Chương 9: Could you do me a favor?

The next day, Luke woke up with a renewed sense of determination.

He had made a promise to his mother, and now it was time to act on it. The image of her face, lined with worry as she left for her early morning shift, lingered in his mind. He guessed she had barely slept last night.

After a quick breakfast, Luke grabbed his gym bag and headed out the door. He and his family lived in a rundown apartment in Houston, one of the 27 base cities that had survived the Great Disaster.

Houston, like all base cities, was divided into three sections: the Lower Area, the Middle Area, and the Upper Area. It came as no surprise that the Lower Area was home to those scraping by day after day.

Luke lived here with his mother and sister, doing what they could to survive.

As he walked through the streets, passing crumbling buildings and struggling businesses, he couldn't help but glance toward the towering structures in the distance that marked the Upper Area. It was like a different world—reserved for the rich and powerful, far removed from the harsh realities below.

After a short walk, Luke arrived at the local gym—a modest place catering to people from the Lower Area. It wasn't much, but it was all he could afford.

{Welcome to BoB Gym}

The gym's sign flickered slightly, barely hanging on. Luke stood at the entrance for a moment, taking in the familiar sight of worn-out equipment and a few early risers already starting their workouts.

The membership cost only $15 a month, just enough to fit into his tight budget. Of course, the gym owner gave him a discount because he knew Luke couldn't afford the full price.

There was no chance he could afford a gym in the Middle Area, let alone the elite facilities in the Upper Area. But that didn't discourage him. This was all he needed.

He stepped inside, found an open bench, and started his routine with a warm-up.

Always make sure to warm up your muscles properly before diving into any strenuous exercise.

If he were a 1-Star Warrior, he wouldn't need to bother with such a long warm-up, but as a normal human, it was essential.

The first few sets were manageable, but as he added more weight, the strain became noticeable. Today, he needed to complete the system's task, which meant pushing his limits.

"For the set to count, I need to hit 70 kilograms," Luke muttered to himself, matching the weight to his current strength level.

The task required him to complete each set with a total of 70 kilograms—no shortcuts. It would be a challenge, but he had no intention of backing down.

He adjusted the weights, inhaled deeply, and began his workout in earnest.

Each rep, each set, brought him closer to his goal. Sweat dripped from his brow as his muscles strained under the effort, but he kept going.

Two hours later, he finished the final set, his body aching but satisfied.

---

[Task: Path to Growth]

[Objective: Improve your physical strength and speed by engaging in rigorous physical training.]

Details:

- Bench Press: [10/10 sets]

- Squats: [10/10 sets]

- Sprint Intervals: [100/100 meters]

- Leg Press: [10/10 sets]

- Leg Curls: [10/10 sets]

---

He wiped the sweat from his face, feeling a wave of accomplishment wash over him.

"Six more days of this," he reminded himself, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Just six more days, and I can finally take that step."

Having finished today's task, he decided to return home to shower.

As he walked out of the gym, he heard someone calling him. He turned to see a familiar figure waving him over.

Luke smiled and approached the man—the gym owner, a Star Warrior in his late fifties who didn't look a day over his 40s.

Warriors could live longer than normal humans, their bodies preserved in peak condition. While they weren't immortal, they aged slower than average people.

From what Luke knew, a 9-Star Warrior could live up to 200 years, which, while short of the thousands of years in Wuxia novels, was still impressive.

Naturally, Luke also knew there was a realm beyond the 9-Star Warrior, a level known across the planet. Two Warriors who had fought the beast tide 25 years ago had surpassed that level, becoming like gods—able to control the weather and fly through the sky.

Luke still had a long journey before he could even dream of reaching such heights.

"So, how's your day going, little buddy?" Bob the owner asked with a smile.

"It's good; thanks for asking," Luke replied.

Bob chuckled, leaning against the counter with a casual grin. "Could you do me a favor?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of humor.

"Huh?" Luke raised an eyebrow, wiping the last bit of sweat from his forehead as he looked at him curiously. "What is it?"

"Well…" The man crossed his arms, looking as though he was searching for the right words.

"I have a son—a bit of a good-for-nothing, if you ask me, but he's trying to pull himself together after his divorce."

Luke listened, a bit confused, wondering where this was going.

"And, well, your mother—she seems like a lovely woman." The owner's gaze softened as he watched Luke's expression shift. "I know this might sound strange, but do you think she'd consider going on a date with him?"

Luke blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected proposal.

He wasn't sure whether to laugh or be annoyed. "You... want me to ask my mom out for your son?" he repeated, making sure he'd heard correctly.

"Exactly!" The owner's eyes twinkled with humor as he shrugged, unfazed. "Listen, kid. Your mom's one of the kindest people I've met. And she's a beautiful woman. My son could use a bit of that kindness in his life right now."

Luke gave him an amused, exasperated look, trying to wrap his head around the odd request.

"Your mother has been a widow for ten years now, and I know she's been hesitant to start dating again," the owner continued, his tone sincere. "I just think they'd be good for each other. And she could use some help."

He paused, glancing at Luke. "My son's now making around $1,500 a month, which could help with living expenses, especially in times like these."

Luke couldn't help but smile at the man's earnestness.

He scratched the back of his neck, trying to keep his expression neutral despite the awkwardness bubbling up.

The idea of his mom dating someone—especially a guy he barely knew—felt strange, but he didn't want to offend the gym owner. The man had been generous, letting him use the gym at a reduced rate when he couldn't afford it.

"Well," Luke started, keeping his tone light but firm, "my mom's pretty focused on work right now. She's not really looking for anything… new."

The gym owner chuckled, clearly undeterred. "Focused on work, huh? That's what everyone says when they don't want to talk about their love lives." He gave Luke a knowing wink. "She could use a little happiness outside of work, don't you think?"

Luke hesitated. He'd been working toward a future where he could take care of her, let her quit all those jobs, and finally live in comfort. The last thing he wanted was for her to rely on anyone else, especially someone he didn't know.

"Maybe," he replied carefully. "But honestly, I'd rather be the one to take care of her. She's already done so much for me and my sister. I don't want her to think she has to do everything alone forever, though."

The gym owner's eyes softened, a glint of respect in his gaze. "You're a good son, you know that?" He nodded approvingly. "But hey, the offer stands. My son could use a friend, if nothing else."

Luke offered a polite smile, relieved that the topic seemed to be closing. "I'll pass it along, then. And thanks for everything."

With a final nod, he slung his bag over his shoulder and headed out the door.

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