Back in my quarters, I retrieve the data chip from its hiding place and plug it into my tablet. The Umbra network interface activates with its characteristic minimalist display, showing two new messages since my last check:

  "Arena configuration for tomorrow: standard combat oval, no environmental hazards, minimal elevation changes. Observation platforms positioned for maximum visibility of entire combat zone. Sponsor representatives primarily interested in physical enhancement rather than specialized ability applications. —M"

  The second message appears more recent:

  "Security increased around arena periphery following incident during previous arena cycle. Null sections under enhanced monitoring due to unexplained system fluctuations. Caution advised if utilizing non-standard communication channels. —V"

  Volt's warning about increased security around Null sections carries immediate implications for Desta. The "unexplained system fluctuations" likely refer to technokinetic signature detection, suggesting facility security has identified potential ability manifestation without pinpointing specific source. Concerning development that requires adjusting tomorrow's approach.

  I remove the chip and return it to its hiding place, then prepare for sleep meditation focused on final physical enhancements.

  Settling onto my thin mattress, I regulate my breathing, slow, measured inhalations followed by controlled exhalations, as consciousness detaches from immediate surroundings while maintaining active meditation thread. My awareness turns inward, examining the physical enhancement pathways with microscopic precision.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Tonight's focus: energy efficiency and recovery cycles. Combat effectiveness against Shockwave requires not just initial speed advantage but sustained performance throughout engagement. I begin optimizing cellular metabolism throughout muscle tissue—enhancing mitochondrial function, improving oxygen utilization pathways, accelerating lactic acid processing to delay fatigue onset.

  The work continues through locomotion systems, refining neural coordination between antagonistic muscle groups, eliminating unnecessary tension during movement sequences, establishing optimal activation patterns for maximum force generation with minimal energy expenditure. Each minor adjustment contributes to performance sustainability, creating cumulative advantage during prolonged engagement.

  Most critical for tomorrow's specific opponent: impact preparation throughout the body's structural systems. If Shockwave manages successful concussive force discharge despite evasion attempts, damage mitigation becomes essential for continued combat functionality. I reinforce connective tissue flexibility, optimize skeletal load distribution pathways, and enhance cellular repair mechanisms for accelerated recovery from kinetic energy transfer.

  Hours pass in this state of focused internal reconstruction, consciousness directing telekinetic energy at the cellular level throughout physical enhancement architecture. Not dramatic new capabilities, just refinement of existing systems to ensure maximum efficiency during tomorrow's arena match.

  By the time my meditation gradually concludes as morning approaches, the physical enhancements have reached optimal preparation state for tomorrow's specific combat parameters. Enhanced speed now includes improved sustainability during extended engagement, strength maintenance during multiple exertion cycles, and accelerated recovery from potential concussive impact.

  The facility's morning cycle begins, lighting gradually increasing as consciousness returns to normal waking patterns. My body feels primed, each system operating at peak efficiency, neural pathways optimized for tomorrow's specific combat requirements, physical capabilities ready for precise application within strategic parameters.

  CHARACTER PROFILE

  Gary (PROTAGONIST)

  STR: 23(+2) - Enhanced strength

  SPD: 27(+2) - Enhanced reflexes

  RES: 22(+4) - Moderate enhancement recovery

  CTL: 66(+1) - Excellent telekinetic precision

  AWR: 31 - Significant perception

  Primary: Advanced Telekinesis (Molecular manipulation, Neural Architecture Modification)

  Secondary: Physical Enhancement