ZET-MAN! (Re-Imagined)

~Alex's Pov~

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"848!... 849!!... 850!!!" Ahh damn it... That took a heck of a lot out of me... But it's also ridiculously fun! I don't know why, but exercising felt so satisfying to do ever since I started living here. Maybe it was the way I was training, but getting stronger felt, good, better even.

Plus, today actually marks my fourth month of reincarnating in this world. I've been making huge amounts of progress with my physical training, and it was showing... Literally. I had gotten another inch on my height. But, that's not what really changed much. It was actually my body that went through the most changes...

I was absolutely diced for a child my age. Maybe another perk of this body? Ladies, watch out! A lady killer has now been born!... Alright dude, that's cringe. Still, I wasn't going to complain at all though. I was pretty damn strong now, at least compared to normal humans.

My speed on the other hand being my strong suit, I could run well over 90 mph, yeah 90 mph. And on my good days, I can get to speed of up to 100 mph; with my strength nearing 700 pounds, and for a perfect deadlift, it could be well over a ton by now. Interestingly enough, that wasn't the only thing I've been realizing lately...

Lately, I feel like my senses have improved, like my sight, hearing, smell, etc. Not by a considerable amount though, but there was a difference compared to a few weeks ago. Other than that, I didn't have much to do here and being alone most of the time, I read most of the books already, and I've confirmed that I've got something akin to perfect recall. Likely better than what I thought I had before...

Maybe my brain was somehow improving? I wasn't entirely sure on that point, but if I had to give an answer, I would lean on it being yes, rather than a no. It honestly felt weird having something akin photographic memory now too, remembering everything in near perfect detail was weird... but I was getting used to it pretty quickly.

'I just wished that I was born in a more recent timelin-'

"Oi! Kid!"

Huh, Carter? What does he want now?

"Yes?" I answered, still a little tired from my workout prior, but the fatigue was mostly gone by now anyway. So I got up and went to him. He was outside, stretching his limbs... What did this old coot have up his sleeve now?

"I think I've got a good understanding on what you're about now... Instead of lifting weights. we work on your technique and mind till' I see good progress..." He said. I feel like I knew what he was gonna do...

Still, I'm going to play a little clueless, "What are you talking about?"

Carter stopped his stretches and just smirked at me, "I'm talking about teaching you how to fight kid... Now, come at me."

For the first time in the next few months, I think I'm gonna have a genuinely good time...

Though, he wants me to just charge at him?... That couldn't be a wise idea. I could move at inhumane speeds, and practically use strengths above the the typical strong man, even if I was at the lower thresholds of strength. Still... Why the hell couldn't I shake this feeling of weariness?

My body was telling me not to underestimate him. A man well into his 40's. Likely just out of his prime...

"What are you waiting for kid? Afraid or something?" 

Alright, clearly this old coot was trying to piss me off. Heck, he likely wants me to charge forward without thinking but I wasn't going to make that rookie mistake...

Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself, trying to clear my mind. Carter was provoking me, and I knew exactly why. The guy was built like an iron wall, despite being in his forties, and from what I could tell, he seemed like he was all muscle memory and sharp reflexes.

The gruff, unbothered look in his eyes told me he wasn't inherently worried about me coming at him with my full strength. If anything, he was probably hoping for it. I feel like I've underestimated humans in this reality, maybe not everyone of them were normal. You had special ones like carter over here...

Fine then. I'll play along. But I wasn't going to fall for his obvious bait.

I took a step back, rolling my shoulders and fixing my gaze on him. He seemed a bit relaxed, but with my instincts, I could tell his stance was anything but. He was balanced on the balls of his feet, body positioned to respond to anything I threw at him... I'm glad I've read those martial arts books now, it at least helped me to assess that much.

"Come on, kid! Don't tell me you've got all that muscle just for show!" he taunted, his smirk growing.

Son of a- "Just making sure I don't break you old man," I shot back, forcing a smirk. Two can play at this game.

"Trust me, boy; I'm not the one who'll be broken here." Unfortunately, I don't think you're bluffing.

With that, I dashed forward, but not at full speed just yet—just enough to gauge his reaction. Carter barely flinched, watching my every move with those hawk-like eyes of his, which was impressive since I'm moving at half my max speed. In an instant, I saw him shift his weight, just slightly, preparing to intercept whatever I threw at him.

I feinted a right hook, watching as his body responded, moving to counter. But just as he adjusted, I twisted, sweeping low with a leg kick instead. My foot whooshed through the air with impressive force, aiming right for his leg. To my surprise, he anticipated it, lifting his leg with perfect timing, letting my kick pass harmlessly beneath him.

'Damn, he's quick…' My truest reaction here.

Before I could fully regain my stance, Carter was already moving, his arm shooting out with the speed and precision of a literal whip. I barely managed to duck under his fist, feeling the air rush past my head. I retaliated, using my speed to sidestep around him, trying to get behind and land a solid hit on his back.

