Comtalc is now making his way to the sparring ground where his class with Miss Rosen will take place. He woke up again to find that his two roommates, Agysmal and Erewhen, still hadn't returned. He's aware of the punishment the two received and also aware of the fight between them.
"Those two are fighting again," he woke up from his drool-filled sleep upon hearing the explosions. He rubbed his eyes, yawned, and then headed to the window to peek at what was happening outside. From there, he saw the explosions in the sky. "Those two are really unfair. They didn't even inform me they were fighting tonight, so they could've had a spectator."
But Comtalc thought that if he intervened in the fight between the two, he'd just get crushed, so he decided to just watch the events unfold. He also thought of cooking a pre-dawn snack for the two, so that when his roommates returned after the intense battle, they'd have something to eat. However, the two didn't come home because they were summoned directly to their superiors.
As he walked down the hallway, he saw Lotuslush taking a solitary walk. Like him, she was heading to the sparring ground, but he froze when he saw her. She looked freshly bathed, radiant like a just-plucked apple on a misty morning, and he could smell her distinctive Musk. Lotuslush was so aromatic that his nose suddenly started bleeding.
"Comtalc, what are you doing there?" He didn't realize Lotuslush had already seen him. He brusquely wiped the blood flowing from his nose. "Wait, are you having a nosebleed? Here, I have a handkerchief, use it to wipe the blood on your philtrum."
Comtalc was momentarily stunned again by what he witnessed, especially when he saw Lotuslush offering the delicately embroidered handkerchief. He didn't hesitate or play hard to get. He skittishly grabbed the handkerchief.
"Thanks for this. You can expect me to wash it properly," he replied while fidgeting with his movements.
"Calm down, Comtalc, you're acting like you've seen an elitist who's privileged. Just act normal when you're with me." Lotuslush's words made Comtalc straighten up like a post light, which made Lotuslush chuckle slightly.
"You're really different from your two friends," Lotuslush said, quietly amused by Comtalc. "While those two are quiet and in their own worlds, you're more go-with-the-flow. Unproblematic, so to speak."
"I'm really comical, but deep down, I also have a lot of personal complications to deal with," Comtalc replied, scratching the back of his neck. "I think as humans, setbacks are set as our default setting. And it's up to us how we carry or fight or find solutions for them. My main problem is my family. That's why I joined this place, to prove something to them."
Comtalc mustered up the courage to walk alongside Lotuslush on their way to the sparring ground. While Lotuslush walked straight ahead, Comtalc secretly admired the young woman - her flowing hair, smooth skin, and plump lips.
"So this is the view when Agysmal and she are together," he whispered urgently to himself.
When they arrived at the location of their class, their other co-trainees were already there. Unlike his reserved behavior around Lotuslush, Comtalc became spirited and energetic when he saw his other friends. When Miss Rosen arrived, they behaved and formed a formation.
"Good morning, trainees," Miss Rosen began. "Exercise is important to develop ourselves not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. When you're in good shape, you become attractive, so by that means, you also improve socially. But as Larkansas, you'll face a lot of formidable forces. And to look intimidating, there's a cheat sheet for you so you don't have to exercise to achieve the body goals to look overwhelming. Using your Musk, you can achieve that goal. Trainees, observe me."
The trainees paid attention as Miss Rosen performed her Musk ritual dance. Her movements were very smooth, like she was made of silk fabric. When her Musk emerged, it was very fragrant. She brought her right thumb to her mouth and, like a balloon being inflated, she seemed to puff herself up.
The trainees were stunned and amazed as Miss Rosen gradually grew taller. Her height became monumental, and her body also improved. She developed muscles, and her torso muscles became chiseled. She became even sexier, more flawless, more gorgeous, and appeared stronger and unshakeable.
"If my girlfriend looked that good, I'd definitely fence her in and never let her go, and I'd kill any man who dared to look at her," Comtalc said to himself, gazing up at Miss Rosen with drool.
"Okay, trainees, it's your turn."
