NOVEL NEXT Chapter 89: The Guilds Gym
A week had passed since Marcus introduced them to the Ability Chamber, helping them channel a way for them and their duplicates to connect and bond together, to eventually break through the Circle of Pillars, into something greater, something the world had never seen before.
Marcus was with the trio in the guild's gym, which was a separate building, adjacent to the headquarters, where all the guild members were allowed to train, and were recommended to train every single day, to stay in peak condition.
The gym was colossal from the outside and inside, but inside it felt like it could stretch infinitely, with ceilings high enough to make anyone small. The sunlight poured like a waterfall through reinforced windows, which then bounced off the polished floors and reflected off the walls lined with mirrors.
The structure was solid, built to endure anything and everything, with reinforced doors, windows, and a careful design that made every corner feel purposeful.
Different sections were clearly marked, each dedicated to a specific muscle group or type of training. Rows of free weights and benches occupied one side, while another held state-of-the-art resistance machines that adjusted automatically to the user's strength.
A section for agility and endurance had climbing walls, obstacle courses, and treadmills that could simulate any terrain. Even the stretching and recovery area was impressive, with temperature-controlled floors, massage chairs, and pools for hydrotherapy.
Everything in the guild's gym was advanced, precise, and designed to push limits. It wasn't just a regular gym; it was forged to be a place of strength, dexterity, and where potential could be shaped into something legendary.
But that wasn't all the gym was going to offer. Marcus knew that even though the current gym was good to get an effective workout in, it still wasn't the best it could be, since there was a lot of deadweight space available, with expansions across multiple floors that could hone in on different martial arts, dungeon simulations, and a better recovery and sports area that would increase the dopamine of the Adventurers, so that they would give it there all during dungeon raids.
"I have been thinking of redefining the gym into something spectacular. Something that would revolutionize the gym for good." Marcus muttered to the trio, excited about his new project, which was going to come to fruition in a couple of months, before the tournament.
"Like what?" Nova asked.
Elesch and Adam had ventured onto the stairmaster as they didn't want to hear the boring story about how Marcus was going to add and refine the gym until it was pitch-perfect. Instead, they decided to hop on the stairmaster and have a mini gym date to unlock a deeper level of their relationship.
"I have been thinking," Marcus started, his voice low, whispering only to Nova, as if he was trying to keep a secret from the rest of the guild members. "Why not add a better recovery area and sports area. I would buy even more land surrounding the gym and create basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer courts, and more. Then, add more advanced machines, since some of them are decently old, so get the newest, scientifically advanced ones, to boost strength for the members and help them develop a higher version of themselves."
He continued, as Nova listened to him patiently: "Then, have different martial arts across the floors, so that aside from raw strength and relying on abilities, the members can develop discipline and balance, and even more strength through martial arts. You'll soon see Nova, in a couple of months, the gym will be even more advanced, with sections to boost morale and spirit, while others boost pure and raw testosterone."
"That sounds like a great plan. I can help you pick the right machines and companies to really level up the game, if you want," Nova told him, puckering his lips slightly.
"Well, anyway, I'd better get started with your training, I already wasted a lot of time." Marcus looked for Adam and Elesch, then saw them having their mini date on the stairmaster, so he decided to call them out: "Elesch and Adam, get your asses here."
Once the trio was aligned again, perfectly in front of Marcus. He taught them a very important lesson that comes with having an ability.
"An ability strengthens you, it makes you faster, your whole body feels different after you have awakened, and when you get stronger, you mistakenly activate your ability during the gym when you work out, thinking it will help you, but that's wrong."
Marcus continued, his voice caring and gentle, as if he were petting his cat, Orlo: "When you activate your ability, that strength that seeps through and helps you lift more, isn't your raw strength, it's the abilities. When you don't activate the abilities' strength and use your own raw, grueling strength, you can actually build a better foundation and improve much faster."
"So, if I were to activate my ability and use that strength and generate whatever strength I accumulate for that workout session," Nova said, his voice low, comprehending what Marcus had just explained. "You're telling me that my accumulated strength wouldn't convert to my raw strength? But instead would just be added to my abilities overall strength. Which means that if I have to work out, the raw strength I accumulate in a gym session would boost my overall strength."
"Bingo!" Marcus laughed. "So, it's generally recommended not to use your abilities power, since you need to develop raw power to boost everything else." Marcus nodded.
Marcus then led the trio to a bunch of exercises, involving dumbbells, barbells, and cables, with a hint of cardio, though only as a finisher to cool down. He taught them what to do on what days and how to do them, and the overall basics of getting stronger at a gym.
At the end of the workout, Nova and Adam hit the male showers, as Elesch followed suit in the women's. With Marcus not showering since he didn't work out, and sat on his phone waiting for the trio.