BloodStar

Chapter 135: Raw Power

Later in the evening, Jacek found himself alone in the gym. The soldiers were all preparing for Mattison’s large scale plans leaving no one with time to exercise. It had been a long time since he lifted weights without the assistance of ki. He felt like he was back in the days of his youth.

He grabbed a few dumbbells and sat down on a bench preparing to do overhead shoulder presses. However, before he could even begin, he heard the door open and close as someone walked in to the gym joining him.

He looked at the mirror in front of him to see Xenia trotting in with a smile on her face wearing skintight leggings and a skimpy sports bra to match. “Need company?”

Jacek smiled, “It’s always a good idea to have a workout partner especially without ki. I will need a spotter.”

She swung one leg over and sat on his bench facing him, “How much do you think I can bench press without ki?”

He sized her up, “Hmm. 5’10”, 160 lbs, toned muscles… you’re strong, very strong for a girl. But without ki, I would guess 185 lbs maximum on bench press.”

She gawked at his answer with her mouth open stunned, “185lbs? Jacek I’m offended you think I’m so weak! Come over here right now.”

She stood up and walked over to a bench press setup and began to load weights onto the bar. She slung one 45lbs plate on, then a second, then a third. She continued until five 45 lbs plates were on each side of the bar.

She slapped the top of the bar and said, “495 lbs! Let’s see if I can do this. I’ve always prided myself on being able to lift at least 3x my weight, and this is well over 3x my weight.”

Jacek raised his eyebrows impressed at her claims, “I will be certain to spot you closely. This weight could crush you without ki.”

She sat on the bench and meditated until her ki was zero, completely suppressed. She then laid back on the bench and placed her hands on the bar just outside shoulder width.

Jacek looked down at her, “Do you need help with the lift off?”

She scoffed and lifted the bar off without his help. It had been a long time since she had lifted weights without ki as well, and the weight made her arms shake as she held it steady. She then slowly lowered it until the bar touched her chest at which point she steadily and slowly began to inch it back up. She began to groan and moan softly at first and the more loudly as she pushed it all the way back up and racked the bar.

Jacek was genuinely shocked and impressed, “495 lbs! Wow!”

She sat up and looked back at him, “I’m the kind of girl who can do it all.” She winked at him and stood up.

Jacek then said, “And just how much do you think I can bench press without ki? Seeing as I have none right now, it would be a great time to test my physical strength limits.”

Xenia then sized him up, “Hmm. 6’3”, 330 lbs, not an ounce of fat on you, some of the sexiest toned muscles on the planet… Nothing less than 1,000 lbs. That is for sure. But how much beyond 1,000… I can’t say.”

He nodded at her impressed, “You’re headed the right direction. What if I told you I last maxed out at 1,250 lbs.”

She crossed her arms, “Shut up! Prove it!”

Jacek walked across the gym to grab special 150 lbs plates and loaded up the bar until the bar weighed 1,250 lbs. He then sat on the bench and looked at Xenia who still stood in front of him, “Are you going to spot me?”

She shook her head, “No. I’ll be able to help if you need it.” She then raised her ki again and said, “1,250 lbs is nothing with ki.”

He nodded at her and leaned back placing his hands just outside of shoulder width. He hesitated for a second mentally preparing himself and then he lifted the bar off. His face went red, and his arms quivered under the weight.

Xenia stood admiring his cut arms that showed every single muscle as if she were looking at an anatomy text book. She could feel herself yearning for his body in the moment.

He then lowered the bar down until it tapped his chest, and he began to push it back up very slowly. He began to yell as the bar moved upwards inch by inch.

Xenia stepped forward and sat atop his crotch and put her hands on his chest rubbing him, “You know, they say a man can lift even more weight when a woman sits on his lap.”

Jacek yelled and grunted as he nearly had the bar locked out ready to rack. However, just as he was ready to rack it, Xenia put a single finger atop the bar and put a feather’s weight of pressure to it.

The bar slowly began to sink back down as Jacek grit his teeth and yelled pressing against her infinitesimal added pressure.

She sat atop his lap and smiled, “Strength is everything. There can be no doubt. But strength can take all different kinds of forms. Mattison isn’t wrong to insinuate Jarek is stronger than I am. But what he, you, and everyone else fails to realize is that sometimes it’s not how much strength you have but how you use it. Just as the light touch of my finger has defeated your strong muscles, I too can defeat your father if he dares to come between us. Is that going to be a problem for you, Jacek?”

