•3 Sparring Buddy :) •

[28 Minutes Later]

Walking up to a large two-story Gym made from a bright white stone with a large window that showed the inside of the building filled with workout equipment, training spaces, and a fighting ring.

In front, it had a sign with the giant silhouette of a buff woman with wings over the purple words Pegasus Gym.

"Here we are system!" I excitedly blurted out as I looked at the gym knowing that the system could see what I saw "And I am a card-carrying member" I Smiled pulling out a gym membership card and walking up the front steps.

As I walked through the front door leaving the sunny outdoors I heard a gentle notification noise as I read the text that had appeared in front of me

[Solar Affinities Paused Absorption]

[Return to Direct sunlight if you want to continue]

"Hm Neat," I said as I dismissed the notification.

After walking up to the front desk that was currently unattended I leaned against the desk as I waited for an employee.

Looking around I noticed the gym was emptier than usual I could see maybe a few people scattered around working out.

"Good it's a quiet day," I thought to myself taking a deep breath smelling the air reminiscing about the memories I made here.

I remember on the first day of my freshman year of high school I had come home from school covered in cuts and bruises.

When my parents came home from work they immediately went on a tirade against the school and the kids who did it to me, which was sweet but felt humiliating and only ended up making the bullying worse.

I had always been confident despite my lack of ability, I had studied and gotten the best grades in most of my classes but all that effort felt wasted in front of people who had abilities they could use.

after that incident, I had gotten my parents to get me a gym membership which I had begun to use frequently.

using it frequently I started putting as much effort into training my body as I did studying.

It brought me joy to see that I had gotten physically stronger, faster, and not to brag, but made me look hotter than hellfire.

That last bit might only be my opinion but my opinion is the only opinion that matters to me.

After a couple of minutes of reminiscing and waiting someone finally came to the front desk

'finally' I thought to myself, looking at the gym employee wearing a purple polo shirt he was scrawny and short staring at me with a dazed expression

"uh–" he coughed loudly smoke leaving his mouth–"how may I help you," he said trying to play it off.

Was he smoking during work? most likely but he also seemed to be the only employee here right now so there was nothing I could do about it.

"Um, could I reserve a private training room I have a tier 3 membership," I ask sliding a gold plastic membership card across the counter?

the young man looks down slowing picking it up he check something on a tablet 'uh yeah we currently have a couple of private training rooms left and since you have the tier 3 subscription you won't be charged,"

"great can I get a room for" I glance at a digital clock on the walls-"two hours, for now, please"

He looks at me and nods as he types something on the laptop "ok, I got you down for 2 hours you can use training room number five on the second floor it's just up the stairs" he says motioning to the stairs next to the elevator.

"Got it thanks," I said as he handed back my subscription card.

Once I had my card I put it back into my pocket and began walking into the open elevator I almost lost my tail as the elevator door closed behind me, I pressed the second-floor button And waited.

Ding!

I stepped out of the elevator seeing against the wall many numbered purple doors with the rest of the floor seeming like a place to relax and cool down.

I walked past the chairs, health snacks, and cucumber water and headed into the private training room I had reserved.

The second I entered the training I felt myself relax as I pulled the duffel bag over my shoulder dropping it on the floor I began to take off my clothes to change.

...

After changing my clothes I looked at myself in the mirrored walls.

I was wearing a black sports bra under a blue tank top and a pair of black leggings that had the perfect spot for my tail.

"Wish I had some friends I'd be able to hear compliments from people other than me," I talked to myself walking to the center of the mostly empty room.

"Activate Sparring bot" I speak to the air as a rotund egg-shaped simple sparing bot dropped from the ceiling with a loud thud.

The sparring bot was as it stated a simple robot for sparing this one, in particular, was made for simple training and testing a crash test dummy for people to use either their abilities or magic on.

The Sparing bot was painted the gym colors purple and white it had a small blue mana stone implanted on the top of its dome and a simple smiley face painted on the front this was standard for Sparing Robots.

As I stepped into a fighting stance the Sparing bot began to hover "Select Difficulty level" it said in a cheerful robotic voice.

"Lowest Training difficulty," I said readying myself.

"Lowest difficulty setting selected if you wish to change the settings or end match the input key code must be given, input key code is 'mercy'." It dropped on the floor with a loud metallic thud as two cushioned poles emerged from the sides of the bot.

While this may seem silly to anyone looking, I've been sparring with this robot twice a month and I've only been able to fight it's the lowest level but what could I expect? after all this thing was made to fight the average ability user.

As the bot wobbled in place in front of me with its smiley face mocking me I charged forward, only for it to smack me hard using its pole.

