Chapter 98: A Changed Leo

(Rodova Military Academy – Genetic Awakening Chamber, Major Hen’s POV)

Hen paced around nervously in the room, as although he maintained a straight face on the surface, internally he was sweating buckets.

This awakening fell under his purview, which meant that if anything went wrong here, it would be his head that shouldered the blame, and when the future of two monarch level talents was at stake, the blame that would befall on him should something go wrong, would undoubtedly be massive.

’Please let me retire with a pension–’ Hen thought, as he paced around the room with his arms tied behind his back, as he thought about how, after their biological birth, this was undoubtedly the most important day in the lives of these kids.

The first dose of the Genetic Awakening Serum was always the most impactful.

It was to shape the foundation of their power for the rest of their lives and for a first-year monarch-level talent, this was arguably the most important moment of their entire existence.

And Hen had personally seen it go both ways.

Some prodigies left the pod with a terrifying new presence, their entire physiology reshaped for battle, while others came out weaker than expected, their true potential disappointing everyone.

There was no guarantee in genetic awakening. No certainty of success.

Which was why he hated waiting for the result, especially when his own future was tied to it.

’28 minutes have passed already….’ Hen thought as he stood there, eyes locked on the countdown timer as the minutes stretched painfully long.

And then—finally, after exactly thirty minutes, the first pod depressurized with a deep mechanical hiss.

As Su Yang’s Awakening was finally complete.

—---------

*HISSS—*

The pod’s metal shell split apart, releasing bursts of sterile mist that swirled in the air like fog.

And from within, Su Yang emerged as Hen’s sharp eyes immediately scanned him for changes.

The first thing he noticed was the sheer mass Su Yang had gained.

The boy had always been well-built, but now? He looked carved from stone.

His muscles had thickened drastically, broadening his frame. He had gained at least 30 pounds of pure, raw muscle, with his shoulders appearing wider, his stance more grounded and his overall frame like a warrior who belonged to the battlefield.

His facial structure had subtly shifted too—his jawline sharper, his features more refined. But the most unsettling change was his eyes.

Those golden irises, already striking before, had deepened into something fiercer, more intense, as it seemed to now carry a divine element to it.

"Are you okay, kid? Can you see me?" Hen asked, stepping forward cautiously, as for a moment, Su Yang did not respond.

Su Yang’s pupils dilated, his breathing steady but eerily controlled, as he looked dizzy and unfocused—until the moment that his gaze finally landed on Hen.

And in that instant—

Hen felt a pressure slam into his spine.

His instincts screamed, as for the first time in years, his body reacted like prey in the presence of a predator.

’What the hell was that—?!’ Hen wondered, as it took every ounce of his experience to suppress the sudden instinct to step back.

Su Yang’s aura had changed.

It was no longer just a physical transformation—he had unlocked something much greater, as only once had Hen felt something similar before.

Yu Shen’s [Dominance].

That was the only skill close enough to what Su Yang did now, however, compared to [Dominance], this was raw, untamed….. like a technique yet to be controlled and mastered.

’He has awakened an Aura Skill.’ Hen realized, as he felt his own breath hitch in his throat.

"Not bad…" Hen finally said, breaking the silence as he forced himself to relax.

"Seems like your Awakening went well." He complimented, before quickly stepping forward as he grabbed Su Yang’s arm to support him before he collapsed.

Su Yang looked dazed, still adjusting to his newfound self, as he could barely move his feet to where Hen guided him, as the Major dragged him to the recovery room, where he could lay down and rest until his senses returned back to him.

—--------

By the time Hen returned, five minutes had already passed since Su Yang’s pod opened.

And yet—

Leo’s pod remained sealed, as Hen’s nervous eyes flicked to the countdown display.

(Thirty Five minutes, Five seconds)

He read, as a deep frown settled on his face.

The greater one’s potential, the longer the Awakening took, as usually–

Grandmaster-level talents awakened in 3 to 7 minutes.

While Transcendent-level talents took anywhere between 15 to 20.

But for Leo to cross the 35 minutes mark was already unheard of.

Even monarch level talents were rumoured to complete their awakening between 30-35 minutes, which was why when his pod timer hit 42 minutes, a chill ran down Hen’s spine.

’This is unnatural.’

Had the pod malfunctioned? Had something gone wrong?

He wondered, as he could no longer keep his calm, as he looked towards the doctors in the room for answers, who looked equally as worried as him.

They couldn’t intervene as doing so could potentially halt Leo’s progress, but they couldn’t stop and watch idly either if the pod had indeed malfunctioned.

Then—just as Hen was about to step forward—

*HISSSS—*

The pod was finally released.

And out came Leo Skyshard, much to everyone’s relief.

—-----------

Hen’s breath got caught in his throat as he looked at the transformed Leo, as the Leo that came out of the pod was not the same Leo who had gone in, as he had grown in size significantly.

Before, he had already been a solid 6’2"—but now, he had easily pushed past 6’6" or even 6’7".

But unlike Su Yang’s heavily muscled transformation, Leo’s body was lean.

Not thin or slender, but strong, as although his muscles weren’t bulging, Hen could still see the underlying power in them.

His was a build designed for speed, precision, and lethality, which was the biggest visible change in his body.

However, then there were the more subtle changes—

Such as how his hair had grown longer, cascading down to frame his face.

Or how his once dark eyes had lightened, turning into an unsettling shade of dark gray and his pupils had enlarged to an unnatural size.

’Hmm… I’ve never seen that before’ Hen thought, as he looked into Leo’s eyes, as while his eyes were not fear-inducing like Su Yang’s—there was still something else to them.

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Something unnerving.

Something indifferent.

Before, Leo had always looked at Hen with respect, if not outright admiration.

But now?

Now, Leo stared at him like he was just another person in the room.

As if Hen didn’t matter at all to him, which made the Major’s jaw tighten.

"How are you feeling, boy? Are you okay?" Hen asked, as Leo did not answer immediately.

His newly cold, apathetic eyes met Hen’s with the slow deliberation of someone who simply didn’t care.

Then, finally—

"Fine." He said, as he did not provide any more elaboration, nor any reaction.

Then, without waiting for assistance, Leo stepped out of the pod—on his own two feet, as much to Hen’s shock he did not stumble, nor look disoriented, as he somehow managed to maintain his balance.

Even seasoned soldiers needed help walking after their final awakening shot, much less their first one.

Yet Leo—who had undergone one of the longest awakenings in recorded history—was moving like it was just another day.

And Hen did not like it one bit.

"Alright," Hen muttered, still watching him carefully.

"Let’s get you to recovery." He instructed, as fulfilling his duty, he offered his shoulder to Leo for support, but Leo didn’t lean on him.

He walked alone, not with pride, not with arrogance but with a calmness that was almost inhuman as Hen escorted him to the recovery room, where he laid him down on the medical cot.

"Stay here… they’ll bring you some potions soon," Hen said, as he turned to leave.

But before leaving—

He cast one last glance at Leo.

At those gray, piercing eyes.

At the absolute apathy written across his face.

And for the first time since the Awakening had started—

Hen felt a small seed of unease settle in his chest.

Because whatever Leo Skyshard had become in that pod…

It wasn’t the same boy who had walked in.

And whatever he had become, terrified even a Major like Hen.