’WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!’

Luca’s thoughts were loud, but not as loud as the sound of his bones popping.

"COME ON! ONE MORE REP! YOU CAN DO THIS LUCAMIR! GO! GO! GO!"

’The fuck you mean go? I’m dying here you stupid musclehead!’

Even with his protest, Luca couldn’t bring himself to stop.

He had witnessed what Ceadun had gone through when he had stopped mid-way and in all honesty, he had begun to wonder if gym people were crazy.

’What is with this crazy adrenaline rush?! Have they forgotten we’re kids!’

Mind you, adrenaline was basic knowledge at this point.

Luca grunted with visible veins snaking around his neck, legs and arms as he pushed with the brunt of whatever Ego-reinforced energy he had.

Following Jorash’s instructions, Luca had started their final session with the Hydro-Dynamic Viscosity Pillars.

They were a higher variant of what used to be called the leg press.

The equipment marked a significant technological advancement, featuring pressurised, non-Newtonian fluid inside flexible pillars instead of iron plates, and a larger, broader shape.

The pillars hissed with pressurised steam as the Hydroid fluid stabilised, matching Luca’s Ego output to ensure his muscles were under constant, surgical tension.

The machine worked in a way where the fluid gets thicker the faster you push, starting as a sort of light discomfort until it adjusts and reinforces itself into what Luca admitted was hell.

He could feel it the more he pushed– the equipment was practically begging him to fail at this point.

But for other reasons, Luca couldn’t.

Not just because of the pressing, useless encouragement from his new Gym bro, but because he had begun to feel the effects.

His trait, Mercuryborne was practically adapting his muscles and body tone– the constant shift was the reason for the popping muscles. His 5% Ego was much more than it looked like.

Luca felt the refreshing feeling of his energy bathing every molecule with such vigour that he had begun to pick up the pace.

And his 39.3% Core was a pulsing generator of power for him.

Jorash was more than just pleased at this occurrence, he was elated!

The man’s loud encouragement had nearly reached every corner of the building to the extent that some peered from their corner.

The bolder ones even walked up to watch and show their own encouragement.

Caedun on the other hand, who was up next gulped at the scene.

’How is a 5% so strong and durable?!’

It had been almost four and a half hours since they began, and from the light stretches, Ionised Tension-Tethers and Metric Flux-Bars, this small boy had been performing extraordinary feats.

Feats that he tried, but failed terribly in trying to replicate.

’There’s a difference in our Rank purity too. I’m at 75 and he’s merely at 39.3, so how can he exude so much power? Is it a trait? A title?

But both are hard to obtain so how?’

As the son of actual Egoists, he had seen his fair share of underdogs, and the more he observed Luca, the firmer the realisation became.

Lucamir Elaric was an underdog.

"KEEP IT UP! KEEP IT UP! FIVE MORE, FIVE MORE!"

Luca screamed as his cheeks and forehead flushed red. He grabbed onto the tethers by the side of the metal seathold and screamed.

"aaaAARGHH!"

The hydroid pills revealed a red, blinking screen, showcasing the weight he was currently handling. Four Tons.

That was about 4000kg of pure Ego-reinforced strength.

"Urh, I’m at my limit!" Luca squirmed as sweat dribbled down his forehead, but before it even touched the ground, it evaporated into steam.

"You’ve got this Luca! One more push! One more push!"

Jorash wasn’t the only one chanting at that point. In fact, about three had joined in the chant.

"Isn’t he a Cadet?! Aren’t all Cadets still at the Explorer rank?"

"Jeez, four tons at the Explorer Rank. How much would he be able to lift when he reaches the Observer Rank?!"

"Damn, that’s a punch to take!"

"4 tons of pure power would be brutal."

Some just conversed at the back while they watched, giving room to others to watch.

Luca heard their voices but barely registered them.

The only thing he felt and heard was the protest of his own body and the trembling sensation that would suck him dry.

He panted heavily. Breathing like his last life was on the line and suddenly, but certainly, achieved one more push.

The hiss was a victorious rush of adrenaline as Luca screamed.

The Gym erupted in cheers as Luca pushed a button and rolled to the ground.

The equipment hissed as the pressurised tube began to release its weight.

The steam that erupted was immediately sucked into a vacuum tube in the ceiling. Air currents that channelled it to the outside, keeping the place clean and mostly sweatless.

