NOVEL NEXT Chapter 80: Chapter 80
Arjun sat in his usual spot on the mat, eyes closed, breathing steadily. The sound of the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur filtered faintly through the windows, but his mind was elsewhere, focused inward. For weeks, he had sensed something different in his meditation—an invisible block, something that held him back from fully diving into the depths of his practice. It had frustrated him at first, but then, as with all things, Arjun learned to be patient.
Today, however, felt different. There was an underlying tension in the air, something just beneath the surface of his mind. He could feel it, this block, more tangibly than ever before. It wasn't painful, but it was stifling, like a heavy weight pressing down on his consciousness, refusing to let him move forward.
His breathing deepened, and he focused all of his awareness on that feeling, the pressure in his mind. With each exhale, he pushed against it, trying to clear the fog that had settled around his thoughts. For a while, nothing happened—just the same silent, invisible resistance.
And then, all at once, it happened.
The block shattered.
It wasn't a slow release or a gentle easing of tension—it was an explosion, a burst of clarity and energy that filled every corner of his mind. Arjun felt his whole body go weightless as if the very air around him had changed. His senses sharpened, his awareness expanded, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt truly free.
He gasped, eyes still closed, as the sensation washed over him—a mix of euphoria and peace. The world around him seemed to fade into the background, leaving only his mind and the new, powerful energy coursing through him. His thoughts were clearer than ever, his senses more attuned, and his mind… his mind was alive in a way he had never felt before.
It was in that moment of breakthrough that Arjun recalled something—a series of messages, fragments of conversation that had been buried in the back of his mind. They came rushing to the forefront with stunning clarity, like pages of a book flipping open in his memory.
Stargazer.
The name echoed in his thoughts, and with it, the recollection of a post from the online forum where Stargazer, Alex's alias, had asked if anyone had experienced strange sensations or blocks in their meditation. Arjun had skimmed through it at the time, not thinking much of it. But now, as he sat there, feeling the remnants of that block shatter and the energy flow freely through his body, he remembered every word.
Stargazer—had known about this.
The realization hit him like a wave, and Arjun's eyes snapped open. He was stunned, not just by the breakthrough, but by the instant recall that came with it. It wasn't just that he remembered Alex's post—he could see it vividly in his mind, every word, every detail as if it had been imprinted there.
He sat in silent awe for a moment, testing this newfound ability. He reached back into his mind, plucking out details from old conversations, books he'd read, lectures he'd attended. Each memory came to him in perfect clarity, as though he were flipping through a mental archive of his life. It was surreal.
"Photographic memory…" Arjun muttered under his breath, marveling at the newfound ability.
He tested it again, recalling images from his work documents, visualizing pages of legal papers he'd studied late into the night. He could see them now—every page, every word—etched in his memory with crystal clarity. His frustration from the court case paperwork seemed to dissolve, replaced by the ease with which he could now access everything he needed, almost effortlessly.
It was then that the weight of what had happened truly hit him.
This… this is what Stargazer was talking about. He remembered the subtle hints in Alex's old posts, the way he'd described levels of meditation that no one else seemed to understand at the time. Arjun realized he'd finally reached that point—a breakthrough that had changed him in more ways than he could have anticipated.
His heart pounded with excitement as he continued to explore the new sensations. The ability to recall everything with such precision was more than he had ever hoped for. He could feel his mind expanding, growing stronger, sharper. He had gained more than just focus—he had unlocked a new level of his own potential.
The possibilities stretched out before him, endless and tantalizing. Arjun couldn't help but wonder how far he could go from here. Would he continue to evolve, like Stargazer had hinted? Could this newfound clarity help him navigate not just his meditation but every aspect of his life—the court case, his work, his relationships?
For the first time in weeks, Arjun felt an overwhelming sense of optimism. The path forward, which had once seemed so murky and uncertain, now felt clear, illuminated by this breakthrough. He was no longer just trudging through the struggles of life—he was actively shaping it, harnessing the power of his own mind to push forward.
He stood from his mat, a renewed energy pulsing through his body. The world outside might have been the same, but Arjun knew that he had changed. His level up in mental power had given him not just clarity, but confidence, and with that, he was ready to take on whatever came next.
The court case? He would handle it. The stress of work? He could manage. Whatever obstacles lay in his path, he was certain that he now had the mental strength to push through them.
As he made his way to his desk, ready to dive into the next set of legal papers, he couldn't help but smile to himself. Stargazer's posts had prepared him for this moment, and now, with the newfound abilities coursing through him, Arjun was ready for whatever came next.