It was an early morning like no other, with sunlight streaming into Peter Parker's room. For the first time in what felt like forever, he woke up with energy flooding through him. As he stretched, he could practically feel strength pulsing through his veins, making him feel like he'd just taken a sip from the ultimate energy drink. Peter glanced at himself in the mirror, startled. Muscles, where muscles had never existed before. His arms were solid, his chest sculpted—he looked like he'd been hitting the gym every day for years.
"Huh…" Peter muttered, staring in disbelief at his reflection.
Slowly, he made his way downstairs, where Aunt May and Uncle Ben were already setting up breakfast. The smell of freshly scrambled eggs wafted through the air, and his stomach rumbled.
Aunt May noticed him coming down and beamed. "Well, look who finally woke up! I even made a bit extra for breakfast today."
"Thanks, Aunt May. I feel like I could eat a horse!" Peter grinned, sitting down eagerly at the table.
Uncle Ben chuckled and switched on the TV. The morning news flashed across the screen, and just as Peter started digging in, a familiar headline caught his eye.
"Yesterday's bank robbery downtown ended in tragedy with six armed robbers killed, a security guard injured, and one lone survivor. Sources reveal that a brave civilian played a significant role in saving the hostages."
Peter's eyes widened, and he looked up, nearly choking on his toast. "Wait, another robbery? Seriously? Just yesterday?"
"It was all over the news, Peter," said Uncle Ben, not taking his eyes off the screen. "One of the hostages took down those robbers."
The TV cut to a picture of the "hero" in question, and Peter's fork stopped mid-air. There on the screen was a familiar face. Noah, his classmate, was plastered across the news, looking like a movie star with that unmistakable confidence in his eyes.
Peter gaped at the screen. "No way!"
Aunt May chuckled, glancing at Peter. "He's quite the handsome young man, isn't he? Some of the ladies at work printed out his picture yesterday!"
Peter looked back and forth between the TV and Aunt May, at a complete loss for words. His classmate had gone from a high school nobody to a full-blown action hero in a day. It didn't make sense. As if waking up stronger wasn't strange enough, his classmate was now a hero on the news. What was going on?
Peter quickly shoved the rest of his breakfast down and grabbed his backpack, mumbling something about needing to catch the school bus. On the way, he tried dialing Noah's phone, but every call went straight to voicemail. Frustrated, Peter hung up and stared out the bus window, deep in thought.
When he looked up, he saw her: Mary Jane, his longtime crush, smiling warmly as she walked down the aisle. Peter's heart did a little flip-flop, and he braced himself, hoping she'd notice him.
"Hey, Peter! Have you seen Noah lately? No one could reach him yesterday," Mary Jane asked with a worried expression.
Peter's hopeful expression faded a bit, but he managed to muster a polite smile. "Oh… uh, I haven't been able to reach him either. Sorry, MJ."
She nodded, looking thoughtful, and took her seat. Peter leaned back with a sigh. Today was turning out to be more confusing than he'd expected.
Meanwhile, across town, Noah was deep in training. The gym was nearly empty, save for the rhythmic clang of weights and the low hum of meditation. Noah was seated cross-legged, his eyes closed, his body still as a statue as he channeled energy inward. Wisps of purple light coiled around him, swirling like mist. It was the manifestation of his Zixia Magical Skill, a powerful and ancient art that condensed energy, or Qi, within him.
Behind him, his friend Smith, drenched in sweat, wielded a heavy steel rod, striking Noah's back as part of his training. The blows landed with a dull thud, but Noah barely flinched.
Smith let out a heavy breath, gasping between swings. "Man… Noah, you're like a brick wall. I've been at this for half an hour, and you're not even budging!"
Noah remained still, feeling the growing energy flow through him. His strength was climbing, faster than he'd ever thought possible. He stopped after another few minutes, opening his eyes and feeling the surge of energy coursing through him.
The Zixia Magical Skill was a legendary art. For the average person, it took half a day to accumulate even a tiny wisp of Qi. But for Noah, it took just minutes to generate the same amount. If he continued at this pace, he'd reach levels of power that would take ordinary practitioners years to achieve.
Smith collapsed onto a nearby bench, panting heavily. "Dude, I'm beat. I don't know how much longer I can keep up with this routine."
Noah glanced at him, smiling. "Smith, your stamina's becoming a limiting factor. If you're going to help me train, we need to improve your endurance."
Smith held up his hands in mock surrender. "Not everyone's got the physique of a Greek god like you, Noah! For a regular guy like me, two minutes of full-force strikes is already a lot!"
Noah chuckled, crossing his arms. "Don't worry. I think I've got an idea that might help you. I'll teach you a bit of the Zixia technique I've been practicing. It should help boost your stamina."
Smith's eyes widened. "Wait, you mean that weird Chinese kung fu stuff you do? Does that even work?"
Noah nodded. "Think of it as a thank-you for helping me with my training. Once I copy the technique down later, you'll have your own starting guide to it."
In truth, Noah didn't expect Smith to master the technique anytime soon—it took years of dedication and skill. But if Smith could learn even the basics, it would be enough to help them both in the long run.
As they wrapped up, Noah looked thoughtful. His current strength was impressive, but it wasn't nearly enough for what lay ahead. There was a potential billion-dollar deal on the line, and he needed to ensure he'd be ready for it.
"If this training pays off over the next month," he mused, "I'll have the power I need. If not, I'll just hold off on the deal until I'm ready. The ball's in my court."
He turned to Smith, who was collecting his things. "Go ahead and take a break for now. Rest up, and let's pick this back up in the afternoon."
Smith gave him a grateful nod. "Thanks, Noah. I'll see you then!"
As Smith exited, Noah took out a glass jar he'd stashed away—a container of concentrated sulfuric acid. The acid was meant for his disguise; should he need it again, the scars would throw off anyone trying to identify him. It was his way of staying one step ahead.
For Noah, the challenges were just beginning, but he was ready. With newfound strength, a bit of trusted kung fu knowledge, and an ally like Smith at his side, he was prepared for whatever the future had in store.
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Never mind, I am not trying Berserk...Don't ask why.
So, this is my first time doing this. I hope you guys can help me improve by providing your feedback. Some stones would be nice. (づ ◕_◕ )づ