CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE

Training Day, Part 2

Marcus Flint smiled at Thunder. “I figured you’d like it.”

“Wait, is this the courtyard from Enter the Dragon?” Sam asked.

“Nice catch,” Marcus Flint nodded approvingly. “Are you a Kung-Fu fan?”

“I’m a Bruce Lee fan,” Sam replied.

After changing the environment to better fit their mood, Marcus Flint went on to explain a few more of his workshop’s functions that the two heroes could use in their training; From conjuring virtual opponents from an expansive catalog of heroes and villains to simulating terrain conditions the two heroes could expect in Hades, Flint’s “Playroom” could do it all.

“And these virtual opponents can hurt us?” Thunder confirmed.

Flint, who’d stepped into his workshop’s control room to better support Thunder’s and Sam’s training, replied from the intercom, “Let’s test it out.”

A second or two later, a ball of light appeared between Sam and Thunder that grew into an almost perfect replica of Crow-Man.

“Holy Styx,” Sam whistled. “He looks exactly like him.”

“Except for the eyes,” Thunder noted. “This copy doesn’t have any irises. It’s just white… creepy.”

Without warning, fake Crow-Man jumped over to Thunder and flung a one-two punch combination at her that she dodged easily enough. She did, however, fail to see the leg kick fake Crow-Man had hidden in his attacks so that she felt his ankle snap against her thigh.

“Okay, I felt that,” Thunder grinned. “My turn.”

With a fist coated with her lightning aura, Thunder punched fake Crow-Man in the chest, forcing the simulation to explode in a shower of light shards that quickly dissipated back into the environment.

“Everything you’ll encounter in the training simulation is made of hard light technology based on White Lighter’s light particles,” Marcus Flint explained. “As you know, White Lighter turns light into a substance that’s harder than steel and reshapes these particles to fit her needs. My technology works similarly.”

“Um, does White Lighter know you’ve built tech that makes her obsolete?” Sam asked.

“She helped me create it, although the tech isn’t as strong as the real thing,” Marcus Flint explained. “So, White Lighter holds a joint patent for the hard light tech that we’ll be launching early next year as a support tool for rescue operations as well as a more humane alternative to apprehending villains.”

“That’s… interesting,” Sam said.

He wondered if Crow-Man would share credit for the life-gel with Sam who had inspired its creation. Probably not.

It’s not like I helped him make it, Sam reasoned.

“Can we choose our opponents?” Thunder asked.

“Crow-Man helped provide the data for my catalog so any hero or villain he’s encountered is possible,” Marcus Flint replied. After a second of hesitation, he added, “I think I know who you want.”

A new ball of light appeared floating at a height above the courtyard’s outer walls. A second later and this light grew into a blonde-haired man with a red toga hanging over his white armor. Superion appeared floating in the sky, his blue-eyed gaze fixed on the two heroes in the courtyard.

“Seriously?” Sam raised an eyebrow at Thunder. “You want to fight your cousin?”

Thunder raised her smartphone to Sam’s eye level. “Our mutual friend suggested I could learn a thing or two from sparring with Superion.”

At the mention of ‘friend’, Sam’s thoughts turned inward. Chiron, did you give Thunder a training regimen too?

Thunder never completed her training as an Argonaut, kid, so I thought I would help train her a different way, Chiron explained.

Sam had always felt guilty for taking Triple-A away from Thunder. But if Chiron was willing to teach her even without the system’s tools to assist them, then Sam was grateful to his master.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

He heard Chiron neigh, and that was all the reply the centaur gave him.

Thanks to their dimensional storage tools, Sam and Thunder were quick to change back into their gear. And, with their preparations completed, Marcus Flint showed them another interesting function of his workshop. He activated a hard light barrier that separated Thunder’s training area from Sam’s, allowing them both to move around without needing to worry about disrupting the other’s training.

Lastly, Marcus Flint gave Thunder a warning. “This simulation of Superion is based on Crow-Man’s analysis of the hero’s powerset and fighting style. So, assume you’re fighting the real thing or you will lose.”

“Crow-Man’s analysis… that’s reassuring.” Thunder cocked her arm, and a lightning bolt flashed in her hand. “And it wouldn’t matter if it’s a copy or the real thing. I don’t intend to lose.”

On that confident note, Thunder hurled her lightning bolt at the fake Superion, which he blocked with a wall of air pressure.

“It wouldn’t be fun if you couldn’t do at least this much,” she taunted.

Fake Superion’s response was to smile smugly at her, making Thunder frown slightly.

