Body Cultivation Hurts - Chapter 22

The Training Center was a large expansive building closer to the center of the Staging Facility than the ring of merchant shops. Nathan arrived with Kyle early and rented the space six hours early. For basic rent, it would cost him 12,000 points a day. That didn’t include the extra equipment, pills, food, and toiletries. Pillows and blankets would also be provided, but rest would be rare and hard to come by. He’d even contacted Googee and she would send an attendant to set up shop for any extras.

Kyle hadn’t exactly been happy about his time in the natural sauna of the hot springs, but it had done its job. He’d little to worry about since Nathan was there to fight off any creatures or intervene if he succumbed to sunstroke. Neither had been a problem.

There was another issue. Nathan may have purposely hidden the celebs that would attend their training camp from his friend just to see his many reactions.

The other members of his gym were the first ones to arrive—by request. To his surprise, the not-so-short anymore Latina who had what Kyle called city-sass, ran up to Nathan as soon as she’d seen him and through her arms around his waist.

“Katrina?”

The look she gave him as she eyed him held a severe edge he’d never seen from her. “You ah’ight, white boy?”

Nathan snickered before flexing his biceps and narrowing his eyes.

Her perpetual smirk returned. Pulling away, she swayed back and forth like she wanted to say more, but then the rest of the crew caught up. Sam was a tall redhead who was deceptively light. Juan was shorter than Katrina even now, but he was built like a wrestler even if he imagined himself as a Mexican boxing prodigy. The reality couldn’t be denied. In the realm of boxing, he sucked. His grappling was another story though.

Justin was the big guy of the group. He’d been 270 lbs. before initiation and held fat even when in shape. He just had one of those body types that held onto weight. Initiation had changed all that. Now he stood seven and a half feet tall without any extra fat. His black hair was long enough it would’ve just recently started getting into his eyes and he had a long German nose.

Rich was at his side, as always, and no longer the blond-headed surfer guy that had been built like a twig. Now he was a thickly muscled surfer guy—not that he’d ever tried surfing.

Urick was the last guy in the group. He was medium height with a medium build but a wide wingspan which made his striking deceptive. He’d had cornrows before initiation, but it looked like he had cut it short.

They were all a little bit quieter than normal, but also shared a bit of Katrina’s edge they hadn’t had before. It was Jess, one of the best female athletes I’d ever met, and happened to be beautiful in a hometown tomboy type of way. Her dirty blond hair was back in a ponytail. Nathan had even asked her out once upon a time. It was a year before initiation and more than eleven years if his first life was taken into consideration. She’d rejected him outright. He hadn’t thought much about her for years. This must be what a school reunion felt like.

Now, she stood behind everyone and had trouble looking him in the eye.

Everyone piled in, greeting each other with overly hard smacks to the shoulder. He responded in kind but could tell something was bothering Jess. Ten years ago he would’ve ignored what he noticed only to over analyze it later. That version of him had died sometime in the past. Too much had happened for him to even know when.

“Jess,” he said, walking through the group and facing her. “I can tell something’s wrong. What’s up?”

She met his eyes, but it seemed like a struggle. It took her a moment until she blurted it out. “You killed those guys.”

Nathan held her gaze. She had seen his highlight video. That meant they all had. “They would’ve killed countless people if I didn’t. And they tried to kill me.”

“You tanked bullets, you idiot. After watching, I don’t even recognize you.”

His eyes fell, but it didn’t discourage him. He’d seen too much to be bothered. Having her think less of him didn’t feel good, however. “I made a choice to do what needs to be done, because if I don’t, who will?”

“Don’t go broody on me, dork,” she said halfheartedly, but learned forward without getting too close and said, “You did good.”

When his gaze flitted up, he gave her a tentative squint.

She gave him an exasperated shake of her head when cracked a grin.

“Dork,” she said, smacking him on the shoulder. She was never as rough as the guys, but she definitely participated in their ritual.

Walking through the group, he rejoined Kyle who wouldn’t meet him in the eye and was palming the back of his head. “I didn’t want to be the one to say anything, but, uh, that was pretty out there, man. And on the first day. Not sure I have the guts to grapple with you after that.”

“You know,” Nathan replied. Then under his breath where only Kyle could hear. “I knew they were going to be there. How many would they have killed. There was no choice.”

His friend smacked him on the shoulder extra hard as if to say, I trust you. Then he grabbed his arm and shook him to make sure he got his point across.

