Chương 7: Thrive
Adam's body wavered as he barely stood up. If his mentality had not changed, or his consciousness was not was upheld with his unbreakable will skill, he would have long gone unconscious or even surrendered.
His thoughts locked on finishing the test in first place, Adam's short, shaking walk picked up in pace, becoming a tremoring jog.
Though, Adam gained this new skill, allowing him to be more reckless with his body, he could only move as long as his body had stamina.
Knowing this, Adam continued moving at a half-decent pace. Exhaustion battering his mind, but the idea of getting first place keeping him in motion. He was determined to win.
Adam tunneled his thoughts, not allowing his body to relax, the moment his will weakened, his body he could feel was screaming would take him out of commission.
Having not properly exercised on Earth, this in part could be viewed as a punishment for him, for not trying to improve how he had lived.
Painfully, Adam continued on.
Adams perseverance catching the other heroes attention as he started to catch up.
They looked exhausted, their expressions looked to be begging for rest.
Elaina was the most surprised at Adam standing again who had been crawling, while Marcaine remained cold-faced, but there was a wavering glint which entered his eyes as he re-evaluated Adam.
Shaking off their stares, a smile pulled itself across Adam's face.
Adam's thought floundered: 'I know I was a mess.'
He was not gonna say he wasn't.
He knew while his mindset changed, his body would take time to transform.
Admittedly, being underestimated partially fueled his desire to change how he looked, and how he lived.
Mostly still, through committing himself to his health, which seemed to have been a unreachable obstacle, was now able to be attained if he pushed himself.
His health was one of several things he had to change, if he wanted a life he could be proud of.
Adam trailed behind the other heroes, his condition would not suddenly become incredible from solely changing his mentality.
It was a tool, one that could be used in holding out, whenever he challenged himself.
It was up to Adam to take a break, his body would wear down if he was negligent.
Promising he would take a long rest after today, Adam kept striding forth.
If, no..., when he won, he would change his life in a small way.
Increasingly motivated to do well in the test, Adam did not lighten up his pace.
He moved with all the strength he could. His drive to outlast everyone was reinforced with his unbreakable will skill.
Eventually he began to match pace with most of the other heroes that were slightly starting to slow down.
They ran in a pack formation, barely a foot or two in distance from each other, their endurance in a similar range.
The exceptional Marcaine's endurance who was ahead of the group was an outlier.
Adam's gaze carried itself to the start of the field, his goal before him.
A few heroes slumped to the ground as they neared it.
There remained four people, if he was included, who continued to test themselves.
Adam, Marcaine, Elaina, and the male teen who he couldn't recall the name of, were all the ones left.
Adam carried on, his body ever more sluggish.
He was adamant about winning.
He may become akin to sludge at the end, but having only four people now left him believing in the possibility that was growing before his eyes, that he would win, and it would be soon.
The teenager was next to drop out of the test, his body crashing to the ground.
Two competitors, Elaina who albeit was tired, and slowing in pace, had not yet crumbled.
Marcaine, his pace which slowed even less.
Not able to hold back, Adam gave a chiding remark to Elaina and Marcaine: "I can do this all day." His voice dragging out his words.
Scoffing Elaina did not slow her pace further. However, Marcaine seemed incensed by Adam's words and accelerated his pace moderately.
Not looking to make a liar of himself, he jogged on.
Adam's pace remained small, but his hopes were high.
'Only two left... just two.' Adam cheerfully mused.
He felt he would die shortly.
The air from his lungs languid from short heaving breaths.
His tracksuit was splotched in dirt & drenched in sweat, he would have to get rid of it.
Not much longer, Elaine's body wavered, her feet barely going forward, before collapsing.
Impressed, he muttered "Nicely done," as he ran passed her collapsed and fatigued body.
Motivated to overtake Marcaine who was the last one he had to outlast, Adam pulled no stops, and hardened his heart.
He was gonna be so exhausted after this.
But, being close to victory inspired him.
It was satisfying to push on and surpass others.
To test himself, and see what he could do when he did his best.
Adam could feel his throat becoming parched, as the sunlight bore down on him wickedly.
He could ignore the headache, he could ignore the exhaustion, but a dry throat was putting him at his limit.
He would be dust soon.
But dust in first place was better than being goop in second.
Adam observed Marcaine as he ran. His body had scars, and had greying hair similar to the King, but his hairline was further back.
His camo outfit looked well-maintained, the base of his boots that he wore caked in dirt.
If this were a combat situation, he would have no chance.
But this was willpower.
He would change his life, and experiences dont always make us stronger, there was no reason to inflate Marcaine's capabilities.
His bravery to fight was great, but, Adam's reckless desire to defeat him in this test was greater.
Adams body seemed to reject his decree to win, but remained in motion. Marcaine after having run for a handful of minutes more was finally in the condition to falter.
Adam met Marcaine's eyes a few minutes of trying to match his speed later, they were now evenly paced.
Adam unleashed a smirk at Marcaine who looked over annoyed by him, as Adam charged ahead.
Marcaine's energy dropping, and his gaze weakening, his fit body starting to shake.
His aging body was doing him no favors in enduring.
And what Adam sought was not to endure, but to thrive.
Viciousness made him want to race ahead, but holding back that feeling, he slowed his pace to trail Marcaine. He would let Marcaine fall while ahead.
It would be easier to handle mentally, Adam figured.
Not that he would let Marcaine win. Having hope made people more likely to give their all, and be content with whatever result was arrived at.
Adam winced as he could feel pangs of pain that he could only briefly endure through his unbreakable will skill.
His will held his body in motion, he would not give in.
Marcaine's who was in front of Adam, speed fell, their paces matching one another.
Marcaine gnashed his teeth, exhausted, a moment later, one of his knees met the ground before his tiredness set in, his body fully sprawled out on the dirt field.
They had been defeated.
Appreciating the competition Marcaine brought to go beyond his limits, Adam forced his body to continue to run.
But soon, not even a minute after Marcaine collapsed, Adam his will strong but his body weak, fell to his knees, his consciousness bombarding him, as the pain took hold, laying him out on the ground.
Adam weakly peered up, he could see Areis amused expression stating: "First time i've seen people try so hard."
His words were not fully absorbed by Adam's mind. His vision failing but his will having not broken, instead it was his body that at last collapsed, Adam softly laughed: "I won," having endured longer than Marcaine and the other heroes, before he too fainted.
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