Rush Hour

Five days before the battle

“Wow! What kind of place is this?” I was almost awed by what I was seeing, and it was as if everything were just a dream.

“This is FT Paradise where the players often build up their bodies and this is also where Alpha often comes, so if you want to gain his trust you must first learn yourself lifting heavy types of equipment,” Lily whispered to me, which made me turn to where Alpha was, where as soon as we arrived, he immediately lifted the barbells.

“Wait a minute, you didn't expect me to lift barbells like he was holding, did you?” I replied at the same time they looked at me.

“Do you know why only small weapons come out of you? That's because your immune system is low. You need to build your body to be able to hold heavy weapons and control a sword.” Sexy said to me as they went to their respective places except for Demon who was still staring at me. I pointed to myself with a look of astonishment on my face, while he nodded his head.

“This is your first training. Don't be nervous because everything will be easy.” He said that I raised an eyebrow.

“Wait a minute, is this what you mean, just easy?” I said as I tried to lift the 20 lbs (7.5 kg, ) barbell, but why does it seem so easy for Alpha to lift this kind of heavy thing?

I turned my gaze to Cloud who seemed to be laughing at me and insulting my weakness, at the same time he approached me and effortlessly lifted my barbell.

“It's a standard barbell, so it's impossible for a player not to lift it unless you're that person.” He said, smiling as he let go of the barbell and left. I frowned at his mocking of me, but I didn't give up. I tried to lift that thing even though it felt like both of my arms were about to come off. They have almost used the different types of equipment there, while I still can't leave my place. I was sweating profusely and gasping for breath as I attempted to lift that bullsh*t barbell, but it seemed to be buried in the ground.

After a while, Sexy came to me and seemed to notice that I was having a hard time lifting it, so she stood beside me and taught me the proper way to hold it as well as the proper position so that I could lift it easily. I held the barbell while she rested her hand on mine, and she counted to three, so we could lift it at the same time. My eyes almost widened in shock when it gradually rose, but what was even more surprising was that I was only using my strength to lift it because Sexy suddenly let go of me.

“I'm doing it. I'm lifting it. Can you all see this?” I happily told them as they all turned to me. Demon clapped and Lily gave me a thumbs up except for Cloud and Alpha who didn't seem happy for me.

I repeated lifting it without Sexy's help, and I was surprised again because I couldn't feel its weight anymore, but it was like I was holding a small stone in my hand. I even raised it to my head and turn in Cloud's direction to insult him, but he just smirked and shook his head.

“Excellent, Zdk.” Demon said to me. “Since you can already lift that, why don't you try to add more weight to that?” he added, and I was stunned by what he said especially when he increased the barbell weight, so my hands fell to the ground again, and I noticed that Cloud was laughing at me.

“Why? Are you giving up already? Don't you want to overcome Alpha's strength?” he said, and I slowly looked up at him, at the same time I turned my gaze in the direction of Alpha where the very heavy weight of the barbell that he was holding with only one hand could not be seen on his face. It's just like a piece of paper to him, and it looks like it will take me a few years before I learn how to carry such heavy equipment.

“Do I have to do this? Is it part of my training, master?” I asked Demon as he put both his hands in his pockets.

“Do not you believe in me?” he responded with a serious face, so I immediately shook my head and turned my attention to the barbell because if I spoke anymore, he would kick me out of their group. It's scary for him to get angry. So, I just followed everything he ordered and asked me to do, even though I just wanted to give up and go back to my real world.

While they were all gone and Alpha and I were the only two in the gym, I slowly approached him. I watched every vein in his muscles where it was terrifying to touch because just a flick of his finger would make me faint right away.

“Wow! Your muscles are so spectacular.” I said that he looked at me with a frown. But he didn't pay attention to me, instead, he just continued what he was doing. I didn't leave his side and I imitated what he was doing, how he lifted the barbell, and how many times he lifted and lowered it. He seemed to notice that I was imitating him, so he smirked secretly and lifted it even faster. Therefore, it was difficult for me to chase him and I suddenly let go of the barbell I was holding because it slipped from my hand. After all, I was sweating so much.

He stopped and turn to me with a smile on his lips. That was the first time I saw his smile and he looked so cute. But he immediately turned his back on me when he noticed that I was staring at him. Maybe he was shy to show me his facial expression because I might tell our other colleagues.

He was about to leave, but I immediately stopped him and grabbed his right arm. He stopped walking and turned to me with a frown like he often had on his face.

“What do you need?” he said at the same time I let go of him and knelt in front of him, which surprised him. “What are you doing there? Stand up, maybe what the other players will think of us when they see you like that.” He added, I did not follow what he said, but I was still kneeling in front of him.

“Teach me the techniques you know. I want to learn and upgrade my skills. I need your help, please teach me.” I pleaded with him, then he looked in another direction, and then he sighed.

“I'm busy, so just find someone else to help you.” He replied as he turned back. He was about to leave, but I stopped him again.

“I'm afraid to die in this world,” I said and he stopped it. “I would rather not die in this world without anyone knowing me and my family not knowing what happened to me,” I added as I bowed my head and stared at the floor with tears in my eyes. He turned to me and I slowly raised my gaze to his face.

“I would rather die in the real world than in this world where no one else knows about my true self.” After I said that, the expression on his face seemed to change, and I noticed that I was gradually convincing him.

Drama and tears were all it took for me to soften his hard heart. He stepped closer to me, and then he stopped in front of me.

“What will I gain from you if I do help you?” after he said that, I quickly stood up with a wide smile on my lips as I wiped the tears from my eyes. While he was looking in another direction, he seemed shy to look at me.

“Just tell me what I should do or what you want to ask me in return. Whatever it is, I'll do it for you.” After I said that, he turned to me with a sharp look in his eyes. I was surprised, but I immediately read in his eyes what he wanted to ask for in return. That was none other than Sexy.

“Okay, I promise I will never approach or talk to her again. I promise I won't do anything stupid to make you jealous.” I said, and I noticed that both of his cheeks suddenly turned red. He didn't say a word before turning his back on me. I followed him and that time he didn't push me away or send me away because I was able to earn his trust.

Good job, Zdk! I whispered in my mind while patting my shoulder.