Recoil and Recovery
Taking a deep breath, I held it as I'd seen in countless movies, trying to steady my aim. Through the scope—which I guessed was a 2x magnification, given its modest extension of my view—I focused on the target in the distance. When I finally squeezed the trigger, the recoil was far more powerful than I had anticipated. The scope slammed back into my eye, causing me to flinch and lower my weapon. My concentration shattered, and I could feel a trickle of embarrassment creeping up my spine as I quickly tried to cover my mistake by pretending to examine the targets more closely. Thankfully, neither the drill sergeant nor Sergeant Major Foster seemed to notice my mistake.
I wasn't even sure if I had hit the target. The recoil had been so intense that it had forced me to close my eyes involuntarily, leaving me blind to the outcome of my shot. My right eye throbbed with a dull ache, and my vision was slightly blurred, a consequence of the scope's impact.
Realizing I needed to recover before attempting another shot, I quietly began to absorb mana, directing its healing energy toward my eyes. I couldn't afford to draw attention to myself by absorbing mana for too long, so I limited the process to a mere ten seconds. The numbness and blurriness in my eye receded slightly, although it was still far from perfect.
Despite the discomfort, I decided to continue. I adjusted my grip on the Vanguard, pulling it closer to my body to absorb the recoil. I widened my stance and planted my feet firmly on the ground, while simultaneously tensing the muscles in my arms. This time, I selected a target closer than the last and took aim once more, careful to keep my head at a safe distance from the scope.
I squeezed the trigger, and the weapon roared, its report echoing across the firing range. This time, the recoil was more manageable, and I was able to keep my eye on the target. There was a metallic clank as the bullet struck home, leaving a clear indentation in the metal target. The shot was close to where I had aimed, but not quite centered—a near miss rather than a direct hit.
I considered the possibility that external factors, such as wind resistance, might have affected the bullet's trajectory, but I quickly dismissed the thought. The targets were only 50 meters away, and these experimental weapons were designed to deliver superior firepower, with bullets that moved at such high velocities that air resistance was unlikely to be a significant factor at this range.
With a sense of determination, I made a minor adjustment to my scope, compensating for the slight inaccuracy of my previous shot. I knew that my aim was still shaky, and I resolved to focus on improving my stability and control.
I continued to fire, alternating between targets at varying distances and switching the Vanguard back to full automatic mode once I felt more comfortable with the weapon's handling. In the brief moments between shots, I subtly absorbed mana, directing its energy to soothe my aching muscles and hasten the healing of my injured eye. The soreness gradually faded, replaced by a renewed sense of vigor and focus.
After more than an hour of intense focus and relentless firing, the shooting practice finally came to an end. I was satisfied with the progress I had made, but I was also acutely aware of the areas where I needed to improve. As I lowered my weapon and stepped away from the firing line, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I had faced a new challenge head-on and had emerged with a clearer understanding of my own limitations—and how to overcome them.
As the other recruits began to talk among themselves, I overheard someone mention that the next phase of our training would be focused on muscle growth. We were instructed to report to Training Facility 1 in thirty minutes. The murmurs of conversation around me suggested that this break was intended for us to grab a meal or simply rest and recover before the next session.
My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't had a meal since last night. I followed the other recruits' lead, leaving my weapon at the firing range before heading to the cafeteria. With the thought of food and the anticipation of the next training session, I made my way through the bustling crowd.
The cafeteria was a noisy, chaotic mess, filled with the sounds of clanging trays and boisterous conversations. Even though there were a lot of soldiers here, the place wasn't packed. It wasn't long before I was standing in line, ordering a mountain of food to quell the growling in my stomach. As I waited, I overheard murmurs of magic. Recruits were talking about the potential powers of the Awakened, discussing how people were forming fireballs and manipulating lightning. Before, I would have brushed these off as fantastical rumors, but lately, with all the crazy stuff happening in the world, I wasn't so sure anymore.
Stomach pleasantly full from the meal I'd managed to scarf down, I made my way to Training Facility 1. The quiet hum of anticipation filled the air as I approached the entrance. It was still a few minutes before our scheduled training time, but I wasn't surprised to see other recruits already inside, some of them seated cross-legged on the floor, their eyes closed in concentration as they absorbed mana.
Before joining them, I remembered that I hadn't checked in with my family since arriving at Fort Haven. I pulled out my phone, expecting to find a barrage of worried messages, but the screen was conspicuously empty of any new notifications. Perhaps they were giving me space to settle into my new environment, or maybe they knew I'd be too caught up in training to respond.
I quickly typed out a message in our family group chat, reassuring them that I was doing okay. "Just finished a meal and heading into another training session. It's intense, but I'm hanging in there. Sorry for the silence; it's been really busy." I added a smiley emoji at the end, hoping to convey a sense of positivity despite the rigorous training.
Satisfied that I'd done my duty to keep them in the loop, I pocketed my phone and turned my attention inward. I closed my eyes and began to freely absorb mana, allowing its energy to permeate my entire body. It was a gentle, refreshing sensation, as if I were standing in a cool breeze after a long, grueling run.
