Thanos remained seated in the training yard, letting Sheila's words sink in. The realization that his struggles, however minor they seemed, had shaped the battle he faced in his mind was both comforting and daunting. It meant that his fears were real, that the doubts holding him back were valid. But it also meant that he had the strength to overcome them, that this was a battle he could win.
The morning sun was now high in the sky, casting harsh light over the students as they slowly rose from their positions. The toll of the training was evident in their faces—pale, drawn, and filled with a mix of determination and exhaustion. Some had tears in their eyes, others wore expressions of grim resolve, but all had been changed by the experience.
Sheila gave them a moment to collect themselves before continuing. "You have three hours to rest and recover before the next phase of your training. Use this time wisely—your bodies may be exhausted, but you have reached a type of mental clarity that many wish to have. But even though you have successfully formed your upper and lower dantian, the bridge between them is thin so you will have to stabilize it with time, when fully stabilized you will unlock something called mental domain, for now go to rest we will continue teaching during our next class."
The students dispersed, some heading toward the barracks, others finding shaded areas to sit and meditate while others went to freshen up. Thanos remained still, watching as his comrades moved around him. He saw Shino Kusakabe and Seth Gordon, They had both succeeded in forming their upper dantian, and now they stood apart from those who had not.
Thanos felt a pang of jealousy but quickly pushed it aside. He knew that his journey was his own, and comparing himself to others would only hinder his progress. He had his own battles to fight, and he would do so in his own way.
He stood up, feeling the strain in his muscles, and made his way to a quiet corner of the yard. He sat down again, this time with a renewed sense of purpose. He closed his eyes, focusing on his breath, letting it flow naturally as Sheila had taught them. He could still feel the remnants of the connection he had tried to form, a faint pulse of energy that had not yet dissipated.
He would try again, but not now. Sheila had said that perseverance was key, and he knew that rushing would only lead to more failure. For now, he needed to rest, to let his mind and body recover before the next challenge.
As he meditated, his thoughts drifted back to his parents. He remembered the day they had seen him off to the military academy, their faces a mixture of pride and fear. They had supported his decision, but he knew they had their doubts. They had always been protective of him, perhaps too much so, and now he wondered if that had left him unprepared for the mental challenges he faced.
But he couldn't blame them. They had done their best, and he had chosen this path for himself. He would prove to them, and to himself, that he was strong enough to handle whatever came his way.
He showered and a few minutes later they were called for lunch, when they were done Thanos used his remaining time to stroll around, he walked with Shino around the compound. They stood at a corner discussing the training they had just partook in when they noticed Seth Gordon walking towards them and two other men walking beside him.
Seth arrived and stood a few meters away from Thanos, he stared at him with a scrutinizing gaze.
"I heard about you" Seth said to Thanos, "Thanos Onaosa Asemota, potential junior captain candidate, took down the first mech, that dropped on earth. You are quite famous being one of the few soldiers under 20 to have two stars."
Thanos didn't know how to respond, " I did not know I was that famous, and about the mech, really it was my team that finished it off honestly I am nothing special, I couldn't even successfully form my upper dantian." Thanos said while scratching the heck of his head.
Seth gave a light chuckle " I thought to myself, there's no way a random rookie from new age city received two stars, I expected you to be ..... One of us, someone of special backgrounds like me, by uhh, how disappointing" Seth said shaking his head
"What do you want?" Thanos asked not masking his displeasure at the way Seth spoke to him.
Seth raised his chin high, " I am here to tell you that I intend to run this squad, and I know that you are highly regarded by your squad, all I'm saying is, when the time comes , I want you to step aside because you aren't capable enough to carry the team as junior captain.
Thanos was a bit stunned by Seth Gordon's comment, but soon his facial expression morphed into one of displeasure.
"You want me to throw away months of hard work and an opportunity to become junior captain because....you said so? What are you on n*gga?" Thanos said
Seth smiled, "consider it, please, don't rush to make the decision." Seth said and walked away.
"What was that about?" Shino asked
"I have no ideea," Thanos said.