Meeting new friends

Capside Centre wasn't only built for Grindhouse Wrestling shows, it was also a home to many low-level stars as most new wrestlers who are just beginning their careers might find it hard to cater for their needs on their own. Also, the main reason for this was because, this was the stage where the newbies needed to give their all in training and improving all aspects of being a true professional wrestler. If they reside too far from the arena, there might be a disruption in their focus.

Thus, living in Capside Centre for a year was an order from the Ultimate Revolution Wrestling Authority, which actually means that all new wrestlers would reside in the arena throughout the first year of their wrestling career.

Everything they need would be taken care of, but that wouldn't affect their wages, though.

Arnold made his way to the gym after having some rest. It was already 4 pm when he entered the gym, but he was ready to work out until it was nighttime.

The gym in Capside Centre appeared to be more large, equipped, and crowded when Arnold got to see it. While one gym room was as large as two plots of land, there were still other gym rooms in some other buildings... About three more.

Arnold gasped. "That's... Cool."

When he entered one of the gyms, he noticed that it wasn't like the Rising Impact University's gym where no one would be working out by this time. About eight to ten people could be spotted in the gym, including three women who were clearly seen to be wrestlers as well.

"They must be in the women's division. I hope Mia can pass her exams next year and get signed up for Grindhouse Wrestling. I'll buy her another cup of tea if she does that," Arnold muttered with a smile and shuffled into the gym.

Just as he walked in, all eyes suddenly came crashing on him from all directions. It was just as if they were looking at a celebrity, however, isn't he just a newbie wrestler from Rising Impact University?

Even after some time, the gazes seemed to be coming to his side, making Arnold shy. However, he was more concentrated on finding a suitable place for him to have some practice and training... Perhaps somewhere where they wouldn't be able to keep staring like him a scared hyena.

"Hey!" A feminine suddenly called from behind as Arnold walked past the group of trainees.

Arnold turned to look in the direction of the voice, his gaze clashing on a tall white-skinned lady with silver hair and dark blue eyes who seemed to be in her early twenties.

Arnold predicted twenty-two.

"Max Fury, right?" The young lady walked over and asked.

"Yeah," Arnold replied, blinking.

"I'm Gina. You can just call me by my ring name, Lila Ross," the white-skinned lady suggested, retaining a congenial grin on her cheeks.

"Sure, Lila is cool," Arnold forced a smile of pretense. He really wanted to go now.

"UHM, that guy over there is my best friend," Lila pointed at a guy with short brown hair somewhere at the corner, "He is also a Grindhouse wrestler and umm, we have been together since we were signed here last year, working out and doing stuff, you know?"

Arnold shrugged. The only thought that flashed into his mind was.

'How is that supposed to concern me?'

However, it was a question asked inwardly, but Arnold's face had suddenly changed in an instant.

"Sorry. I know I'm not supposed to be spilling all these out but, please, can we be friends?" The lady finally went straight to the point.

Arnold was speechless at that instant, flinching.

"I mean, we can hang around in free times and train in the gym or the training rings. We are looking forward to your acceptance," Lila said.

The brown-haired guy from the corner suddenly waved at Arnold as he glanced at him. Returning his gaze to Lila, her pleading smile just couldn't keep his mind at rest.

It wasn't as if he didn't like having friends, Arnold just didn't want to experience what happened at Rising Impact University. With the way Ben and Karl treated him, he was beginning to develop trust issues.

However, since this pretty lady here was pleading to be his friend, who was he not to accept? Coming to think of it, she was someone who had spent a whole year in the show and must have gotten some experience. If he becomes her friend, and also with the brown-haired guy, he might benefit from their experiences. While working out with them, they could teach him a lot of things.

"Sure. Of course," Arnold had no choice but to accept.

A delighted smile appeared on Lila's face after hearing his response.

"Thank you, Fury! It's my pleasure meeting you," she said.

"Same here," Arnold forced a smile.

After their short conversation. Arnold decided to train with them in one free space, performing weightlifting and running on treadmills.

When the working out was ongoing, Lila and the brown-haired guy, Mark, were amazed by his vital performance and quick improvements. At first, he was bad at running on the treadmill, but he managed to withstand a low speed. However, as he kept running and running without sparing some time to rest, his pace increased, and gradually tried increasing the speed of the treadmill while he continued to maintain the required pace not to stumble.

Lila and Mark were stunned at some point watching him. They had been in Grindhouse Wrestling for a year and could only maintain a 24 to 29 kilometers per hour pace, however, Arnold was already maintaining a decent pace in a 30 to 34 kilometers per hour speed.

They were dumbstruck.

Arnold wasn't really surprised about it because he had expected as much. Before beginning the training, he added two status points to his Agility, so it was able to enhance his speed rate. Maintaining a 34-kilometer-per-hour pace wasn't strange for someone with eight Agility points. It was normal.

Even after carrying a 45 kg weight, they swallowed repeatedly as if having an encounter with a monster. However, Arnold would only smile and urge them to focus on their training, almost blushing.

When it was almost midnight — Arnold made his new friends spend a complete five hours in the gym — someone dressed like a Grindhouse Wrestling staff walked into the gym with a black paper card and handed it to Arnold.

He hesitated a bit before reading the white texts written on the paper, and what he read blew his mind.

"A triple threat match?! Why?!?"

Arnold's eyes dilated in both shock and frustration. When he saw Rowan Pierce being listed as part of his opponents, a more intense scowl appeared on his face.

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[A/N: Please, read the Author's thought below.]