Chapter Five: Training To Defeat The Unknown

{.…….. Umm, you should go to sleep. We have an early day tomorrow. You are experienced in martial arts so you’ll have some skills to pull off, and because you are now a……….. god, your attack would be effective. We have to train on your speed or it will all be for nothing.}
Her reminder snapped me back to the task—a cold, efficient mirror to my bluster.
Speed….. Let me ask you something…
Why are you trying to save humanity when your kind are trying to destroy them?
The question rose like a stone tossed into still water. It made circles inside me.
{To tell you the truth, I have other reasons for fighting. Saving humanity is just 1% among the reasons. I’ll tell you that another time……. Yawn…. I’ve used too much energy, if you don’t sleep I wont be able to recover. Hopefully when you defeat a god and destroy your chains, I wont have to worry about energy anymore.}
She confessed with a yawning honesty, leaving the rest unsaid like a closed door.
I see. Chains huh? But why do I have to sleep if I’m already a god?
Logic and irritation warred in my voice. If I was divine, why submit to sleep?
{You ask…… too many….. questions……. Yawn!}
Her patience dissolved into playful rebuke.
Hey! Can you hear me? Answer me!
My demand hung, impatient, pushing the silence.
But there was no reply.
Her silence spread like a curtain.
I think I’ll also……. go to sleep.
My exhaustion returned like tidewater—inevitable.
….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
“Hey wake up!”
The shout cut through the sleep haze like a knife.
“Hmm, is it morning already?”
I mumbled, half awake and clinging to warmth.
“We have training to do, wake up if you don’t want to be defeated by a mere god!” she was sitting on top of me with her hands on my shoulders.
She was all energy, perching like a cocky satellite over me, her voice a battering ram of mockery.
Hearing that silly remark, I got out of bed in a blink.
Reflex pushed me up. Pride bristled.
“Who the hell do you think you are talking to?” I snugged at her silly comment.
My retort was instant—sharp and theatrical.
“Okay! Let’s go outside and begin the speed training!”
Her cheer was relentless.
“You are so energetic today. Wait, I can see you a little clearer.”
The clarity was subtle, as if the world had been focus-adjusted.
“Of course. You gained a lot of confidence yesterday by bringing out Zinertia. An increase in your strength also increases my strength.”
She explained it casually, as if our bond were a mechanical lever.
“Hmm, it doesn’t feel any different with you in me……. or not.” and that’s when it hit me.
A small, prickling realization crawled across my mind.
Didn’t i forget Something? I didn’t learn how to summon..
Panic flitted through me—an ugly, absent-minded panic.
Getting out of bed and dressing as fast as I could, we walked outside the castle and It was only dawn.
Dawn lay over the world like a promise; the air was cold and clean.
“Okay, I’m going back in.”
She said as she moved closer to enter me.
Going back in? But why?
I asked, brows knitting with suspicion.
“I have to guide you, isn’t it best we are together?”
The answer was simple and oddly tender.
As I thought: She can really hear my thoughts even when she’s outside of me.
It’s a disquieting intimacy.
It’s kinda creepy but she got inside me nevertheless.
The sensation was quick—like slipping into a familiar coat.
{I want you to run as fast as you can opposite to the city. But for now, run like a normal human to avoid detection.}
Her instructions were precise, edged with strategy.
“Detection?” I asked as I began to move.
The single word carried the weight of unseen eyes.
{Don’t tell me…………. You’ve been under surveillance this whole time and you still haven’t realized?}
Her question felt incredulous, a judgment wrapped in disbelief.
Surveillance?…………….. Me?
I echoed, stunned.
{Sigh…………….. There are over a hundred agents Academia wide sent to investigate you. You didn’t think the world would let you go free after you’ve gone beyond the “Human Capabilities” did you? There are currently about 10 humans circled around your castle in a km radius with spying equipment. The maids and butlers in your castle are all sent by the world government. Your parents stay home all day removing listening devices and cameras that are installed all over the castle and you are telling me you didn’t know?}
Her voice became a litany of revelations; each fact fell like a stone into the pool of my ignorance.
How am I supposed to know? You know full well how my knowledge works. No one has ever asked me about it so I cant…………………
My protest was genuine, edged with the truth that my awareness had gaps.
{Anyway, because you didn’t know, you have done a good job so far. Besides: the world wont have time to worry about you once the gods begin their invasion.}
The consolation was grim—fate ticking like a distant clock.
Invasion huh? It doesn’t matter since I’m going to defeat all of them!
My bravado flamed anew, louder and wilder.
{Great! Here is fine. Run like you are reaching for the ends of earth.}
Her order felt like a gauntlet.
Hmm. I feel so confident.
Confidence swelled, brisk and bright.
I then got into a running position and SWOOSH…….
The air snapped as I blurred forward.
I ran like a god.
The sensation was intoxicating: power hungry, unbound.
{Stop! You call this running? Where are you right now?}
Her voice cut through the exhilaration like a whip.
10km from where I started………. And in just 1 second!
Reality collapsed at the number. Distances mean nothing now.
{I see. Let me rephrase that: I want you to move, not run. You are used to running the human way, but right now you are supposed to shift your presence to a set distance in a single leap.}
Her correction was precise. Movement had layers I hadn’t considered.
….………………….. Huh?