Spinning to face the group, Nathan began. “Thanks for coming. I’ll explain more once we’re inside. I need your help setting up, and also—I need you guys to back me for the next month during ourt training camp. We’re going to have more people than I though.”

“How many?” Katrina asked.

“Final count,” he said, scanning their faces to make sure he had their attention. “Nine hundred and forty-two.”

And everyone blurted out their objections at once.

***

Despite the work they did in the stadium size time dilation chamber, they were at the most pretending to be tired. Not all of the group had reached large success, nor were they even all cultivators, but it didn’t matter. Everyone would benefit from this type of training at this stage in the game.

Watching their reactions as the early arrivals started to show was priceless. Keeping it a secret had been the right choice.

The Franco brothers were the first to arrive. Even though most of us had met them in the past, they were still MMA royalty. They hadn’t come alone either. They’d brought family and half of their gym.

It went as Nathan thought it would go. His friends respectfully swarmed them. He stayed back to let things play out until they’d all got in a word or two before he approached. When he did, he took in the two Brazilians that had moved to the states decades ago to open their gym. Both had rough stubble over strong jaws. Their eyes were the kind that could see right through you, dissecting exactly what they needed to gain physical superiority over you. It didn’t come from a place of arrogance. Such was their experience. It had become a part of who they were.

They’d both been in their fifties when the initiation started, so their children were grown. Their kids had young children of their own who wouldn’t enter the tower until the people of Earth had defeated the first floor.

He didn’t make small talk, but shook each of their hands and said, “Thank you for coming.”

When they saw him, there was a respect there he didn’t expect, nor did he think he had earned. Not yet. But then again, he hadn’t expected Jess’s reaction, or Katrina’s for that matter. Maybe he should’ve left a few things out of his videos. If it got them to take him seriously, however, it was worth it.

“Justin. Jess. Can you two show them around and help them get sorted? There are still a few hours, but I have a feeling we’re going to get busy very soon.”

“Got it boss,” his near half-giant friend said followed by the charming, eye-rolling woman next to him. He was usually to the point, and she was personable, so they should work good together.

He was more right about people starting to arrive than he’d thought. The next guy was an All-American college linebacker who had gotten in trouble for putting the hurt on an entire group of guys who had harassed his girlfriend in a bar. She arrived with him.

She was a homely looking redhead that was pretty, but a little too skinny to be beautiful. She hadn’t chosen a path that would change that, though she did have a stronger build than before. He on the other hand was a clean-cut black guy with the looks, build, and athleticism to get just about anything he wanted in life.

Nathan had known the man personally in his first life. He was one of the good ones. Katrina and Sam paired up to greet them before he could say anything. She had a mouth on her, but what could he do? He needed the help. Her willingness couldn’t be denied either.

Next, not just one but four MMA pros showed up together. Rich and Urick jogged over to them.

They had to split a moment later, as two more groups ported in. Kyle smacked me on the shoulder as he left my side and went to better direct our group. Rich was the oldest among them at thirty-two, but he also liked to talk so he needed reigning in.

Nathan made sure to thank every newcomer for coming as they arrived. He didn’t realize how good it would be to see these people again until they were standing there as if his first life had just been a dream.

The more that came, the more nostalgic he felt—and dreary. If he just left things the way they were, things were destined to repeat themselves. That’s why he had uploaded the videos. It’s why he’d invited so many old faces. Things couldn’t remain the same.

A blond woman arrived wearing shades with two guys and a smaller lady in a business dress.

He almost chuckled seeing her trying to use pre-initiation tactics to remain anonymous. It only made them stand out even more. The reason for the getup? She was a popstar, but also an ex-Olympic gymnast. The kind of person that had far too much talent for any one person. She’d advance to become humanities preeminent sound cultivator.

Kyle was amongst the best in his group at meeting famous people, but everyone had their weak points.

Nathan hurried over, almost nudging his friend out of the way as he greeted them. He realized as she took his hand that he didn’t remember her stage name, so he just used her real one. “Vanessa Montgomery, thank you for coming. I hope you’re up for a challenge.”

Removing her glasses, she narrowed her eyes and grinned. “When do we get started?”

He let out a laugh. “This here is Kyle,” he said, stepping to the side to reveal his friend standing there starstruck. “He’ll give you a quick tour, show you where you can put your stuff, and get changed.”

