Wilson woke up late the next day. It was almost noon. He jogged to the gym only three buildings away.
Even at this time, there were some people still training with the weights and punching bags or were inside one of the rings, sparring with their trainer or sparring partners. The slight smell of sweat filled the air but did not make the gym feel stuffy.
Wilson entered the gym and everyone stopped to look at the fresh face that entered.
"Oh? A new customer?" A black man of average height and bulging muscles said and jogged to meet Wilson who stood rooted to the ground at the entrance.
"Hello, hello! You look like you could use some help. I am Smith. The owner of Black Rose Gym. The only gym filled with love that is built from grit and sweat and sometimes blood. Everyone here is a subscribed member but since, you have only come here today for the first time, I will give you a free week to see for yourself just how great this gym is." Smith introduced.
"Come with me! Come with me." He said and dragged Wilson by the arm around the gym, introducing and explaining the functions of each equipment.
There were manual weights and technologically adjustable weights ('tech weights', as they were more commonly called.)of all kinds; the punching bags were top gear, capable of withstanding even the fiercest of abilities. The treadmills could move as fast as 300km per hr, so that even the speedsters would have no need to restrain themselves when making use of them.
The gym had fighting rings for fight practice and sparring and even provided trainers for those who preferred systemized training as well as a motivator. Needless to say, these trainers, with their good looks and bodies; muscular, like the sculpture of a god, were very popular among the ladies.
"As for the membership subscription, you have the weekly plan, the monthly plan, yearly plan and customized plan. Do you want to hear of them now or...."
"What is the monthly plan?"
"Oh, that is a hundred thousand Tigs or if you intend to use the Empire currency, that will be two hundred Imperial dollars. If you would like a trainer also, that will be an extra thirty thousand Tigs or sixty thousand dollars." Smith spoke fast.
"That sounds expensive." Wilson said with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Oh it is expensive! But with this kind of quality, top-notch equipments, I can proudly tell you that it is worth every last Tig. And it is also the best offer you can possibly get in these parts." Smith said and smiled, showing off his shiny white teeth.
"You said I can check out the gym for a week for free?" Wilson asked. His eyes were no more on the gym owner but he had rested his eyes on a certain man who was adjusting the weight on a technologically adjustable barbell.
"Yes, yes. Knock yourself out. Now if you will excuse me, I need to check on some things. Once again, welcome to Black Rose Gym, Mr Wilson!" Smith said and dashed off, in through a door and out of sight.
Wilson looked around and went straight to a solitary punching bag near a corner of the wide gym.
He stood in front of the punching bag, his hands bare as he clenched them into a fist. He looked at the punching bag for a little while and slowly began to see Ruthless' smirking face. He immediately knew that he had gotten over that bastard and needed to let off some steam.
"Die!" He roared and punched the bag.
*Bfff*
The bag did not even sway.
*Bfff* *Bfff* *Bfff*
Still did not leave its position.
Some men behind Wilson laughed.
"So much rage and just that little punch?"
"kukuku!"
"Hey, kiddo. If you want to let off some steam, why don't you come and spar with me? Don't worry, I will be gentle."
Wilson turned to see that almost all the men working out had turned to mock him. Apparently, he had roared out too loudly and gotten their attention.
He looked at the man who had challenged him. He was a big man with boxing gloves on and was bouncing around in one of the boxing rings. He was barechested, barefooted and in shorts, that helped emphasize his great muscular body. With his long flowing black hair drenched in sweat, and his sweaty, brown body that glistened in the light, he looked like someone born by the gym itself.
Wilson thought for a little while and shook his head.
"No, thanks."
"Oh come on! Don't be so cowardly. How about we make a bet. If you win, I will pay for your membership for three months."
It seemed the man had listened in on Wilson and Smith's conversation. Wilson frowned.
"What if you win?" Wilson asked.
The big man smirked.
"You work for me for a month. For free!"
"What work?"
"Depends on which job I am hired to do."
"You are a mercenary?"
"More or less." He quipped.
"Fine! What are the rules?" Wilson agreed.
"No weapons, except for gloves. Regular gloves. Whichever man surrenders or gets knocked out loses. If you are thrown out of the ring and you can't get in in under ten seconds, you also lose." The man said.
"Okay!" Wilson said, pulled off his shoes and entered the ring barefooted like his opponent.
"You are not gonna wear any gloves?"
"No, too heavy."
"Oh! Then what about these?" He asked as he took out some fingerless gloves. Your favorite color?"
"Grey!"
The big man chuckled.
"That's new! I have heard all sorts of people give all sorts of colors as their favorite but never have I heard of grey as a favorite." He said and tossed Wilson a pair of black gloves, since he did not have any grey colored gloves in his bag.
"Light enough?" He asked Wilson. Wilson nodded as he wore the gloves.
A scrawny man with long graying hair, rushed into the ring to act as the referee. He was not originally in the gym but he appeared when a fight was just about to begin. Only God knows where he came from.
"Alright! I want a good fight! Anything goes as long as it is not against the aforementioned rules. You have a choice to surrender if it gets too much for you" The scrawny referee turned his head to look at the big man.
"Try not to humiliate him too much."
He then turned his head in the opppsite direction and looked at Wilson.
"You actually don't look all that bad. Protect your face and try not to be humiliated, okay?"
He raised his right hand up and said.
"Introductions?"
"Colt!"
"Wilson!"
"Fight!" The referee swung his hands down and declared. And instanty vanished from the ring.
Colt did not waste a single second. He disappeared and appeared before Wilson and swung his left fist at Wilson's head that was a head below his height.
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*