15th October 2365
Leon sat in his office, fresh from another brutal training session with Kerrigan— a month-long tradition of beatdowns so savage they left the boy in pieces. Practically breaking every bone in his body before using his skill [Shock Therapy] to completely heal them and leaving them stronger than before.
Leon took out his smartphone, placing the sleek metallic device onto his white table. He then clicked the app 'Voice Memos' and proceeded to press record.
"Cough… Cough… This is week 6 of Kerrigan's training. The density of his bones has rapidly grown from week 1, going from 1.65 g/cm3 all the way up to 7.93 g/cm3, it has increased by almost 5 fold. The tensile strength of his bones has grown from 175 Mpa in week 1 all the way to 856 Mpa, increasing by another 5 fold. The kid is growing a fucking endoskeleton!"
His lips curled up into a proud smile as he continued to speak.
"His adaptation of [Flow] has gone from level 2 to level 6. I've personally never seen an adaptation level up this fast. Normally to get the growth Kerrigan has attained for a normal awakener would take up to 4 months. He did it in just 1. I'll agree my training methods are crude. But they work— he's growing at an unprecedented rate, much faster than others his age. His growth rate is on par or even surpassing that of the heirs of the 4 Great Clans but he isn't at their level yet. Stat-wise he hasn't reached their level but it won't be long until he does."
His brows furrowed for a split second and his face hardened.
"His growth rate to be frank… is terrifying. I've seen geniuses before, 60% of the students at the Academy are but Kerrigan's different. His growth is too fast— it's on par with mine— no… it surpasses mine. He's not a genius but a true monster. A genius would be apt at one particular aspect of being an awakener— but he grows rapidly in all of them."
A glint of empathy and sorrow glinted on Leon's baby blue eyes.
"I expected him to be broken after everything he's been through but he's somehow holding on. The kid has demons for sure— all he wants to do is train to the point where he can barely walk, no normal person trains like that. Even Minerva tells me to calm down but it's him that wants to train more. I just don't want him to end up like that guy. I've seen what that pit does to people— and some never climb out."
"I think Kerrigan's sleeping like a log in his room, he deserves the rest. But that fucking pet he has, Corvus, that little shit is a fucking glutton. He eats food like a vacuum, just because of him my food bill went up 150%... Fuck!"
Leon let out a deep sigh as he rests his head on his hand before continuing.
"I hope he makes friends in the Academy— he'll need them. Maybe even a girlfriend. Let me get back on track here before I go yapping on. We can move onto making him develop his own fighting style and swordsmanship style. Knowing him, he should settle on one by the Christmas festival royale. Hehe Minerva can't wait for him to join, she's finally set up his meeting with Headmaster Cassius. That old fuck still owes me from that time."
Creak
The rich mahogany door in Leon's office opens and a man dressed in a black and white suit walks in and bows.
"I sincerely apologize for my interruption Sir Horton, a representative from the Magnolias Clan is here."
"End of report…" Leon bitterly grumbles under his breath as he ends the recording.
He directs his gaze to his security guard, not that he needs them for his safety. Whilst nodding Leon answered.
"It's fine, knock next time. Tell him to fuck off… no don't say that uhhh… tell him to come another time."
The security guard awkwardly smiled before sheepishly responding.
"Sir I've told him that, but he's refusing to leave… I think it's serious Sir, the man was quite peeved."
Leon gritted his teeth to hold in his irritation. He took a deep breath before huffing.
"FINE! Uhh… Bring that bastard in… for fucks sake these Mangnolias motherfuckers, they can't leave me alone."
The security guard nods before exiting the room. In the meanwhile, Leon takes deep breaths as if he's going to go into labour. He REALLY doesn't like them— to the point a vein is popping on his temple.
5 minutes later a well-built man dressed in a red suit with a blood-red, metallic badge of a flower pinned to his breast pocket. He had striking green hair— eyes glaring at Leon. The man's expression was that of disdain and disappointment— it was so natural you would think he practiced before coming here.
The man took a seat opposite Leon, who was painfully forcing a smile.
"What may I owe the pleasure to the Great Magnolias Clan, to you Geoffrey." Leon coaxed.
The man named Geoffrey scoffed at Leon's poor attempt at flattery, he tried at least. He crossed his arms and leant back in the chair— one leg over another as if he owned the fucking place.
"Are the rumours true?— you took in some nameless mutt as your disciple." Geoffrey questioned crassly.
A vein began to throb on Leon's temple as his frustration grew. Leon nodded without hesitation in a considerably more serious tone.
"Yes I have taken in a disciple— I would like you to not refer to him as a mutt Geoffrey."
"Mind your tone Horton don't insult the Magnolias with your sentiments— you turned down one of this generation's finest prospects, our very heir Maximus Macarthur Magnolias for some NAMELESS MUTT!" Geoffrey retorted as he intensified his glare at Leon.
"Are you in your right mind Horton? We would've been more considerate if it were a child from the other 3 Great Clans but we cannot tolerate being put to the side for a nameless!" He added.
Leon decided it was time to draw the line— letting go of his nice-guy act he was so painfully putting up. He glared at the representative and released the overbearing pressure of his mana. The air crackles with energy.
"I told you not to call him a mutt, didn't I, Geoffrey. I chose him because he has performed feats of glory which none of your sweet fucking heirs have done. Have your heirs survived Point Zero on their own for 2 weeks. Have they slain abhorrents or even transmutants? All they have to show for their ability is that they can swing a blade better than most, and more mana. So don't judge me for picking an awakened person who has proven themselves 10 fold to be my student."