“Ms. Jennings will be joining us as well, right?” He said, looking to the woman in a suit-dress.

“I—uh.”

“Of course, she will,” Vanessa said, grabbing the woman’s hand.

He smiled widely, then shook the hands of both of her bodyguards. “Good. I’ll see you all out there.”

All things considered, their exchange went well. Even if he had to insist, he wanted everyone to participate. Everyone. They might not be up to sparing or certain stops on the circuit he designed, but he couldn’t let the less competitive family and friends of the people he invited be a drag on the vibe he intended to create. It didn’t have to be perfect. It had to be more than perfect.

Not all of the people he invited were celebrities, nor did all of them become rankers. A few of them were just people he’d known and had never unlocked their full potential. Some of them lost people, which sent them into a downward spiral. Others had died too early.

He shook the hand of a man who wasn’t even sure why he’d been invited, but Nathan was acted happy to see him all the same. He’d been a member of the first party Nathan had joined after initiation in his first life. A man who had been ambushed and murdered by the gangs Nathan already taken care of. With him was the family friend that was ex-military and had helped Nathan hunt the man’s murderers down.

The biggest stir in the crowd yet came when the retired, uncontested Welterweight Champion of the world arrived. Even with the rivalry between boxers and mixed martial artists, those that reached the top in their sport garnered respect. Many of the MMA pros as well as the Franco brothers approached the man and his entourage of fellow boxers and family.

That was just the beginning. Over the next couple hours, one celebrity athlete after another arrived. Most of them brought several people with them. There were even some pros that showed up by invitation of others Nathan hadn’t expected. Their presence was only a positive.

Most of those invited were fighters in one discipline or another, but that wasn’t all. There were a few college and pro team athletes, gymnasts, track stars, and more than a dozen soldiers. He was especially sure to greet anyone that arrived alone. Not all of them were famous. It took courage just to show up since they didn’t know him in this life.

With about an hour to go before things got started, the Takao Clan arrived. When they committed to something, they went all the way. It wasn’t just the group he’d seen in the icy cavern that came. This time there were more than thirty of them.

He watched their patriarch Jun Takao take in the room and the quality of the competitors present. The man’s eyes brightened before he nodded to himself.

Nathan bowed and said, “Senior Takao.”

The entire Takao Clan showed him respect in return, which was rather attention grabbing. All thirty of them wore kendo garb or traditional Karate Gi’s. Even amongst the greater population of the tower they might’ve stood out, but here there were many wearing Jiu Jitsu Gi’s or Muay Thai shorts, including more than half of the people from Nathan’s own gym. He was personally wearing Thai shorts, a sleeveless shirt, and going barefoot. As long as they were ready to work, that’s all that mattered.

There was another reason few would voice their opinion even if they weren’t familiar with this family from a more traditional martial arts background. Every one of them had a katana and shorter blade strapped to their belt. They were also carrying at least two wooden practice swords a piece. He’d requested they bring extra if they had them. He hadn’t expected this.

“Little Brother Kane,” Jun said with a meaningful glance at their surroundings. “You’ve done well.”

“Thank you, senior.”

Before he could begin their tour, another group ported in. Ma Mencius arrived wearing a sharp Kung Fu uniform with two women who looked very similar. From the way they stood at his sides, they were his wife and daughter?

An instant later, another Chinaman appeared next to them with a small group of well-built men wearing more general MMA clothing. Nathan knew this guy as well but had never met him in person. Zhu Guo was a Chinese MMA fighter who had gotten in trouble for challenging traditional Kung Fu practitioners and embarrassing them in the process. Seeing Guo and Mencius’s reaction to seeing each other, it was obvious they weren’t surprised to see each other here.

It made sense they knew each other. Mencius was probably one of the few guys in the traditional camp that could hold his own in the ring. Knowing Ma Mencius’s reputation, he’d be surprised if they hadn’t trained together in the past.

Guo then beat Nathan to giving Mencius a martial salute. The other men with him followed. There was too much respect there for them not to have seen the old man in action. Not that any of these once older men could be consider elderly. Any advantage youth had over them had disappeared with the initiation. No one looked older than their mid-thirties.

“Little Brother Guo.,” Ma said cheerfully. “Good of you make it.”

“I wouldn’t miss a chance to go another round with you.”

He hooted. “Then let’s make it two.”

The younger man rolled his hand into a fist as if he’d like nothing more.

