Atlas got home at around four o'clock and immediately hopped on his old, dusty PC to do some research on gods and supernatural creatures.
Two hours later, he felt sore from all the sitting and since it was time to practise the Divine Energy technique; he decided to stop the research and absorb the surrounding Divine Energies. After he finished a few minutes later, he felt completely refreshed.
"Should I continue researching or should I try the Empty Breathing technique? The research HAS helped me understand the gods a lot more, but that doesn't change the fact that I need to get stronger right now,"
After a while of thinking, Atlas just did what any sensible person would do. He thought while he ate dinner! After downing the plate of spaghetti and a nice juice, Atlas finally made his decision.
The teen thanked his mom for the food and rushed back upstairs, reviewing his decision over and over again.
He plopped down to the ground and got in a cross-legged position, arms directly resting on his thighs and his fingers in a clasped position.
The cross-legged position represented oneness and inability to be affected by the mortal world, while the clasped hand position stood for the unbreakable connection between one's soul and the world.
Atlas got down in the easy position and began breathing as the technique described. It was a little hard trying to visualize something from a book, but after a few tries, he got it.
It was as if his lungs were blocked, unable to receive any oxygen. The feeling built up within him, threatening to burst his chest open. Atlas' cheeks that were inflated from him trying to keep it in suddenly turned from red to blue.
Despite all this, though, he didn't deactivate the technique even once.
A cold feeling built up in his chest, contrary to the warm aura that came about when he cultivated the Divine Energy. The feeling built up in his chest suddenly spread to the rest of his body, making him somewhat numb.
The chilling energy spread out past his pores, forming a small invisible dome around him. It blocked out any distractions and killed any organism within it. All the while struggling for his breath, Atlas immediately understood what 'Empty Void' stood for.
After practising another few minutes, he unclasped his palms and exhaled loudly. Sweat rolled down his entire body despite his surroundings being cold. The teen took deep, long breaths and collapsed backwards.
"How do people practise this every day?" he sighed to himself, getting up and heading for his bed.
The bed that was no more than a few metres away suddenly felt like a few miles.
"Ugh…"
He climbed the bed as though he was traversing Everest until he finally reached the soft outcome he was waiting for ever since he stopped operating the Breathing technique.
His entire body was more than sore or numb could describe. His chest felt hot inside, despite the fact that it was cold to the touch and the rest of his body had varying temperatures. There was only one way to describe what he was actually feeling.
"I feel so fucking empty…"
Indeed. It was as though someone pumped a tank full of air and exploded his organs, yet his brain was still alive.
Despite that, Atlas would be lying if he said he didn't feel satisfied.
'The instructions described these feelings…though, not in so much depth. It must mean I'm doing it right!'
The teen pondered for a while and stared back to the spot where he trained. There was a small patch of ice there.
'That's pretty small, though. I hope nothing went wrong.' he mused with worry apparent on his face.
It was his gut feeling, but if he told anyone else about these feelings, they would curse him for being ungrateful despite his talent.
"Whatever, man. I just want to sleep."
Eventually, his mind caught up with the exhaustion of his body and he drifted to sleep peacefully for the first time in a few days.
. . .
*The Next Day*
Atlas woke up early to practise the Divine Energy technique, then lightly trained using Empty Void Breathing (it didn't last very long).
By the time he was done, it was around seven o'clock and he smelled breakfast cooking.
'Mom hasn't left for work yet?'
He rushed down the stairs frantically, wondering whether his mother had finally changed her mind.
As he suspected, his mother was in the kitchen and he heard the sound of humming accompanied by the slight sizzle of sausages frying on the pan.
"Good morning, son!" she said without turning away from the stove. Atlas instantly noted that she sounded way more cheery than usual.
"Aren't you going to work today?"
He entered the kitchen and wanted to move her forwards so he could see her face, wondering whether that was really his mom. However, she did so herself and showed him her beautiful face.
"Have you been staying up late again?" She scowled, tapping his arm slightly with the hot tongs. Atlas barely flinched at the hot feeling, but immediately turned away sheepishly at her question.
"Not yesterday! T-that was only the past few days."
"I'm telling you, one of these days you'll get shorter if you keep staying up late."
His mother turned back to the sausages and smiled a little.
"It's a Saturday; my free day."
'Saturday?'
Atlas frowned and inwardly counted the days backwards. "Huh. It didn't occur to me."
His mother laughed coyly and pointed behind the door with her tongs.
"I only knew because your friend there woke me up and informed me,"
Atlas was stunned frozen when he saw a shirtless Apollo smiling flirtatiously as he waved at him.
'This bastard!'
****
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