Chapter 165: How To Become Superhuman (Part 2) Now, Max was starting to truly understand what Hercules had meant when he said he wasn’t sure if Max would be able to learn or accomplish this. Because in the end, it all came down to the individual. That part was becoming clear now. What intrigued Max even more was the idea that each person might unlock something different within themselves. It made him wonder, what exactly would be unlocked in me? It was a subject he wished he could get more information on. The example Hercules had used, the mother lifting a car to save her child, was a situation that required immense strength in a moment of desperation. So maybe… it depended on the situation one was placed in. That made Max wonder what kind of scenario Hercules had planned for him. Surely, it wouldn’t be as simple as just passing on some information and expecting results. Regardless, Max couldn’t deny he was excited, for the knowledge, for the challenge, and for what might come out of it. As if reading his thoughts, Hercules spoke again. “I know what you’re thinking, which is why I need you to listen carefully to what I said,” he began, his voice calm but firm. “All of these hormones, these chemical reactions in our bodies, they already exist. So when we’re put in a particular situation, we may be able to call upon the right ones to accomplish the task.” Max nodded slowly, taking it in. “However,” Hercules continued, “each person is different in what they can control. Whether they can fully access it at will, and how much they can access.” He paused, letting that sink in. “So the mother lifting the car? She accessed what she needed to in that particular situation. But it doesn’t necessarily mean she could call upon superior strength anytime she wished. It might have been a one-time thing.” That point hit Max, he didn’t want a one-time miracle. He wanted control. “What you need to do,” Hercules said, “is find what your ‘thing’ is, and be able to access it freely. The second step is being able to increase the amount of access you have to that power.” He glanced at the crushed log on the ground, then back at Max. “Let’s say when I first started, I could lift my own body weight. Then, I worked up to two times my weight, then three times, and beyond. It took time to be able to access more. And what we’ll be doing today, ” his eyes gleamed with intent “, is trying to access some part of you that can do something.” Max nodded along, soaking in every word. This was valuable information, more than he ever expected to get. He imagined that there were probably people who posted about this sort of thing on shady internet forums. Conspiracy theory groups or fringe science blogs that talked about unlocking hidden human potential. But the difference here, why it sounded real, was because he was looking at a living example. Someone who could actually use that power. “So,” Max asked, curiosity lighting up his face, “how do we access this power? I mean, how do we learn to use it whenever we want?” “There are two parts to it,” Hercules said, folding his arms. “And they need to work together.” Max straightened, listening carefully as Hercules began to explain. “The first part is connected to extreme situations,” he said. “This is how most superhumans come into existence in the world. They’re placed in situations so intense that their bodies have to adapt, drawing out every ounce of hidden potential just to survive.” Hercules’ voice deepened, the weight of his experience showing through. “Maybe they’re being tortured… and their skin begins to break down. But somehow, they manage to shut off their pain receptors, or even heal themselves through the ordeal.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Then there are those who’ve survived the most brutal conditions on the battlefield,” Hercules said, turning his eyes toward Aron. “They unlock a heightened awareness that others don’t possess. They can utilize everything around them, even in the middle of combat, when chaos surrounds them.” Max followed his gaze to Aron and suddenly realized, maybe people would consider Aron superhuman. His skills, his reflexes, the way he moved and analyzed everything around him. The only difference was that Aron probably didn’t even realize it himself. He didn’t know how to tap into that power or how to push it even further. “The second part,” Hercules said, shifting his stance, “is something I figured out on my own. I learned how to increase the strength of access. And it comes from having a strong resolve, a vow you make to yourself that cannot, and will not, be broken.” Max’s eyes narrowed with interest. “The more you hold onto that vow,” Hercules continued, “the stronger your power becomes. And the longer you stay true to it, the more naturally you’ll be able to access your preferred ability. It’s as if your body responds to that unshakable will.” Max tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. “So… like a promise?” he asked. “As long as you make a promise and actually stick to it, it’ll help unlock your powers?” “Have you ever heard the term mind-muscle connection?” Hercules asked. His tone shifted slightly, as if moving into a more personal lesson. “It’s something we bodybuilders learn.” Max shook his head, curious. “I developed my own theory based on it,” Hercules continued. “You link your mind to your vow, and that vow is connected to your access to power. It creates a stronger, easier pathway between the two.” He raised a finger for emphasis. “However, the vow has to be something that is truly connected to your resolve, something difficult for you to stick to. That way, it stays at the front of your mind constantly.” Max tapped his foot, still trying to wrap his head around it. It wasn’t clicking yet. “I’ll give you an example,” Hercules said, reading Max’s confusion. “If you’re a vegan, and your vow is not to eat meat, well, that would do nothing for you. That’s a weak vow, because it’s already part of who you are. There’s no challenge.” He leaned forward slightly, voice firm. “But if the opposite were true, if you ate meat exclusively, every single day, and your vow was to never eat meat again, that would be a strong resolve. It would be something you actively think about every day. And that constant mental focus would link directly to your access, helping you draw more power.” Hearing this, both Aron and Max exchanged a glance. The explanation was making sense now, and one thought hit them both at the same time: What was Hercules’ vow? What kind of powerful, unbreakable vow had this man made, to become such a monster of strength? Clearly, the vow was deeply important to any superhuman who used this method of access. And just as that thought crossed their minds, Hercules grinned knowingly. “Correct!” he said aloud, as if he had read their minds. “A vow must be kept secret. If you break it, even once, your access will weaken, and you will essentially start all over again from step one. And creating a new vow is often less effective the second time.” He crossed his arms, eyes serious now. “I’ve even heard from others that if you’re forced to break your vow, it will have the same effect. The body and mind don’t care about excuses.” Max’s mind was racing now. What vow could I use? What would be strong enough? Something that really means something to me… Before he could dwell on it too long, Hercules clapped his hands together. “While you’re thinking about your vow, let’s get started on the first part,” he said with a smirk. “I need to put you in the harshest environment possible, so you’ll be fighting me… to the death!” Max’s eyes widened. Wait… what?! 500 Golden Tickets = 1 Extra Chapter