NOVEL NEXT Chapter 73: Chapter 73
The firing range buzzed with activity as Alex walked in, feeling the slight weight of anticipation settling over him. He had spent weeks mastering hand-to-hand combat, reaching the point where his martial arts training felt like second nature. But firearms—this was a new frontier.
He was greeted by Mark, the instructor, a tall, gruff man with an air of experience. "You must be Alex," Tom said with a nod, looking him up and down. "Heard some good things about you already."
Alex gave a polite smile. "Just here to learn, sir."
"Good attitude. Follow me. Today, we'll be working with the Glock 19, a 9mm. It's a solid handgun—good balance, easy to handle. Standard issue for law enforcement." Mark led him to a booth, placing the Glock carefully on the counter. "We'll start with some basic drills, get you comfortable with the weapon."
Alex picked up the gun, feeling its weight in his hand. The cool metal was unfamiliar but not intimidating. His fingers naturally found their place around the grip. He focused for a moment, breathing steadily, recalling his martial arts training where timing and precision were everything. The principles weren't so different here.
Mark stepped behind him. "Now, square your stance, feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your grip firm but don't over-squeeze. You want to be steady."
Alex followed the instructions with ease. His mental focus heightened the moment he aimed down the sights. It was as though the target 25 yards away wasn't distant at all—it felt like he could touch it. His mind naturally zoomed in, bringing the target closer in his vision, sharpening every detail.
"Focus on the front sight," Mark's voice cut in. "Your rear sight and target should blur slightly, but that front sight should be clear as day."
Alex aligned the front sight, controlling his breath, and squeezed the trigger gently. The sharp crack of the shot rang through the booth, and when the target slid forward, he saw that the bullet had struck near the center.
"Not bad," Mark said, looking impressed. "First time with a firearm, huh?"
"Yeah," Alex said, keeping his tone humble. But internally, he noted how easily his martial arts training translated into this new skill. His steady hands, sharpened by weeks of sparring, made his aim naturally solid. Focus and precision—he had already mastered them in a different context.
"Let's try another round," Tom said, adjusting the target. "This time, a little faster."
Alex repeated the process, but this time he fired three quick shots in succession. The first two hit just outside the bullseye, and the third landed dead center. He could feel Mark's eyes on him.
"Looks like we've got a natural here," Mark chuckled. "That's some fine shooting for a beginner. You've got the stance down, and your trigger control is top-notch. Most new shooters jerk the trigger or flinch, but you're steady as a rock."
Alex smiled and nodded, careful not to reveal how easy it felt. Don't stand out too much, he reminded himself.
As Mark walked him through the fundamentals, Alex soaked in every word. He watched others on the range, observing their form, their stances, how they handled different weapons. He made mental notes on the subtle adjustments they made for different calibers, recoil patterns, and shooting styles. His mind recorded it all, storing it away for later when he would engage Smart Mode at home to review and simulate everything he'd seen.
Tom moved on to the next drill: double taps. "Now, we'll work on firing two quick shots in rapid succession. You want both shots on target, but speed is key. The trick is controlling the recoil."
Alex squared up, focused, and fired two quick rounds. The recoil bounced through his arms, but he adjusted almost unconsciously, keeping the shots grouped tightly. He glanced at the target, satisfied with the result.
"Impressive," Mark said, nodding. "Double taps are tricky for most folks, but you're handling it well. Maybe you've done this in another life."
Alex laughed lightly, but in his mind, he was already moving ahead, thinking about his next training step. Each time he watched Mark or another shooter, he mentally logged the specifics—whether it was how to control the recoil of a .45 ACP or how to handle a quick draw with a holstered weapon. Repetition isn't necessary here, he thought. I'll simulate it all later.
"Alright, we'll finish up with some controlled pairs and transitions between targets. This will test your reflexes and sight alignment under pressure."
Alex quickly learned the drill: fire two rounds at one target, then quickly transition to a second target and fire two more. It required speed, precision, and the ability to adjust his focus rapidly between two points. Again, his mental focus paid off—his ability to zero in on each target felt almost instinctual.
By the end of the session, Mark clapped him on the back. "Great work today. Honestly, I've trained people for years, and it usually takes weeks to get to where you are after just one session."
Alex smiled and nodded, staying humble. Inside, he was already thinking about how to integrate everything he'd learned into a training routine using Smart Mode. He didn't need to come back for weeks of practice—he'd do it all in his head, running countless simulations, testing different weapons and scenarios.
As he left the range, he could hear whispers from the other shooters—compliments on his form, his aim, his calm demeanor. He'd heard similar things during his martial arts training, but this was different. Firearms training opened up a new realm of possibility, and he could feel the excitement building inside him.
Walking out into the cool air, Alex glanced down at his hand, still feeling the phantom weight of the Glock. I'm just getting started, he thought, a smile tugging at his lips. Let's see what Smart Mode has to say about all this.