Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

"Wanna add more plates or do you wanna go for more reps?" Sebastian casually turned to Logan while flapping his arms around for blood to circulate in them.

Logan just laughed out loud, "Fuck it! Let's go five plates each!"

"Very well… I suggest wearing at least a belt though—"

"Belt?! Who fuckin' wears a—"

"I help run this estate on a daily basis, I can't get injured. I believe the two higher than you do too… but don't say I didn't warn you if you get a debilitating injury—"

Logan turned to everybody else, "He's trying to get into my head, right? He's trying to— Fuck it, where did I throw it…"

With that said, Logan was convinced to take a safer approach in regards to lifting because one injury with the weights they were trying to pull could potentially render him unable to perform basic tasks for months at the minimum.

He was taking a little bit longer to find his own personal belt but my attention was placed over Quinn who was teaching the girls about properly squatting. However, her teaching methodology was a little~ bit different but it seemed to get the point across somehow.

"Listen, a pretty face, a kind heart, or a bangin' body could be enough for some guys or girls out there but if you wanna take control of the bedroom, this is the way to go. Benching or simply working out will actually reduce your boob size—even if a few of us here are quite gifted—but this shit could grow your ass, your thighs, your calves, your hamstrings—basically your whole lower body in one go. It does work your upper body and core in some way but squats focus more on our legs, got it?"

Megan raised her hand, "We've only been doing bodyweight squats in the academy though, is that enough?"

Quinn shrugged her shoulders, "If you always go for as many reps as possible, sure, but if you wanna build muscle and strength instead of just endurance, you gotta add some weight to that, alright? Don't worry, I'll teach all of you how to get a fucking ass like mine. If you have one of these, they don't fuck you, you fuck them. It's that simple."

Nancy raised her hand, "I-I can't even lift t-ten kilos… that bar's over twenty, right?"

Quinn nodded, "Twenty point four to be precise but you gotta start somewhere. Why don't you show me a simple bodyweight squat first?"

"O-Okay…"

Surprisingly enough, Nancy had the ability to go ass to grass—basically squatting with her knees well over her toes and her glutes to her ankles—but what she needed right now wasn't tips on technique but more time spent on the gym and enough protein. Further along the line, she could start using dumbbells for goblet squats and once she could do that easily would be the time she'd progress over to the bar and eventually add some weight to it.

Quinn brilliantly explained what I just said to Nancy to the same extent but once she got to teaching Megan and Alexa the basics with Tatiana and Kaley, Logan came back wearing his lifting belt, wrist straps, and knee sleeves, and he also brought over some chalk for added grip.

My attention was once again brought over to that part of this garage gym and even Mauro who was busy benching four plates joined in with a huge smile on his face:

"Why don't we up the ante?"

"Hmm?/What do you suggest?" Logan and Sebastian answered at the same time.

"Loser has to— Wait a sec, where's— Oi! What are you doing over there?! Come here!" Mauro shouted as he waved me over.

At that point, I was ready to disappoint all of them by declining because even if I do have the tendency to show off, I'd only do so when it was a sure thing and if my well-being wouldn't be put at risk. However, my dumb disciples already dragged me over to the other three and there was just this crowd of supporters from my side and the De Leon Family's side.

The only one who didn't have direct supporters was Sebastian but he definitely earned some respect from being a stone-cold lifter.

But yeah, the bar in front of us still had four plates loaded on each side so Mauro easily took his turn first before he beckoned me to follow.

He chuckled as he looked at me, "Are you actually kidding me? Why are you so nervous?"

I instantly came clean, "The best I've done before is two plates. I need to work on that first before I can even try to attempt this."

As soon as I said that, Logan threw me a mocking glance while Mauro couldn't believe what I just said, but Sebastian took it upon himself to take two plates off one side of the bar as he asked me to do the same on the other end.

And as I did, Sebastian said loud enough for everyone to hear:

"The first rule in the gym is to leave your ego at the door. The lord was completely vulnerable and honest by saying that so he should be met with respect, not ridicule. I heard he beat both of you senseless so why don't we give him the benefit of the doubt."

The gym had never been so quiet after that but I threw him a glance and mouthed "Thank you" before I stepped an inch before the bar with two plates loaded on each side.

At this point, I let out a short exhale before I shut out everything around me.

I had my feet shoulder-width apart as I took another breath and braced my core—filling it up with air all around it, not just the front—before I hinged down and grabbed onto the bar using a hook grip.

It was done by performing something similar to an overhand grip but the difference was to wrap my index and middle finger right around my thumb.

With that said, I tugged on the bar a little bit to remove the slack and once I pulled on my shoulders and activated my lats, the whole thing just lifted up from the floor like it was nothing and it surprised me.

I had never been so nervous before I lifted the bar but it felt like I could do this for a lot of reps or add a plate or two.

But right before I lowered the bar, Sebastian gave me some sound advice:

"My lord, brace your core again, and instead of slamming it like a buffoon, perform the eccentric part of an RDL to essentially perform both lifts in one rep. Trust me."

Logan wasn't amused by that remark but I did as I was told, and as easy as pie, there was nary a sound when the plates touched the platform. However, as excited as I was, I let out a short exhale as I braced my core for the third time, performing another rep, and another, and another, and another, and another…

'This is starting to get fun…'

I didn't even think that such a thing was possible because one of the reasons I stopped deadlifting altogether was the noise it produced—and before anyone says anything, I fucking know that noise was part of the whole she-bang but what I'm trying to say was that it wasn't for me. Besides, I had lat pulldowns or simply pull-ups with me—which weren't as prone to injury—so deadlifts weren't that coveted to me even if it was one of the three big lifts.

And after ten repetitions of this custom deadlift Sebastian taught me, he and Mauro threw me an approving look while Logan just looked annoyed that they haven't moved on to five plates yet.

But Mauro instantly threw him a smack in the head.

"What was that for?!"

"Are you blind, you jealous fuck?"

"What?"

"That's perfect form in all ten reps and he just learned it like that *snaps fingers* you gotta give that some respect."

"Sure..."

"Thanks," I threw a nod at Mauro.

He just rolled his eyes as he replied, "Wanna go for four now or do you wanna do it slowly?"

I looked over to Sebastian whom I now designated my lifting coach, "What do you think, coach? I'm all ears."

Sebastian didn't know whether to laugh or cry or be proud of his new title, "U-Umm… Uh-huh… You lifted that pretty easily so why don't we try three plates each?"

"Sure—"

But he suddenly cut me off, "Wait a sec. Before that, do you always go conventional or can you also do sumo?"

Logan cut in, "Isn't sumo cheating?"

Mauro looked like he'd commit bloody murder from hearing that statement, "Say that one more time, and I'll end ya."

Sebastian chuckled, "It IS in some way though… Some people find it easier but with the way my body's formed, conventional works best for me. But how about you? Have you tried it yet?"