### **Chapter 7: Mastery Through Struggle**
The battle with the mysterious armored creature had ended in a draw, but not without leaving a lasting impression on Jordan. The creature had been formidable—its unnatural energy attacks had nearly overwhelmed them all. It had taken the combined effort of the Avengers to defeat it, but even then, the victory had come at a cost.
Jordan sat on the Quinjet on the way back to the compound, his eyes locked on the window as the city lights blurred past. His body was sore from the battle, but it was more than just physical pain. His mind was in turmoil. Despite his energy blasts being crucial in the fight, he'd felt out of control—like he was teetering on the edge of something too powerful for him to handle. Every time he'd unleashed his heat vision, it felt like the floodgates were about to open, and he'd lose himself in the chaos.
"Kid," Tony said, breaking the silence. "You did good out there. But there's a lot more you need to understand about your powers."
Jordan glanced over at Tony, who was sitting across from him, eyes focused on the readouts from the mission. "Yeah? Well, I didn't feel like I did all that great. I almost lost control a couple of times."
"That's the thing," Tony continued, "You didn't lose control. You're learning. But right now, you're relying too much on your raw power, rather than understanding it. You've got a nuclear reactor inside of you, kid. But if you don't know how to control it, it can burn everything down."
Jordan absorbed the words, trying to let them sink in. It wasn't just about fighting anymore. It was about learning to control an incredible force inside him—something that could destroy if left unchecked.
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**Training with Cap: Control Under Pressure**
The day after the battle, Cap called Jordan back to the gym. The rest of the team was still busy debriefing and analyzing the creature's tech, but Cap knew that Jordan needed something different now: training that focused entirely on control.
"Today," Cap said, as Jordan stood across from him in the training room, "We're going to focus on restraint. Your power is a tool, not a weapon. You need to learn how to use it without letting it control you."
Jordan nodded, steeling himself. He was ready.
Cap paced a little, considering his words. "I know you can fight, but fighting with your instincts isn't enough. You need to learn when to hold back. It's not just about taking down the enemy. It's about making sure you can walk away knowing you kept yourself and everyone else safe."
Jordan's eyes flickered down to his hands. *Hold back.* It was a concept he had trouble grasping. His powers were so overwhelming; all he wanted to do was unleash them. But Cap was right. If he lost control, he could cause a disaster.
Cap stopped in front of him, hands on his hips. "I'm going to push you today. I want to see if you can control your power in the middle of a fight, without just reacting."
Jordan squared his shoulders. "I'm ready."
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**The First Test: Mental Focus**
The first exercise was simple but difficult: Cap would attack, and Jordan was to avoid the strikes while controlling his power. At first, it felt almost like sparring, but Jordan quickly realized that Cap's attacks were more than just physical. He was pushing Jordan mentally, testing his ability to stay focused.
Cap rushed forward, throwing a punch. Jordan sidestepped, barely avoiding it. But just as he did, Cap threw a roundhouse kick, forcing Jordan to roll away. The movements were fast and fluid—he was being pushed to think on his feet, to stay in control while also protecting himself.
"Don't just avoid," Cap called out. "Think about each move. Don't let your mind race. Slow down. Feel your power, don't *release* it."
Jordan's chest tightened as he moved. Each time Cap made a strike, he had to stop himself from instinctively firing a burst of energy. Every time he felt the pressure building inside him, he had to force it back down.
It was exhausting.
After a few more rounds, Cap finally stepped back, wiping sweat from his forehead. "How do you feel?"
Jordan took a breath, trying to catch his breath. "It's… harder than I thought. I want to just—"
"Let it out?" Cap finished for him. "I get it. But that's the problem. You don't need to unleash all of your power at once. You need to learn to control it so you can *choose* when to unleash it."
Jordan clenched his fists, trying to process the advice. *Control. Choose.* That wasn't something he'd ever really thought about. Every fight had been instinctual—an automatic reaction. But if he kept doing that, he was just going to burn out. Literally.
Cap placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's a mental game, too. You need to trust yourself. When you fight, don't be afraid to think. Don't be afraid to hold back."
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**The Second Test: Harnessing Power**
The second exercise was much more difficult. Cap asked Jordan to focus on using his heat vision without releasing it. The goal was to heat something without destroying it.
They set up a few targets in the gym—metal objects that were designed to absorb and withstand intense heat. Cap stood next to one of the objects, watching carefully as Jordan prepared.
"Focus," Cap instructed. "Use the energy, but don't release it in full force. Channel it, focus on the target, and heat it slowly."
Jordan closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. He could feel the heat starting to build inside him, gathering in his chest like a furnace. He opened his eyes and focused on the object in front of him. The heat vision was there, just beneath the surface, waiting to explode. But this time, he was determined not to let it.
Slowly, he directed the energy toward the object. The first burst was too much—he could feel the heat surging out of him, but he cut it off immediately, just before the object started to melt. The metal glowed briefly, but Jordan stopped the beam in time.
Cap nodded. "That's progress. But don't let yourself get frustrated. It's not about perfection, it's about control. It's about understanding that *you* decide when it's time to go all in."
Jordan wiped sweat from his brow. He wasn't sure how many tries it would take, but he could feel himself getting closer to understanding his power. It wasn't just about suppressing it—it was about guiding it, about knowing when to release it and when to keep it contained.
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**The Turning Point: The Final Test**
Cap's final test came later that afternoon. He had Jordan stand in front of a large training dummy, a simple figure made of foam and fabric, but it was weighted to simulate real resistance.
This time, Jordan had to use his full strength without allowing the power to overwhelm him. Cap instructed him to punch the dummy as hard as he could, but with the specific challenge of holding his energy back just enough that the punch wasn't devastating.
Jordan stepped up to the dummy, his mind clear. He focused on the weight of his punch, feeling the tension in his arm as it wound up. He let the heat build—just enough to power his punch but not enough to destroy the dummy entirely. He swung his fist with controlled force, and when his punch connected, there was a satisfying *thud*, but the dummy remained intact.
Jordan took a step back, eyes wide in shock. "Did… did I do it?"
Cap grinned. "You did. That's control. That's what we've been working toward. You're learning to wield your power, not just let it burst out of you. You're learning to think, to hold back, and when to unleash it."
Jordan stood there for a moment, feeling a sense of accomplishment. His power had always felt like a ticking time bomb—unpredictable and dangerous. But now, for the first time, it felt like a part of him. A part that he could master.
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