Valor led him through another corridor, this one lined with racks of equipment set in organized rows. The space opened into a training hall built for strength work, the floor reinforced, the air carrying the faint metallic scent of repeated use. Bars rested on supports at different heights, weighted plates stacked neatly along the walls. A few trainees were already present, moving through their routines with measured control.
He stopped near an open station and gestured toward it. "This is where we test your strength," he said. His eyes moved over Evan once, assessing the fatigue that had built across the earlier tests. "Controlled lifts first. Then holds."
Valor stepped to the rack and adjusted the bar to a height just below Evan's shoulders. He slid a pair of weighted plates onto either side, the metal settling into place with a muted, solid sound. Not heavy at a glance, yet enough to demand control. He stepped back and gestured once. "Lift. Keep your form steady."
Evan moved into position, stepping under the bar and placing it across his upper back. The weight settled onto him, firm and immediate. He tightened his grip, feet adjusting slightly until they felt stable beneath him. A breath in. He lowered himself, knees bending, hips shifting back in the way he remembered from the few training sessions he'd put in back on Earth. The descent slowed halfway as his legs resisted, then continued under control. At the bottom, the strain pressed through his thighs and into his core. He pushed upward, the bar rising with him, his movement steady though effort showed in the tightening of his shoulders. He reached the top and held it there for a second before taking another breath and beginning the next repetition.
The second repetition came with more effort. His descent slowed earlier, the weight pressing into his legs as he lowered himself under control. At the bottom, his stance held for a brief moment before he drove upward again, the bar rising with a slight tremor through his arms and shoulders. His breathing grew heavier, each repetition demanding more focus to keep his posture aligned. On the third, his knees shifted forward a fraction too much, and the bar tilted slightly before he corrected it and pushed through to the top.
Valor stepped closer, his hand hovering near the bar without touching it. "Hold," he said. Evan stayed at the top position, legs locked, core tight, the weight pressing down steadily. The seconds stretched. The strain deepened in his thighs, his shoulders tightening under the load as he worked to keep the bar stable. His breathing came slower now, controlled but heavy, as he maintained the position without letting it drop.
Valor watched the hold for a few seconds longer, then gave a short nod. "Rack."
Evan stepped forward and guided the bar back onto the supports, easing it down until the weight settled with a solid, grounded sound. He released his grip and stepped back, his legs carrying a deep, steady fatigue now. By his estimate, the load had been close to one hundred eighty pounds, heavier than anything he had worked with before. He had managed two full repetitions and held the top position briefly on the second, his body holding together better than he had expected. The effort lingered through his thighs and lower back, the strain spreading upward into his shoulders. It left him with a quiet awareness of the difference, something in his body responding more cleanly than it should have at this stage, likely tied to his advancement. He drew in a slow breath, then another, letting his body adjust before straightening fully. The thought lingered for a moment, what that same effort would feel like after proper stat allocation and training, before he set it aside and readied himself for the next instruction.
Valor moved to the next station and set a weighted bar across two low supports at knee height. He tested the balance with a light press, then stepped aside. "Deadlift," he said. "From the floor. Keep your back straight. Drive through your legs."
Evan stepped forward and positioned his feet under the bar, bending at the hips and knees to reach it. His hands closed around the metal, grip tightening as he set his stance. He drew a breath and pulled, the weight resisting at first before lifting steadily from the ground. The motion engaged his entire body at once, legs pushing, back holding firm as the bar rose to his waist. He stood upright with it for a brief moment, the strain settling into his arms and core, then lowered it back down under control, placing it onto the supports before beginning the next repetition.
The next pull demanded more from him. He reset his grip and drove through his legs, the bar rising slower this time, the weight pressing into his hands as his forearms tightened to hold it steady. His back held firm, though the effort showed in the way his shoulders engaged to keep the line straight. At the top, he paused for a brief moment before lowering it again, guiding it down with care so it did not drop.
Valor stepped in closer, his eyes tracking the movement. "Closer to your legs," he said, tapping lightly near Evan's shin. "Keep it tight. Less strain that way."
Evan adjusted on the next repetition, bringing the bar closer as he lifted. The change altered the movement immediately, the weight traveling in a straighter line. The pull felt more controlled, though the effort remained, settling deeper into his legs and back as he completed the lift and lowered it again.
Valor let him complete another repetition, then raised a hand. "Set it down."