Lich started to workout and stuck with the weighted squats, as it seems others were doing different workouts. However Lich found the weighted squats were oddly satisfying.
'Wait, is the Gym Rat Path making me think working out feels good?'
Hearing a loud grunt, Lich looked behind him. The sight made him feel oddly weak. Behind Lich was a women in workout clothes. The workout she was doing made it obviously her highest stat was strength.
The workout she was doing was a set of moves with a weapon. The weapon being a 2-handed sword. The movement she was doing though, made it feel like she was in a fencing match.
'If I tried doing that, I think I might break my wrist, how is she doing that so easily.'
Feeling someone looking at her, the women looked over at Lich. Feeling guilty for staring, he bowed and said sorry and went back to working. After he finished his set though, the women walked up to him and started to talk.
"My name is Joan. Sorry if I got too loud and bothered you. When I got in the zone, I forget there are others trying to workout."
"Nah, I am at fault. When I saw how you handled the sword like it was weightless, I was super envious."
...
'Wow she was super cool. She promise to teach me that move set, but honestly I have no faith in myself.'
Will doing his next set, Lich saw a big ape walking around the gym. Funny enough, the ape went to a rope swing exercise area.
'Does that guy or girl know they don't have to be in ape form? Or is that just there thing. No one else is paying attention to it. Well I guess it is a him, as he is wearing underwear and no shirt.'
Before he finished the set he was on, the ape walked past him. Then Lich saw on the ape's underwear that was showing, his name was Brian.
...
While lost in thought thinking if he could do the rope swings without the Ape Path on, he heard someone yelling like they were in a cartoon. However as the body of the person got bigger and grew visible veins, it seemed to be a workout?
Maybe someone saw Lich's confusion as a voice from his side started to talk to him.
"Don't worry that is just Rue. She is the Champion Of The Boost. Honestly I thought she would be working out in a chamber that used gravity to get stronger. But she just yells. By the way my name is Toby."
Looking over to introduce himself to Toby, Lich saw a giant hairy fist. Fist bumping the fist he looked up and told Toby his name.
'Ah Toby the minotaur. I was kind of scared when I saw his fist. But since he just held it there, it was obvious what he wanted.'
"Thanks for not whacking me with the workout bar. Everyone else I talk to attack first before thinking."
"Well you held your fist at a good distance. If it got any closer, I might of."
Laughing together, they both went back to working out.
...
Looking around again since it was kind of boring doing thousands of squats, he saw a women sitting down eating nuts. However after she eat one, Lich learned she was working out, as she was squeezing the nuts to crack them.
'Is that a real workout? How hard are those nuts if it counts as a workout?'
Lich got his answer as a man who was drinking a protein shake walked up and started talking to the nutcracker women.
"Hey Lana, still cracking those Mana Nuts? You are such a freak. People with hammers have a harder time than you do. If you keep this up, no man will want you out of fear."
"Fuck off Alex, I crack these because I don't want any man talking to me. Also no women will want you cause you treat your protein shake like your momma's teat."
"Well I am gay so that's fine." Alex sat down by Lana and they kept talking.
'Why are they yelling. I am on the other side of the gym. It is gay and proud. Not loud, unless they are trying to pick people up then I guess it makes since'
Seeing a man walk up and then walk away with Alex while Lana was giving him a thumbs up, Lich learned they were talking loud on purpose.
...
Hearing people using the stage, Lich decided to workout while facing it. Then he learned that a lot of others were also facing the stage.
On the stage were a man and a women. The crowd started to make commentary on what was suppose to be a fight.
"Over in the left corner we have Jerome, the Champion Of Gyms. While in the right corner we have the Champion Of MMA, Ronda."
"Dammit Jerome! It is a fight, not your time to show off how good of a training dummy you are!"
"Ronda at least let him throw a punch. If you knock him out again before he can swing it will be the tenth time it happen."
Hearing that lost comment, Jerome got pissed and tried tackling Ronda. Only for it to end in his defeat, as she kicked him in the back of the head as he passed her.
...
'That is it! I did all of the sets, I can finally stop working out.'
As Lich was headed to get his pay and coupon, he felt someone touch his shoulder. Turning around he saw a girl with black hair in a pony tail. She was holding a towel.
"Here, for your sweat. Also can you spot me if you aren't too busy? If you have to go I understand if you don't want too."
Wiping away his sweat, Lich thought it should be fine as he completed the Gym Rat Path faster than the chicken one. Also with how many people he saw walk in and out and not teleport, he should have the advantage of saving time spent traveling over others for the server wide quest.
"I have the time, so I can help." Hearing Lich agreed she smiled and introduced herself as Becca.
Lich started to regret agreeing to spot her, as the weight she put on the bar was twice the ones he used. However seeing how easily she handled the weight Lich was thankful.
...
"Thanks again Lich for helping me. Also you can stand closer next time."
They started to shake hands and then a notification went off.
[Friend Added: Becca]
...
Getting his pay and coupons, Lich headed off to the Axe Path store to do the stocking quests.
Walking in the axe shop, an axe flew by Lich's face.
"Kindra get back to work!" A young man was throwing axes at a girl who was running away.
"Dammit Kirby, I am not going to stock your axes! Do it yourself, also there is a customer."
After redirecting Kirby to Lich, Kindra ran out the door.
"Welcome customer, what type of axe are you looking for?"
Equiping the Axe to his Profession tab, Lich learned that it instantly started his next quest. He knew when he did the Gym Rat quest, it was auto equipped to his profession.
"So it works like this huh. Oh and I am here to do my shift, don't worry about me."
"Well it is a rule that new workers have to help with the work of the ones before them. So as long as you do my work then I will leave you alone after."
Before Lich could say anything to Kirby, a girl jumped down from the ceiling landing on Kirby, slamming him into the ground.
"Idiot, this guy was here before any of us. If he agreed, you would of have to help him." Then she looked at Lich, with her sharp eyes.
"I am Falcon, welcome back to the shop. The owner told me to keep an eye out for you since Kirby is to stupid and untrustworthy to do the job."
Wanting to retort, Kirby tried saying something, only for Falcon to stuff an axe in his mouth.
...
'Everyone here seem... interesting. There are plenty of workers here, but no customers.'
Heading to the back to get an axe , Lich saw a guy carrying two axes. The guy looked at Lich and started to talk.
"Another worker but no customers today. It is cause of all those stupid sword nerds. No one comes to get an axe, even though it is way better than a sword. Oh by the way, my name is Kazuto. Tell me what is better, a sword or an axe?"
Without having to think, Lich already knew what was better.
"An axe duh. I mean even though an axe isn't the best weapon it still beats out a sword any day. "
Hearing that, Kazuto smiled. "Yes! Finally, I was worried you were going to be a loser who liked swords."