Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Flexing Strength
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Gangnam's one large fitness center.
A place owned by Hulk Hong himself, famous as a regular studio for several well-known fitness YouTubers.
I pulled my black cap low over my face and covered more than half of it with a leftover KF94 mask from COVID times before pushing open the door.
Baggy training clothes hung off me.
Anyone who saw me would think I was miles away from anything athletic.
"Uh... here to work out?"
"No. I'm here for the Hulk Hong Challenge."
"Pardon? You?"
"Yeah. Me."
Not just the counter staff, but the Hulk Hong manager who came rushing over late gave me a once-over from head to toe, their faces twisting in awkward concern.
What the hell, this skinny twig? It was written all over them.
"I'm the challenger who called ahead."
"Ah, right... But your build is, uh... a bit on the small side?"
The manager scratched their head, looking troubled.
"Our content's pretty intense. Big Bro handles such heavy weights, you could get hurt trying to keep up. If you're just here for kicks, please head back. We get way too many like that, and it's a huge hassle."
That's when a massive figure emerged from the back, the clank of dumbbells echoing behind him.
It was Kang Cheol-min from Hulk Hong TV, the guy I'd seen on YouTube.
His arm muscles bulged like they might burst right out of his sleeveless tee.
"What's this, Manager? This guy's the challenger?"
Kang Cheol-min smirked at me.
It wasn't outright mockery—more like exasperation.
"Kid, this ain't a spot to earn pocket change. See those cameras? Our viewers want the real deal. If you're here to sign up for membership, welcome aboard. But the challenge? Nah."
The other trainers nearby stifled chuckles.
The mood turned icy.
I walked up to him without a word.
Then nudged a 20kg dumbbell on the floor with my toe.
"This."
"Huh?"
"Lift this for the test?"
My blunt attitude made Kang Cheol-min's eyebrow twitch.
He crossed his arms and jerked his chin.
"Sure. Give it a shot. If your form's even decent, I'll spot you 50,000 won for cab fare..."
Before he could finish.
I bent down casually, gripped the handle.
And lifted it clean.
Like picking up a foam block.
Whoosh—
"Huh?"
Kang Cheol-min's eyes went wide.
20kg.
A solid weight even for a fit adult male to curl one-handed.
Yet I'd flicked it up with a mere wrist snap.
Up, down.
Up, down.
"Does this pass the test?"
Silence fell.
The trainers who'd been snickering gaped.
Kang Cheol-min stared back and forth between my arm and the dumbbell, incredulous.
Hidden under my clothes, no one had noticed—but now my forearms flexed viciously, veins carving through like ridges.
"Hey! Manager! Camera on! Now!"
Kang Cheol-min barked urgently.
His eyes had changed.
This was gold.
A million views, no—way more. He could smell the viral hit.
"Alright! We're rolling! 3, 2, 1!"
Studio lights flared, and Kang Cheol-min switched to pro YouTuber mode.
"Hey, subscribers! Today, a mysterious masked man throws down the gauntlet to Hulk Hong! Just how good is he? Let's find out right now!"
He hyped me up excitedly, then dove straight in.
"First mission! Bench press 100kg! What, just a warm-up, right?"
He demoed it with cocky ease.
The bar down, I lay back on the bench.
No grunting or heaving needed.
Just pushed it straight up.
Felt like an empty bar.
"Wow! Nailed it easy! Next, 140kg!"
The weights kept climbing.
Deadlift 250kg. Squat 220kg.
Far beyond average joe territory—elite heavy lifting.
My expression never wavered.
(Mask hid it anyway.)
"Hah... haa... Who the hell is this guy? A monster?"
Sweat beaded on Kang Cheol-min's forehead.
Panic crept into his voice.
The weights he strained over? This masked guy handled them like a yawn was coming on.
"L-last mission! Total big three: 700kg challenge!"
The studio air grew thick.
Big three at 700kg.
Not impossible for a genetic freak, but hell for any amateur.
Plates stacked thick on the barbell sides.
A sight that could crush you just looking.
Everyone held their breath.
Pretending to struggle on purpose is the real pain.
Honestly? Still too light.
But clearing it too easy might raise flags, so I faked some strain.
Huuu!
The bar groaned like it might bend—then defied gravity, soaring up.
Perfect form, no flaws.
Bench press 240kg.
Up and down reps smooth as silk before easing it down—no ragged breath, no pump even.
Only silence ruled the studio.
"......"