Geoffrey felt like he was being crushed under the overbearing pressure of Leon's exorbitant mana— his breathing, laboured. Geoffrey then looked at Leon with fury.
"How dare you Horton! standing up for a—" Geoffrey spat but was cut off by Leon who had an icy glare— cutting through his very soul. The mana, intensifying in the air— manifesting a blue hue around Leon, making his eyes glow. The light bulbs flickering, table shaking,
"Call him a mutt one more time and I'll tear your fucking esophagus out." Leon wasn't joking. Geoffrey knew that.
"I apologise" Geoffrey pitifully mumbled, he knew that he couldn't beat Leon in a fight. Even if he trained for 100 years, he could never hope to defeat Leon.
"At least let me test him myself— if this child is as great as you say, he may be of interest to us in the future." He spat bitterly, still unconvinced of Kerrigan's feats and potential.
Leon's face hardened as he was caught off-guard by his request. He began to contemplate this request— realising it benefitted him.
'If Kerrigan succeeds, no I mean when he does, they'll leave me alone… I'll finally have PEACE!'
Leon maintained his serious demeanor even though in his mind he was celebrating. Leon sternly inquired.
"What will this test be?"
"I will spar with this child and if he manages to get one hit in— we'll acknowledge your disciple taking precedence over our heir and let his training continue… But if he loses, his training will be over effective immediately and you WILL take in Maximus." Geoffrey retorted.
Leon nodded fervently "I'll agree to those terms."
Geoffrey then stood up before shooting Leon a glare.
"Have the child ready in 30 minutes." He spat before exiting Leon's office.
Leon sat in silence as he waited until Geoffrey was far enough before sighing in joyous relief.
"Hahaha! I can finally get peace from these Magnolias retards, Kerrigan's going to whoop him."
***
"Papa!" Corvus mewled, as he jumped on my head with his tiny body.
Slowly fluttering my eyes open from my afternoon nap— a soft smile curled on my lips as I patted Corvus' head.
"Hey there lil guy…" I mumbled as I groggily sat up— stretching my arms as Corvus mewled from atop my head.
Yawn… I got off the plush bed. My room was quite plain with just the necessities. A bed and a bathroom, more than enough for me. I was content with how I've been living for the past month. Eat, train, sleep and repeat. That was all I needed.
Throughout this time I've grown closer with my mentor as well as my future homeroom teacher. They're actually good people— I didn't believe it back at the hospital but they're actually going above and beyond for me. Leon never fails to not break my bones during training but I've gotten so much stronger from it— I can finally use [Hyperdrive] without breaking a limb or two. Minerva always checks in on me and has personally prepared my identification details— since when I technically didn't exist in any government database due to the fact I spent my life in a simulation.
I think I can trust them but still, a part of me still rejects their kindness; as if they have an ulterior motive. But it's been good so far, so I won't let it jinx it all.
As I got up from my bed I mumbled "System."
────────────────────────────────
⟢ SYSTEM INTERFACE ⟣
[ VEILBREAKER STATUS ]
────────────────────────────────
» NAME: Kerrigan
» BLESSED TITLE: Veilbreaker
» RANK: Neo (8,900 XP to Rising Rank)
» AFFINITY: None
═══════ STATS ═══════
▪ Strength: 20
▪ Agility: 25
▪ Intelligence: 18
▪ Mana: 15,000 MP
▪ Sense: 20
▪ Vitality: 23
═══════ SKILLS ═══════
[ Slot 1 ]: Hyperdrive (Mastery - 6%) — 99 MP/use
[ Slot 2 ]: Locked (Rising Rank)
[ Slot 3 ]: Locked (Eminence Rank)
[ Slot 4 ]: Find Skillbook
[ Slot 5 ]: Find Skillbook
═══════ EQUIPPED ITEMS ═══════
casual shirt casual pants
═══════ ADAPTATIONS ═══════
» Flow (Level 6): In moments of mortal danger, the mind empties.
Emotion fades. Only the fight remains.
═══════ RUNES OF RETURN ═══════
[Unnamed] — Abhorrent of Ordeal
> Summon with: "Revive thy tarnished soul, {Name}"
═══════ BLOODPACT ═══════
[Corvus] — Pureblood Apex Transmutant
────────────────────────────────
I really have gotten a lot stronger— I've gained some muscle, not much but enough. I can see some abs but I'm not all male model levels of ripped… yet. I smirked at my stats, happy that I was slowly moving closer and closer to my goals.
"Close system." I murmur with a smirk as I walk out of my room to get something to eat. I was hungry as hell— the training with Leon took everything out of me.
I walked out of my room into a blue corridor— I nodded at the two security guards stationed outside my room. They nodded back. The fact that I had security guards gave me a mini ego-boost, made me feel like a VIP.
I walked through the blue corridor to a kitchen— walking to the large double-door metallic fridge. As I opened it, the cool air hit my face as I sighed in satisfaction. From the fridge I took out a jug of milk— pouring myself a hearty glass of it.
I sat on the counter as I began to chug it— as I did Leon came sprinting to the kitchen all excited, a bit too excited.
"Training hall at 5, you got a practice match to show off your skills!" He chirped.
I put down the now empty glass of milk on the counter— a small milk-mustache forming on my upper lip. I then nodded as I got off the counter.
"Okay, be right there."
"Pfft… you got a milk-moustache" he giggled like a child.
"Shut up!" I retorted as I wiped it off with my wrist.