Testing My Stance
I pushed past the edge of my rocky base and stepped right onto the vast wooden desk. A thick hardcover book blocked my path like an iron wall. Backing off isn't in my vocabulary, so I dug my boots in, planted my hands flat against its dense cardboard spine, and heaved with everything I had. The beast barely skidded an inch across the grain, making a deep, satisfying scrape. My shoulders burned, but my feet didn't slip once. That's real, solid resistance—proof that I can stand ground against anything this room throws at me!

