Axel Collins woke up with renewed vigor in his eyes, the reminder of the figure in black lingered in his mind as if telling him that he was destined for something bigger than himself. He drew a deep breath, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat matching the seconds as they ticked relentlessly away on the clock. The prospect of change, shrouded in uncertainty, pulsated through him. Rising from his bed, he felt a rush of determination, a newfound sense of purpose that pushed him to confront the depression that had tainted his heart.
His first step was clear, he needed to fix his mental state. He picked up the self-help book scattered across on the floor, its cover dusty as he hadn't touch it for more than a year when the breakup happened. The pages were filled with emotional tactics, reclaiming control, managing anxiety, and developing resilience. He began to merge the techniques into a cohesive strategy for his life, jotting down notes on a pad.
'Every day is a new opportunity,' he reminded himself, focusing on the positive outcomes instead of the echoes of his former depressed self. Tasking himself with cleaning his apartment, he felt brighter, his burdens lifting little by little with every dust and debris he removed.
Axel then started to reach out for professional advice. He sought the mentorship of a counselor who specialized in veterans' recovery. Their sessions became a haven where he could voice the turmoil within him, a sanctuary for his psychological scars. With careful guidance, he found clarity, understanding that acceptance was a crucial step toward healing.
After his daily therapy with the specialist went on, he always went for a long outdoor run. He pushed himself to go several miles, each drop of sweat sheds a small layer of his grief. As the sweat trickled down his brow, he'd whisper mantras that fueled his resolve. "What doesn't break me only makes me stronger. Today, I stand tall, and tomorrow, I'll rise even higher!"
With motivation in his veins, he embraced nutritious meals, throwing away those unhealthy chips and processed food, replacing them with fresh veggies, lean proteins, and wholesome grains. Each meal became a ritual, an affirmation his resolve to serve mankind not just as a soldier but a man who will stand his ground. Cooking eased his mind, allowing him to focus on the vibrant flavors rather than the storm of thoughts that had once clouded his judgment.
The next stage of his rebirth was to reclaim his rusty skills. Axel drove to a local outdoor shooting range, the scent of gunpowder filling his nostrils as he readied his assault rifle accompanied with a crate of bullets. He had missed this feeling, the rush of adrenaline, the clarity he claims with every shot he took.
Seeing some youngsters trying out some firearms, he decided to have fun while he was at it. The trio noticing him couldn't help but think he may have been a veteran, so they stepped aside respectfully while murmuring.
"Do you think this old man is good?"
"Maybe, but his skin looks soft and delicate."
"Now that I think about it, he looks like a businessman."
"We shouldn't judge him like that, let's see if we can learn a thing or two from him."
"Hey, look at his rifle, why haven't I seen that model before, is that a custom made one?"
As Axel heard the murmurs, he couldn't help but chuckle as he was never praised for having smooth skin before. Turning to them, then asking," would you like to learn a little move from this old timer?'
The trio was hesitant at first but decided it wouldn't be a waste of time to see someone in action so they setup 30 targets. Just the right amount for Axels magazine. After getting everything ready the chubby looking one took on the stopwatch then proceeded "Sir on my mark, ready, set, go!"
"Brrr! Brrr! Brrr!" The gun of the barrel, still smoking, was blown by a gust as the three teenagers stood there in a daze. The three of them woke immediately and checked the targets.
"Si... Sir, I just checked the results. You've successfully hit all targets in 11.71 seconds, and they're all headshots."
The other young man who really wanted to enlist as a marine couldn't help but gasp and mutter, "this man might be special forces, maybe even navy seal?"
Axel couldn't help but shake his head, feeling he had been lagging with the times. He then gave the trio some pointers like feet placement, how to handle the gun properly and how your hips and waist can increase your accuracy. The three of them with sparkling eyes couldn't help gawk at him as if they met their idol. Seeing their fawning gaze, he couldn't help giving more pointers, encouraging them how to behave if they plan to enlist, the trio knowing how to appreciate the guidance, tried to setup more dummies for him making him a little warm inside from their respect.
Later that week, he ventured into a park to learn parkour, enticed by its accessible nature and the way it promised to challenge both his agility and mind. The group of teenagers, astonished at his persistence, began to cheer him on as he attempted to copy their movements.
One of the crew who seemed to be the leader tried to be polite by telling him off due to worry of him getting injured. "Sir, you may not know this, but you may get some broken bones, sprained ankles or worst be bedridden. Please think about it."
He then showed them how it's done by performing the moves he learned from the youngsters and combining it with the ones from the military incorporating both efficiency and style.
"You've got to be kidding!" one exclaimed as Axel leaped from a low wall onto a rail. He stumbled slightly but managed to regain his footing.
"Not too old for this, am I?" he shot back, determination flashing across his face.
"Alright, alright," one shrugged, impressed. "Are you maybe going for a role as a grandpa ninja?"
He smiled at their playful banter, appreciating the youthful vitality as they exchanged techniques. Each leap, each roll, brought him closer to rediscovering his limits and pushing past them. He thought 'this is the peace I ought to protect'.
Another day, he attended a yoga class, the calming atmosphere was a stark contrast to his usual high-energy workouts. The participants were mostly younger, and as he settled into a pose, it was his first time participating in such serene atmosphere and he couldn't help feeling a tinge of awkwardness and exhilaration.
"Nice moves!" a young lady whispered from across the mat, her eyes sparkling as they met his. "Did you just throw away your rifle for stretchy pants?"
"Only temporarily," he laughed, returning her grin. "Don't underestimate the power of a good stretch. It might save my life one day."
With a slight blush, she leaned closer. "Maybe we could grab coffee later, what's your number?" handing her phone over.
Seeing how young the lady looked like but how mature her body was, he muttered on his mind. 'Does that black particle given to me increases my luck with ladies or something?' he then dialed his phone number on the young woman's phone but not promising any commitment yet.
Six months have passed with a blink of an eye, just when he thought he was grooving back into life, a surreal phenomenon manifested before him. One day, while browsing through equipment manuals online, a bright light suddenly flickered before his eyes. Baffled, he rubbed them, blinking rapidly.
"Must be tired," he muttered, shaking his head. But the light remained, pulsing like a heartbeat. It materialized into a digital display, summoning an array of stats and points before him.
[Host Mental Current State: Stable]
[Initiating System Sequence…]
[Showing Status Page]
Name: Axel Collins
Job: Ex-SEAL Team Operative
Class: None
Position: None
Timeline: 21st Century
Place of Origin: Earth
(The unit of one (1) used on this status is the statistics of all perfectly healthy adult male of your species on your timeline. With exception of DNA modified beings, humanity guardians, legacy heritages and other similar occupations on this category.)
Strength: 5.5
Agility: 6.1
Intelligence: 7.5
Endurance: 8.1
Stealth: 7.1
Combat Proficiency: 11.7
"What in the…?" Axel gasped, his heart racing as if sprung from a dream. This couldn't be real. Was this a simulation? A prank? But the stats felt familiar, like something out of the online games he had played in the past.
He looked around, half-expecting to see a camera crew. Nothing. It didn't feel like a trick, but he struggled to grasp what it meant. Questions spiraled through his mind. He really couldn't find an answer as this was the first time happening to him.
Later that day, the light flickered again, filling his vision with bright details.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: YOU ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO FORT ORD]
[MISSION AWAITING BRIEFING!]
"Could this be the top-secret mission told to me before?" he muttered, a glimmer of hope igniting his spirit. The memory of the figure in black seemed to surface in his mind.