Timeline: Late November 1987 Location: Republic of Padokea — Heaven's Arena Age: 11 (Weeks until 12)

  "Don't drop that," I warned, adjusting the thick straps on my new leg bands.

  Elian didn't listen. He grabbed the black metal forearm guard sitting on my bed and tried to heave it up with one hand. His shoulder jerked, his boots slipped on the carpet, and the metal guard slammed heavily back onto the mattress, groaning the wooden bed frame.

  Elian stood up, massaging his wrist, his eyes wide. "What is that? I thought your lead weights were heavy, but that thing feels like it's bolted to the floor. It’s the exact same size!"

  "It’s not lead," I said, securing the heavy vest across my chest and pulling my cloak over it. "It's a custom tungsten alloy. I commissioned it from a specialty forge downtown using the winnings from the 140s class."

  "Tungsten?" Elian stared at me like I had lost my mind. "Kaelo, tungsten is way denser than lead. How much weight are you actually wearing right now?"

  "About twelve hundred kilograms," I replied, testing my range of motion. The new weight was crushing, forcing my breathing to deepen just to remain standing. It was exactly what I needed. "1.2 tons."

  "You're fighting with a boulder strapped to your chest," Elian breathed out, shaking his head. "Why? You're already tossing guys out of the ring without a scratch. You don't need more weight."

  "If I stay comfortable, I stop growing," I told him, grabbing my room key. "The lead became normal. I hit a plateau. If I want to keep improving, I have to keep overloading my body."

  Elian just sighed, grabbing his own jacket. "Is this why you’ve been coming back every morning smelling like pine sap and Mr. Vancleef's burn salve?"

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  "No," I said, walking out into the hallway. My footsteps fell heavy, slightly cracking the tile beneath the carpet. "The morning trips to the woods are for the hornets. If I don't force my instincts to react to a swarm of them while carrying this new weight, my reflexes will lag behind my strength."

  Elian stopped in the doorway. "You're purposely fighting hornets? What about the Aikido dojo you go to every afternoon? The one you're paying a fortune for?"

  "That's to master the flow of combat," I explained, pressing the elevator button. "Throwing a heavy punch with 1.2 tons of metal wastes unnecessary energy. The instructors are teaching me how to root my stance and redirect an attack. I don't have to strike anyone if I can just use their own momentum to break their balance."

  Elian rubbed his temples as the elevator doors opened. "You know, sometimes I forget you're not even twelve yet. You train like an old martial arts master."

  "I just know where I need to be," I said.

  The elevator took us down to Floor 150. The crowd was loud, the atmosphere thick with the smell of sweat and cheap beer.

  "You're up against Vane today," Elian reminded me as we approached Ring 3. "Speed-type. Likes to rush in before the bell even finishes ringing. Watch his footwork."

  "Got it. Thanks, Elian."

  I stepped up into the ring. Vane was already there, pacing aggressively. He was lean and wired, his eyes locked onto me.

  "Don't blink, kid," Vane sneered, dropping into a sprinter's stance. "This is gonna be over fast."

  "I know," I said.

  "Begin!" the referee shouted.

  Vane exploded off his back foot. He crossed the ring in a blur, throwing a sweeping right hook aimed right at my jaw.

  I didn't step back. Thanks to the hornets, I could read his intent before he even swung. Thanks to the tungsten, my root was unshakeable. I simply tilted my head an inch to the left, letting his fist sail past my ear.

  "What—?" Vane gasped, completely overextended.

  "Your stance is too wide," I said quietly.

  I placed my open palm on his shoulder. Using the Aikido footwork, I pivoted on my heel and smoothly guided his energy forward. Vane's feet left the mat. He sailed through the air, carried entirely by his own speed, and crashed head-first into the concrete retaining wall outside the ring.

  "Ring out!" the referee yelled, waving his flag frantically. "Winner, Kaelo! Advance to Floor 160!"

  I walked back down the stairs to where Elian was standing. His jaw was slightly open.

  "Okay," Elian muttered as I walked past him. "I get the flow thing now."