April 3, 2024
The familiar hum of the ship vibrated beneath my feet as I made my way to the gym area. I had already sparred with Luke, picked up sharpshooting tips from Rina, and torn through codes with Ty. My body and mind were adapting to their techniques at a pace that even surprised me, but there was still more to learn.
Kraven, the leader of the squad, was next on my list. He was the one who mostly observed, rarely intervening, and yet his presence held the team together. He hadn't offered to train with me yet, but I knew that would change today. I could feel it.
When I stepped into the gym, Kraven was already there, performing a series of strength exercises. His movements were precise, calculated, and despite his leaner frame, he lifted with the same ease as someone much stronger. He didn't acknowledge me at first, letting me watch as he completed his set, his muscles straining but never faltering. His discipline was undeniable.
He glanced up at me, wiping sweat from his brow. "You're early."
"I wanted to make sure I was ready," I replied, leaning against the wall.
Kraven gave a short nod and stood up, rolling his shoulders as he walked toward me.
"Good. I've seen you learn from the others, but now it's time to push your endurance. Close combat, sharpshooting, hacking, those are skills. But none of it matters if you can't keep going when you're running on fumes."
I understood immediately. This wasn't going to be a lesson in technique or precision. This was about mental and physical stamina, pushing through limits that would break most people.
Without another word, Kraven gestured toward the row of equipment lined up along the walls. There were machines for everything, speed, endurance, strength, and Kraven clearly had something specific in mind for me.
"Today," he said, his voice calm but firm, "we're going to find out how long you can last."
....
Kraven started the session by running me through an intense series of high-intensity drills. He led me through every part of it, pushing me harder than Luke or Rina ever had. Each circuit was designed to work every muscle, from sprinting on the treadmill to lifting weights to timed endurance tests on the punching bags.
My lungs burned, my arms felt like lead, but I refused to stop. Each time I faltered, Kraven was there, his eyes boring into mine with quiet expectation. He didn't shout or encourage me like Luke would, he just expected me to keep going, and somehow, that was enough.
Sweat poured down my face as I completed another round of pull-ups, my muscles trembling from the strain. Kraven watched silently, his arms crossed as he observed every movement. When I dropped from the bar, barely catching my breath, he finally spoke.
"Endurance isn't just about physical stamina," he said, his tone even. "It's mental. It's about controlling the pain, the exhaustion. In the field, you'll be pushed beyond your limits, and when that happens, it's your mind that will keep you alive."
I nodded, gulping down water from the bottle he handed me. My mind was sharp, but my body was catching up slowly. This kind of training was different from the others. Kraven wasn't teaching me a skill; he was building my foundation.
"How do you do it?" I asked, wiping sweat from my face. "Keep pushing through?"
Kraven looked at me for a long moment, then shrugged. "Discipline. Every time you feel like quitting, remind yourself why you started."
It was simple advice, but it hit hard. I couldn't afford to break, not now, not when I had come this far. Especially with the enemies I will face in the future, they will not take it easy on me. I had to be stronger, faster, and more resilient than I had ever been.
....
Hours passed, and the drills continued. My muscles screamed in protest, but I refused to let up. I could feel myself getting stronger, my body adjusting to the strain, just like it had during my sparring with Luke. But this time, the challenge was mental. Kraven was testing how far I could push before breaking, and I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me fall.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kraven signaled for me to stop. I collapsed onto the bench, my chest heaving, every muscle in my body throbbing with exhaustion. But I had done it. I had lasted through the entire session without giving up.
Kraven tossed me a towel, his expression neutral. "Not bad. You've got potential."
I wiped the sweat from my face, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment despite the pain. "Thanks," I muttered, still catching my breath.
He gave me a nod, then turned to leave. But just before he walked out the door, he paused, glancing back at me.
"Tomorrow, we start on tactics. You've learned the physical part. Now it's time to understand strategy."
With that, he left, leaving me alone in the gym, my body aching but my mind already racing with anticipation for the next challenge.
....
Back in my quarters, I let myself sink into the chair, my body still sore from the training. The physical pain was already fading, though, as my body healed faster than ever. It was strange, almost like my muscles had adapted to the point where they didn't need as much recovery time.
As I sat there, my thoughts drifted to what Kraven had said. Discipline. It was a word I hadn't thought much about before, but now it seemed to be the key to everything. If I could master my mind, my body would follow.
I activated the holo-bracelet, scrolling through my account balance again. The 3,289,400 credits were still there, untouched.
I had more than enough to start building something real, but I knew that money wasn't going to solve all my problems. If I wanted to rise through the ranks, if I wanted to become more than just a fighter, I needed to focus on the long game.
And for that, I needed to keep learning.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new lessons. But I was ready for it. My mind was clear, my body stronger than it had ever been, and for the first time, I felt like I had control over my path.