Jacek’s face was turning a bright red as he found himself helpless to press the bar upwards as her finger pressed it back down all the way to his chest where she then left it for him to struggle with. He struggled but managed to say, “That… won’t… be a problem.”

She smiled at him and leaned over the bar to kiss his struggling face and said, “Good.” She then leaned back up and grabbed the bar. She lifted it with one hand and threw it ten feet to the side slamming into various pieces of equipment crushing them.

She outstretched her hand and helped Jacek up putting her hands on his waist, “You know. Your raw strength is incredibly sexy.” She ran her finger down his chest and continued, “Against my better judgment, I’ve been giving some serious thought to healing you back to full power.”

Jacek smiled down at her, “So you’ve been having thoughts of me ravaging you and throwing you around the bedroom, completely helpless to stop me?”

She smiled up at him, “You wouldn’t believe the thoughts I have, so I won’t even try to explain them. Just kiss me.”

She pulled him close and began to make out with him. She moved her hands up to grab his face as they kissed passionately. After a minute of kissing, Xenia stepped back and said, “Will you be cheering for me tomorrow?”

Jacek laughed, “Cheering for you? Your victory will be a foregone conclusion. Katya wants to learn from you. Not defeat you. I will be cheering for her survival.”

Xenia laughed at his commentary, “Okay fine then. Will you cheer for me if I promise not to kill her?”

Jacek nodded his head, “Deal. In that case, I will be your biggest cheerleader from the sides.”

___________

Elsewhere, nearby after the sun had set, a skillful woman raced through the razed lands surrounding the citadel.

“I swear I saw a stealth jet land. I must reach them with haste if I am deliver to Jacek’s message.” Katya had been on watch since Jacek had given her an important message to deliver to his father, and this was the first time she had a lead.

Luckily, her first lead to investigate was under the cover of nightfall. Although Jacek could distract Xenia that didn’t mean other soldiers wouldn’t see her.

She raced through the rocky terrain void of life and vegetation until after ten miles she came upon a landed jet with a small encampment adjacent to it.

She recognized the insignia of the Sage Empire on a few of the cargo boxes, and she eagerly rushed out to greet them. As everyone turned to see her darting from the darkness and into the light, she recognized Jarek and Erika and was instantly relieved.

However, her presence was unexpected by the arriving party and several special op soldiers darted out with charged up ki blasts ready to annihilate her on Jarek’s command.

She came to a halt and Jarek’s voice boomed, “State you name if you wish to live!”

Katya fell to a knee and removed her hood, “Katya Nova, of the Karasu Clan. I bring a message from Lord Heraklinos.”

Jarek ordered his men down and immediately stepped out to welcome her, “You spoke with Jacek? How is he?”

Katya stood, “He is living like a king with Xenia BloodStar. Though he does not yet have his ki back.”

She then held out a sealed letter and handed it to Jarek, “Jacek emphasized that you must read this before interacting with Xenia in any way.”

Erika walked up behind Jacek, “Thank you Katya. Would you like to stay with us in our camp?”

She bowed her head, “Thank you Master Sage; however, I am also under deep cover helping Jacek from within the citadel. I have a very public sparring match with Xenia tomorrow in the stadium. My absence would be very suspicious and could possibly put Jacek in harms away. I must return.”

Jarek put his hand on her shoulder and solemnly said, “Thank you for your sacrifice and hard work, Katya. It will not go unrewarded. We will do what we can to extract you along with Jacek.”

Katya bowed her head and quietly said, “Forgive me. I must be going now.”

She then disappeared into the veil of darkness and made haste as she returned to the citadel under the cover of nightfall.

Jarek wasted no time opening the letter from Katya:

To whom this may concern. Do not rush in to save me. Xenia favors me to a degree that compromises her safety. I am slowly building her trust. You may hear me say things or see me do things that are wholly unacceptable. However, duly note that I am either acting under a guise as her new trustworthy companion or being bloodbent against my will. It is best we wait for our moment to strike rather than rush in. Time is, for the moment, on our side as I work to put myself in a position to end this war and end the BloodStar reign from the inside. Further communication to come.

Jacek Heraklinos

Jarek handed the letter to Erika who quickly read it. He then said, “Jacek didn’t outline the things he is doing, the things we may see, or the things we may hear because he knows it would be heartbreaking to you. He is trying to protect you. Were it up to me I would have you stay behind for the meeting we will attempt to set up with Xenia.”

Erika scoffed, “I am just as determined as Jacek to finish this fight. I will not let my emotions get in the way.”

Jarek nodded, “Very well. Then let us get some rest and see if we can’t invite ourselves to this sparring match tomorrow.”