Ethan walked away from the football field after a few more minutes spent getting to know the players. He did not know if it was related or not; his mind seemed to be easier at memorizing names and faces.
"Time to hit the gym." He smiled as he made his way to the clubhouse's gym, feeling a new sense of strength and power. "This upgrade is a real deal."
The gym was next to the training fields. He was in high spirits. However, as he was about to enter the gym, a thought suddenly stopped him.
"I forgot to invite the team and staff to tomorrow's event."
Shaking his head, Ethan couldn't help but find humor in his oversight. It dawned on him that it wouldn't be fair to invite only Theodore and not include everyone from Ridge Rovers FC—the entire team and staff deserved to be invited.
Ethan took out his phone. He dialed Jessica's number. As if she was always being alert to Ethan's call, the call connected.
"Jessica," he said.
"Yes, Ethan. What do you need me for?" asked Jessica in a polite tone.
"A small favor. I sent an invitation to Theodore Graves, but I forgot to invite the whole Ridge Rovers FC team to the event tomorrow."
Jessica paused for a moment, clearly surprised. "Wait, the Ridge Rovers FC? You're inviting a football club? Why?"
Ethan couldn't help but laugh, knowing his plan sounded slightly out of the blue. "I'm thinking of buying the club," he revealed.
Jessica was silent for a moment, obviously shocked. "You're what? Ethan, NovaTech isn't even fully up and running yet, and you're diving into buying a football club?"
Ethan just laughed it off. "Relax, Jessica. I'm not planning to run the club myself. I'll get the right people for that. It's more about investing, positioning NovaTech, and boosting our brand. Plus, I've always wanted to be involved in football. Why not start now?"
Jessica sighed in frustration. "You can be impossible sometimes. I wonder how David will react."
Ethan grinned. "David will come around. He'll see the potential. Trust me, I've got this under control."
Another sigh from Jessica, but there was a hint of amusement in it this time. "Alright, alright. I'll take care of the invites. You're lucky I'm here to deal with your wild ideas."
"Thanks, Jessica. You're great," Ethan said, smiling more as he ended the call.
He was actually wondering why he wanted the team to be at the event tomorrow. Was it because he wanted them to believe that he was some kind of owner? Or he just wanted to share the moment with them?
'Never mind that. I just want them to come to eat, drink, and enjoy,' he thought.
He focused on the gym again, pushed the doors open, and walked inside. He smelled metal, sweat, and determination. In the background, he heard weights clanging and treadmills humming.
A few people worked out in the gym, each focused on their exercises. Some of them turned around to look at Ethan. A place like this, in Crescent Ridge, would be an opportunity for some to build a worthy connection.
However, Ethan paid them no heed. He was not there to socialize. He had a clear goal for the day: to test his strength and see how much he had improved.
Before getting started, he quickly checked the status panel to review the latest rewards and upgrades from his football mission.
=====
[Status Panel]
Name: Ethan Cole
Level: 3
EXP: 6500 / 7000
Ascension Points: 75
Wealth: Unlimited
Attributes:
Strength: 37
Speed: 37
Endurance: 38
Intelligence: 43
Charisma: 33
Free Attribute Points: 10
Skills:
1. Krav Maga [Basic]
2. Close Quarters Combat [Basic]
3. Tactical Firearms [Basic]
4. Heightened Senses
=====
'I need to push everything to 40 points. Balanced attributes would be the best approach,' thought Ethan.
He looked around as if he was not used to exercising at the gym. He could see a row of treadmills on one side and a variety of machines on the other, and the one that captured his attention was the weights section.
Ethan made his way toward the weights. There were numbers on each dumbbell. He believed that he could handle 15 kilograms easily. Clutching the dumbbells in both hands, Ethan said excitedly, "Let's see how strong I am now."
He believed he should start the workout with a lighter weight, but the exercises felt surprisingly easy, almost like the weights were lighter than he remembered.
"I should add more weights." As he gradually increased his weight, Ethan noticed people watching him. He felt their eyes on him and heard their whispers as he moved from one weight to another.
Ethan lifted the heaviest dumbbells in the gym, each weighing 68 kilograms. These weights were usually only used by experienced lifters, who still found them difficult.
However, lifting them seemed as effortless for Ethan as picking up a pair of toys.
He began doing bicep curls with smooth, controlled movements. His muscles contracted with each curl, but he looked calm and relaxed, showing that it felt easy for him—almost as if he wasn't working hard.
As Ethan worked out in the gym, everything around him seemed to stop. Other people in the gym paused their exercises and stared in shock.
They quickly took out their phones to record the moment and whispered in disbelief.
"No way… Who the hell is this guy?"
"How is he lifting that much?"
The reason for their shock and surprise was not because of Ethan's doing something too extraordinary. It was because his body did not seem that strong.
Ethan, however, hardly paid any attention to the commotion around him. He was utterly focused on his workout, pushing himself to his limits.
Even with the impressive amount of weight he was lifting, it still felt too easy for him. Not that easy. But he did not feel the pressure of reaching the limit.
