Absolute Craft-Chapter 104: Before The Storm (4)

Chapter 104: Before The Storm (4)

Blake and Joel stood at what felt like the entrance to a whole new world.

Rows of training equipment gave the space a strict, almost military-like atmosphere, but the massive glass windows revealed the real purpose behind it all—pure exercise in its most genuine form. Inside, people of all ages were busy working on their bodies or simply staying healthy.

A pair of friends like Blake and Joel seemed out of place here. One appeared malnourished and so pale he could be mistaken for a vampire, while the other spun his head around like a confused chicken, overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar sights.

Yet Blake stayed calm. He had experience playing various sports with his former guildmates in real life, so he already knew his way around most gym equipment. Under normal circumstances, he’d feel right at home—though this time, he suspected he’d struggle more than usual.

Joel, on the other hand, was "chicken-like" for a different reason—he was too busy gawking at the "jiggling physics" of the women working out. The mere sight of them crouching was enough to set his mind racing, especially now that he was finally considering getting a girlfriend.

"We need to find out how much a membership costs, big bro..." Joel muttered.

Blake gave him a quick glance and replied, "Yeah, it looks like the facilities here are top-notch, and everyone seems supportive. I’m not getting any bad vibes."

"We’re not on a battlefield, big bro..." Joel said with a wry grin. Then his eyes narrowed. "Or maybe we are..."

What Blake hadn’t noticed was that plenty of men here were trying to impress the women. To him, they just looked like enthusiastic gym-goers showing off workout techniques, but Joel—driven by jealousy—knew exactly what was going on: those guys were seeking attention.

And Joel wanted attention too.

"Let’s change into our workout gear and warm up!" Joel declared, sounding pumped. "After that, we’ll show everyone how it’s done!"

"Didn’t we come here to play games? That’s an easier form of exercise, if you ask me," Blake pointed out, trying to calm Joel, who realized he might be getting ahead of himself.

Still, Joel wasn’t exactly thinking things through.

"Yeah... so we’ll warm up, play some games to build muscle, and then tomorrow we’ll tackle the gym equipment and show ’em how it’s done!"

Blake shot him a strange look but followed him to one of the halls. Here, people could play volleyball and just have fun. Most were adults who already knew each other, yet they welcomed Blake and Joel warmly.

"Oh, we have even more newcomers!" exclaimed one man, noticing a woman in her early twenties and a man in his late twenties step inside.

Strangely, the man wore a mask covering half his face.

"If you’re sick, you really shouldn’t be here," said the first man, eyeing him curiously.

The masked man, Wolfang, shook his head. "I’ve just got some embarrassing acne, you know..."

"Haha! No worries," the other replied.

Like everyone else, his attention quickly shifted to the woman standing beside Wolfang. She had black hair tied into a long ponytail and striking purple eyes. She wore a black bodysuit that perfectly highlighted her curves. Though she was short and slender, there was a noticeable allure about her that even married men couldn’t help but admire briefly before focusing on her face.

Joel, meanwhile, looked as though he’d been bewitched. "She’s so cute, and... wow. I’d better face the other way when we stretch. We’re literally in the same room, about to warm up together... Big bro, cover for me! I’ve got Lily Left!"

"...cover for what?" Blake asked.

"Don’t tell me you’re not excited! She’s around our age, totally hot, and she’s new too—like fate, right? Probably more for you than me!" Joel rattled on as they began jogging to warm up.

Blake cast another glance at the woman and sighed. "That’s all you see? I’m not that shallow. Personality matters first, plus whether she can keep up with me."

"...whoa! That’s deep!" Joel teased.

"Besides, we’re too broke for a relationship, aren’t we?" Blake said.

Joel just laughed. "We only need to find down-to-earth girlfriends, that’s all! And Lily Left has gotta be that type!"

’Why does he keep using that nickname?’ Blake wondered, jogging around a small section of the gym. Behind them, Kyria and Wolfang moved at an even pace.

As promised, Kyria came along to the sports park, though she hadn’t specified how she would join them. That left Wolfang dragged into the whole thing—even forced to wear a mask.