“Senior Ma,” Nathan said, saluting him before turning to the younger fighter and adding, “Brother Zhu Guo. Thank you all for coming.”

“Little Brother Kane,” Ma approached with a grin. “Some event you have here.”

“Thank you. We should be getting started soon. Let me—”

“Allow me,” a man said from the crowd.

Silvester Hitchens, former UFC Middleweight Champ, appeared with a big grin from the crowd. He was a black guy with a lengthy build and had taken the leg kicking game to the next level, revolutionizing the sport recently.

“I’ve already been given the tour,” he said reaching out and shaking Ma’s hand while giving him a rather graceful yet uncertain bow. Sometimes personality ascended technicalities in the politeness game, and Silvester had it in spades. “Ma and I have met before. Do you mind if I do the honor?”

Seeing as he was asking the both of us, and that Ma was happy to see him, Nathan replied, “You’d be doing me a favor.”

“Beautiful. And don’t think I didn’t see you back there, Brother Guo.” He gave the younger fighter an enthusiastic bro-hug, and Guo didn’t hesitate to return it.

“Come youngster,” Ma addressed him. “You must meet Brother Jun. His Takao family have a thing or two to teach us about fighting with something other than our fists and stiff necks.”

Silvester’s chuckle carried above the crowd. He even looked back at Guo’s gym mates and waved them to follow. The man’s personality Nathan hadn’t forgotten. The lightheartedness had already been stripped from the guy when he’d gotten to know him. Still, the strength of the man’s personality had led thousands into battle. He imagined the man’s fierceness was waiting below the surface, but it was possible it was just a seed that had yet to blossom.

There was a second Japanese clan Jun Takao had invited, though they didn’t have the same status before initiation. They would soon follow Jun’s lead and join the rankers.

When it was time to finally get started, there were two hundred additional people he hadn’t planned for. Knowing how many recovery and nutrition pills they’d be going through, this would drain him dry of any leftover points, but he didn’t mind. There was something to be said for having the dedication to train alone, but creating the right environment for elite competitors to feed off one another and push themselves further was something else entirely. The air was already filled with an energetic hum. The excitement was palpable. He just had to direct it.

With the people from his home gym at his side, he said, “Let’s gather everyone around.”

He didn’t have a stage or anything official looking to stand on, so he chose to stand at the outer edge of the sole boxing ring he’d had installed by the system. There would be plenty of sparing going on out of the ring in the matted areas, but its presence alone would give the most competitive amongst them a stage. If the point was to push these people to the brink and past it, then the extra cost was a small investment to make. It was much cheaper than an octagon for cage fighting.

Nathan had never been fond of crowds, but he knew something they didn’t as the hundreds of them slowly gathered around. He didn’t have a choice. Even if he wasn’t fond of public speaking, he knew very well how to enhance his voice with qi.

“Hello. Once everyone has gathered, we’ll get started.” The sheer volume of his voice got everyone’s attention. It was only a few minutes before the stragglers had joined them. Looking through the crowd, he saw many faces he knew.

“Welcome. Thank you all for coming.” After a hush fell on the crowd, he continued. “My name is Nathanial Kane. I invited you here to participate in a training camp under 10x time dilation that will last thirty days here, while only three days will pass in the tower. That’s why we’re here, but many of you don’t know why I invited you specifically. There are many famous celebrities and elite athletes amongst the crowd, so obviously I want to put on the best training camp possible, but not all of you have status. For some of us, there’s nothing about us that’s outwardly outstanding.

He began to pace, his voice was energized by qi and somber. As he did, his eyes scanned the crowd with an odd tension. “A week ago, I was an amateur mixed martial artist who had just graduated from high school. I didn’t even get into fighting until my early teens when faced with bullying. My father wouldn’t let me take the easy way out. We strapped on some gloves and went at it. A few days later he introduced me to a gym, our gym,” he added, motioning toward Kyle and the crew. “And I haven’t been able to leave ever since.”

There were several encouraging remarks from the crowd. His experience wasn’t a unique one.

“But that doesn’t explain how a nineteen-year-old kid put this gathering together, or why you’re willing to answer my call to attend. Many of you have seen my videos. Other read the names of the people attending. But you’re not here to appease a young man’s dream of meeting his heroes. You’re here because you think I’ve discovered some secrets to training, and that I’m willing to share. That is true, but that’s only the beginning. So why should you listen to me?”

Turning sideways, he motioned to the wall behind him.