Title: Cosmic Mindscape: Rise of a Hidden Power

A few weeks had passed, and Alex found himself falling into a steady rhythm. His mornings began with long jogs, stretching exercises, and an hour of focused Tai Chi. But his real progress had been in the sparring sessions. Day by day, he had been practicing his new training method, which he had come to call Flowstrike. It was an idea born out of necessity—meditating while fighting, allowing his mind to wander and sharpen simultaneously. At first, it had been difficult, leading to frequent beatdowns from his opponents. But now, he had begun to get the hang of it.

The Flowstrike method, as he thought of it, had become a vital part of his practice. The idea was simple: while sparring, he would focus on maintaining his mental clarity, letting his mind visualize the cosmos while his body moved through the motions. The key was to keep his mind loose, like water, while still being aware of his surroundings. It was like meditating with his eyes open, staying in the fight while his thoughts drifted, merging mental strength with physical agility.

At first, it had felt impossible to combine the two. Every time his mind wandered too far, he'd lose focus and get hit. But as weeks passed, Alex began to refine the technique. Little by little, he could sense the improvement. Now, he could spar with full awareness, his mind reaching a calm state even in the middle of intense exchanges.

Today was no different. His opponent, a tall, muscular man who had been training for years, launched a series of punches, fast and precise. Alex moved smoothly, his body dodging as if on autopilot, while his thoughts remained calm, hovering at the edges of meditation. It was as if he could predict the next move before it even came, his reactions sharp, yet his mind still.

The Flowstrike method was working.

He caught a punch, pivoted, and countered with a swift strike to his opponent's chest, sending him stumbling back. There was a small murmur of admiration from the few onlookers. Most of them had started paying attention to Alex's rapid progress over the past weeks. Some whispered about his uncanny ability to pick up techniques quickly, others just watched in awe, unable to explain it.

After the sparring session, Alex sat down on the gym bench, toweling off his sweat. He wasn't exhausted, but the training was intense, and he knew better than to overextend himself. With the Flowstrike becoming more natural, he was starting to enjoy his sessions even more, finding peace in the chaos.

"Not bad, Alex," the instructor said, giving him a nod of approval. "You've improved a lot. Your movements are smoother, and you're not losing focus like before."

Alex smiled, grateful for the praise. "Thanks. I've just been trying to stay in the zone, you know? Keep my head clear, let the body follow."

The instructor chuckled. "Whatever you're doing, keep at it. It's working."

---

Back at his apartment, Alex found solace in the quiet. He was spending more time at home now, focusing on refining his abilities and doing market analysis whenever needed. He had started giving market tips to the team more sparingly, only stepping in when they hit a real snag. The tips he offered were always spot-on, and each time, it solidified his reputation as someone who could see the market with almost supernatural clarity.

But outside of work, Alex had been thinking about his family more than ever. His parents had always been supportive, but now that he had found financial success, their concern for him had shifted slightly.

He dialed his mom's number, leaning back on the couch. After a few rings, she picked up.

"Alex, dear! How are you?"

"I'm doing great, Mom. How about you and Dad?"

"Oh, you know us. Same old. Your father's been working in the garden again, even though I keep telling him to take it easy."

Alex laughed. "That sounds like Dad."

There was a brief pause before his mom's tone grew a little more serious. "We've been a bit worried, Alex. You're not... overworking yourself, are you? You've been sending so many gifts, and we're just wondering if everything's okay. You don't have to do all this, you know."

"Mom," Alex said, his voice soft but reassuring, "I'm fine. Really. I've got everything under control. In fact, I'm doing better than ever."

"I know, but... it's a lot of money, and we just don't want you to burn out. Are you sure you're not overdoing it?"

Alex smiled, understanding their concern. "I promise, I'm not burning out. In fact, I'm more financially free now than I've ever been. I've been able to save and invest well, and things are looking good. I just wanted to make sure you guys are taken care of. That's all."

His mom's voice softened. "We appreciate it, Alex. Really, we do. But just make sure you're taking care of yourself too."

"I am," he said. "In fact, I've been thinking about making some changes. I'm looking into getting Jenny into a better school."

There was a pause, and then his mom's voice came through, clearly surprised. "A better school? But Jenny likes her current school, doesn't she?"

"Yeah, but there are better opportunities out there. I've been doing some research, and I think moving her to a place with more resources and better academic programs could help her in the long run. I just want to make sure she gets the best start possible."

"That's... very generous of you, Alex. I'll have to talk to your father about it, but we'll see."

"Take your time," Alex said. "I'm not rushing anything. I just want her to have the best shot."

They chatted a bit more, catching up on small family details, before Alex ended the call. His mind was already moving on to the next task. It felt good to be in control, to know that he could provide for his family and make a real difference in their lives.

And as for his own journey—well, he had Flowstrike to perfect. The mental breakthroughs he'd felt lately were just the beginning. He was certain of it.

But one step at a time. For now, he'd enjoy the calm before the next big challenge.