The following week settled into a routine. Each morning began with the same ritual: a quick breakfast in the mess hall.
The food was practical, a bland but perfectly balanced nutritional paste designed to fuel their training for the day.
Jason complained about the taste every day, but no one could argue with its effectiveness. It kept them energized for the day and ready for the grueling sessions that followed.
Their days were mostly spent in the sim pods, an experience that was equal parts exhilarating and exhausting.
These weren't like the arcade pods Talon had used before. This was a system so immersive it blurred the line between reality and simulation. As the pod sealed shut, sensors automatically latched onto his head, calibrated to stimulate precise brainwave frequencies.
Within moments, they brought him into a state of controlled sleep. Every pod synced perfectly, ensuring that all cadets entered the same shared virtual dreamworld.
The outside world faded entirely, replaced by a perfect replica of a vast, open plateau of grasslands.
Every detail felt real, the crunch of grass underfoot, the warmth of the sun on his skin, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers. He could feel everything, from Jason's playful elbow to the sharp kick to the face during a spar.
If Talon didn't know better, he'd swear he was truly there.
And for better or worse, there was no turning down the pain setting like in the arcade.
But the sim pods weren't just for virtual training. Integrated with the glowing blue spherical energy crystals slotted into the pods' rear compartments, the pods worked in tandem to enhance their physical bodies.
The energy crystals were diffused into the pod's oxygen system, filling the air with microscopic particles that the cadets naturally inhaled throughout the day.
These particles nourished their energy pathways, accelerating adaptation and ensuring optimal efficiency.
The real magic happened with the help of embedded nanobots. These tiny machines worked tirelessly, breaking down and repairing their muscles in real-time, mirroring the stress their bodies experienced in the simulation.
Every punch, every sprint, every fall they took in the virtual world was carefully replicated on their physical forms, training their muscle memory down to the smallest detail.
This synergy between the crystals, nanobots, and simulation ensured that the cadets grew stronger not just mentally, but physically.
Their muscles toughened, their reflexes sharpened, and their energy reserves improved, all in perfect harmony with their virtual performance
—-
In the beginning it was difficult, people had just turned Super, and had to get used to their new physical powers.
The training sessions were varied and intense. One moment they were sprinting through obstacle courses, their newfound strength and agility tested to the limit.
The next, they were sparring in hand-to-hand combat or lifting massive objects that would've been impossible for their unawakened selves.
There was also parkour, precision drills, and target practice.
Each activity was carefully designed to help them grow accustomed to their new powers.
Talon quickly noticed something that set him apart. While everyone else was getting stronger and faster, his progress was leaps and bounds ahead.
His base stats, strength, speed, and reflexes, basically every physical aspect, seemed to be at least double those of the others.
He wasn't alone in standing out; Kieran, Jason, and a few uncommons showed promising results as well, but none came close to Talon's level in physical power.
It didn't take long for Leon to notice, either.
"Good work, Graves," Leon said during a sparring session. "Looks like your genetic power is a stat multiplier. Powers like that are extremely valuable, but difficult to gain an edge in a fight. Train hard."
Talon nodded, trying to appear confident. "Uh, thanks," he said, hiding his inner panic.
Leon's approval eased some of the tension that had been building in Talon's chest. If everyone believed his "power" was simply a stat boost, it would save him from awkward questions.
Mythicals like him were truly on a different level, it was not even his power, but something that came with him being a mythical that already set him apart from the others.
Outside of the intense training, the cadets also spent time learning about the inner workings of the Solaris Concord. Using the sim pods, they were taken on virtual tours of the Vengeance, exploring its many systems and functions.
They even got to pilot starfighters in simulated dogfights, an experience that left Jason grinning from ear to ear.
"Did you see that move I pulled?" Jason said afterward, practically bouncing as they left the pods.
"You mean when you almost crashed into me?" Talon shot back with a smirk.
The training wasn't all about physical or technical skills, though. Squad captains like Talon were given briefings on team dynamics and strategy.
However, for their first lesson, every cadet was present.
Honestly, it was quite the in-depth analysis. Talon had always assumed supers simply relied on their powers in combat, whoever was stronger would win. But now, he realized there was much more strategy involved than he'd ever thought.
Everyone sat in a corner of the grassy plateau within the simulation. Of course, they were still physically in the pods; their real bodies remained connected to the system as the energy crystals they'd been provided worked to accelerate their ascension.