'Seems small,' he thought. 'But let me do the math.'
His enhanced intellect calculated rapidly. If one day of training yielded 0.3 Physique points at this level, and he had access to the Pocket Dimension every single day, that meant he could theoretically gain around 110 points per year at this rate.
But he knew it wouldn't work that way. The system guaranteed progress, but it would follow natural patterns.
Early gains would come faster. Going from 4 to 14 would be much easier than going from 90 to 100.
'Diminishing returns,' Bruce analyzed. 'As I get stronger, each point will require more effort. That's basic exercise science.
The system removes talent barriers and guarantees progress, but it can't break the fundamental reality that improvement gets harder as you approach peak performance.'
He pulled out the notebook from his father's study, the one where he'd written all his plans. Time to revise his calculations based on actual data.
Bruce sat at his desk and started working through the numbers. His enhanced mind made the complex calculations feel intuitive.
'If I assume a logarithmic progression curve, with early gains coming fast and later gains slowing down significantly...'
He sketched out a graph. Progress would be rapid at first, then gradually taper off as he approached human limits.
'At current rate, I could hit 20 Physique in about three months. That would make me as strong as an athletic twelve-year-old despite being eight. By age ten, I could reach 40 or 50, making me as physically capable as an adult.'
His pen moved across the page, filling it with calculations and projections.
'The real challenge comes at the higher levels. Going from 80 to 90 will probably take as long as going from 4 to 40. And breaking through to 100, true peak human performance, that's going to require years of consistent maximum effort.'
Bruce wrote down his final projection: *By age 18, reach 100 Physique. Peak human in all physical categories.*
That gave him ten years of real time, which meant twenty years of actual training with the Pocket Dimension. It would require unwavering discipline and brutal consistency, but it was achievable.
'But wait,' Bruce thought, his pen stopping on the page. 'The system said it guarantees progress in any area with consistent effort. And it mentioned no advancement ceiling. But human biology does have a ceiling. There's a maximum limit to natural human performance.'
He thought about the implications carefully.
'The system can guarantee I make progress toward my genetic potential, but it can't change what that potential is. A normal human can't naturally develop super strength or super speed. Biology doesn't work that way. Which means...'
Bruce wrote in large letters: *THE SYSTEM HAS A LIMIT. IT CAN TAKE ME TO 100 PHYSIQUE, PERFECT HUMAN PEAK, BUT NOT BEYOND. TO SURPASS HUMAN LIMITS, I'LL NEED EXTERNAL ENHANCEMENT.*
That changed his planning significantly. The Proficiency Panel was incredibly powerful for reaching human limits, but becoming superhuman would require different methods.
Genetic modification, mystical enhancement, technological augmentation, something beyond pure training.
'Which means my original plan was correct,' Bruce thought. 'Use the first ten years to maximize my natural potential. Then, when I'm sixteen or seventeen and have built the knowledge and resources, implement carefully researched enhancement protocols to push past human limits.'
He turned to a new page in his notebook.
Time to revise and expand his plans with this new understanding.
*REVISED MASTER PLAN*
*PHASE ONE: FOUNDATION (AGE 8-12)*
Goal: Establish resources, knowledge base, and initial physical development
Physical Target: 4 → 50 Physique (Athletic adult level in child body)
Mental Target: 47 → 70 Mind (Multi-doctorate level intellect)
Key Actions:
- Begin basic martial arts training with hired instructors
- Master foundational sciences and multiple languages
- Build secret infrastructure for future operations
- Establish global information network
- Map timeline and confirm DC continuity details
*PHASE TWO: ACCELERATION (AGE 12-16)*
Goal: Approach human limits and prepare for enhancement
Physical Target: 50 → 85 Physique (Elite special forces level)
Mental Target: 70 → 95 Mind (Beyond genius, approaching theoretical human limit)
Key Actions:
- Master 50+ martial arts styles
- Achieve expert level in 12+ scientific fields
- Begin acquiring enhancement resources (Lazarus Pit samples, metahuman DNA, mystical artifacts)
- Develop prototype technology that rivals or exceeds current DC tech
- Start building political influence networks globally
*PHASE THREE: ASCENSION (AGE 16-18)*
Goal: Reach peak human and implement enhancements
Physical Target: 85 → 100 Physique (Absolute peak human)
Mental Target: 95 → 100+ Mind (Peak human, then push beyond with enhancements)
Key Actions:
- Complete mastery of all major martial arts
- Implement safe superhuman enhancements
- Finalize plans for Justice League formation and control
- Establish unassailable global influence
- Prepare for Superman's debut.
Bruce studied what he'd written. The timeline was aggressive but achievable with the system's advantages.
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