Chapter 128 - 128. Trash Talking
With the influx of campers, Garnet found herself running around more than she had expected. She saw the four approaching and left the match she was viewing to intercept them. "You three took less than an hour to find that thing. You know that Onyx spent hours setting that up when he was younger, it always stumps campers the first day." She was shaking her head, her mind starting to get used to the surpise of Asher doing this.
"We didn't expect to find it. We went up there for a better look at the area since no one else was searching there. If I hadn't put my hand down on it I would have missed it." Asher held up the egg and tossed it to Garnet.
"Well, whatever you did it got campers to start going after the activities. They all need the points for a cabin pr their stuff. But the ones that came here seem a little extra...Motivated." She was looking at the glares pointed at Asher and his friends.
"We talked a little trash. If we get them to tire themselves out before going after us we can farm some points. No one will get to go after Asher until we have dealt with them. We also need the wins so we can beat Asher. His head is getting a little big for all of this." Asher had been feeling a little arrogant with his minor fame at camp.
"A little trash talking? Ha! Good, they looked like they needed some proper motivation. If they didn't start to get a little serious I would have had to start with some penalties for losses." Garnet had an evil glint in her eye. The evil smile she had on her face spoke of untold torture.
Art was afraid to ask but found himself doing so anyways. " What penalties would you have added?" His voice was soft, but lough enough for her to hear.
"The usual. Climb a tree and do fifty pullups. Run twenty laps around the sparring field. Clean the dining cabin. Required to wear arm and leg weights." Her list appeared to be going on and on, but she stopped when she noticed she had gotten her point across.
"I am going to hate this, but do you have the arm and leg weights with you?" Asher surprised everyone by asking this.
"I have a set right over there in those wooden chests. Why?" Garnet felt that she already knew the answer but she wanted to hear it.
"I'll wear them to train. It should make me stronger, right? If I can take on challenges while slowed down then when I take them off I should be faster." This was a sound theory and many books or television shows used it to help a protagonist get stringer. Asher even remembered the work out videos having people wear weights vests while running.
"Then go pick some out. They are small metal beads inside straps and belts and vests. Just add what you want. They encased in rubber for protection, so as long and you don't use them as a weapon there won't be a problem." Garnet had a proud feeling seeing Asher take the incentive to get stronger in this way.
"Art, come on. You too." Art hesitated as he followed Asher. He wasn't sure why he needed them when he didn't want them.
"Bro, why are you making me wear them too?"
Asher leaned in with a soft whisper, "Your super power. The metal beads are inside it, right? You can practice moving them while you train. It is killing two birds with one stone."
"That's! Perfect. You're brilliant!" Art jumped and started to race towards the wooded chest full of weighted gear. He started to pull of the varying weights looking for a perfect fit.
Asher easily caught up and the two sifted through everything. Asher came out with an old school back vest with evenly spaced patches of metal beads in it. He could feel the additional weight on his legs and knew that it would be just enough to add to his training. Art went with the leg and arm weights trying to keep the metal towards the ends of his limbs. His goal was to use them to somehow add momentum to his hands and feet when he punched or kicked. This could also take away some of his weight and increase speed if he managed to use them correctly.
"Are you sure you will be able to use four at once?" Asher was a little worried that Art was starting off with too much.
"Not at once, I will use them one at a time." Art changed his wording slightly as the other came over. Some sparring campers were close and he didn't want to share too much.
"That's smart. Then as long as the weight is good we should make progress." Asher and Art joined Garnet and the girls while getting a feel for the additional weight.
"Are you two ready to get the sparring party on? We have a lot of people looking to take us on, especially since they got angrier seeing you add weights. Look," Jane pointed out a few boys that had seen Asher and Art grab the weights and make a line for some to wear as well. They wouldn't be beat out so easily.
"Those few will be down for the count before they even get halfway through their five matches. The ones that show off always lose. You should watch out for those in long slow matches. They won't take damage and just draw out their opponent for an easy win. Those are the people that will have a chance against you." Garnet gave a final warning before motioning to a few onlookers to come over.
" Who here is trying to challenge these four?" Garnet pointed to all of them including Laura who had been watching the surrounding fights. Her face was full of surprise since she had wanted to go back to the obstacle course, but was now involved in sparring.
"I'll take on the guy with arm and leg weights. He looks too chummy with the battle master there." The tone was mocking, but Art just cracked his knuckles and started to stretch out. He had been waiting to get started and was finally on the brink.