Arriving at the gym Nathan greeted the Jane, the receptionist, before walking in and using the kiosk to summon Dale. Nathan stood there for a bit before realizing he probably had another person since he was so early. After a couple of reps lifting weights Dale showed up.

"Whatcha need my dude?" He said In his standard chill tone.

"I want to change my routine a bit. I had a bit of an incident at work and I kinda want to learn some fighting styles or something." Nathan mumbled.

"I got you man, what kind of skills do you have that you think we could base a style on?" He asked.

Nathan thought for a spell before saying "I have a pretty good grip and my aura can take a hit I guess." Dale nodded and then took him to a different area of the gym. This one seemed to be a testing room judging by the strange equipment.

"Give this a squeeze" He said, handing Nathan a weird tool. Nathan grabbed the handles and gripped it as hard as he could. He was a little surprised by the ease at which he pressed the handle bars together. Dale, however seemed much more surprised.

"You said a 'bit' of a grip!" He accused, already pulling out a cooler looking version. This one Nathan only managed to get to three quarters closed. That left his hands trembling in exertion, but the look on Dales face was worth every bit of effort.

"I honestly don't want to know what you've done to be able to have such strong hands. Do you strangle people for a living?" He said before explaining that the first one meant he had a grip of about a hundred pounds. The second was up to three hundred. Dale estimated his grip to about two hundred fifty pounds. Definitely capable of doing some damage, at least to someone without a capable strengthening technique.

"Well Mr. Strangler, let's test that aura shield" Nathan waited a bit for him to pull out some tool or contraption but he just stood there. Nathan shrugged before forming his aura into a shield. It felt odd to do but it still felt like it should retain it's resistance that it had when he squeezed it. Dale threw a punch, and Nathan winced as the shield shuddered. It held but it had a visible depression already. Dale looked at it curiously before punching again. And again. It took a barrage of punches to finally pierce the shield, surprising Nathan but Dale seemed to have expected it.

"A soft shield huh, haven't seen one of those before. Actually I think someone was looking to observe a soft shield. You mind? I'm sure they can help figure out a fighting style for you." He said. After seeing Nathan nod he walked off and called someone. About half an hour later a tall lanky man walked up to Nathan and Dale, who were discussing the benefits of a soft shield. He looked to Dale before asking "Is this the guy with the shield?"

"Ya, my man here has a killer grip and a legit soft shield technique. Took over a dozen hits from me at full tilt" At that the tall man looked at Nathan as though trying to decipher some unknowable mystery. Nathan walked up and introduced himself.

"Im Nathan, a pleasure to meet you."

"My name is Jack, and trust me the pleasure is mine. If your shield is good enough it could be a serious benefit to me. May I observe it?" He asked with a far too polite quarter bow. It didn't take much to figure out that the man was extremely powerful. Whether it was the way his aura literally suppressed the area around him, or the subtle intimidation that he emitted without doing anything. Nathan was quick to throw up his 'bubble', still a little confused about a simple exercise off the internet had helped him so much. Jack looked at the translucent barrier and then flicked it. 'Thunk' and the shield was deformed almost comically.

"That is… perfect. Yes, truly perfect. Nathan I wish to learn this technique. What will it cost." He said, so excited that he completely dropped his pretence of politeness. Nathan wasn't really upset though, this was likely a point of enlightenment for the man. Nathan recalled when Reggie was determined to figure out how to truly 'run'. Nathan had poked fun, but it was ultimately his agility that had gotten him his position of Enforcer.

"It's pretty simple, I mean I don't even own the technique. It's a public technique. No need for repayment or anything." Nathan said respectfully before pulling up the article on his phone. Jack looked at it for several minutes with the intensity of a life and death situation. After he finished he glanced back at Nathan.

"Demonstrate" he said, his gaze hiding the madness of someone who had finally found what they were seeking. As Nathan formed the various different he had practiced crushing Jack watched on. Occasionally asking for clarification about some minor details, he eventually nodded.

"That's plenty. Dale go prep a private instruction room."

"Sure thing big man" Dale said before giving Nathan a wink and walking out. A short walk later he was standing in a calm room without anything except a small mat for meditation and an incense burner.

"Nathan, as a reward for your instruction I will teach you a skill of my own. Look over this and choose" said Jack before handing him a small list.