Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

To give a comparison, the Conventional VS Sumo debate was like the ever-long rivalry between ARs VS AKs, Katanas VS Longswords, Tits VS Ass, Graymane VS Battleborn, Blondes VS Brunettes, etc. The list could go on and on but at the end of the day, it was as Sebastian said earlier, it could be easier or harder depending on your body's composition, and in my case, I achieved my former PR using the sumo technique.

Yes, it was akin to a sumo wrestler's stance where his feet would be way~ spread apart than shoulder width but in regards to lifting, other than foot placement, the arms would be in-between the legs instead of outside, and different muscles would be used—or should I say, more focused on.

With that said, since I've currently achieved way~ more than my old PR using the conventional technique, I took it upon myself to add one more plate on each side of the bar now totaling 315 pounds(143 kilos).

However, much to the surprise of Sebastian and Mauro, I still used the conventional technique before doing another ten reps with perfect form. Because for some reason, I was polishing this "perfect" technique and form I had with more practice and repetitions and god fucking knows how far I'd reach without using my favored technique plus the external accessories.

I was as excited as my disciples who were also itching to lift themselves but they wouldn't let this opportunity to watch elites do their thing pass them by.

Though Logan started to look at me suspiciously as I loaded a plate on each side, now totaling 405 pounds(184 kilos) with the bar.

"This is starting to sound and look like you're hustlin' us…"

I chuckled as I shook my head, "You serious?"

"I'm just sayin' I've never seen anyone almost double their PR like that. Never. That's not even your one rep max…"

I shrugged my shoulders as I controlled my breathing, "I don't know what to tell you. You can ask Quinn or some of the people who saw me work out in her place and I've mostly done calisthenics."

He rolled his eyes, "I don't have time for that. Besides, if you're hustlin' us, you're just gonna tire yourself out…"

Sebastian interjected, "That is also true but it's also a way of getting a proper warmup…" then he turned to me, "You're breathing technique… It's… Different…"

Mauro tilted his head, "Hah? Don't he brace like normal? I don't understand…"

Sebastian shrugged his shoulders, "I don't understand either but yeah… it is different… somehow…"

I chuckled as I waved them off, "Hey. You have your secrets, I have my own— That reminds me, what are we betting anyway?"

Mauro then had a burst of energy, "SHIT! I almost forgot about that! So, you're joining?"

I chuckled again, "Fuck it, sure. I have a vast collection of old-world shit like games, movies, music, porn— and if that's not enough, I have a catalog that I've shown Mauro and Elsa at their wedding that contains vehicles, melee weapons, guns, etc. that you could pick an item out of. You won't be able to get it now but what you is what you get… And for you gearheads, you probably have dream rides too so I'll offer the same shit I gave Jesus, custom body kits you could print in your own home…"

"..."

"..."

"..."

As soon as I gave my offer, I thought it'd be a heated exchange of sorts but I was met with dead silence as the three of them were staring at me.

"Guys?"

Mauro was the first one to react, "Jeez, I thought a free punch or a slap on the face would suffice but you're going all out here. Lemme think for a bit…"

Logan followed, "Will you give me one night with Quinn—"

I quickly shut that down, "No. And I'm not the one to ask but you're lucky they're all busy over there or you'd be out the competition."

"I was just askin'..."

Then Sebastian answered, "I don't actually have much to offer since I can only move a certain distance outside the estate but anything I can do in my domain—as long as you beat me, I'll do it with the best of my ability…"

"Alright then, how about we all reduce it to just a favor from the three who got beat?"

"Bet!"

"Bet!"

"Bet…"

To just get it out of the way and to start conserving my strength, I pulled what was on the platform with my full concentration, and even though it was just for one rep and I didn't need to do the eccentric part of the RDL where I'd have to lower it as slow as five seconds or so, I still did it to set a standard because I'm not actually trying to win this between us but to win against myself several times over.

'Sometimes, it's not about the weight pulled but how well was the lift performed…'

And to my delight, I glanced momentarily at the squat rack where Quinn who was supposed to be joining us in this lifting meet, had already put on the shoes I threw over to her and she just rolled my eyes—prompting Kaley and Tatiana to chuckle—when we made eye contact.

With that said, the bar was eventually loaded with one more plate on each side, totaling 495 pounds(225 kilos) including the bar—and now, our setup was that Logan goes first, followed by Sebastian, then Mauro, and finally me.

But as expected of Logan, he ripped that shit up like it was nothing—with the help of his belt and other accessories obviously—though he still slammed the weights on the platform to make that loud clanging sound of metal.

After that, Logan just pulled on the lever on his belt to release it before shouting at the top of his lungs, adding to the noise he produced earlier.

That was obviously jarring to me, Sebastian, and everyone else who was new to this scene, but it is what it is.

And as loud as he was, Sebastian was still as quiet as he possibly could when he took his turn and I was watching his every movement from chalking up his fingers to releasing his lever buckle. I didn't even think that you could have the word "elegant" work in conjunction with powerlifting but this hellish butler was doing exactly that.

However, when it came to Mauro's turn, the guy pulled that shit without so much as a dab of chalk on his fingers, much less a belt or his shoes because like what he was probably doing to Elsa every night, the motherfucker was going at it raw.

Granted there was already chalk on the bar making it not as raw as I said, the shit's still impressive to me and everyone else watching the show.

But yeah, he did make a bit of noise when he slammed the bar down but instead of shouting like Logan did, he just huffed out a long and drawn-out exhale before beckoning me to follow after him.

"No excuses now."

"Heh. I already doubled my PR, beating all of you here is just icing on the cake…"

"Hmph. Say shit when you make me put everything on—"

Logan cut in, "I've never seen you in full gear. Even in those meets—"

"S-SHUT UP! IT'S A METAPHOR!"

"Oh… My bad…"

"Heh…"

In any case, ten plates total was a serious fucking jump from four plates total, but I've already cleared eight plates total and found it fairly challenging so I'm not saying that this would be a breeze but if I ripped this shit as clean as I could, that would just be five pounds shy of lifting 500 pounds(227 kilos) total.

But yeah, I was now wearing all the bells and whistles plus some chalk, and once I braced my core and felt my belt pushing against me, I hinged down and grabbed the bar with my hookers before ripping it up by pushing my pits to my pockets and pressing the ground below me with my feet.

Barely a second had passed when I found myself locking it cleanly in place so I quickly focused and braced myself for the second time before I lowered the bar in this time, around four seconds.

"Whew~"

After that, I unhooked my belt and grinned at my competitors but everyone in this garage gym couldn't believe their eyes. It might be because I'm breaking expectations by lowering the hypothetical bar on myself before it even started but even I was losing my head about the whole situation.

But yeah, I already assumed that Logan would be bringing out two more plates to place on each end of the bar we were using but we actually brought out 2.5-pound(1.14 kilo) plates that confused everyone.

Though the ones in the know just nodded in approval.

In any case, he threw me the other one and we both placed it in the bar before he offered a fistbump.

"Lift this— no, welcome to the five-hundred-pound club in advance. You deserve it, dude."