Dave sat quietly in the large, dimly lit room of his villa, his mind racing with thoughts of the recent encounter with Helios. He rubbed the still-tender spot on his chest where the Rank S superhuman had landed a punch that nearly killed him. If it hadn't been for Bella's desperate intervention, he would've been a lifeless husk in that alleyway. He felt his fists tighten as the memories replayed in his head, each scene more humiliating than the last.
The holographic screen Bella had pulled up showed a rotating 3D image of Helios, highlighting various pieces of data and stats that only made Dave's blood boil more. Helios wasn't just strong; he was in an entirely different league. And now, Dave needed to bridge that gap—or die trying.
"Alright, Bella. Tell me everything you know about Helios," Dave demanded, his voice filled with grim determination.
"Helios," Bella began, her tone serious, reflecting the weight of the situation, "is one of the highest-ranked superhumans currently known to exist. He's notorious for eliminating anyone who poses even a remote threat to him or his operations. His primary ability is Light Manipulation. He can utilize it to enhance his speed to near-instantaneous levels, create weapons of pure energy, and even cause devastating explosions. But that's not all—his secondary ability is Spatial Distortion. It allows him to warp the space around him, making it almost impossible to land a direct hit unless you have perfect timing."
Dave felt a shiver run down his spine. "Light Manipulation and Spatial Distortion? So that's why he's so fast, and why I couldn't land a hit on him..."
"Yes," Bella continued. "He's classified as a high-tier Rank S, almost approaching SS in terms of raw power and skill. His abilities are incredibly versatile, making him a threat at any range. The only reason you're still alive is because of your teleportation and quick decision-making. Otherwise, he would have killed you without a second thought."
Dave's hands clenched into fists as he listened. The encounter had left him with a deep sense of inadequacy, something he hadn't felt in a long time. But he wasn't about to let it paralyze him. If anything, it fueled his resolve to get stronger, faster, and better.
"I need to be stronger, Bella. Much stronger. How long do you think it'll take me to get to his level?" Dave asked, his voice calm but laced with a fierce intensity.
"That depends on how far you're willing to go," Bella replied. "If you're serious about reaching his level, then you'll need to push yourself beyond anything you've done before. You'll need to train like never before."
"Then let's do it," Dave said firmly, determination blazing in his eyes. "I want to be ready to face him again, and this time, I won't just survive—I'll win."
Bella hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the risks, then continued. "Alright. If you go back into the POD and train without pause, you could potentially bridge the gap. You'd need at least 10 months of intensive training within the POD, which would only amount to a month in real-time. But, Dave... it won't be like before. This training will push you to the brink of death—over and over again."
"Ten months?" Dave mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "It's a long time… but I'll do it. I have to. Let's get started right away."
"Are you sure?" Bella's voice took on a rare note of concern. "This isn't going to be like the other times. I'll push you to your absolute limit, and even beyond that. You could die hundreds—no, thousands—of times in there."
Dave nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Do it, Bella. I'm ready."
With a deep breath, Dave made his way to the POD chamber, his footsteps echoing through the silent villa. The door slid shut behind him, sealing him inside the stark, metallic environment. His heart pounded with a mixture of fear and excitement. This was it—the beginning of his transformation. The only path forward was to become someone capable of standing against a being like Helios.
The POD screen flickered to life, displaying a countdown timer and the familiar hum of the machine engaging.
Time Dilation Activated: 1 Month in Reality = 10 Months in POD
"Initializing training sequence," Bella announced in a tone that was both cold and clinical. "Prepare yourself, Dave. This will be unlike anything you've ever experienced."
The sterile interior of the POD shifted, the walls dissolving into a massive, empty landscape. The training grounds stretched endlessly in all directions, barren and harsh, like a desert wasteland. In the distance, a familiar figure began to materialize—his Rank S copy. It stood with the same confident stance as before, but now its aura seemed even more powerful, almost suffocating.
Dave took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. "Let's do this."
The fight began without warning. His copy moved faster than the blink of an eye, launching itself forward and throwing a devastating punch aimed directly at Dave's head. He barely managed to teleport out of the way, reappearing a few feet behind the copy. His heart was already racing, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"Focus, Dave," Bella's voice echoed in his mind. "Your first priority is surviving."
The copy didn't give him a chance to catch his breath. It pivoted with unnatural speed, sending a barrage of kicks and punches that Dave struggled to evade. Each strike carried enough force to shatter bone, and Dave felt the air around him crackle with energy.
He teleported again, this time using his matter control to hurl a boulder-sized chunk of rock at his copy. The copy smirked, raising a hand and dispersing the rock into dust with a single wave.
"Damn it!" Dave gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting.
"Keep moving!" Bella snapped. "Don't let up!"
Dave pushed himself harder, teleporting in rapid succession, using matter control to manipulate the terrain, creating barriers and launching debris. But every time he thought he gained an upper hand, the copy would counter, shattering his defenses and delivering brutal blows that left him gasping for air.
The training continued like this for what felt like an eternity. Each time Dave thought he was making progress, the copy would adapt, exploiting his weaknesses and overpowering him. But he didn't give up. With every defeat, he learned. With every death, he grew stronger.
He began to anticipate the copy's moves, reacting faster, using teleportation and matter control in tandem. He created barriers, deflected attacks, and even managed to land a few solid hits. But the copy always retaliated, its power seemingly limitless.
Months passed in the POD, each day blurring into the next. Dave's body was pushed to its breaking point, his mind strained to its limits. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of pain and exhaustion, but he refused to stop. He had to be better. He had to surpass Helios.
Finally, after countless battles, Dave stood once more, facing his copy. But this time, something was different. His movements were sharper, his control more precise. He could feel the power coursing through him, the culmination of ten months of relentless training.
The copy charged, but Dave was ready. He teleported, his body moving faster than ever before, and unleashed a devastating kick infused with his matter control. The impact was explosive, shattering the ground beneath them and sending shockwaves across the landscape.
The copy staggered, its form flickering.
"Now!" Bella's voice urged.
Dave didn't hesitate. He teleported behind the copy, his hand glowing with raw power. With a fierce cry, he unleashed a concentrated blast of energy, obliterating the copy in a flash of blinding light.
Silence followed, the dust settling around him.
"Training complete," Bella announced softly. "Congratulations, Dave. You've reached Rank SS."
Dave collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion and relief. He had done it. He had finally crossed the threshold.
But as he lay there, gasping for breath, one thought lingered in his mind.
"I'm coming for you, Helios."