Liam wiped the sweat off his forehead as he stepped into the cool air of the corner store. The summer heat was unbearable, and he could already feel the fabric of his oversized T-shirt clinging to his skinny frame. He was a week away from starting his freshman year of college, and while he was excited, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t ready.
He headed straight for the refrigerated section, eyes scanning the rows of bottles. His hand landed on a sleek, black can labeled Max Growth Ultra Hydration. He didn’t bother reading the fine print—he just needed something cold. Twisting off the cap, he took a deep gulp as he approached the register.
The effect was immediate.
A wave of heat surged through his veins, spreading from his chest to his fingertips. His vision blurred, and he stumbled, gripping the edge of the counter for support. The cashier, an older man with thick glasses, barely glanced up from his magazine.
“You okay, kid?” he asked.
Liam opened his mouth to respond, but his voice came out deeper, richer. His breath hitched as his arms stretched longer, his shoulders broadening with a satisfying crack. His T-shirt strained against his swelling chest, the sleeves digging into thickening biceps before the seams finally gave way. His torso expanded, muscles forming as if sculpted by an unseen force. His stomach tightened into defined abs, and his legs thickened, his shorts riding up as his quads grew too large for the fabric.
He reached up, feeling his jawline now chiseled and strong. His fingers traced the stubble that hadn’t been there moments ago. A lock of dark, slightly damp hair fell into his vision, and he realized even his face had matured. He was no longer the scrawny, nervous freshman—he looked like a man in his prime, a fitness model straight out of a magazine.
He turned to the security mirror behind the counter and nearly staggered back. His new reflection smirked at him, lips parting slightly as he took in the impossible transformation.
“What the hell…?” he murmured, running a hand down his now-rock-solid chest.
The cashier finally looked up, his eyes widening. “Uh, you sure you’re the same guy who walked in here?”
Liam swallowed hard, still flexing his fingers as if trying to prove this wasn’t a dream. His clothes were in tatters, his old sneakers barely fitting over his now-larger feet. He looked back at the drink in his hand, the label catching his eye.
“For Extreme Growth and Maturity—Warning: Permanent Effects.”
His stomach dropped.
“…Oh, crap.”
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