K/DA HQ was quiet in the early morning—too early for rehearsals, too late for post-show adrenaline. The corridors hummed with silence, the occasional cleaning drone drifting past like a sleepy ghost. Cole walked barefoot across the polished floor, a protein bar half-eaten in one hand, his other hand curled into a loose fist.
He felt it in every step now.
The difference.
The power.
It wasn't a sudden thing—not some lightning strike of strength—but a slow-burning ember that had finally caught flame. He'd felt it ever since the Nasus trait activated: his muscles just a little more defined, his posture a touch more upright. A quiet confidence replacing the constant buzz of self-doubt.
Level up detected.
Passive Trait: Strength of Nasus — Strength increases with SP
Item Acquired: Stopwatch — Zhonya's Hourglass (1 use)
[Inventory Updated]
He hadn't stopped grinning since.
Zhonya's. The gold standard of "get out of jail free" cards in League. One click and time stops—for everyone except you. For someone living in this world, surrounded by danger and unpredictable enemies, it was the ultimate ace-in-the-hole.
One use daily thankfully it functioned similarly to actually league, functioning on a 24 hour cooldown.
The gym doors hissed open, revealing a sprawling facility that looked more like a private training center than anything commercial. Rows of high-tech machines lined the walls. Combat dummies stood motionless in the corner. And in the center, surrounded by mirrored panels and mats—
Akali.
Dressed in black leggings and a cropped sports top, her two-toned hair tied back in a messy bun, she moved with the same lethal grace Cole remembered from the night they'd fought side-by-side. Shadowboxing barefoot. Each strike was a blur—fluid, sharp, and precise. She hadn't noticed him yet.
Or maybe she had.
He stepped onto the mat, his feet sinking slightly into the foam. The moment he dropped his protein bar wrapper into the trash, she glanced over her shoulder.
"Well, well," Akali said, panting lightly. "If it isn't my boyfriend."
Cole smirked. "Didn't know the gym was booked."
"It's not." She turned to face him fully now, toweling sweat from her neck. "But I don't mind sharing. As long as you don't get in my way."
"No promises."
He moved toward the weights and stopped in front of the squat rack. 200 pounds already loaded. His eyes narrowed. Before the system, this would've been a struggle. Now?
He stepped under the bar, adjusted his grip.
Deep breath.
And lifted.
It came up smooth—like lifting a broomstick. He racked it again and added two more plates on each side. 300 pounds. Then 350. Still no strain. His pulse was steady, his muscles humming with potential.
Akali raised an eyebrow from across the room. "Showing off?"
"Just testing something," Cole said, trying not to sound too smug. "I had… a bit of a breakthrough."
"Oh?" She walked over, arms folded. Her gaze was sharp—playful but assessing. "Don't tell me you're juicing already. It's a little early in your K/DA career for scandals."
"Nothing illegal. Just a… passive bonus."
He dropped into a perfect squat with 405 pounds. Rose. No struggle. No sound.
Akali let out a low whistle. "Okay, color me impressed."
Cole set the bar back with a solid clink. Apprehensive in revealing his system. " I feel like there's no limit to it"
Her eyes widened slightly. "You're saying can just get stronger–endlessly?"
He nodded, wiping his hands. "I think so"
Her gaze explored and peered at his physique. His wide shoulders, lean physique, and vascularity impressed her. Noticing the weirdness of her gaze, she blushed and changed the subject.
Akali leaned in, desire in her tone. "So, you want to work in with me?"
"I'm down. You're going to have to keep up though" a smailed marred his face
"Don't think you're the only strong one here big guy" she said, stepping a little too close. Her hand went up to grab his arm. Definitely to guide him to the smith machine, not to feel his sculpted biceps.
"You came at the right time, I need a spotter"
"With a smith machine?"
A blush painted her face "Can never be too safe right" she glanced up at him.
He nodded in response and smirked, clearly seeing through her flirtations.
She racked the weights onto the bar and started her first set. Familiar with gym decorum, his gaze definitely stayed on the bar and its movement.
____
Having finished her 4 sets, Akali's eyes lit up with mischief.
"I could tell you were staring at my ass. You're discrete, but not enough to get past me"
"-" He couldn't really rebut that, his gaze did wander but he didn't think enough to be noticeable.
"I'll let go because you're my boyfriend"clearly unbothered"But you'll have to treat me to brunch later"
He smiled, aware of Akali's games.
"Does that mean I can keep staring?" He jokingly said
"Depends how good brunch is" she matched his energy.
____
Before leaving for brunch, he asked Akali to spar with him.
They moved into a sparring ring without saying a word, the shift in atmosphere immediate. The air was charged—not just with anticipation, but something more electric. Cole dropped into a loose stance, feet shoulder-width apart.
Akali mirrored him, her eyes gleaming. "No powers. Just hands."
"Deal."
The first few exchanges were exploratory—light jabs, sweeps, blocks. Cole was faster than he remembered, his reactions tighter. Every time she feinted, his body responded without conscious thought. He was learning her rhythm. Adapting.
'Levelling up isn't just numbers', he realized. 'It's instinct'.
She caught him with a low sweep once, and he stumbled—but came back with a clean pivot and landed a palm strike that had her stumbling back, eyes wide.
"Well damn," she breathed. "You're really getting the hang of this."
"Told you," he said, panting. "Breakthrough."
They circled again, but the tension had shifted. Less about combat. More about proximity. Her gaze dropped once—twice—to his chest. His to hers. She smirked, stepping in too close during a clinch, her breath warm against his cheek.
"You know," she whispered, "with moves like that, you're gonna make the others jealous."
"Oh?" Cole arched a brow. "Anyone specific?"
She grinned, close enough to feel the heat between them. "Let's just say I don't share my training partners easily."
Before he could reply, she broke the clinch with a smooth flip and subsequently brought his body onto the ground. Now pinned to the ground, he was at her mercy.
She leaned in, allowing her cheek to brush past his
"I win today" her whispers sent a chill down his spin
[Bond Update: Akali - attracted and amused]
____
By the time they were cooling down, seated on yoga mats near the mirrored wall, the energy between them had shifted. Not plantic, something else, definitely charged. Something simmering under the surface. A dare waiting to be called.
"You're different, you know," Akali said, sipping from her water bottle. "Not just stronger. Calmer."
"I think I'm starting to find my place."
"Good." She met his eyes. "Because something tells me we're going to need your strength soon."
Cole nodded. He felt it too. The lull wouldn't last. The Order wasn't done and neither was the void..
But for now?
He was stronger. The boons from his system allowed him the breathing room to relax.
[Name: Cole Altair
Status: Transmigrated Entity
Current Level: 10
Special trait: Unlimited Potential
Passives:
Strength of Nasus
User's physical strength scales with SP gained
Items:
Zhonya's Hourglass
Grants user status: frozen but invulnerable for 2.5 seconds]
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