Chapter 15: A New Routine

The first rays of sunlight crept into Les's apartment as his alarm blared, cutting through the early morning quiet. He groaned, his body protesting the idea of getting up so soon after the intense workout the previous day. But the plan was set, and there was no turning back. He wasn't the same aimless man who had once drifted through life. Now, he had direction.

Les rolled out of bed, his muscles sore and stiff from yesterday's session at Old Town Combat Gym. His arms felt like they weighed a ton, but the soreness was a reminder that he was making progress. Slowly but surely.

He downed a glass of water and threw on his workout clothes before heading out the door. The streets were still quiet, the city barely waking up, but that was part of the appeal. No distractions, no noise—just him, his body, and the road ahead.

Les reached the park and stretched for a few minutes, taking in the crisp morning air. It was still surreal, the idea that he was training his body in the real world with the same intensity he'd once reserved for virtual combat. But if Life Mirror had taught him anything, it was that the mind and body weren't as separate as people thought. What he'd learned in VR could be applied here, in the real world, and the more he pushed, the stronger the connection would become.

He started with a light jog, his feet pounding rhythmically against the pavement as he looped around the park's perimeter. His mind wandered back to his days in The Hub, leading pro teams and analyzing data, finding every advantage he could for his players. Now, he was applying that same meticulous approach to his own life, every step and every breath planned out.

After a couple of laps, he stopped at the outdoor workout station—nothing fancy, just a few pull-up bars, dip bars, and benches. It wasn't much, but it was all he needed. He started with basic bodyweight exercises: push-ups, pull-ups, squats. Each rep burned, but he embraced the pain. It meant progress.

Les focused on his breathing, controlling each movement with precision. It was a far cry from the graceful, almost effortless way Raiden had moved in the game, but it was a start. He wasn't there yet, but he was getting closer. Life Mirror had given him the mental edge, but it was up to him to build the physical foundation.

After the workout, Les sat on a bench, catching his breath and checking his holo-pad. His schedule for the day was packed—training, more time in Ancient Arena Online, and research on how to integrate his growing skills. He'd been diving deeper into athlete biographies, watching footage of old matches and analyzing every detail of their performances. His mind had become a sponge, absorbing everything from the way they moved to their training regimens. The more he learned, the more he realized just how much potential Life Mirror held.

The challenge was integrating it all into his own training. He couldn't replicate every move, not yet, but he could focus on the fundamentals—the agility, the reflexes, the mental toughness. That's what had made athletes like Raiden great. And it's what would make him stronger, both in the game and in real life.

Les stood up, feeling the soreness in his muscles settle in. He had a long day ahead, but that was the point. The old Les would've given up, maybe taken a break, but that wasn't who he was anymore. This wasn't just about the game—it was about something bigger. About proving to himself, and to the world, that he wasn't just some washed-up manager. He was going to rise, stronger and smarter than before.

When he returned to his apartment, he logged into Ancient Arena Online and quickly navigated to the PvP arena. The virtual world buzzed with life, players gearing up for battles, trading, and chatting. It felt familiar, like slipping into a second skin.

He queued for a match and watched as the system paired him with an opponent. The name flashed across the screen—some random player—but that didn't matter. Les wasn't here just to win; he was here to learn, to push himself to the next level. With his growing knowledge of real-world combat, he wanted to see if it could give him an edge, even here.

The match began, and Les immediately felt the adrenaline kick in. His opponent was fast, aggressive, but undisciplined. Les danced around him, avoiding hits and biding his time. His real-world training had given him a new sense of balance, a better understanding of spacing. It was strange, using the physical lessons he'd learned in the gym to improve his virtual fighting, but it worked. He could feel the difference in his reflexes, the way his mind processed each movement.

The battle ended quickly, with Les landing a decisive blow that knocked his opponent out of the ring. It was a clean win, but more importantly, it confirmed what he had been hoping for—his training in reality was enhancing his performance in the game. The two worlds weren't separate anymore. They were feeding into each other, strengthening both his mind and body.

Logging out, Les leaned back in his chair, feeling the rush of victory. It wasn't just about the win; it was about the connection between his real and virtual selves. He was growing stronger in both worlds, and that gave him an edge no one else had.

But he couldn't stop now. This was only the beginning. There were more challenges ahead, both in the game and out. He still had to prove himself to the world, to the people who had doubted him, and most importantly, to himself.

Les opened his holo-pad again and started planning his next steps. More training. More battles. More learning. He wasn't going to let anything hold him back, not his past, not his failures, not his physical limitations.

This was his time to rise.

And nothing was going to stop him.