The roar of the crowd was still echoing when Jed stepped away from the table. His palm burned, his forearm felt like it had been torn apart, and his ribs ached from the strain. But more than the pain—
It was the confusion.
What was that?
The surge he felt. That faint purple flicker in his veins. It wasn't normal. His body had suddenly felt alive, sharper, stronger—like a hidden instinct had woken up.
"Jed!"
He turned, still catching his breath. Yun pushed his way through the students, his face lit up with relief.
"Dude, you did it!" Yun grinned, patting Jed on the shoulder. "You beat Elias! That was insane!"
Jed blinked at him. "I… don't even know how I did it."
"What do you mean? You crushed him, man!"
Jed clenched his fist, staring at his palm. No… it wasn't just me. Something happened back there… something I can't explain.
Before Yun could ask more, a staff member came over.
"Cruz, you should head to the clinic. Your arm looks strained. You need to recover before the next round."
Jed nodded silently and walked off. Yun shouted after him, "Rest up, bro! I'll be waiting for your next match!"
---
The clinic smelled faintly of disinfectant. Jed sat on the bed, an ice pack strapped to his arm as the nurse fussed over his wrist and shoulder. He didn't protest, but his mind kept replaying the moment his veins glowed.
Was that real… or am I losing it?
He closed his eyes. The crowd's cheers outside slowly faded into the background.
---
Meanwhile, the gymnasium was still alive with tension. The announcer's voice boomed:
"Next up—David Ahn versus Carlos Villanueva!"
The crowd erupted.
David Ahn, the golden boy. Reina Salvador's boyfriend. Star athlete, trained by professionals, fueled by resources no one else could dream of. He walked up to the table with his usual confident smirk, basking in the attention.
But his opponent was no pushover.
Carlos Villanueva wasn't as well-known, but those in the weightlifting club knew him well. Thick-chested, veins snaking down his arms, he was called "the Workhorse" because of his insane training volume. He didn't just lift weights—he lived inside the gym. And unlike David, Carlos wasn't fighting for pride. He was fighting to win the cash prize to pay for his younger brother's school fees.
For Carlos, this wasn't just a match. It was survival.
---
At the table, David smirked, looking his opponent up and down.
"You don't look bad. But you're about to learn the difference between effort and talent."
Carlos didn't flinch. He stared back, calm but firm.
"I don't care about talent. I only care about winning."
The referee raised his hand.
"Ready… set… GO!"
---
The impact was immediate—both arms locking, veins bulging, muscles trembling. Unlike Jed's match, where strength was one-sided, this was a clash of titans.
The crowd roared, split between chants of "David! David!" and cheers for Carlos.
David gritted his teeth, surprised. What the—he's stronger than I thought.
Carlos's eyes burned with determination. "You've had everything handed to you… but I earned this!"
Slowly, David's wrist began to bend back. The crowd gasped.
Reina, watching from the stands, clenched her fists. David… don't you dare lose now.
---
David snarled, muscles bulging. No. I can't lose here. Not in front of Reina. Not with Jed watching.
He shifted his stance, leveraging his entire body. Sweat flew from his brow as he roared, forcing Carlos back inch by inch.
Carlos's face twisted in strain. His arm shook violently, but he held on, teeth grinding, refusing to let go. The gym shook with their struggle—this wasn't just strength, it was willpower.
"COME ON, CARLOS!" someone shouted from the weightlifting club.
"CRUSH HIM, DAVID!" screamed another voice from the crowd.
---
The match stretched on, veins bulging, both refusing to surrender. David's smirk was gone now, replaced by raw fury. His pride was on the line.
Finally—
With a primal roar, David twisted his wrist, slammed Carlos's hand down against the pad.
SLAM!
The referee raised his hand.
"Winner—David Ahn!"
The gym erupted in deafening cheers, Reina standing with relief flooding her face.
But Carlos didn't leave quietly. He stood, shaking his arm, and looked David dead in the eyes.
"You're strong, Ahn… but don't think this makes you untouchable. There are others out there stronger than you."
David scoffed but turned away, raising his hand toward Reina as if nothing had rattled him. Yet deep down… he knew. Carlos had nearly pushed him to his limits.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, he thought of Jed Cruz.
If that average nobody could beat Elias… then I'll make sure I'm the one who crushes him next.