A Background Character’s Path to Power

I woke to the sound of my own gasp, the remnants of another nightmare—this time featuring a broom-wielding moon chasing me through the cosmos for unknown reasons—still clinging to my skin like sweat. Whatever, I am long used to them anyway; they are working in my favor, waking me up at the right time every day.

5:33 AM.

Good.

Rolling out of bed, I washed my face, the cold water shocking the sleep from my bones. Then, the real pain began: my daily "warm-up."

100 push-ups. 100 sit-ups. 100 squats. A 10-kilometer run.

(A certain bald-caped hero’s regimen, minus the going bald part. Hopefully.)

By the time I finished, my muscles burned, but the exhaustion was familiar, almost comforting.

Then, as I returned to my room—

A familiar rip in reality.

Virion’s emerald portal yawned open beside my bed, the serpent’s grinning face peering through.

"Jie jie~ Ready for today’s beating, boy?"