Chapter 14 – Once-in-a-Lifetime Talent
Chapter 14 – Once-in-a-Lifetime Talent
Zane lay sprawled on the floor, letting his aching muscles rest after the brutal training session. The adrenaline was still there, buzzing beneath his skin like electricity. It was hard to put into words, but something deep within him had changed. The rush of growth—real, tangible progress—was like a shot of purpose straight into his veins.
He could feel it in his bones.
'If an hour of training could bring such a difference... what would days or weeks give me?' he thought, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The answer came to him without hesitation—power. Real, overwhelming power.
A chuckle slipped from his lips, light at first, but it soon grew into something more. He sat up, his shoulders trembling as the laughter spilled out of him in sharp bursts.
"Haha... Hahaha!"
It wasn't a laugh of joy—not exactly. It was raw. A strange mix of disbelief, bitterness, and something akin to triumph. He laughed until his sides hurt and the edges of his eyes turned damp.
Was it because the world had been so cruel for so long? Because five years of hardship now seemed like a joke compared to a single hour under this new reality?
Maybe both.
Eventually, the laughter faded, swallowed by silence. His expression sobered, the mask of calm sliding back over his face as he pushed himself up from the floor. He didn't feel like smiling anymore. The moment had passed.
He still wanted to train, but his body had clearly reached its limit. Pushing any further would do more harm than good. With sluggish steps, he made his way to the bathroom and took another shower, letting the warm water soothe his overworked muscles.