that boy anymore. He was taller now, stronger — practically a giant compared to who he used to be. Maybe… just maybe, I can lift it too.
Kairo stepped forward. Murmurs rippled through the gym instantly.
"The prince…?" "Does he want to try?"
Even the King raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Careful, son. Don't push yourself."
Kairo shook his head, eyes determined.
"No, Father. I need to test this. I need to see how far I've come."
The soldiers added a little more weight, bringing the bar up to two hundred kilograms. The iron glinted under the torchlight as Kairo crouched down and gripped the bar tightly. His heart hammered against his ribs.
Alright… deep breath. Focus. Lift with everything I've got.
He pulled.
At first, the bar didn't budge, his muscles straining hard. But then, with a roar that rose from deep in his chest, the weight slowly rose. His legs locked, his back straightened, and to his own astonishment—
He stood tall, holding two hundred kilograms in his hands.
The entire hall fell silent.
Then the cheers erupted like thunder.
"The prince did it!" "Two hundred kilograms at only eight years old!" "Truly blessed!"
Kairo's arms trembled as he carefully set the weight back down. His chest heaved, sweat dripping from his forehead. He stared at his own hands, wide-eyed and breathless.
I really did it… I'm not just a child anymore. This body… this world… it's changing me too.
His father laughed heartily, pride shining brightly in his eyes.
"Hah! Well done, Kairo! You carry the blood of giants indeed!"
Kairo smiled faintly, though inside his heart he thought:
So this is the start. I may never match the monstrous strength of this world… but step by step, I'll catch up. And when I do… I'll surpass even them.
The soldiers and knightesses roared their approval, clapping and cheering louder than before. For the first time since entering the gym, Kairo felt truly seen — not as the prophesied child, but as someone who had earned a small piece of their respect through his own effort.
The King's proud gaze never left him, and in that moment, the weight on Kairo's shoulders felt just a little lighter.
He still had a long way to go.
But today, he had taken one more step forward.