He was looking for a real challenge, something that would truly test his strength. The reason was that Ethan needed to know how much strength was equivalent for each point.
'I have 37 points for Strength right now.' Ethan looked at the weight of the dumbbells. 68 kilograms.
He believed that he could go at ease for a few more weights. Maybe around 74 kilograms. That would make it a point equivalent to a kilogram. That was when a realization hit him.
'So I was not that strong after all.' The said weight was not something anyone other than him could do. He believed even those in the strongman competitions could lift heavier weights than him.
After finishing with the dumbbells, Ethan went to the barbell area. He added weight plates to the bar one by one until it reached almost 230 kilograms—a weight that would make even experienced lifters think twice.
'Just now was the strength for each arm. What about if I used my whole body?' That was the reason he wanted to attempt deadlifting.
The gym was quiet as Ethan walked up to the barbell. Everyone watched him with anticipation. He took a deep breath, bent down, adjusted his grip, and lifted the weight.
Despite the barbell bending under the heavy weight, Ethan seemed unfazed. His muscles showcased extraordinary strength as he lifted, making it seem like gravity had no effect on him.
Gasps and whispers spread through the room, a blend of shock and admiration.
"Is he even human?"
"There's no way that's possible…"
As Ethan set the barbell down, he felt satisfied.
'Now I understand how this works,' he thought, feeling excited.
However, he realized the weight was not as tough as he had expected. His body had gotten stronger, making the heavyweight feel easier to lift.
More and more people stopped their workouts to watch Ethan, the lean young man who appeared to surpass the limits of ordinary human strength.
Some people were recording, while others whispered among themselves in disbelief. Ethan, however, ignored them all. He wasn't looking for attention; he was doing this for reasons.
Ethan's gaze shifted to the treadmills, sparking an idea.
'Time to test my speed and... endurance,' he thought as he approached one.
He increased the speed slowly, and the belt started moving quickly under him. 'Not there yet.'
Ethan then was going faster and faster before sprinting at full speed.
His legs moved perfectly with the treadmill's fastest setting, effortlessly matching the pace for now. The gym seemed to blur around him as he kept up with the machine's speed.
Moving this fast felt exhilarating and natural, almost like he was made for it. Yet, Ethan did not immediately break a sweat, even at the highest speed.
His body was just too efficient, too strong. After twenty minutes, he started to feel a slight fatigue.
Ethan breathed heavily, and his muscles tensed, but he kept going.
After a few more minutes, he slowed the treadmill and stepped off. A light layer of sweat covered his skin, but he was not tired at all.
Around him, people in the gym stared in amazement. Some whispered in disbelief, while others openly gaped at him.
With a wry smirk, Ethan thought, 'I could still feel tired, after all.'
Despite not being completely worn out from the earlier football match, he appreciated the subtle signs of tiredness.
It served as a reminder that he wasn't invincible. Even though his endurance was much greater than most, his body still had its limits.
And that was good. Ethan needed that reminder—complacency was dangerous, especially in the world he was entering.
Ethan picked up a towel and went to the locker room. He had a lot on his mind. Before he could do anything else, he received a notification.
=====
[Hidden Mission Complete: Testing New Limit]
Objective: Test yourself to the limit.
Rewards:
1. Strength +5
2. Speed +5
3. Endurance +2
4. Intelligence +2
5. Charisma +4
=====
"Huh?" Ethan was surprised to see such a thing happening. "A hidden mission?"
He smiled because, unknowingly, he had completed a mission and was being rewarded. However, he was curious about why the rewards were so random.
After a careful observation, Ethan believed it might have something to do with what he did during his workout session. He did push his best for Strength and Speed.
However, he did not do much for Endurance. He stopped right away after feeling tired. For Intelligence and Charisma, he had his theory.
'It might be because I managed to understand how much a point is equivalent to strength and charisma...' Ethan felt embarrassed to continue his train of thought.
But, he believed that it must have something to do with how he had captivated others just now. 'If it is true, then this system is really... something.'
Ethan felt a sense of relief. He knew he was fast and strong, which made him stand out. However, he also understood that these qualities alone would not be enough in the competitive world he was in.
"Theodore's warning... the Great Families..." he mused, wiping his brow.
Great Families. The words echoed in his mind, a reminder of the complex power dynamics in Novan City he hadn't yet fully grasped. But one thing was clear: he might already have enemies he wasn't aware of.
"It's time for me to get more serious with safety," Ethan said while letting out a heavy sigh. "The ones patrolling our home will not be enough. I need personal bodyguards."
His mind shifted to strategic thinking. "But where to find one?"
That was when he remembered Charles. That man had every single connection for anything. 'I need to consult him on this.'
It wasn't just about his own safety. His family and the key figures at NovaTech also needed protection.
The recent incidents involving the thugs were a stark warning of the dangers lurking around any corner.
With this realization, Ethan threw the towel into a basket and left.
Edited: 21 December 2024