Chapter 25 - Bolt out of the Blue

25th March 2023 - Windsor Square - 6:23 AM

The morning air in Windsor Square was damp and carried a crisp chill, remnants of an early rain shower. Golden rays of the rising sun filtered through the mist, painting soft streaks of light across the cobblestone paths and lush greenery. Most of the neighborhood remained cloaked in silence, its occupants still in the grip of sleep. But a few—dedicated, disciplined—had already begun their day.

Inside the private gym of his mentor's grand villa, Kai Jones was one of them.

The faint hum of a Bluetooth speaker filled the air, the bass-heavy beat of an old-school hip-hop track pulsing faintly in the background, blending with the rhythmic clatter of weights and the occasional creak of leather equipment. The gym, though not overly extravagant, was equipped with everything one could need—rows of neatly racked dumbbells, sleek cardio machines, and a squat rack that gleamed under the overhead LED lights. Mirrors lined one wall, reflecting Kai's determined figure as he lay on the bench, gripping a barbell loaded with 300 pounds of weight.

He exhaled sharply, muscles straining under the tension.

"11."

"12."

"Ahhh… 13."

"…14!"

With a groan, the barbell clanged back onto the rack, the metallic sound ringing out as Kai sat upright, his chest heaving. Sweat trickled down his temple, glistening under the cool, fluorescent glow. His shirt clung to his torso, drenched, as his arms hung limp for a brief moment of recovery. His face was flushed, but his lips curled into a satisfied grin. The soreness in his muscles was a reminder—not of pain, but of progress.

Kai loved this sensation. Each rep, every bead of sweat, was proof of his growth. Ever since his recovery from surgery, he'd been rebuilding himself from the ground up. Every small improvement felt monumental—a steady climb from zero to something greater. It wasn't just physical; it was a mental rush, a tangible sense of achievement. And then there were his stats. Watching his numbers climb in real time was like fuel to the fire, keeping him laser-focused on his goals.

But with the looming deadline, Kai had been pushing himself even harder. There wasn't room for complacency.

'300 isn't enough anymore,' he thought, wiping his hands on a towel before loading two additional 10-pound plates onto the barbell. The faint clink of metal echoed as he secured them, his expression steely. 'Just 20 more pounds.'

The music shifted to a faster track, its tempo matching the growing intensity in Kai's movements. He returned to the bench, gripping the bar firmly. His fingers tightened around the cold steel as he steadied his breathing.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

"Four."

"Five."

Each repetition became heavier, his arms beginning to tremble as the exertion seeped into his muscles.

"Six… uhhh… seven."

Kai gritted his teeth, his face contorted in concentration.

"…Eight!"

"Nine"

"TEN!"

With a final, guttural shout, he completed the last rep, racking the barbell with a loud clang. His chest heaved as he sat up, rubbing his aching shoulders. Despite the burn, a wide grin spread across his face.

"Ten reps at 320," he muttered under his breath, the satisfaction rolling over him like a wave. It was a personal milestone, and though his body ached, his spirit felt invincible.

Kai grabbed his water bottle and leaned back, letting the music fill the air as his eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. The day was just beginning, and he had no intention of slowing down.

Time crept forward as Kai maintained his relentless momentum. Moving seamlessly through his workout, he transitioned from flat bench presses to their inclined and declined variations, his muscles working in synchronized precision. He followed with lateral raises, dips, and skull crushers, pushing his arms to their limits. The session continued with barbell shoulder presses, two variations of triceps pushdowns, and finally, overhead tricep extensions to finish off the grueling routine.

24th March 2023 - Windsor Square - 8:11 AM

The gym was now heavy with the scent of sweat and determination. Kai's shirt was thoroughly drenched, clinging to his sculpted frame. His chest heaved as he set down the dumbbells with a loud thud onto the mat.

"...Ahhhh, fifteen," he exhaled, collapsing back onto the bench, his arms limp at his sides. Exhaustion seeped into every muscle fiber, but the burning sensation brought with it an odd satisfaction. He had pushed himself to his limit—and then some.

Kai was a man of discipline. He had honed his body through a strict diet and a rigorous training regimen, hitting the gym four times a week with laser focus. Each session targeted different muscle groups, tailored to optimize his performance. On top of that, he added swimming to his weekly routine, a ritual that had evolved over time.

It began as a solo activity, but over the past few months, Zach and even Steven had joined him for Friday morning swims. For Steven, it was a way to bond with Kai while also striving to improve his own fitness. Zach, always brimming with energy, saw it as an opportunity to spend time with his father and his brother-like figure.

Though Zach hadn't known how to swim at first, his initial attempts had been a source of endless amusement—his wild thrashing in the pool drew both laughter and concern. But Kai had taken it upon himself to teach the hyperactive ball of sunshine how to swim. Now, Zach's strokes were confident, his progress undeniable. Even Steven had noticed the change as Kai had caught glimpses of the two swimming on mornings that he didn't join them

On his "rest" days, Kai focused on light calisthenics and flexibility exercises to keep his body limber. But true to his nature, even those days weren't entirely idle. Every morning, without fail, he ran from 5:00 AM to 6:10 AM, his steady pace carving out a path through the serene streets of Windsor Square. At 9:00 AM, he joined Eliza for yoga, a calming routine that helped him reset both mentally and physically.

As Kai moved into his post-workout stretches, his thoughts wandered back to his mentor's challenge. The deadline loomed over him like a dark cloud, and his ideas to garner attention remained frustratingly vague. He needed a concrete plan, something bold enough to impress the musical maestro. Time was slipping away, and with it, his confidence.

While performing a wall stretch, something strange happened.

For a brief moment, his entire body felt weightless. Then, without warning, a sudden chill surged through him—a sensation so sharp and foreign it felt like a bolt of electricity had struck his core. It wasn't painful, but it left him momentarily stunned. As quickly as it arrived, the feeling vanished, leaving his body tingling in its wake.

Startled, Kai's arms gave out, and he landed on the mat with a soft oomph. Blinking rapidly, he shook his head and flexed his fingers. His muscles responded normally, but the memory of that fleeting sensation lingered.

"What the hell was that?" he muttered, rolling his shoulders and cautiously testing his limbs.

Before he could analyze further, a familiar sound broke the stillness.

DING!

+1 STR

[Quest completed!]

Kai froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. The notification floated before him like a shimmering hologram. A grin slowly crept across his face as the realization hit him.

Whatever had just happened, it was another step forward—another sign that he was on the right path.