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~~~[START]
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"I feel like shit," Zephyr voiced as he awoke from his slumber, rising from his bed and immediately making his way to the bathroom to prepare himself.
He emerged after an hour, moving to the living room naked, wearing only his undershorts with a towel over his shoulder.
Szzzt!
Eggs fried as the pan made a sound, and Zephyr indulged in the comfort of an American breakfast. The smell was so potent that his hands couldn't help but eat right out of the pan.
Sitting down and turning on the TV, Zephyr began feasting as air from the room's open windows drew in fresh oxygen. Or so it seemed, given his brand-new apartment that stood almost 432 feet in height. The air that came in was filtered from the smells of dirty streets and the presence of cat-sized rats that roamed New York City.
As he ate, he couldn't help but feel a faint, soothing peace. It was so calming that Zephyr felt stuck, as if he had everything yet nothing at all.
"How much time for adaptation to be in full effect?" he questioned, his mouth filled with freshly made food, his gaze fixed on the TV screen.
[About 21 hours] Nix's voice answered swiftly.
"Then what next?"
[Strength] was the only word, but its meaning rang deep, as if alerting Zephyr of forgotten dangers and those yet to come.
Finishing his plate and setting it on the coffee table, Zephyr straightened himself, as if in thought. "So tell me, where do I start?"
Silence followed.
"What?" Zephyr pressed.
[Nothing. It just surprises me how long it took you to ask that question] Nix replied. [Judging from your love of anime and manga, your adaptation took too long. Every character in those shows would take a day or two to cope, but it took you nearly a whole week.]
Zephyr's face showed no surprise at Nix's words. Deep inside, he felt the same way. Though he hid his hesitation to act, he always defended himself by saying he was coping or that it was too soon to act rashly, when really, he was just slacking off.
"So… where do we start?" he asked again, his gaze still on the TV, his posture showing he was listening.
[Gaining strength and adapting to your body's physical limits is a good starting point. Pushing yourself to the limit will help you understand your full capabilities] Nix explained.
"How do I do that?"
[Increasing your blood flow] Nix said. [This can be achieved simply by running sprints and seeing how far your raw power can take you. Since your adaptation is still adjusting to mana, it will help measure what seems to be near your limit.]
"Near my limit?" Zephyr's expression hardened.
[Affirmative. Due to your adaptation, you have unlimited advantages, like endless stamina and similar traits] Nix clarified.
"So my body adapts when it tires?"
[Not exactly. Adaptation keeps your body in a comfortable state, whether by evolving or changing. The goal is to have no weaknesses. When your stamina fades, your adaptation kicks in, restoring it or increasing its strength based on the environment] Nix explained.
"So it's evolution?"
[Affirmative.]
Zephyr stood up from his seat and headed to wash the dishes. "Hey, Nix, can you play music?" he asked, curious about Nix's capabilities.
[I'm an AI, not a radio operator] Nix replied, and disappointment washed over Zephyr's face. Then, as if remembering something, Zephyr grinned. "So… that's a yes?"
[Affirmative.]
Zephyr laughed at Nix's response as he finished washing the dishes. He moved to the bedroom, put on clothes, and grabbed a hoodie. Leaving his apartment, he stepped into a world filled with looming danger.
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Standing in what looked like a deserted stadium, Zephyr braced himself in a running stance, listening to nothing but the countdown spoken by his soul's second consciousness.
[Three… two… one… Go!] Nix commanded.
Zephyr sprinted, his speed so quick it was hard to follow. His body trembled slightly from the force of his legs, a large smile playing on his lips. His face felt the growing friction of air opposing his speed—it was exhilarating, too good. Yet five minutes passed swiftly, and he felt nothing: no pounding heart, no uneven breath, just nothing.
"What's happening?" he asked, wondering if his adaptation caused this lack of fatigue.
[Nothing] Nix replied.
"I know, but why aren't I getting tired? I thought you said my adaptation was still adjusting," Zephyr said, his voice tinged with confusion.
[It is, but you haven't reached your limit] Nix answered.
"So how do I reach it?" Frustration crept in, as if he were told to fly but couldn't.
[Stop running like a human] Nix said simply, though the words were hard to grasp.
Without a word, Zephyr increased his pace. His feet moved faster, his vision sharpening as his eyes resisted the air pushing against them. Still, he sped up. His steps grew longer, each one feeling more like a leap than a run. He was fast—too fast—yet his body craved more, as if it demanded a challenge. He didn't resist; he kept going.
The ground below groaned in protest, as if his steps grew stronger—because they did. Creaks formed with each step, deepening as he continued, until they became a hazard. He stumbled on one.
He nearly fell, but his hands shot out, pushing against the ground. As if guided by instinct, they propelled him into a front flip, the friction of his speed scraping his skin. The pain felt insignificant, and his body maintained its motion, flipping forward while suspended in the air. His legs braced instinctively, landing to counter the speed's momentum.
Large marks of ruined concrete formed, his shoes tearing apart, leaving only bare feet and scraps of fabric as proof of what once existed. The scrapes on his hands healed with haste, so fast he didn't notice until he saw blood on his now-perfect palms.
Yet, even after that ordeal, only a single drop of sweat appeared—not from exhaustion, but from the fear of what his body had done. His mind raced with a word now too familiar to his lips. "Fuck," he uttered, as his expression shifted to one of laughter, to one of pure joy —one of happiness pending.
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~~~[END]
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Hope you enjoyed it and it was not too much lol. Tell me what you think and some problems or stuff you feel you hate or just upright despise💀