Chapter 056 – Fast Progress

[2009 – July]

Another three weeks had passed in which I had spent most of my time training Martial Arts under the private instructor Emma had helped me arrange for.

Araya Nguyen was a normal baseline human, 28 years old, and had won several Muay Thai competitions, before having to retire from official fights due to an injury and her age.

Emma had found her through Hellfire and offered her the position as an instructor, which she had accepted happily due to her financial situation being rather bleak, considering her mother had a terminal illness and she needed to pay the medical bills.

I knew that Emma could have just as easily found another instructor that didn't need the money, maybe one even more skilled if she had paid enough. The fact that she specifically picked Araya was telling, as Emma had gained her loyalty and silence for a comparably small price.

I didn't comment on this though, as this deal was favorable for both sides, while it ensured that Araya would do her best in teaching me Muay Thai for the next few weeks.

And it truly was only a few weeks, as my learning speed was simply unmatched. My peak human condition allowed me to execute even the most strenuous maneuvers with ease and I could practically feel the exercises turning into muscle memory, while my brain rapidly worked through the different fighting scenarios and vividly replayed the scenes in my mind.

It was in these moments that I realised what 'peak human' really meant. I could learn Martial Arts with efficiency and speed as if I had the greatest talent for the fighting arts amongst all of humanity, as such was the terrifying powers the Super Soldier Serum granted its recipients.

And while I had gotten this power through different means, I now had a better understanding of why Hydra, SHIELD, and every other organization tried to copy Erskine's formula.

I had a lot on my plate with learning new languages, Martial Arts, and training my use of my barriers, but I still tried to spend as much time as possible with Jean.

I often took us to New York at night, where we watched the skyline and the nightly hustle of the city that never slept.

There was also the occasional trip to a few boutiques, as our demand for new clothes was rather great, even though Jean had gotten a lot better at controlling her fire. Most of the time it was me ripping off her clothes in the heat of the moment, though Jean usually didn't complain about my loss of control, being too busy moaning and panting with pleasure.

My promise to model for Cordelia was of course still valid, but the date for the photoshoot was set for later this month.

I had also managed to create an ethereal shield around myself, that would shield me from any type of scrying, either through magic, mutant abilities, or other powers. With the help of this barrier, I was practically safe from others finding my position or spying on me using magical means.

Though to be honest, I had been unsure how effective it was at the beginning as none of the Hellions had an ability with which my shield could be tested, though a small note on my nightstand assured me of its functions.

The note had read: 'Well done. From now on, you are on your own. - Ancient One'

Thankful and with a slightly bitter smile on my face, I had employed that shield every waking moment after getting her confirmation. I had even created an Episilon-level ability called Program to be able to use the shield even in my sleep.

Program, as its name implied allowed me to program my mind to execute one task without needing any conscious thought of mine. It was an ability with very limited application, which could only be used on one task at the same time and the task also couldn't be too complicated.

Though simply keeping one of my shields activated at all times was within its capabilities.

I had of course realized that the ability did have a lot more potential uses if upgraded and used correctly, but I had been saving up my energy for another Beta-level ability, which would once again greatly accelerate my progress in learning Martial Arts to impossible levels.

It was today that I had finally saved up enough energy, as the ability was a high-tiered Beta-level power and therefore required roughly three times as much energy as that of a basic Beta-level ability.

It was called Adoptive Muscle Memory, or Eidetic Kinesthesia.

This power would practically eliminate any necessity for me to even learn from an instructor directly.

Simply looking at someone performing a physical feat or stunt, would enable me to replicate it perfectly, including acrobatics and Martial Arts. The only limiting factor was my physique, which meant I would only be able to replicate a feat that I was physically capable of executing.

Thankfully I had planned ahead and already possessed a Peak Human Condition, which negated the weakness of this power completely. Everything that a normal human could do, no matter how incredible, I would be able to do too with just a look.

Using the learned Martial Arts in actual combat might still prove a bit hard, as I would still lack the experience to decide on an action, but that was something I would have to learn in any case, so that wasn't a real concern.

I needed this power to save myself weeks and months of learning so that I could free up some more of my time for other things. Especially when thinking about future powers I might grant myself, as I would need time to get used to them and learn to use and control them.

Additionally, I wanted to have more time to spend with Jean without being always pressed for time.

"Ready?", I asked Jean, who kneeled beside the tub on the bathroom floor.

"Yes.", she answered with a worried look in her eyes, her hands balled into fists.

"You really don't have to be here for this, my love.", I remarked, knowing that she did not enjoy watching me suffer like this at all.

"No, I want to be here.", she responded, leaning forward and placing a soft kiss on my lips before she continued, a caring and affectionate tone lacing her words, "I don't want you to suffer by yourself."

A warm feeling blooming in my chest, I voiced out softly, "I love you."

"I love you too.", she answered, gently brushing one of my locks back as her fingers caressed my cheek.

Grabbing her hand, I pressed my lips into her palm, before I closed my eyes and activated Self-Creation while inputting the details of my new power into the creation process.

Familiar pain soon surged through my form as my brain and nervous system were flooded with liquid fire. This time I didn't faint, though the suffering wasn't any less than the last few times as I felt the excruciating pain that accompanied the transformation of my nerves and brain, which would ultimately grant me the power I had envisioned.

On the contrary, I wished I would faint, but it was the intense pain in my brain and nerves that kept my consciousness from crossing over into unconsciousness.

A few long minutes later, the pain finally lessened as I slumped in on myself, unable to even concentrate on Jean's soft touches as she gently washed the sweat from my delirious form.

It took a few long minutes before I fully returned to the land of the living, though by this point she had already brought me to the bed and snuggled up next to me.

Not wanting to think about anything for the moment, I simply wrapped my arms around her and drifted off into a relaxing sleep while her fiery flowery scent wafted around me. The tender caresses of her hands drawing me even faster towards the land of dreams.

…

Tears couldn't help but well up in Jean's eyes, as she saw how vulnerable the incredible pain Elijah had to endure made him.

His normally strong and unshakeable presence was temporarily banished by overwhelming exhaustion and the phantom pains still causing his body to tremble minutely even in his sleep.

Tenderness bloomed in her heart, as her hands brushed softly through Elijah's hair after he had fallen asleep with his head buried in the crook of her neck.

It was moments like these where she realized how much she loved him, wanting nothing more than to take away his pain.

Jean wouldn't hesitate for even a second if she could endure it for him the next time he used his Self-Creation, though she likewise knew that Elijah would never let her do such a thing.

Still, the incredible intimacy she felt between them when it was her turn to take care of him, was something that made her feel the intensity of her love for Elijah as directly as she felt it when their bodies were connected during sex. Maybe even more.

Sighing softly, she continued to move her fingers through his hair affectionately, soon joining him in his sleep.