But it seemed like the guy was two steps ahead. He pivoted instantly, his arm moving like a blur as he aimed a palm strike right at my torso. I twisted just in time to avoid the brunt of it, but the impact still knocked me back a few feet, my ribs protesting under the force... Did he hold back on me? No, that's impossible.

"Not bad," he muttered, a glint of approval in his eye. "But you're still fighting like a brawler... All strength, no finesse."

I gritted my teeth, realizing he was right. All this power, all this speed, and I was swinging semi-wildly, relying too much on raw force. Carter didn't just want me to fight—he probably wanted me to think, to strategize on my feet.

"Fine," I muttered, adjusting my stance. "Let's do it your way."

This time, I took a more calculated approach, measuring each movement, each step. I watched his stance, noting every shift in his posture, every subtle movement. When I struck, it was precise and intentional. A quick jab to his side, a calculated low sweep. Each move designed to probe his defense, find an opening.

And slowly, it started to pay off. Carter was still a wall, but now, I could see faint cracks in his defenses, slight hesitations that I could exploit.

"Good, good," he grunted, dodging a jab and retaliating with a swift elbow aimed at my shoulder. I dodged just in time, landing a soft, grazing punch on his side. He didn't even flinch, but the small victory felt huge.

"Don't get cocky, kid," he warned, seeing the brief flash of satisfaction on my face. "The moment you think you've won is the moment you lose."

Noted.

Our sparring session continued, each exchange faster, sharper, more intense. The more we fought, the more I realized that brute strength wouldn't be enough to beat him. Carter was a bit relentless, pushing me to my mental and physical limits. But with each strike, each dodge, each hit, I felt my mind sharpening, adapting to his rhythm, his patterns...

Finally, after what felt like hours, he called a halt. Both of us were breathing hard, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Not bad, for a kid." he said, his smirk returning. "But don't let it get to your head. You've still got a long way to go." I knew that very well. I likely had talent since I could actually graze him at all, but it bolstered my respect for these guys. If they were normal humans, they wouldn't be able to take down aliens...

If someone like carter ever happened to go to earth and get ganged by 10, no 20 different men. He'd still come out on top. He was the real deal, not even professionals on earth can do that.

Still, I nodded, feeling a newfound respect for the man. This wasn't just physical training, I picked up on that much—it was a lesson for my patience, discipline and control. It was a reminder that true strength wasn't just in muscle or speed, but in the ability to adapt, to think on your feet, to stay calm under pressure.

I quickly wiped some of the sweat from my brow, Carter clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Get some rest, kid. Tomorrow, we start working on real technique."

I couldn't help but grin at that, I was finally learning something after nothing but physical training. I had a feeling this was just the beginning, and that under Carter's brutal guidance, I was going to become more than just strong.

I felt as if I was going to become unstoppable.

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~Omniscient Pov~

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"Hey Max... I began teaching the kid how to fight," Carter's voice crackled over the line, a hint of something unfamiliar creeping into his usually steady tone.

On the other end, Max raised an eyebrow, momentarily distracted from his work. Carter didn't usually call him about their day-to-day training—especially not at this hour.

"Hmm? Is there anything of note that happened today?" Max asked, his voice calm but curious.

Carter hesitated, and Max could almost hear him searching for the right words. "It's hard to put my finger on, but… yeah. The kid's definitely different."

Max shifted in his chair, now giving his full attention. "Different, how? Lots of these kids think they're hotshots until they go through the first few weeks." Max slowly chuckled after saying that.

"No, this one's not just strong, Max. He's got insane control, even for his age. He's explosive, but it's like he's always holding back… like he knows exactly how to use his strength without overdoing it. And he's fast. The kind of fast that could be a problem for most of our crew if he ever lost his focus."

Max's curiosity deepened. Carter was never one to hype up trainees, especially not fresh ones. "Interesting. Think he's got the discipline to keep that control?"

"That's the thing," Carter said, his voice dropping a notch. "He's got more than just control. There's this… focus. A hunger I don't see too often. It's like he's training for something specific, like he's got a goal no one's told us about..."

Max leaned back, processing Carter's words. "Sounds like a double-edged sword," he said after a pause. "With that kind of potential, he could either make it big… or crash just as fast."

"That's my worry," Carter admitted. "I'll keep him in check, teach him the right way. But, Max, I think you should keep an eye on him. If he stays on track, he could be the best we've ever had."

A silence hung in the air for a moment, both men contemplating what this could mean...

Max finally broke it, his tone thoughtful, "Alright. Keep me posted on his progress. If he's that promising, we'll make sure he's got the right support."

"You got it," Carter replied, his tone now firmer. "I'll do my part. But, Max… something tells me he's just getting started."

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END