Cosmic Editor

Chapter 12: Deadly Exercise

[Sir, in preparation for future events, I have prepared a training routine and diet that will help condition your body. Would you like to partake in it?

"Is it something within my capabilities?"

[Naturally, sir]

"Okay then, but it should wait until I tidy this place up," David said as he immediately entered expert mode.

An hour later, David was standing in the already cleaned-up apartment and had done the laundry, so the apartment was clean, leaving only him to be the dirty thing in the house. To avoid that, he immediately jumped into the bathroom.

A few minutes later, David was outside his apartment under the small and mostly unused garage in the house. He didn't exactly know what Nous's training would require, hence why he was here.

[For best results, I will be dulling your pain receptors, so do know that when you do actually start feeling some pain, it is already extreme, and you should stop]

"Okay, but can you really do that?" David asked.

[I am the product of technology, even beyond some of the gods; my capabilities are unmatched] Nous said proudly

"Okay then, let's begin this," David said, even though he didn't exactly know what or how the training would go or even happen.

As David wondered how this would go, a holographic figure appeared before him. Looking closely at this new holographic being, David found it to resemble him closely. The figure didn't talk as it stood a few centimeters ahead of him, but by his side, waiting for something.

[You will follow the movements of the hologram; it may not be able to speak, but it will slow down enough for you to grab everything, understand sir?]

"Sure, but can't you just take control of my body and do it for me since your' capabilities are nmatched?" David asked if even fanfic MCs could get that sort of treatment and turn out fine; he doubted that Nous wouldn't be able to do it.

[While it is true that I can do that, however, the main part of a workout isn't just the results; the process matters a lot. To follow a workout routine to its end requires dedication and time out of your life, meaning you will learn a lot during the process and possibly even change your mentality before the routine ends]

"I get it; let's start," David said as he took a deep breath to prepare himself.

He didn't dispute Nous's argument because he realized how right it was. If it took over his body and did the training for him, then he would miss out on a lot of mental development that would have taken place while the training was going on. Proof of this mental development can be seen online, so he didn't need other convincing to accept his reality.

"Wait, will this thing teach me martial arts?" David asked

[That depends, though I would advise you to start talking to me via thought transfer. It may take some time to get used to, but at least you wouldn't be thought of as a madman. At least when out in public] Nous advised David as he looked to see someone staring at him from the window.

"Hi!!" David was immediately greeted as though he hadn't been doing anything weird, and the girl immediately closed the window, thus freeing him from any more troubles, but he still took Nous's advice to heart.

"Okay then, let's do this," David said as the hologram began moving, and he followed it.

All he had to do was match its movements; it wasn't particularly difficult, but the hologram was performing some strange movements that David wasn't familiar with. The only thing the hologram did that he was familiar with was the jumping jacks, which he suspected were just part of a warm-up.

He didn't know if these movements were common in the gym or something since he wasn't exactly someone who enjoyed going to the gym or even watching videos related to exercise because he felt it was work even just looking at it.

Now here he was performing an activity he always thought to be the bane of his existence and something he would never perform. Several minutes passed as the hologram continued, and his fatigue began to build up.

Minutes turned into an hour and an hour into two before the hologram finally stopped, his clothes soaked in sweat and his body filled with aching. Everything was so painful that all he could do was lie down on the floor as he waited to regain the lost energy.

After a while, David managed to regain enough strength to push himself into his apartment, which was thankfully on the ground floor. The pain receptor block had long since been nullified, and he could feel all the pain in full force at the moment. Out of pure fatigue, David lay on his bed and almost instantly fell asleep.

====

"Bro, have you seen this website?" a young man said as he called to his friend, who was sitting on the couch behind him.

"What is it now?" The friend replied, clearly uninterested.

"I found this video on TikTok; they claim they will be able to turn text into images," the man said as he turned to the screen of his monitor towards the friend.

"Wait, is it that Nous A.I. stuff?"

"Yeah? Wait, how did you know?"

"It's viral on TikTok; have you tried it yet?" The friend asked as he left the couch to stand behind his friend.

"Nope, I just saw it; have you seen their game?"

"Yeah, but I doubt the game is as good as they claim; it's a common thing amongst all these gaming companies," the friend replied.

"I know right, but let's hope that this one is different. I'm surprised they haven't released the game either. It's loaded"

"You should really get better Wi-Fi."

With that, the focus of the two changed from the Nous games to the newly loaded website. The website was as straightforward as they come—beautiful but still straightforward. With merely a glance, they could tell where they needed to click to achieve their aim or go to the pages they needed.