Kang Cheol-min gawked, mouth agape.
The manager holding the camera trembled.
"You... succeeded."
His voice cracked.
He shuffled over in a daze, handed me an envelope.
"Prize money... one million won."
"Thanks."
I pocketed it.
Business done.
"Wait! Hold up!"
As I turned to leave, Kang Cheol-min grabbed me desperately.
His eyes burned with curiosity and awe.
"Could you... maybe take off your shirt? Just once? Subscribers are dying to see those muscles..."
"No."
I shut it down cold.
One glimpse of this body, and I'd go from "fit regular guy" to "lab experiment freak."
"Aw, c'mon! One more appearance then! I'll pay extra! 200k? No, 300k!"
Tempting.
But no deals here.
"Sorry. Needed cash quick, that's why I came. If I need more later, I'll hit up the manager like today."
I tugged my cap lower.
"Later."
Out the door, no looking back.
Behind me, whispers: "Damn, insane... that guy human?"
I quickened my steps quietly.
Ding!
The elevator stopped at the 13th floor.
Doors opened; a woman stepped out.
At the same instant, Han Yujin's elevator doors on the opposite side slid shut.
Lee Seo-ah glanced over on instinct—caught a familiar face in the closing gap, froze.
"Huh...?"
But the doors sealed.
Saw wrong?
Man with cap pulled low.
Yet that split-second jawline, the vibe... uncannily like the guy from that hellish cave.
"No way."
She shook her head.
World's small, but not this small.
Before heading to her own studio, she veered toward Hulk Hong's.
Buzzing voices hit her the moment she entered.
"What the hell was that guy?"
"Right? Built like me, but big three at 700? National weightlifter or what?"
Trainers clustered in serious huddles.
Strange tension in the air.
Deeper in, Kang Cheol-min was grilling the manager.
"Hey, you got that guy's number, right? Call him—book him no matter what! He's a goldmine! Millions of views, easy!"
"Yes, Big Bro! Sent a polite text already."
Lee Seo-ah approached, puzzled.
"Director Kang? What's going on? Why's everyone freaking out?"
"Oh? Seo-ah!"
Kang Cheol-min lit up, rushed over.
He eyed her worriedly.
"You okay? Heard the rumors. Abyss... you got pulled in and made it back?"
"Yeah... got lucky."
She gave a wry smile.
Word spread fast.
Made sense—studios across from each other, staff and clients always crossing paths.
"But what were you talking about? Booking someone...?"
"Oh, some monster just breezed through."
Kang Cheol-min whistled.
"Skinny as a rail, but toyed with 700kg big three like nothing. Total freak."
She nodded vaguely, "I see."
She had her own business.
Kang Cheol-min caught on first.
"Ah! Here for that Abyss thing?"
"Yeah. No choice. Can't just wait defenseless and die pointless next time."
Lee Seo-ah met his eyes seriously.
"That guy you mentioned before. Still in touch?"
"Of course. Sung-hyun hyung and me? Like blood brothers."
Kim Sung-hyun.
Former bit-part actor turned celeb after surviving Abyss pulls, media darling for months.
Veteran of this scene—summoned multiple times, lived each time.
"Please. Introduce me."
She bowed 90 degrees, polite plea.
"Don't do that. For you? Anytime. But hyung's swamped..."
"I'm begging. I need info. To survive the next summon... vet advice is crucial."
Desperation in her eyes.
Tutorial horrors etched bone-deep.
No guarantee another Han Yujin monster saves her.
She had to toughen up.
Kang Cheol-min scratched his head, conflicted, then nodded.
"Sure. Given your situation, I'll push him hard."
"Thank you. Truly."
The manager, eavesdropping, chimed in cautiously.
"Uh, Big Bro. That masked guy... Abyss survivor maybe? Normal dude suddenly that strong? Sketchy."
"Hmm..."
Kang Cheol-min stroked his chin, thoughtful.
"Maybe. Looking back, suspicious as hell... but no proof. Tons of doped-up crazies these days."
Lee Seo-ah clenched her fist, listening.
Survivor. Abyss. Super strength.
A world of secrets she didn't know.
Still clueless about so much. Should've studied up sooner.
Never dreamed she'd star in those mystery headlines.
Can't just stand by like an idiot again.
Han Yujin's back flashed in her mind.
That overwhelming power.
She wanted to be like him.
Or at least, not dead weight next time.
I'll survive on my own strength.
Resolve ignited in Lee Seo-ah's eyes.