Chapter 11: Mind Over Matter

The familiar rush of light faded as Les logged out of Ancient Arena Online, the game's world dissolving into the shadows of his cramped apartment. He slowly removed the VR headset, his mind still buzzing with adrenaline from the fight. The silence of the real world felt jarring in comparison—the arena's roaring crowds replaced by the dull hum of his ceiling fan. Les blinked, adjusting to the dim light, and rubbed his temple, feeling a faint ache. He'd been in the game for hours.

He sat up on his couch, the weight of reality creeping back in. The victory in the PvP arena had left him feeling more energized than he had in a long time, but now, sitting alone in his apartment, the thrill of the game was quickly being replaced by a gnawing emptiness. The sharp contrast between his life in the game and outside it was becoming more and more unbearable. In the game, he was someone—skilled, calculating, even feared. But here?

Here, he was just Les—the guy who had been framed, forgotten, and struggling to keep his life together.

Les's holo-pad flashed with notifications, but he ignored them, pushing himself off the couch. His body felt sore from sitting for too long, his muscles stiff and unresponsive compared to the effortless grace he'd experienced in the game. He stretched, wincing at the tightness in his shoulders, and wandered over to the window. The neon lights of the city flickered outside, casting long shadows across his floor.

Staring out at the skyline, his mind drifted back to the fight. The way he had moved in the arena, the precision with which he had dodged attacks, the flawless timing of his strikes—it had all felt so real. The sensation of control, the heightened awareness of his surroundings... It was like he had tapped into something deeper than just game mechanics.

Life Mirror.

Les's thoughts circled back to his unique skill, the one that allowed him to mirror the abilities of others he had encountered. So far, he had only used it in the game—borrowing the abilities of athletes and other players to enhance his own performance. But what if it didn't have to be limited to just the game?

He frowned, the idea forming slowly in his mind. What if he could use what he learned in the game... here, in reality?

It seemed impossible. The game was just that—a game. The muscle memory, the reflexes, the agility... they were all tied to the virtual body his mind controlled in Ancient Arena Online. In the real world, he lacked the physical prowess to match those movements. His real body was far from athletic, sluggish and untrained after years of neglect. But something nagged at him—the fact that his skill didn't rely on physical attributes alone. Life Mirror focused on the mind, on knowledge and muscle memory. The experiences he mirrored were stored in his brain, not just his digital avatar.

Les paced across the room, his heart racing with the possibilities. If his brain could mimic the actions and abilities of someone like Kai Nakamura in the game, why couldn't it do the same in the real world? After all, the brain didn't differentiate between virtual and real experiences. It learned from both.

He paused, staring down at his hands. His fingers twitched slightly, recalling the fluid motion of drawing his sword, the effortless precision of his strikes. In his mind, the movements were clear, as if his body knew exactly what to do. But when he tried to replicate the action, his arm felt heavy, his movements clumsy. His body was the limitation. He wasn't out of shape, but he wasn't the lean, fast warrior he had been in the game.

Yet... could it work?

Les clenched his fists, feeling a surge of determination. There was only one way to find out.

He quickly made his way to the center of the room, clearing some space for himself. His muscles ached slightly from sitting for so long, but he ignored the discomfort. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he focused on the sensation of being in the game. He visualized the arena, the weight of the sword in his hand, the feeling of his body moving effortlessly across the battlefield. His heart quickened as the memories sharpened in his mind.

With his eyes still closed, Les raised his arm, mimicking the motion of a sword strike. It was clumsy at first, his arm jerking awkwardly through the air. He frowned, adjusting his stance, trying to tap into the muscle memory he had developed in the game. He swung again, this time with more focus, more control. Slowly, his movements began to smooth out. He could feel the difference—not perfect, but better.

He continued practicing, moving through the motions he had used in the PvP arena—the dodges, the feints, the strikes. His body wasn't moving with the same speed or precision as his avatar, but the movements were there. His mind remembered, even if his body struggled to keep up.

Les's breathing grew heavier, his muscles protesting the sudden activity, but he pushed through. Each movement felt a little smoother, a little more natural. His body was adapting, slowly catching up to what his mind already knew. It was like a switch had been flipped—a connection between the virtual and the real.

But it wasn't enough. His mind could process the movements, but his body simply couldn't keep up. His muscles were too weak, too slow. He lacked the endurance, the flexibility, the power. He needed more than just mental knowledge—he needed a body that could keep pace with his mind.

Les collapsed onto the couch, his chest heaving. His body ached from the exertion, and a thin layer of sweat clung to his skin. He had made progress, sure, but it was clear that he had a long way to go. If he wanted to unlock the full potential of his skill in the real world, he'd need to train—physically.

He stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts racing. He had never been an athlete. Even before his career as a VR manager, he had always focused on the mental side of things—strategy, tactics, leadership. But now, if he wanted to reclaim his life, if he wanted to truly master Life Mirror, he'd have to step out of his comfort zone.

He'd have to train his body as much as his mind.

A sudden ping from his holo-pad broke his thoughts. Les reached over and glanced at the screen. It was Mira.

Mira: "Hey, are you okay? Haven't heard from you in a while. Let's grab coffee sometime soon?"

Les stared at the message, his mind still buzzing with the revelation he'd just experienced. He didn't feel like talking to anyone right now, but Mira had always been there for him. Maybe she could help him figure out the next step. After all, she had seen him at his best and worst.

Les typed a quick reply.

Les: "Sure. Let's meet up tomorrow. I've got some things I need to figure out."

He set the holo-pad down and closed his eyes, his body still buzzing with the energy from his practice. He knew now that Life Mirror was more than just a skill for the game. It was a tool that could change everything, both in the virtual world and in the real one. But to unlock its full potential, he had to strengthen both.

As he drifted off to sleep, his mind raced with possibilities. Tomorrow would bring new challenges—both in the game and in reality. And Les was ready to face them head-on.