I stumbled back slamming my tail against the ground to steady myself, I charged back at it grabbing one of its poles to stop Its movement.

"not so cocky now" I laugh kicking the robot back only for it to spin back at me with its cushioned side rods.

The robot's spinning was intense in a blur as it charged towards me I tried to jump back but it was too fast and hit my left arm sending me flying back against the reflective wall.

as I lay against the wall the robot stopped for a second before wobbling towards me "this is such a stupid fight" I sigh to myself getting over the pain and getting back up in a fighting stance readying myself.

The Bot began slowly spinning once more starting to spin like a top towards me I got close to the ground at eye level with it just as it was getting close I leaped up into the air.

Landing on the robot's dome, it began to glow yellow "Stunned" the robot A. I beeped as the robot stopped moving.

I began hitting the robot's dome over and over the rush of pain in my fist from hitting the robot's hard surface spread through my body as scales on my fist naturally began hardening no longer looking like human skin but red lizard scales.

My hands now hardened, began to deal actual damage against the robot I couldn't help but smile to myself as the Robots yellow light turned orange.

"Damage sensed Resistance increased" It began to self-repair from the damage I had just put it through.

"That's new," I said smiling to myself this was the first I had managed to hurt the Bot usually on the occasions I did manage to beat it, it was the result of chipping damage until i had met a requirment, but this change meant improvement.

"Come on then!" I yell at the robot my tail thumping against the ground.

The Bot wobbled in place before two more cushioned rods emerged from its body as it began to spin in place before spinning forward at me like a Beyblade.

"Predictable," I say realizing this was probably just the same move with a little extra oomf.

I looked at it when all of a sudden I could feel time slow as I looked at the robot I could see it in motion inspecting it and analyzing it's every part

[Dragon's Eye]

[Robotic Sparring Buddy]

{Arsenal Available•Cushioned Rods (4), Self-Repair function}

{Arsenal•(Locked By Difficulty)}

{Stats•(Vary By Difficult)}

{Mana Stone Output•1~20}

{Hull Defense•1~30}

•Robotic Sparring Buddy made for commercial Use, powered by a small mana stone. The robotic sparring buddy was created by Axolotl Steel Inc

I was stunned as the information flooded my brain my perception of time returned to normal as the Robot spun toward me catching me off guard.

I was hit directly which sent me flying back into the wall. My back, which took the brunt force of the attack had turned into its tough scale in defense.

I had landed in the corner of the room as it spun towards me I was cornered and laying down I looked at the robot before sighing in disappointment "Mercy".

" Match Over! would you like to hear your results?" the Bot spoke in a robotic cheerful voice as its rods entered back into itself.

As I got up from my spot my body was a bit sore the places where bruises could've been were covered in tough red scales.

"Sure what's my result" I groan standing up stretching in place.

"Your Ability Is Low, recommended Practice! your hand-to-hand combat is good, Recommendations explore more close combat options and training to increase strength GREAT EFFORT!"

The robot said the result loud and cheerful punctuating the last two words with a small confetti popper hologram that it used.

I listened to the results I was unsurprised compared to the average person, even with my constant training and exercise I couldn't keep up with people who had abilities.

Abilities not only allowed people to use mana to do things they also naturally improved the overall Body.

That normally wouldn't be noticeable since everyone is born with an ability so it's natural for them but for the rare few born without an ability the difference in strength was big.

I looked at the robot then at my scaled spots that automatically showed themselves to defend me and I looked at the robot once more getting into a fighting stance.

"Rematch mode Activate!" I shout a smile showing proudly on my face.

"Rematch Accepted, Lowest setting Begin," As soon as it began the Bots two cushioned rods emerged from the side as it spun towards me.

"Perfect," I say to myself as I jumped on it grabbing its rod like last time this time though I focused as my scales began to cover my arms all the way up to my shoulders.

It sputtered a bit trying to spin as I held it back I began smashing it with my arm not giving it a moment's rest before it began to glow red.

"Difficulty to easy requesting a setting change from level 1 to level 2" it voiced.

I stopped for a moment before answering trying my best to stay calm from excitement I had never faced level two before.

"Granted!" I yelled while on top of it suddenly feeling a spin as I got flown off of it landing on my feet

It flung me off gently it seemed to be waiting for my next move.

[Dragon Eyes]

[Robotic Sparring Buddy]

•Arsenal Available:Cushioned Rods (4), Self-Repair function, Move Guessing

"what does move guessing do?" I ask myself, getting used to the dragon eyes skill as I leap towards the robot the same way I did before.

Unexpectedly it was able to predict what I was doing and spun out of the way and used its rods to slam me in my face knocking me out.

...

[Experience Gained]