Measurements of his chest, waist, and arm circumferences all showed increases. After taking several photographs, it was clear his body fat percentage had continued to drop. While a defined six-pack remained elusive, his overall muscle mass had noticeably improved. He performed a few push-ups, confirming the movement felt even easier than before; he reached seventy standard push-ups without nearing his limit.
He stopped, however, and instead used his phone to locate the nearest gym. Bodyweight exercises like push-ups were useful for gauging initial progress when foundational strength was low, but once a certain baseline was reached, they became less precise metrics or required excessive time investment. Gym equipment, in contrast, offered a more concrete, quantifiable assessment of his physical power.
At the gym, Ken inquired about a short-term trial membership. The young salesperson assisting him promptly offered a three-visit pass, adding that if Ken remained undecided afterward, he could provide another three-visit pass for further consideration. The salesperson personally guided Ken through the equipment. During university, Ken had frequented the campus gym for two semesters under the tutelage of a fitness-enthusiast roommate, so he was already familiar with most machines and proper lifting form.
Soon, the salesperson took a phone call and excused himself, leaving Ken to his own devices. It was just before 3 PM on a weekday, so the gym was nearly empty. After warming up on an elliptical machine, Ken moved to the bench press. Starting cautiously with only a 15kg plate on each side, he focused on reacquainting himself with the movement, having not touched such equipment since graduation.
Before long, a burly personal trainer, nearly 190cm tall, approached. Watching Ken finish a set and add more weight, the trainer remarked, "Your form isn't quite standard. You should be careful during training, preferably with someone spotting you to avoid injury. And with that technique, you might develop an imbalanced chest..."
Ken was inwardly amused. Had he not undergone the transformations induced by Factor X and was simply here to get in shape, he might have been intimidated. But now, his pressing motion was subconsciously adjusted based on the feedback from each muscle group; for him, it was the most natural and efficient form.
Knowing the trainer's ultimate goal was to sell sessions, and that a simple refusal might just attract another, Ken proposed, "How about a wager? Let's compare our one-rep max on the bench press. If you lift more, I'll buy 20 of your sessions. If I win, you guarantee no other trainers will approach me while I'm here. Deal?"
The trainer gave Ken a curious look. Was this guy, who had been so cautious with a mere 50kg, actually a dark horse? He quickly sized Ken up: height under 180cm, weight likely under 85kg. Himself at 97kg and consistently training, he felt confident in his strength advantage and agreed.
Ken started with two 15kg plates on each side, totaling 80kg including the bar. With the trainer spotting, he completed the rep smoothly. The trainer went next, adding a 5kg plate to each side for 90kg, also completing it easily.
Ken's turn again. The weight went up to 100kg—a significant load in this gym, seldom used for sets and a true max for only a few. Truthfully, Ken himself didn't know his current limit, but since waking, he felt a substantial surge in power; the 80kg had felt remarkably light. With the trainer spotting, he pressed the 100kg cleanly and decisively.
The trainer's expression shifted. Clearly, Ken was no novice, and his strength was formidable.
From there, they added weight in smaller 2.5kg increments. Starting at 105kg, the trainer began to show visible strain, and Ken moved behind to spot him. At 110kg, Ken pressed it again, seemingly without much effort.
115kg…
120kg…
125kg…
A small crowd of two or three other members had gathered, intrigued by the impromptu max-out challenge between a member and a trainer.
When Ken successfully pressed 130kg, the trainer looked at the bar loaded to 135kg, his face grim. His personal best was actually higher than 135kg, but the consecutive heavy lifts, despite brief rests, had left his muscles struggling to recover. He regretted not starting with his max weight, but he had been so sure victory was assured well before 100kg. He hadn't anticipated Ken's strength, nor how much easier each weight seemed for him.
Finally, at 135kg, the trainer failed halfway through the press. Fortunately, Ken was spotting and helped guide the bar back to the rack.
Then it was Ken's turn. He bypassed 135kg altogether, loading the bar to 150kg. Despite the wager, the trainer conscientiously took his position behind the bar for spotting—if Ken got injured during their bet, he would bear some responsibility.
Ken adjusted his grip, unracked the bar, lowered it with control until it lightly touched his chest, and then pressed it up steadily. The entire movement appeared executed with fluid grace. After re-racking the bar, however, Ken let out a long exhale. It looked controlled, but he had felt his power nearing its brink. He estimated 160kg might be possible but would likely require compromised form and momentum.
Rising from the bench, Ken was met with a thumbs-up from the trainer. "Impressive! Seriously skilled. That raw power is no joke. 150kg is probably far from your actual max, right? You're not a powerlifter, are you?" Even at his best, the trainer had only barely managed 150kg once, a far cry from Ken's seemingly effortless execution. Having matched Ken rep for rep from 100kg upward, he was thoroughly outperformed in both absolute strength and endurance, and he conceded defeat wholeheartedly.
"Not at all," Ken replied. "Just here trying to lose some weight." He then moved toward the squat rack, ready to test his limits there.