NOVEL NEXT Chapter 57: Chapter 57
A few weeks had passed, and Alex had settled into a disciplined routine. Early morning jogs became a regular part of his day, followed by stretching and flexibility exercises. The stiffness that once plagued him during sparring sessions was slowly beginning to ease, but it was clear there was still a long way to go. His body was resisting, stubbornly holding onto old habits, but with each stretch, each jog, he felt the subtle progress.
The hand-to-hand combat training with his coach had taken on a new depth. No longer was it just about mastering movements; it was about cultivating the mentality of a fighter. His coach drilled him on instincts, reaction times, and the need to trust his body in the heat of combat. Alex was constantly challenged to let go of overthinking and rely more on his physical training. To push himself further, Alex made sure to occasionally stop focusing his mental strength entirely during sparring sessions. It created real challenges, forcing him to depend on his raw skill rather than mental foresight. It was tough, but he knew that the foundation he was building now would be crucial when he finally decided to test his smart mode in a fight.
And sparring was becoming a regular occurrence. He would spar with anyone willing, from other students to the occasional curious onlooker who stepped into the gym. Each fight gave him valuable data—timing, movement, reactions, weaknesses. Alex saw these experiences as investments for the future, gathering as much information as possible for the time when he would use smart mode to simulate an intense, perfect fight. But that time hadn't come yet. He knew he had to build the foundation first, and for now, he was content with the steady progress he was making.
His Tai Chi training had also started, and it quickly became the most humbling part of his routine. The fluidity that Tai Chi demanded was far beyond anything Alex had expected. His foresight abilities helped him understand the flow of movements intellectually, but when it came to translating that knowledge into physical action, his body lagged behind. He found that Tai Chi wasn't just about moving slowly or with precision; it was about becoming fluid, releasing tension, and allowing the body to move with grace.
His body, still stiff in places, fought him at every turn. It was frustrating, knowing what to do but not yet being able to fully express it physically. However, Alex was nothing if not patient. He understood that this was part of the process, and while he might not be able to rely on his mental strength for flexibility, he knew he would eventually get the hang of it. His coach had assured him that the results would come with time and consistent effort.
Each morning, as he practiced, the slow, circular movements of Tai Chi felt like they were beginning to awaken parts of his body he hadn't known existed. His flexibility was improving little by little, and with it came the sense that his body was starting to respond more fluidly to his commands. His movements were still far from perfect, but the rigidness was loosening.
Alex was confident. He knew it was just a matter of time before his body caught up to his mind. He could already feel the strength building in his legs from the low stances and the improved balance from the gentle shifts of weight. He imagined that once he fully mastered Tai Chi, he would finally move with the kind of precision and fluidity he desired.
The thought made him smile. This was just the beginning, but the future looked promising. The intense mental simulations would come later. For now, the foundation was being laid, and Alex was determined to build it right. Every jog, every stretch, every sparring session brought him one step closer to the fighter he knew he could become.
And though the road was long, he welcomed the challenge. He wasn't just training for the sake of fighting—he was preparing for whatever was coming. Whatever that may be.