Chapter 5: Forging the Edge

Meanwhile, Elias dedicated himself to honing his abilities. He knew he couldn’t afford to be caught off guard again. The encounter with Silas had shown him the limitations of his speed and reflexes. He needed to be stronger, faster, more versatile.

He transformed his small apartment into a makeshift training ground. He pushed his physical limits, running wind sprints in the early morning, and practicing martial arts moves he’d picked up from old movies and online videos. He focused on agility drills, weaving through obstacles he’d set up in his living room, improving his reaction time.

He also began to experiment with his other senses. He practiced meditation techniques to sharpen his focus, to quiet the internal noise and amplify the subtle sounds and scents around him. He discovered he could hear the faint heartbeat of a mouse in the wall, smell the rain approaching hours before it arrived.

But it was his “Veridian Sight” that intrigued and frightened him the most. He knew it held immense potential, but it was also unpredictable and taxing. He started to experiment with it in a controlled environment, using the concentrated marijuana in small doses, and carefully observing its effects.

He found he could “see” the flow of electricity in wires, the heat signatures of objects, and the subtle energy fields around living beings. He practiced focusing his “sight,” trying to control its range and intensity. It was like learning to use a new muscle, a muscle that connected him to a world beyond the visible spectrum.

The training was grueling, both physically and mentally. He pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion, driven by a relentless determination to be ready for whatever Silas and his organization threw at him. He was becoming more than just Elias Thorne; he was forging himself into a weapon, a protector, a force to be reckoned with.