Les sat at the edge of his bed, staring out the window of his small, dimly lit apartment. The city outside continued its hum of life, indifferent to his inner turmoil. Neon lights flickered against the darkening sky, casting faint glows that illuminated his thoughts more than his surroundings. The echoes of his brief success in Ancient Arena Online still buzzed in his mind, but they were overshadowed by the stark contrast of his reality.
His body ached, reminding him of the rudimentary attempts to replicate what he'd learned in the game. Life Mirror had given him access to memories and skills beyond what he thought possible, but the reality was that his body couldn't fully keep up. Not yet, anyway. He stood up and paced the room, his mind restless.
For the first time in a long while, Les felt a sense of direction, of purpose. Life Mirror wasn't just a game-breaking skill; it had real-world potential. He could actually use it here, in reality—if he could train his body to handle the physical demands. But he couldn't do that holed up in this dingy apartment with no space, no equipment, and no access to the resources he needed.
He ran a hand through his hair, his brow furrowed as he thought back to the fight in the PvP arena. The raw energy, the reflexes, the sheer power he had felt in the virtual world—he wanted to experience that in real life. To become someone who wasn't just lost in a game but was thriving both in and out of it. He needed a place to train, somewhere that could help him bridge the gap between the virtual and the real.
Les pulled out his holo-pad and stared at the blank screen for a moment, tapping his fingers absentmindedly. He had been running away from his past for so long, trying to escape the reality of his ruined career and the wreckage of his personal life. But now, maybe it was time to stop running. Maybe it was time to plan for the future.
He opened a search engine and began typing.
"Training centers for athletes, VR simulations, body improvement programs…"
Various results flashed across the screen, ranging from high-end gyms to specialized facilities designed for professional athletes. He scrolled through them, noting that many of the places were either too expensive or too far out of reach. The low credit balance in his account gnawed at the back of his mind. He wasn't just strapped for cash—he was dangerously close to being broke.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, closing the search results. He couldn't afford a high-tech gym, much less one of those elite athletic programs designed for VR athletes. But there had to be something he could do. There had to be another way to bridge the gap between the game and his real-world development.
Les leaned back against the wall, thinking. What if he didn't need the best equipment? What if he could improvise?
He recalled his time managing athletes in The Hub, back when his focus had been on training strategies and analyzing performance. A lot of those athletes, despite being top-tier, didn't rely on fancy equipment to get better. They honed their skills through intense repetition, mental discipline, and consistent effort. The tools and technology were just enhancers. The real work came from pushing their bodies and minds to the limit, no matter what they had.
His gaze shifted to the corner of his apartment, where an old stack of weights sat gathering dust. He had almost forgotten about them. They weren't much—just a few light dumbbells he'd picked up ages ago—but it was a start. He also remembered a nearby park with basic exercise equipment, like pull-up bars and running tracks. It wasn't a state-of-the-art gym, but it was free. And right now, free was exactly what he needed.
Les grabbed his holo-pad again and started jotting down notes.
Daily Physical Training: Morning runs, basic bodyweight exercises—push-ups, pull-ups, squats. Gradual increase in intensity. Focus on building endurance and agility.
VR Training Sessions: Continue with Ancient Arena Online in the evenings. Work on reflexes, timing, and strategy. Use Life Mirror to learn from top athletes, both in the game and in real life. Analyze their moves and integrate them into his real-world training.
Research: Find more affordable training centers or community programs for athletes. Maybe there were smaller, independent gyms that weren't so focused on VR athletes but could still offer the training he needed. Or maybe some under-the-radar programs that catered to people like him, on the edge of breaking through.
Mind-Body Connection: Focus on mental conditioning. Meditation, visualization techniques. The more he could align his mind with his body, the better he'd be at using Life Mirror in the real world.
As he finished typing, Les felt a small spark of hope light up within him. This wasn't the final solution, but it was a plan—a roadmap to get him moving forward. He couldn't afford to sit around waiting for life to throw him another curveball. If he was going to rebuild, he needed to do it with purpose, with intention.
He tossed the holo-pad onto the couch and grabbed a bottle of water from the kitchen. His reflection in the window caught his eye, and he paused for a moment. The man staring back at him looked tired—worn down by years of disappointment and failure. But behind that weariness, there was something else too. Determination. A fire that hadn't fully burned out yet.
Les took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his body start to ease. He still had a long way to go, and the road ahead was far from easy. But for the first time in a long time, he had a goal. A reason to keep pushing.
He walked over to the window and stared out at the city. Somewhere out there, people were living their lives, moving forward while he had been stuck. But now he was ready to join them. Maybe he wasn't going to rebuild his life overnight, and maybe he wouldn't have everything figured out right away, but he wasn't going to sit in the shadows anymore.
Les smiled to himself, feeling a strange sense of calm settle over him. This was his chance to take control, to stop being a victim of his circumstances. He had a plan—a way to forge a path, both in the game and in real life.
And as he stood there, watching the city lights flicker in the distance, Les knew that this was just the beginning.
Tomorrow, he would start his training. Tomorrow, he would take the first step toward reclaiming his life.