My Special Ability is Growing Muscles

The Union's central fortress, the Skyspire Citadel loomed above the human capital like a scar carved into the heavens.

Vast stone slabs floated in the air, tethered together with chains thicker than city streets, runes blazing across them to keep the impossible fortress aloft.

It was the heart of humanity's power, the seat of the Union.

Inside its great chamber, light refracted from crystal pillars etched with the names of fallen Heroes. A round obsidian table engraved with the sigil of humanity dominated the hall, and every chair around it was filled.

Twenty one chairs… twenty one figures sat there. Twenty one of humanity's strongest.

The tension was palpable.

Of the twenty one, the ten Councilors of the Union were present alongside the President. From Nexus Academy, both Major Pain and Principal Aelthar were present, and the big 3 Academies were also present, their Principals making it to the occasion.

Apart from the Union and the Academies, all the guild leaders of the 6 platinum grade guilds were also present for the emergency summit.

At the head of the table sat the President of the Union, Hero Rank No. 1, a man wrapped in a mantle of white and gold, eyes calm but unshakably heavy. His presence alone pressed down on every soul present.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried like thunder as he went straight to the point, summarizing the events of the past week.

"The Demons struck at the heart of humanity". His voice was calm but authoritative, it demanded attention.

"Nexus burned, the forges fell; our artery was severed. The Orcs bleed themselves, while the Elves and Dwarves stand idle. What will we do?"

His words set the stage. No pomp, no ceremony. Just truth.

Major Pain stood first, one eye gleaming with restrained fury. The Eye of Pain, hidden behind his patch seemed to burn through the table itself.

Having been at the very heart of the attack, he was well placed to speak his thoughts about the Demon attack and the aftermath.

"Three Demon Lords, Malgar Voidborne, Serika Thornveil, Ghor Ulfar… together, they struck Nexus directly. Their target was me… and Principal Aelthar. They failed". His eyes gleamed.

The obsidian table pulsed faintly, recording his words into enchanted archives.

His jaw tightened.

"But they still succeeded".

"They killed hundreds of nobles, dozens of guild scouts, and too many young students. Their foot soldiers turned the Coliseum into a charnel house."

The chamber went silent. Even the Platinum Guildmasters, who often smirked at Union matters, leaned forward.

"Understand this," Pain growled as he looked at them. "The Demons are not hiding anymore. Now, what they're doing is probing. And when they strike next, they won't send three, they'll send ten."

"They've tested our defense and seen our reactions. Next time, they'll go all out to invade our territories".

The room erupted.

Union Councilors pounded the table. "Then we mobilize armies! Every city must be fortified, and every border reinforced!"

The Guildmaster of the Emerald Fangs, one of the 6 platinum grade guilds sneered. "Armies? Armies are slow. The guilds should be given control, we protect our territories better than the Union ever has."

An Academy Principal slammed her staff in anger. "Protection? You care only for your coffers. Our future lies in our students. If Nexus falls, no city wall will hold!"

Another guildmaster scoffed, "So you'd throw children into the fire sooner?"

That lit up a fuse in the chamber as it shook with voices, accusations, and clashing interests, but then…

BOOM!

Major Pain slammed his palm against the table as his aura flared, cracking the obsidian table itself for a heartbeat before enchantments sealed it.

Then, there was silence as all attention turned towards him.

Under the weight of their gaze, Major Pain pursed his lips with a serious look on his face. "While we argue, the Demons sharpen their blades." His voice was low, but every word carried.

"You didn't see them, but I saw them. I fought them".

"They've grown bolder, stronger, and more united since the last time any of you met them on the battlefield. They don't need our excuses to win, our division already feeds them."

For a heartbeat, no one breathed.

Even the most arrogant guildmasters leaned back, eyes hard, not just because of the weight of his words, but more on the weight behind his aura.

They could tell that Major Pain was different.

The S Rank is not a single plateau. Within it, the power disparity is astronomical, far more than any other rank.

Many S Rankers only barely qualify, they are weaker end S-Ranks who would fall to true monsters in the upper spectrum.

Major Pain's battle at the Coliseum proved that he crossed into the upper spectrum, shocking the Union and forcing his rapid leap from Rank 67 to Rank 12.

Principal Aelthar capitalized on the silence and the impact of Major Pain's aura as he spoke next, his voice calm but sharp as steel.

"Let us not forget the greater truth, S-Rank is not just a rank, it is a sea. Some of us barely cling to its shores, others stand at its peaks."

He glanced at Pain.

"The battle at Nexus proved it, Major Pain is no longer the man ranked 67th. He held three Demon Lords at bay, and lived. He has stepped into the upper spectrum of S-Rank."

They knew it, they knew the truth but still murmurs rippled.

Many of the Union Councilors and Guildmasters eyed Pain with something between respect and fear.

His name already glowed brighter across the Hero Rankings — Rank 12.

The President had listened silently throughout. Now, he rose.

Power rolled off him like a tide and every Hero in the room, S-Rank or not, felt it in their bones.

"Enough," his voice rolled like rumbling thunder. "The Demons have declared war, whether they speak it or not. From this day, the Union enters Wartime Preparations."

He gestured around the table.

"Guilds will commit forces, not just to your own borders, but to humanity as a whole."

"Academies will accelerate training, harden their young, and prepare them for blood."

"A Grand Coalition of S-Rank Heroes will be assembled, every one of us will march when the time comes."

His eyes turned, briefly, to Pain.

"This war will not be won with walls, or arguments. It will be won with men like you."

That was all, the Union President had spoken.

The meeting adjourned soon after, the air heavy with grim purpose. Some Heroes saw hope, but others saw doom.

As the obsidian doors opened, Pain lingered behind, staring at the murals of fallen warriors.

The Principal joined him quietly.

Pain muttered, voice low. "The Demons have moved their pieces, now it's our turn."

But in his chest, he knew, war wasn't coming.

It had already begun.