"I see you, Tokyo team!" Stas called out, glancing at the leaderboard flashing in his peripheral vision. "Your output is dropping. Lean into it. Grip that steel and pull! You are stronger than the machine!"
FitCasting had turned physical fitness into a high-stakes, shared hallucination. Today’s environment was called "The Foundry." In the VR goggles of his followers, they wouldn't see a cold Brooklyn warehouse. They would see a massive, glowing steel mill from a dystopian future, where every pull of the resistance bands operated giant virtual pistons to keep a failing city powered. If Stas slowed down, the lights in the virtual world would dim for everyone. The pressure was immense. Stas - FitCasting
The heavy music faded, replaced by a low, soothing ambient tone. "I see you, Tokyo team
"Good morning, iron workers," Stas boomed, his voice carrying the effortless authority that had made him the top-ranked FitCaster in the world. "Welcome to The Foundry. Today is a high-output endurance block. We have sixty minutes to keep the core active. If you fail, we all go dark. Do not let your neighbor drop their load. Strap in." Grip that steel and pull
Stas took a deep breath, stretching his arms overhead. His shoulders burned slightly from yesterday's session, but the adrenaline was already beginning to mask it.
He reached up. The bands were now incredibly stiff, requiring his entire body weight to move. He threw himself into the first pull. His muscles locked for a fraction of a second before the resistance gave way.