Certification
719 Words
"No! I don't want to die! Stop!"The coach could no longer control his body, helplessly watching as his head moved toward a gap in one of the gym machines.
Bang!The scene was horrifying. The coach's body instantly collapsed, lifeless, with bodily fluids slowly spreading across the gym floor, searing the eyes of everyone present.
The rest of the crowd erupted in panicked screams. Witnessing such a brutal and merciless death firsthand sent shockwaves through their minds.
"QUIET!!!!!!"The broadcast roared with such fury that the echo lingered, silencing everyone in the gym.
Even Ye Sha felt the weight of the situation. The dead coach was someone he had shared a few meals with, a decent acquaintance, yet he was powerless to save him. After all, there was no clear indication of where this sinister force—the "anomaly"—was hiding.
"Wang Ming, step forward and perform a proper set of push-ups!"The broadcast's eerie voice rang out again, singling out a gym-goer. Wang Ming's face fell, and with a heavy heart, he walked to the center and got down on the ground.
"Not standard! Do it again!""Still wrong! Do it again!""DO IT AGAIN!"Wang Ming was a beginner in fitness, coming to the gym to de-stress. He had never been properly guided and naturally failed to meet the required form.
"Hands and feet aligned, arms shoulder-width apart! Tighten your core, don’t let your back sag!"Ye Sha’s voice cut through the air, giving clear instructions. Wang Ming immediately adjusted his posture, barely managing to pass the test.
"Not bad," the eerie voice muttered reluctantly. But then, it suddenly snapped. "Why is a coach here allowing someone else to interfere?!"
Ye Sha knew it was coming. The anomaly had turned its attention to him.
Liu Yuning, the boss, instinctively grabbed Ye Sha's hand, her worry evident. She was prepared to defend him, even under the shadow of the anomaly's wrath.
Ye Sha felt a jolt at her touch. This act of courage from Liu Yuning, who was usually so composed and untouchable, deeply moved him.
"Therefore, your punishment will be… hmm?"The anomaly's broadcast faltered, its tone shifting to confusion.
Ye Sha’s mind raced. It can’t affect me!
"This time, I'll let it go. The coach has forgiven you," the voice eventually declared, though it sounded begrudging.
The crowd stared at Ye Sha with mixed expressions. They weren’t foolish—something about him clearly affected the anomaly's behavior.
Liu Yuning exhaled in relief but quickly noticed that Ye Sha was still holding her hand tightly. A warmth rose within her, unexpectedly calming her frayed nerves.
The anomaly continued issuing fitness tasks to the trapped gym-goers. Ye Sha soon realized a peculiar pattern:The tasks were absurdly basic—entry-level exercises lacking professional guidance. Whenever someone struggled, Ye Sha would offer a few quick tips to get them through.
The anomaly seemed to ignore Ye Sha’s interjections but grew increasingly frantic and agitated. It was losing control.
Ye Sha's subtle interference had prevented any further deaths. The only casualties were those the anomaly had struck preemptively.
"Enough! I am the coach! You shut your mouth!"The anomaly’s broadcast screeched, its rage palpable.
"Do you even have a certified fitness trainer license?" Ye Sha suddenly countered, shocking everyone. Was he seriously asking an anomaly about certifications? This was beyond absurd!
"…"The anomaly fell silent, its lack of a response practically an admission.
"Well, I do," Ye Sha retorted, gesturing toward a shelf stacked with the gym's official trainer certifications. "Without a license, you’re misleading these trainees. What gives you the right to act like a coach?"
"Shut up!!!!"The anomaly's fury erupted in an ear-splitting scream. The sound waves shattered every mirror and glass panel in the gym, including the reinforced glass door.
"Run! Everyone, get out now!"Ye Sha shouted, taking Liu Yuning’s hand and shoving others toward the exit. The open door spurred the trapped crowd into a panicked stampede. Fortunately, the gym’s spacious layout prevented a crushing disaster.
Spotting Xiao Liu, the receptionist, struggling in the chaos, Ye Sha rushed over, pulling her along as he led the two women toward the staircase.
"Die! Die! Die!"The anomaly’s broadcast blared behind them, spiraling into a deranged chant.
"Kill… Ye Sha… Kill… Ye Sha… Kill… Ye Sha…"
- Writer
