'So, this must be the place,' Jake thought, looking up from his device. About the size of a warehouse, it was clear that the building had seen better days. Paint peeled away from the door, revealing aged, almost rotting, wood. Small cracks lined the brick walls, the wear of time and weather alike only barely covered up by paint. Even the air itself carried a type of weight to it, as if the area had been through a lifetime of experiences. Pocketing his device, he made his way into the building.

  Stepping through the door, he felt a sudden weight press down on his body. It was faint, more akin to a razor grazing against his skin. Pushing the feeling aside, he made his way around the gym. He came across various stations, a majority of them in the middle of use. As he glanced at each station, he watched as the people occupying, intent clear on their faces.

  'Place seems well-stocked,' he observed before turning his attention towards the center. A large boxing ring sat in the middle of the building, with smaller fight cages close by. While the cages had small crowds observing them, it was clear that the boxing ring was the main interest. A small crowd surrounded the arena, a mix of cheers and exclamations covered by the music. Stepping towards the crowd, he turned his attention to the fight at hand.

  Two people were going against each other, circling one another. The two of them traded blows, each one intent on getting an advantage over the other. As the two danced around each other, one of them seemed to have found a gap. Advancing forward, they ducked under a strike before countering with a strike.

  ‘Skilled, but nothing noteworthy,’ he thought, turning his attention away from the crowd. While it was clear that the two did have skill, it wasn’t anything he should think about. Just two more fighters who wanted to prove themselves.

  Scanning the surrounding crowd, he paused as his eyes landed on someone. Dressed in worn fatigues, the man had scars littered all over his body. He carried an air of authority, as if a captain rather than a coach. Making his way over to where the man stood, he felt the air around him shift. It became heavier, the feeling akin to stone pressing against him. Once he got close enough, he placed his hand on the man's shoulder, causing him to turn.

  "Excuse me, are you the head coach here?" Jake asked. At his question, the coach raised a brow, suspicion clear on his face.

  "Yeah, I am," the man answered, crossing his arms, “What seems to be the problem?”

  "I got recommended here by the owner of Pop and Tonic. Wanted to see if there was a membership," Jake stated, pulling the business card out of his pocket. Seeing the card, the coach's eyes widened with surprise.

  “Never thought someone so young would go under Remaking,” the coach muttered. Pocketing the card, the man motioned for him to follow before making his way out of the crowd. Following behind him, the two of them found themselves in front of an old door. Pulling out a key, the coach opened it, revealing a rather simple office. There was little decor, with only a few photos and posters hanging on the walls. Yet, as he scanned his surroundings, he saw something that caused him to pause. An old shield was hung up on one of the walls. Made of aged steel, various scars and dents covered it, each one a clear mark of experience.

  ‘A former Warden,’ Jake thought. It made sense, given the man's demeanor. He had seen people like him before. From long-time gangsters to veterans of wars both old and recent, both carried an edge in their gaze. Turning his gaze away from the shield, he saw the coach pulling a tablet out of his desk.

  “Take a read, if you want," the coach said as he handed the device over, “Tell me if you want anything changed.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Taking the tablet out of the coach’s hands, he began to scroll through the contract. It was a rather plain contract, each term stated with clear and concise wording. The price was rather cheap, and he would get basic training gear for joining. After he finished reading, he grabbed a pen from the coach's desk before signing. Handing it back to the coach, he watched the coach press a few things on the screen. When finished, a card printed out from the device. Taking out the card, the coach set it down onto the table. Opening a drawer, the coach rummaged through before bringing out a small bag.

  “Here’s your welcome gift,” the coach said as he placed the bag next to the card. Jake took the card and pocketed it before grabbing the bag. Opening it, he was met with a pair of gloves alongside a padlock and key. Pulling out the gloves, Jake slid them on before looking them over. A mixture of hardened leather and soft fabric, it was as if he were wearing close to nothing on them.

  "Thanks for the gear," Jake said before making his way out of the coach's office. Stepping out back into the main gym, he made his way over to an empty cage. Stepping up to the entrance of the cage, he saw a tablet next to the entrance.

  ‘Most likely allows me to change the difficulty,’ he thought, setting his bag next to the cage entrance. Looking over the device, he made the opponent around the capabilities of a Squire. Nothing extreme, but a good challenge regardless. Entering the cage, he watched as an android began to rise from the floor. The design was rather rudimentary, akin to a life sized toy robot.

  ‘Might as well grab its attention,’ he thought before bolting towards the machine. Slamming his fist into its rubber-like side, he hopped back as the bot turned and began to swing at him. Weaving under a punch, Jake launched a kick into its body, causing it to stumble back. Recovering its footing, the android rushed at him before unleashing a flurry of blows. Yet, they seemed...slower, somehow.

  Hopping back from a kick, Jake twisted his body before returning a kick of his own, launching it into the cage wall. Pressing forward, he launched a kick at the bot, only for it to roll out of the way. Regaining its footing, it rushed towards, intent on tackling him onto the floor. Evading the attempt, Jake shoved his foot into the android's side. As he watched the training dummy struggle to get up, he began to feel...off. It was as if something was crawling under his skin, gnawing into his flesh. Yet, it wasn't uncomfortable.

  Ducking under a swing, Jake grabbed the robot by its neck before tossing it aside. Watching the battered machine attempt to stand, he felt the gnawing sensation grow. It became more defined, dulling out the noise of the gym. Yet, it was different from what he was used to. It was as if, in that sensation, there was something hidden. Something that would call if he focused on it.

  As he did so, he felt the sensation twist and change. No longer was it like something was biting and crawling underneath his skin. Rather, it became warmer, akin to the feeling of a steel factory. The warmth began to grow, moving around in his body before resting in his arms. As it settled in his arms, he felt something in his mind click. A single word came to the front, cutting through his thoughts.

  Destroy.

  Bolting forward, Jake ducked under a swing before slamming his fist into the robot's head. The machine crumpled onto the floor, sparks coming from its remains. As it twitched and jerked, he felt the energy leave his body, a heaviness taking its place.

  'So, that's what a Skill feels like,' he thought, flexing his arm. He had never thought much about them, viewing their use as nothing more than a way to enhance the combat system. While not exactly one-to-one, it was clear that the uses they had were valuable.

  Stepping out of the cage, he grabbed his bag before slinging it over his shoulder. As he walked out of the gym, he thought back to the Skill Shard he acquired. While it was useful, a single skill wouldn't be much, especially what he'll have to face. Despite that, it was a clear start.

  ‘All that I need now is some gear. The starter equipment would be good. Though, I don't know where to find a place to get it. I should look around.'

  That would be a good start. Not only that, it would also help familiarize him with the city layout. This was a place that was never mentioned in the original game, so any prior knowledge is useless here. All he could do now is to investigate and build up his knowledge.

  Confirming his plan, Jake began to walk around, intent on exploring his new surroundings.