Dave stood in the middle of the vast, barren training field, his breath still heavy from the grueling physical exercises. His body had become stronger—far stronger than it had been before he entered the training pod—but he knew that raw strength wasn't enough. To compete with the likes of Rank S superhumans, he needed to master his Teleportation skill, a power that could turn the tide of any battle if used correctly.
"System, initiate Teleportation Control training," Dave commanded, his eyes narrowed in focus.
"Training initiated. Host, this phase will focus on increasing both the precision and efficiency of your teleportation abilities. The goal is to reduce the energy cost and improve control under combat situations. Multiple scenarios will be provided to enhance your understanding and mastery of the skill."
The environment around him changed once again, shifting from the barren landscape to a complex labyrinth of walls, obstacles, and towering cliffs. The maze stretched far into the horizon, presenting a challenge not just of movement, but of strategy.
"Teleportation is not merely about moving from one place to another," the system explained. "To master this ability, you must learn to control it in a way that allows for both offense and defense. Be prepared, Host."
Without warning, a dozen clones of himself appeared at different points across the labyrinth. Each one moved with deadly precision, armed with weapons and abilities designed to keep him on his toes. Unlike his earlier training, these clones were not just perfect replicas—they were slightly stronger, faster, and more aggressive than him.
Dave immediately teleported to a higher vantage point, disappearing in an instant and reappearing on top of one of the towering cliffs. The shift was instantaneous, but he could already feel the familiar drain on his energy. He needed to get used to the strain if he wanted to make teleportation a seamless part of his combat routine.
The clones didn't give him a moment to rest. They converged on his position, firing beams of energy and launching attacks from all angles. Dave teleported again, this time shifting behind one of the clones and striking with a quick punch to the back of its head. But the clone vanished just as he did, reappearing a few meters away.
'They're teleporting too... just as fast as me,' Dave realized. He was fighting opponents who had complete mastery over the same skill he was trying to perfect. The challenge was immense.
The clones attacked relentlessly, and Dave had no choice but to teleport repeatedly, evading their strikes and trying to gain the upper hand. Every time he blinked out of one spot, he found himself in a new area, surrounded by enemies. It was a chaotic dance of vanishing and reappearing, a battle fought across dimensions of space.
'It's not enough to just escape,' Dave thought, frustration building. 'I have to use teleportation as a weapon.'
He focused, feeling the energy course through his body, and teleported again—this time not to evade, but to strike. He blinked in rapid succession, appearing in front of one clone, delivering a powerful punch, then immediately disappearing to strike another from behind. His movements became a blur, his body flickering in and out of existence faster than the eye could follow.
The clones retaliated, teleporting just as swiftly, but Dave was improving. His mind was starting to grasp the nuances of the skill—the subtle energy shifts, the timing needed to make the most of each teleportation. He began using the environment to his advantage, teleporting to high ground and then blinking down to attack, disorienting his opponents.
Time seemed to blur inside the pod. Hours passed as Dave fought, teleported, and fought again, honing his ability to control every aspect of his teleportation. He practiced teleporting short distances to dodge attacks by mere inches, and long distances to gain the upper hand strategically. He began chaining his teleportation with other attacks—blasting energy while disappearing, then reappearing to strike a finishing blow.
The battle was exhausting, but with each blink, Dave could feel the strain lessening. His teleportation was becoming smoother, more instinctive. He could teleport multiple times in quick succession without the drain overwhelming him. His control had improved dramatically, and he could now teleport to exact points within the chaotic battlefield, always one step ahead of his clones.
Finally, after what felt like days of continuous combat, Dave teleported one last time—appearing in the middle of the field where all of his clones were converging. With a deep breath, he unleashed a massive wave of energy, wiping out the last of the clones in one powerful strike.
The system's voice chimed in, acknowledging his progress.
"Teleportation training complete. Host, you have reached a level of control that surpasses previous limits. Energy efficiency has improved by 40%, and precision is at optimal levels."
Dave stood still for a moment, catching his breath. He had done it—he had mastered teleportation in a way that allowed him to use it not just as a means of escape, but as a deadly tool in combat.
"Time to end this," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction and fatigue.
The world around him shifted one last time, returning to the empty pod as the simulation ended. Dave stepped out of the pod, his muscles tense but strong. It had been two months in real-time, but inside the pod, it felt like much, much longer.
He didn't need the system to tell him—he could feel the difference in his body. Every part of him was stronger, faster, more efficient. His powers had evolved, and while the exact extent of his growth wasn't revealed to him, Dave knew one thing for sure.
He was no longer the man who had stepped into this pod two months ago. He had become something much more dangerous.