As he heaved, sprawled lazily on the ground, Jorash and Caedun came walking to his side while the rest left to continue their sessions.

"That was brutal, Luca," Caedun said as he folded his arms.

Luca merely passed him a glance before tilting his head to the ceiling.

"Tell me about it."

Jorash laughed out with excitement.

"You need at least that much resolve to fully ingrain your potential!"

Caedun whipped his head at Jorash.

"That doesn’t involve killing ourselves, right?"

"How can you care about death when you haven’t even strived for your potential?!"

His smile widened into a wicked grin.

"Your turn, Caed."

"Wa– wait, I think I need a little breathing room."

"Breathing room my ass! You’re twice the size of Luca so you’re doing ten more reps!"

"Are you kidding?! Luca did fifty!"

He was already turning away when a firm grip clasped his shoulder tightly.

"You a pussy now, Caed?"

Caedun gulped. "I’m no pussy, but I know my limit! Thirty at best!"

Jorash dragged him like a ragdoll– he was a Reckoner, after all.

Caedun and Luca couldn’t even begin to fathom his true strength.

"Jor– Jorash, wait. Let’s talk this through a bit."

"Sit. I’m counting now."

"Wai– wait, I think the receptionist said we can go rest when we want."

"Selien said no such thing. Now sit."

"Wai– Please, please, I beg you."

The boy was already on his knees.

"I have a mother and father waiting for me at home. I’m certain they would love to see their baby boy whole and healthy."

Jorash nearly kicked him back to his feet.

"Why would your parents care about someone who doesn’t wish to unleash his potential?!"

"Ha– Just don’t make me do what Luca did! Please! PLEASE!"

Luca watched in amazement as the comedic scene which he was yet to get used to had begun to play again.

’Jeez, what is up with them?’ He thought as he stifled out a laugh. ’It’s like they’re long-lost brothers who finally got to see each other after many years.’

After what felt like eternity, Caedun had begun his reps, with the conclusion that he would at least make it forty-five reps.

It may sound easy on paper, but this hydroid fluid adapts in seconds, so that after the third rep, you’re practically carrying twice your body weight.

And it only gets harder from there– multiplying or adding more weight until you give in.

This was the case for Luca and it had pushed him to the brink.

’Four Tons, huh?’ Luca mussed as the cold air of the Gym washed the fatigue from his bones.

’I wonder how much I could have lifted if my Synchrony was at 100%...’

When Luca thought about it, he had to admit the ingenuity in his plan. At 5%, he would push his strength to the very brink of it, and reveal everything 5% of his Archetype had to offer.

It still wouldn’t be much, but by the time he decides to increase it with an excuse, he would be able to experience, twice if not triple the effect.

’It’s like I’m tying down the beast so it explodes when I release it.’

It was a good plan for his future.

Who knows when he would need to push it to a hundred and reveal his true strength?

As he was busy with his thoughts, Jorash came to the side of his peripheral vision.

He slowly tilted in his direction in curiosity.

"Can you still walk, Lucs?"

Luca nodded.

"Good. Go take a dip in the Harmonic Pulse."

Luca slowly sat up, then stood to his feet.

"Any more sessions I need to put in mind?"

He rolled his arms and his shoulder made a sharp pop as if his joints were realigning.

Jorash stroked his beard. "Not for now."

He glanced at Caedun who was already grunting in exasperation.

"Caedun told me you guys are having a spar after this, mind if I coach?"

"Do what you like."

Jorash smirked and placed his arm on Luca’s shoulder. "Where are you from?"

"District 13, Verdant State."

’Oh? The Agriculture State... no wonder.’

Farmers were known to be diligent.

Maybe because they were a bunch of oldies who stuck with the old times more than even the Ardenthals.

"Alright, go rest up. When you’re back, you should go to the Omnidrome. You’ll need to work on speed too."

"Alright." He turned towards the elevator with his breath even.

The pain and fatigue from before had already been washed away and he could feel the effect of their workout taking root in his body.

His arms, legs and core. They burned with such intense vigour while Ego energy ravaged his muscles like a hungry beast.

His body was being moulded from the inside out– a structural adaptation to whatever he threw at it.

As he entered the elevator, Luca felt invigorated.

It was at this moment that he truly enjoyed his Named Trait, Mercuryborne.

He was truly like mercury– moldable into his heart’s desires.