Satisfied, he moved on, heading toward the next door on his list. As he opened it, he found himself in the mansion’s cinema room.
It was a movie lover’s dream—an enormous screen dominated one wall, with the latest high-definition projector suspended from the ceiling.
The room was equipped with plush, reclining seats that could fit about fifteen people comfortably, each with its own armrest controls for volume, lighting, and temperature settings.
“This place could have some value,” Noah mused with a slight smirk, running his hand along one of the soft, velvet chairs.
He continued his tour, heading toward the gym.
Opening the door, he was greeted by a sight that made his pulse quicken with excitement.
The room was enormous, filled with every piece of fitness equipment a person could ask for. High ceilings allowed for plenty of space, with the walls lined by massive mirrors reflecting the top-tier machines inside.
In one section of the gym, there were PrimeAtlantis Machines, renowned for their precise engineering and biomechanically sound designs, perfect for isolating every muscle group.
A massive lat pull-down machine gleamed under the lights, the cables taut and ready to be used.
Bicep curl benches, plate-loaded machines, and racks of free weights filled the other side of the room. There were plates for deadlifts, squats, and bench presses, all neatly stacked and ready for use.
Noah walked through the rows of equipment, inspecting them with a keen eye. Everything was here—machines for leg extensions, chest presses, rows, and even specialized equipment for targeted muscle groups that weren’t usually available in standard gyms.
The floors were padded with heavy-duty mats, and the entire room had a crisp, clean feel to it. The air was filled with that faint smell of freshness.
“Perfect, It’s air conditioned too.” Noah thought, having a gym like this at his disposal was convenient and useful.
He had always believed in the harmony of mind and body, and this was the ideal place to maintain that balance.
From there, Noah continued through the mansion, taking in the sheer scale of the place. He passed by the eight spacious bedrooms, each one more luxurious than the last.
They were all styled differently but with the same attention to detail. Massive king-sized beds dominated the rooms, their sheets and velvet comforters radiating a sense of royalty and elegance.
Every bedroom had its own en suite toilet and bath, complete with marble sinks, rainfall showers, and deep soaking tubs.
The two massive living rooms were similarly impressive, each with enough space to host large gatherings. One of the living rooms had a more formal design, with elegant sofas arranged around a large fireplace, its mantel decorated with intricate carvings.
The other was more casual, with oversized couches, a wall-mounted television, and shelves filled with books, trophies, and other decor.
Both living rooms were equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a breathtaking view of the mansion’s expansive grounds, including the gardens and a small pond.
Noah stepped into the gym, excitement simmering just beneath the surface.
Ever since he received Intermediate Soldier-King Skills, he had felt the changes in his body. His movements were sharper, his reflexes faster, and his strength… well, today would be the day to test that.
First stop: The good old bench press.
“Let’s start easy,” Noah muttered, a grin playing on his lips as he loaded a single plate on each side of the bar.
He sat down, adjusting his grip, and smoothly unracked the weight. It felt like absolutely nothing.
The bar barely even resisted as he pushed it up and down. Fifteen reps flew by in the blink of an eye, the muscles in his chest barely warming up.
Noah racked the bar with a loud clang. “Time for two plates,” he said, already feeling the excitement build.
Loading up two plates, he settled under the bar again. Fifteen reps, just as smooth as the first set. He felt nothing. His chest wasn’t even fully engaged yet.
“Three plates, then.”
Three plates on each side—the usual mark for strength in most gyms. Noah gripped the bar, unracked it, and banged out another fifteen reps without breaking a sweat.
The bar moved like it was made of feathers. His muscles were only just beginning to feel alive.
He pushed it further.
Four plates—easy.
Five plates—no problem.
Finally, he loaded six plates on each side.
Now, the bar had some weight to it. As he unracked the six-plate bar, he felt the familiar tension in his muscles. He brought it down slowly, controlled it, and pushed up, feeling the strength rip through his body.
Three slow reps, the bar moving smoothly but with effort.