Joel spoke up, "It’s kinda weird to wear a mask here, man. Nobody’s gonna judge your face."

’Your friend wears all sorts of masks in the game, Joel...’ Wolfang thought to himself, managing only a wry smile outwardly.

When they finished warming up, Blake, Joel, Kyria, and Wolfang claimed a corner of the large hall for volleyball. One of the regulars joined their team, making it a three-on-three match.

An older woman teamed up with Blake and Joel, much to Joel’s delight. He listened to her instructions with puppy-like enthusiasm, nodding along as she explained volleyball rules and common strategies.

An older man joined Kyria and Wolfang, resulting in both teams having one woman and two men—a fair setup.

Finally, the game began.

Blake and Joel stood near the net, facing Kyria and Wolfang. Blake locked eyes with Kyria’s purple gaze through the net and felt a jolt of competition. Her face was nearly expressionless, almost like a poker face, yet he could tell she wanted to dominate him—at least in volleyball.

Behind Blake and Joel, their teammate served. It was a straightforward serve that sailed neatly over the net. The receiver on the other side bumped it high, sending it over everyone’s heads. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Wolfang set the ball for Kyria, who leaped up for a spike. Joel froze in admiration of the "real-life physics," but Blake reacted immediately. The moment she jumped, he timed his own leap near the net and blocked her spike with precision. The ball ricocheted back over the net, bounced on the opposing side, and scored the first point for Blake’s team.

Blake landed and stared right into her eyes. "You picked the wrong opponent. Now I have no choice but to smash you."

"...we’ll see," Kyria replied softly before turning away.

Her teammates looked impressed by Blake’s reflexes. Despite his scrawny appearance, he’d positioned himself flawlessly and generated enough power to challenge Kyria’s spike. Though his breathing had quickened, he still looked ready for more.

Wolfang realized that Blake was clearly a natural at this, and the other man on Kyria’s team started wondering how to handle this pale, but surprisingly skilled newcomer. Blake was no volleyball novice.

Meanwhile, Joel blinked, finally grasping the situation. The hormones fueling his earlier gawking faded, replaced by genuine excitement for his big bro. The older woman on their team praised Blake’s knack for volleyball, and he acknowledged her with a nod before straightening up to continue.

On the next serve, the opposing team targeted Joel. He received the ball awkwardly, sending it off at a bad angle. Their older teammate, however, rushed in and dove to keep it in play—rolling like a true hero. Her quick save launched the ball into the perfect spot for Blake’s spike. His dark eyes gleamed as he took a few steps back—something Kyria hadn’t done earlier.

That one calculated move made Kyria’s older teammate grimace, expecting a spike even fiercer than the last.

Blake dashed forward, jumped, and fixed his gaze on Kyria’s poised hands. The moment he struck the ball, it rocketed toward her. She didn’t need to move, but the sheer force of his spike forced her to bend her knees and hunch down, absorbing the impact.

Not only that, but Blake’s aim took advantage of her stance, increasing the strain on her arms. Kyria’s wrists reddened from the blow. Nonetheless, her teammate managed to keep the rally going.

As play continued, Blake and Kyria once again locked eyes in a tense stare.

’He’s really focused on taking me out... It’s exactly how he plays in Ashen World Online,’ Kyria thought, feeling a rare spark of excitement. She seldom experienced this level of adrenaline in the real world, and she secretly welcomed it.

Blake smirked and adjusted his position. "Told you," he said under his breath.

He might be physically weaker in real life, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t excel at a sport he’d practiced so much during his time with Cerberus.

The game continued.

Once again, Blake and Kyria found themselves face-to-face at the net, in the same situation as their first clash. Kyria prepared to unleash a powerful spike to score a point—yet just as Blake jumped to block, she lightly tapped the ball. It barely cleared the net before landing on the floor.

She scored a point with a perfectly executed feint.

Familiar with such tactics, Kyria sneered, looking both mischievous and captivating. "So, you didn’t see that coming... or did you underestimate me?"

Blake chuckled. "You caught me off guard."

Kyria’s smile deepened in response.