Chapter 2 – The Champion's Thirst

The cable pulleys creaked one last time as Hannes let the handle glide back. His chest rose and fell evenly, but in his throat burned a dry, merciless craving. No hunger for food, no hunger for victory – it was the thirst for something specific.

Blueberry. Sparkling. Ice-cold.

With the determined look of a man who knows what he lives for, he walked to the drinks station. The display glowed promisingly as he touched the selection with an almost ceremonial gesture. First the water: ice-cold, sparkling elixir of life. Then – the crowning moment – the topping.

He pressed. Waited. And stared at the merciless display: "Blueberry flavour: not available."

It wasn't the first time. But today, after all those perfect shoulder rotations, it hit him like a blow to the diaphragm. Without blueberry… how was he supposed to keep training? Hone his muscles to regal excellence?

A cramp shot into his forearm, his hand clenching the drinking bottle as if it wanted to share the pain of disappointment. For a tiny moment he feared he might crush the plastic – the ultimate materials test.

But Hannes was more than muscle. He was discipline. Control. A master at making the storm inside him look like still water.

Instead of screaming, he smiled. A small, brave smile.

Tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow the blueberry will be back.

But he did not know that tomorrow itself was in greater danger than ever before.