He racked it with a satisfying metallic clatter, the entire rack shaking from the sheer weight. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding slightly harder now, but not from exhaustion—more from the thrill of pushing himself.
“Time for the real test. 661 lbs”
Noah loaded seven plates on each side, the weight now monstrous.
Even in his best days before the system, he could never have dreamed of moving this much. He settled under the bar, took a deep breath, and unracked it.
The strain was real this time. The bar was heavy—impossibly heavy—but manageable. His muscles surged with power as he pressed it up.
One rep, two reps, each one slow and deliberate.
By the time he hit eight reps, his muscles were close to failure.
The last rep was a grind, but he locked it out, racked the bar, and stood up.
His chest felt like it had been forged from steel. The air in the room seemed thinner now as he took a deep breath, wiping the thin layer of sweat from his brow.
“Seven plates… 661 lbs,” Noah mused. He had benched around double of his previous max. His smirk widened.
“Let’s see what else has changed.”
He moved over to the squat rack next, his muscles still humming with energy.
He loaded the bar, adding more and more weight until the total reached 881 lbs. The sheer weight looked almost absurd on the bar, the plates stacked to an intimidating length.
Unfazed, Noah ducked under the bar, resting it across his rear delts and traps. His legs tensed in anticipation, and he unracked the weight with ease.
It felt heavy, sure, but not outside his limits. Squatting down, he hit perfect depth and powered up.
One rep, two reps—smooth and controlled. His legs burned with power, and each rep was a testament to his growing strength.
By the time he hit seven reps, his legs were on fire, but the weight was still in control. He racked it, feeling the strain but also the exhilaration.
His legs were trembling slightly from the exertion, but it wasn’t enough to stop him. There was still one lift left—deadlifts.
Noah moved to the barbell and loaded the plates, building the weight up to an insane 1146 lbs.
The bar looked like it was ready to bend under the load, but Noah’s excitement only grew.
He gripped the bar, feeling the cool steel under his fingers, and braced himself. The weight was immense, but he knew he had it.
He let out a sharp breath and held it in his stomach and pulled. The bar resisted for a moment, but then it moved, slowly rising off the ground.
“One rep”, the weight hovering in the air as his muscles strained.
“Two”, his back and legs working in perfect harmony.
“Three”, the bar shaking slightly from the sheer effort, but it was done. He set it down, the clang reverberating through the gym.
Noah stood up, his body drenched in sweat now. His breathing was heavier, but he wasn’t even close to being finished. Moving on, he hit biceps, triceps, and shoulders with the same intensity.
Curling weights that used to strain him felt like warm-ups. His shoulders pressed overhead with enough weight to crush anyone.
Finally, after finishing his strength training, Noah turned to cardio.
He set up the treadmill for high-intensity intervals, pushing himself to the max for 30 minutes straight.
His heart pounded, his muscles screamed, but he didn’t slow down.
By the time he was done, his shirt was soaked through, and the gym was filled with the sound of his heavy breathing, despite the air conditioner blasting in the background.
Sweat dripped down his face, pooling on the floor beneath him. His entire body ached, but it was a good ache. He felt alive. Powerful.
“That was a good workout,” Noah muttered to himself, straightening up. His chest heaved, but a satisfied smile crossed his face.
“These Intermediate Soldier King Skills are really something. I used to bench around 315 lbs, and now I’m doing over 661lbs for reps. Squatting 881lbs like it’s nothing… and deadlifting 1146 lbs?”
He shook his head in disbelief. His strength had skyrocketed, but it wasn’t just his raw power that had grown.
“Even my stamina has increased rapidly,”
Even after all that, he felt like he could still go a few more rounds if he had to.
As he wiped his face with a towel, Noah chuckled to himself. “Forget Noah Wayne,” he muttered with a smirk, “I think Bruce would soon be asking to join the Thompson family at the rate my strength is increasing.”
What do you guys think—do you hate the old, ruthless Noah, or do you miss the kinder, short-lived version of him? Let me know your thoughts!
CHECK OUT ‘GLOBAL AWAKENING: STARTING WITH SSS SUMMON.’
