The boxing gym was an old building. The sound of fists hitting pads echoed here, and inside, the mixed smell of sweat and old leather wafted.
Saba Baramidze stopped at the threshold. The words flashed through his mind again:
[Training Mode: Initiated]
He shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts. To the left, a man was sitting at a small table, about forty years old, in a black T-shirt, with a white cloth draped over his arm. His gaze was the kind you can't just see in a mirror, stern, piercing, but something warm awaited him inside.
- You're new, right? - the man asked, as if he already knew the answer.
- Yes… I'm here for the first time. I'm Saba.
- Tengo - he said calmly and stood up.
- There's one rule: Respect your opponent in the same way you respect yourself.
Tengo wrote something on a small board, then pointed to the inner part of the hall:
- There, on the right, there is a mirror and a light bag. Hold it for a minute as you think you should. I'll watch in the meantime. Saba went to the bag. There was a cold chill in the air, and his breathing was labored.
The first blow was weak, the second louder. On the third blow, the bag fell backwards, then crashed into Saba at high speed. On the third blow, the bag fell backwards, then crashed into Saba at high speed. He collapsed from the damage caused by the blow. Just then, that system text appeared in his eyes again:
[Hit Registered]
+1 Strength +1 Endurance
Level Progress: 7%
Tengo approached, as if he had noticed something strange.
- What was it, boy? I think the bag started crying back.
Tengo smiled, but a serious twinkle flashed in his eyes.
- No... nothing. I just... I think I hit too hard.
- That's neither good nor bad. The main thing is to know why you're hitting.
Tengo put his hand on his shoulder and added:
- That's where real boxing begins. Until you find a reason, the fist is lifeless.
Saba stood up. That evening, he practiced in silence for the entire session. The punches hit the bag evenly, but each blow was accompanied by a silent crack in his mind. The system seemed to react to each emotion: when he was angry, the crack was loud; when he was afraid, the text disappeared altogether. After a few punches, the screen flickered again:
[Emotion Detected: Determination]
Bonus +3 Focus
Level Progress: 10%
Saba smiled quietly. At first, he thought it was all an illusion, but now he could feel how this system was really vibrating inside him. Tengo put his hand on his shoulder:
- Do you see? That's your voice. Don't let anyone else drown you out.
Saba nodded, but only one thought was running through his mind.
"These texts… what are they?"
When the training was over, it was already dark outside. The Tbilisi sky was glowing pale yellow in the haze. Saba picked up his bag, looked back, and saw how Tengo continued to tidy up the hall calmly, as if time didn't matter at all. On the way, he listened to a TikTok video again in his headphones - Ilia Blenderadze's voice from the interview:
"I am untouchable, and anyone who thinks they can defeat me will be next."
Saba took off his headphones. A strange feeling settled in his heart. And suddenly, as if in the silence, a loud, digital click sounded:
[Quest Unlocked: Find Your Reason]
Reward: Unknown
Saba held his breath and smiled. "I think I found what I wanted."