Then, at a speed that even Sam’s eyes could barely track, his girlfriend—a label Sam thought in his mind but hadn’t said out loud yet—rushed toward her cousin’s mirror image, and they clashed in a shower of sparks and wind pressure.

“Hephaestus’ flaming beard,” Sam whistled, “This room can even simulate Superion’s power over the winds?”

It’s not as powerful, but fighting this simulation of the current ‘Lord of the Sky’ will help fuel Thunder’s growth in climate-changing techniques, Chiron replied.

What kind of training regimen did you make her?

I call it… Alpha Among Alphas Training Menu one through five. Chiron sounded extra-proud of this training program too. And no, you’re not ready for this kind of training, kid. Don’t worry though. Today, I’ve got something good planned for you.

We’re not doing Explosive Training Menu Nine today?

You’ve outgrown the Explosive Training series now that you’re a gamma. But I guarantee this next training menu will help you bridge that gap between gamma and beta much faster.

Simulating drum roll…

Triple-A actually made it sound like drums were banging inside Sam’s head, making him roll his eyes at the system and what Chiron was making it do.

I give you… Secret Techniques Training Menu numbers one through three! Chiron revealed.

“Secret techniques,” Sam repeated out loud. Wait… does that mean what I think it means?

Over the past few months, Sam had learned a lot from Chiron. From understanding the core functions of his life force—its role in expanding his gift’s potential—to helping Sam build a strong physical and mental foundation required to become the kind of A-list hero Sam always dreamed of becoming. And, because of Chiron’s teachings, Sam had survived all the challenges that have come his way. The one thing Chiron hasn’t taught Sam, however, were the techniques that could help supplement his powerful physique and innate talent.

It's not like I’ve been neglecting your training, kid, but we needed to build you a solid foundation of mind and body first before I could teach you how to properly wield a sword or fling that hammer around in a way that doesn’t scream amateur.

I’m not complaining… I’m just happy you think I’m ready for some advanced-level stuff now.

If Sam was being absolutely honest, he was getting tired of all the push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups he had to do every day to not get penalized with the temporary loss of Triple-A’s functions because Sam had become quite attached to the system’s support.

Honestly, you are kind of a unique case even among all my previous trainees… The way life force allows you to go beyond what you’re capable of makes it one hell of a cheat power, Chiron admitted. Still, having great power isn’t enough. Especially if overusing your life force will get you killed if you keep meeting monsters like Medea, which you will if you’re dead-set on continuing as a hero—

I am… Sam insisted. It’s not just because I’m mentioned in Ash’s great prophecy. I want to do this, Chiron. More than anything.

That’s the kind of attitude I’ve been waiting to hear from you, kid, Chiron said approvingly. But, as I said, having great power isn’t enough. Enhancing your power with technique is how we keep you from not drowning in the great responsibility the Fates have placed upon you.

Sam didn’t argue with Chiron’s musings as he’d seen firsthand what a hero could do when they supplemented their gifts with high-level techniques. Of course, Sam was thinking about Crow-Man.

I want to be like him, Sam realized. To which Chiron replied, Aiming a little too high there, aren’t you?

The centaur chuckled.

All kidding aside, it’s not like you haven’t learned any techniques at all.

You’re talking about my Shockwave, right?

Creator has officially listed this technique in the system’s registry as [Clapper].

Seriously?

It’s a more memorable name, lame-brain. That’s how you name techniques, Chiron replied. Then the centaur cleared his throat. Anyways, the Clapper isn’t the only technique you’ve learned intuitively. You also have that ‘Wall’ you do with Bulwark. That’s a kind of power technique too. You’ve got Mortal Fist too. That’s a good one.

But those aren’t the kind of techniques you want to teach me now? Sam guessed.

Right-o, kiddo, Chiron agreed. Instead of depriving you of the chance for more self-discovery when it comes to your gift’s potential, I’m going to teach you stuff you can’t learn on your own… And I’m talking about combat techniques that’ll maximize the potential of the relics that have fallen on your lap.

I’ve been waiting for this. Sam thought excitedly. So, um, what kind of technique am I learning first?

I would have liked to start with a beginner move, but seeing as how you like throwing your hammer and sword around so much, we’ll go with an intermediate technique that should keep you from losing your weapons all the time. It’s called the Weapon Throw.

Holy Styx… In his mind, Sam saw himself hurling Onus at fake Superion and then having the hammer return to his hand afterward similar to how Bethany had wielded it with telekinesis. Master, I’m ready to learn. Please teach me this awesome move.