One by one, the trainees performed their ritual dance to release their Musk, but when they tried to puff themselves up, most of them turned into balloons and floated away in the air until they deflated.
"Be gentle when blowing your thumb," Miss Rosen reminded them. "Because if you're hasty or aggressive with the blow, you'll inflate like a balloon."
The trainees tried again to blow on their thumbs, and this time they didn't turn into balloons, but some of their body proportions were off. One leg was big, another was skinny. One muscle was well-toned, another looked burned.
"Guys, your blow job skills need to be mastered. It's like this." When Comtalc blew on his thumb, he felt confident that he could accomplish the task this time.
Gradually, Comtalc grew taller, and his body began to take shape. His biceps grew, his abdominal muscles increased, and his skin became more tanned. His facial features became well-symmetrical. His tattoos became more prominent. He looked like a bodybuilder, glowing with handsomeness.
"Look at me, I made it!" Comtalc exclaimed. "Wow, you're staring at me like you want me to melt, but it's still me, Comtalc Ruelblue!"
Comtalc flexed his muscles, showing off without realizing he was completely naked, with his manhood erect like a masterpiece of architecture. It was too late for the female trainees to cover their eyes, but to avoid awkwardness, Miss Rosen censored his male genital.
As Comtalc drew a striking impression, the two trainees who weren't in the class, Agysmal and Erewhen, were unimpressed with their progress on their voyage today.
They'd been going for a while, but there was still no improvement. They were headed in the direction the two Vitamin members had gone.
"Damn, I'd rather smash this steamer than rely on it when it's not even going anywhere," Erewhen said peevishly, kicking a wooden barrel.
"So you want to take the plunge? Then you'd expect me to save you when you drown? You don't even know how to swim." Agysmal said to himself while searching for an island using binoculars.
They thought that since they could float in the air using Musk, they'd do that, but for Agysmal, it would just be a waste of Musk since they hadn't spotted an island to head towards, and they might run out of Musk mid-air and get exhausted, causing them to fall into the water.
Agysmal stopped searching for the island when he noticed the water bubbling. He observed the strange happenstance of the water and had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.
He stepped back just as a Sharkranha emerged - a gigantic and deadly water-type Meadow Feral. Its chompers were large and sharp, and it looked like it was searching for meal. It jumped out of the water, causing Agysmal to feel the paddle steamer shake, and he quickly grabbed his dagger, but the Sharkranha quickly dove back into the water.
"It's hunting for food, so let's be attentive," Erewhen said, waiting for the Sharkranha to jump out of the water again.
When the Sharkranha jumped again to attack them, Agysmal unleashed blue fireballs while Erewhen retrieved grenades from his panel. They set the Sharkranha on fire and bombed it, but it retaliated by spewing acidic breath, forcing the two to cover their noses.
"That annoying creature!" Erewhen exclaimed, trying not to breathe in the surrounding acidic air. "When I catch it, I'll really roast it."
When the Sharkranha jumped again, Agysmal timed his attack. He jumped, but the creature's massive mouth made it seem like his plan to stab its head would fail.
The Sharkranha swallowed Agysmal, prompting Erewhen to shout, "Idiot!" But while inside the extremely slippery and salivary mouth, Agysmal unleashed numerous blue fireballs into the predatory Meadow Feral. The Sharkranha spat out Agysmal, who was now covered in malodorous slobber.
"I stink so much," Agysmal said after smelling himself.
"Don't go to the water to wash yourself yet," Erewhen warned. "The meat is still scattered there. You know how Sharkranha swarm when they sense food. It might even become a trap for them to catch you."
The Sharkranha's mincemeat floated in the sea, attracting other Meadow Ferals searching for food. But before other gluttonous Sharkranha could reach the water's surface, they were preceded by another Meadow Feral said to be one of the rulers of the ocean - the barnacle-covered Whalgoode.
Its enormous size and bulk blocked out the sky. Agysmal was helpless as it swallowed them, along with their paddle steamer.