'It was easier this time as well,' Jake thought, looking over the crumpled golem in front of him. Heavy dents littered its body, each one looking like the machine was stuck by a hammer. Taking his gaze away from the machine, he noticed a small crowd around the cage, eyes affixed on the mess of wires and oil.

Walking out of the cage, he silently made his way towards the locker room, ignoring the occasional stare sent his way. Opening the locker, he grabbed one of his drinks and cracked it open before downing the drink. As the bitter drink traveled down his throat, he felt his heart beat faster, like a drummer increasing their tempo. Finishing the last of his drink, he felt the beat of his heart seemingly fade, as if it was slowly being muted.Screwing the cap back on, he threw it into his bag. He’ll clean it later.

Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he walked out of the locker room and made his way out of the building and down the street.

As he walked down the stone pathways, he couldn't help but think back to the fight with Jill. During that entire confrontation, he felt a mantra ring through his body, seeping into his bones. However, he couldn't place just where it came from. Even with him constantly combing through his memories, breaking down each second of his life, nothing showed. It was as if it was always there, just sitting in the depths of his mind. 

However, something about it just…made sense. It felt similar to his time during school. Every time he was met with some equation or a problem, he just kinda knew the solution, the information sorta popping into his brain like a match being lit. However, instead of it being like an answer appearing in his mind, it was more like an answer being comprehended. Something that he always knew, but never had a full grasp on. 

Slightly flexing his hand, he felt a phrase come to his mind. It was a slogan he heard in passing, said by a member of a gym he was going to during that time.

Sharpen both the mind and the body, and you shall stand peerless.

He found the phrase out of place, but never really thought about it. After all, it was just a phrase said by an amateur fighter. Sounding deep, but not really holding much value other than the obvious lesson. However, going through the phrase again, he couldn’t help but feel as if it was connected to those words. 

Sharpen the focus and purge out the distractions from your mind.

Reforge the body and destroy those who would stop your advance.

Hearing those words ring in his mind, he felt a sudden sting on his neck, like that of a needle. However, the sensation dissipated with just as much speed as it appeared.

'That’s odd,' he thought, lightly rubbing his neck. Pushing the experience to the side, he continued his way to the complex. Opening the main door, he made his way up the stairs, wood creaking under his feet. Arriving at his floor, he paused. 

Something is looking his way.

Turning his head to the source, he met with…nothing. Everything was the same as he saw before. The same aged oaken floorboards, worn down enough to show signs of joinery. The same walls of brick, small cracks appearing in the stonework.

‘Odd,’ he thought, tilting his head. It must’ve left when he noticed it. 

Eh, it wasn’t really a threat to him anyways.

Turning on his heel, he made his way towards his apartment, footsteps lightly echoing in the cooling silence. Arriving in front of his door, he entered it, throwing his bag onto the couch. Shutting the door behind him, he made a beeline towards his bedroom. Entering his room, he quickly started to change his clothing. Cotton sweatpants were replaced by denim jeans, gray sneakers by brown steel-toe boots, a white tank top by a navy blue tee. Grabbing his jacket, he slipped it on before walking out of his room. Grabbing a gray beanie from the couch, he put it on before leaving his apartment. As he made his way through the hallway and down the stairs, he brought out his harcell and checked the map.

Just a short walk away.

Confirming his route, he slid his phone back into his pocket before walking out of the complex and down the street. As he made his way down the path he was shown, buildings of wood and stone gave way to those of steel and concrete. Workshops and guild halls stood side to side, the sounds of clashing steel and running machinery echoing throughout the streets.

Eventually arriving at the transit station, he made his way towards the stairs, weaving through the crowds of people. Arriving at the train platform, he found himself in a crowd of people. Some were dressed in medieval armor and had bows or swords. Some, meanwhile, were dressed in more modern body armor and had rifles and shotguns. Most of the people around had a look that was somewhere in between, with both vest and sword.

'I should get some armor like that,’ he thought, mentally adding it to his checklist. While the current armor he's using was good, hardened leather can only really do so much.

Hearing the sound of hissing steam, he made his way towards the awaiting train, weaving through the crowd. Sitting down in an empty seat, he gazed out of the window as the train started to move, the buildings outside quickly turning into a blur. As he watched the buildings pass by, he felt memories slowly bubble up. Times of him traveling on the subway, fresh blood still covering his face and arm. Times of him grabbing a seat after removing the brain matter of a target from his clothes. 

Times of silence after the violence of a contract.

Feeling the train slow down, he got out of his seat before making his way towards the door. As the doors hissed open, he stepped forward onto the platform to what could be considered a mix of train station and mall. Shops and stands lined the walls, selling tools and armor to those walking by. However, the main attention grabber was the portal array. Rips in space, each one the size of a house, stood next to each other, the air around them seeming to shift.

'Time to check some things off,' he thought, fixing his collar. 

First things first, he needs better armor.