Just as I was getting into the rhythm of my mana absorption, the unmistakable bark of the drill sergeant cut through the relative quiet of the training facility. "Listen up, recruits!" he bellowed, his voice ricocheting off the walls. "You're all here because you've shown potential as an Awakened. But potential alone isn't enough. Today, you're going to be injected with a potent drug that will amplify your training sessions, pushing your bodies beyond their natural limits. This drug has side effects—for normal humans, the effects will be quite severe. Even then, those who can absorb Mana will be able to get rid of those side effects. For the Awakened, however, the side effects will be minimal."
He paused, letting his words sink in, then continued with a steely glint in his eyes. "Refusal to undergo this injection means immediate termination from the military. We can't afford to have weak links in our ranks, especially not with the threats we're facing beyond the gates."
I felt a twinge of unease at the thought of being injected with an unknown substance, but I pushed it aside. I was here to prove myself, to unlock the full potential of my abilities as an Awakened. If this was what it took, then I would do it, side effects be damned.
As the sergeant spoke, I couldn't help but wonder about the true capabilities of the Awakened. Even though I was one myself, I didn't fully understand what this body was truly capable of. Before the ban on Mana discussions, there were multiple rumors of godlike powers. I had thought those were the ramblings of immature people, but now... Well, it wouldn't be so bad to possess a fraction of that power, would it? At the same time, I couldn't ignore the fear of what such abilities could mean for the world if they fell into the wrong hands.
The injection itself was surprisingly anticlimactic. A single needle, a quick prick, and it was done. I watched as each recruit before me accepted the drug without hesitation—not a single one of us seemed to harbor the common fear of needles. It was almost as if our shared status as Awakened had stripped away such trivial concerns.
Once we were all injected, the drill sergeant spoke up again. "The drug you've just received will allow for unprecedented muscle endurance and recovery during your training. One hour of training under its influence is the equivalent of four hours of standard training. However, the maximum duration you can train under the drug's effects is four hours, after which you will spend an hour absorbing mana. You will start to experience side effects after five hours, so we want you to heal right after four hours. Let Mana flow freely throughout your body—don't concentrate it in one area."
With those final instructions, the sergeant left us to our own devices. The vast training facility was filled with a variety of machines, more than enough to accommodate all of us without any waiting around.
I decided to start with my legs, opting for barbell squats to build explosiveness and endurance. After a thorough warm-up, I loaded the bar with 100 kilograms and got to work. The drug coursed through my veins, lending an almost euphoric sensation to each lift and squat. It was exhilarating, like my body was suddenly lighter, more responsive. I absorbed mana during my rest periods, channeling it into my legs and marveling at the way my muscles responded, growing stronger and more resilient with each passing minute.
As I pushed myself, I found myself increasing the weight on the bar to 110 kilograms, pushing past my previous limits with what seemed like relative ease. My body was responding to the training in ways I had never experienced before. I had never felt this strong, this capable.
I took a moment to catch my breath, absorbing Mana into my legs, letting the familiar feeling wash over me. My legs were already feeling stronger, the fatigue from the squats fading away. I knew I had to push myself harder, to exploit the full potential of this drug. I would soon need to heal and recover, but for now, the only thing on my mind was pushing my limits.
An hour had passed, and my legs were screaming for a break. I switched to overhead barbell presses. The squat rack would serve me just as well for this exercise, saving me the hassle of changing equipment in this bustling training facility.
As I adjusted the weight on the barbell, I noticed a significant number of recruits gravitating towards similar exercises. It seemed we all had the same idea about the importance of strengthening our shoulders and arms to handle the experimental weapons we'd been assigned. It was a logical conclusion; those weapons were heavier and more powerful than anything I'd ever handled before.
I started with a warm-up, feeling the familiar burn as I lifted the bar above my head. Once I was adequately prepared, I settled on my working weight of 60 kilograms. It was a bit lower than I had hoped for, but I reminded myself that I was here to improve, and I was confident that my strength would grow rapidly with the help of the new drug and my ability to absorb Mana.
As I performed each set, I focused on my form, making sure to keep my core engaged and my back straight. The weight slowly increased with each passing minute, and in between sets, I took the opportunity to rest and absorb Mana, channeling it into my shoulders, triceps, and occasionally my lower back, feeling the muscles respond and recuperate at an accelerated rate.
By the time I reached my final set, I had surpassed my initial working weight. I loaded the barbell with 75 kilograms and took a deep breath before lifting it above my head. The weight felt heavy, yet manageable. I carefully executed five repetitions, each one a testament to my progress. Compared to my squats, the improvement in my overhead press was significant. It was an encouraging sign, a clear indication that my body was adapting to the intense training regime and the experimental drug coursing through my veins.
I racked the barbell and stepped back, my muscles humming with a satisfying mix of fatigue and exhilaration. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the thought of what I might achieve in the weeks and months to come. I was ready to push myself further, to see how far I could go. The drug was still coursing through my veins, and I was only two hours into the training session.