The moon was in full bloom as it lit the night sky. Three shadows loom dark as they headed inside the quiet forest. The light coming from the moon would illuminate their handsome faces and if you look closely they were no other than, Cross, Maddox, and Seven.
Their destination was a cave located at the center of the forest. This place was a private property of Maddox, he had received this land When he became a baron. The land was fertile and the area was huge, however, he didn't have the time to manage everything.
Now that Seven was looking for a place for his training, he immediately thought of this land.
When they reached the mountain cave, Seven entered the newly constructed training room.
The interior was embedded with shining red jewels called Vermil, the whole room was red because of it. This was done to prevent another explosion just like what happened in Maddox's house. Additionally, his mental power wouldn't be controlled by his mask alone during his breakthrough and will need a stronger item to limit the surging energy.
The room had another door, the other side of it was his sleeping quarters, it was simple and painted blue and green. It had a bed, a closet, and a bathroom. As for food, he could only take in nutritional drinks starting today.
They inspected every corner, seeing as everything was already set, and they went out and stop at the doorway.
Maddox looks at Seven and hugs him one last time. Cross soon followed his huge figure covering the two in his embrace.
"make sure to prioritize your safety, don't hasten your breakthrough" Maddox reminded him. This will be the first time he'll be away with Seven, he can't help but feel disheartened. The two had spent almost 8 years together, and since then, they have never been separated this long.
"I won't...you two shouldn't forget to eat, especially you Dad, also take a break in between your work, don't always bury yourself with research.... don't worry about me and take care of yourself"He hug him even tighter, he look at Cross and nodded at him. They already had their talk yesterday and wouldn't be needing any more reminders.
"I'll leave the Dad to you, Father," he said and let the two go.
"hmm....take care"
He slowly walk inside the cave, when he reached the entrance he thought of something, he went inside and before closing the door he looked back once again.
He grin and said "I'm expecting a brother or a sister when I get back Goodbye!!!" he waved his goodbye and the door closes.
Maddox was dumbfounded to hear his words.
The two didn't leave immediately and stayed at the house nearby, the house was part of the rewards along with the land.
The room they were sleeping in was in front of the cave, so they can easily see if someone were to come out. Maddox was staring at the cave, not minding the cold breeze.
Cross came out of the room, his hair was wet and the fresh mint scent lingers on his skin.
"don't worry he'll be fine," Cross said as he hug him from behind. The two were on the balcony wearing nothing but a bathrobe. He wrapped around his waist and pulled him close. The warmth of his body made Maddox feel comfortable.
"I know but I just can't help but worry," he said as he lean his head on his shoulders.
"I think there are other things you should worry about"he grin at Maddox as he turned him around, now the two of them are facing each other.
"what other things?" he said confused, aside from Seven and Cross there was nothing to worry about.
Cross smiles widen even more, he moved closer and bit the tip of Maddox's ear. Maddox couldn't help but shiver, his face flushed red as he felt his breathing on his neck. He felt Cross's hand travel inside his robe. His lecherous hands aroused the desire inside him.
"giving Seven a sibling" Maddox wanted to say that men can't get pregnant, only through gene extraction between the couple can they have a baby together.
However, before he could complain, Cross had already pulled him inside the room and lock the balcony doors.
....
Seven sat at the center and remove the object covering his face. He observe his mask, it now had cracks on the center and the inside showed metal chippings. The Vermil embedded on the forehead lost its previous luster, the glimmer it once have turned dull and brittle. He removed the crystal and just as he expected, it crumble into pieces, turning into a fine dust. It drifts with the wind leaving no prints of where it used to.
He place the masks inside his space button and took out his nutritional drinks. He drank two of these before he decided to meditate.
He channels his mental power and circulated the energy from his veins to remove the impurities clogging the circles connecting these lines. There were more and more veins opening, most of them were thin and fragile. He had to thin out his energy even more and slow down his circulation. The procedure was quite difficult as he was having a hard time controlling his energy output. He could only slowly make his way there one by one.
Hours passed by and he had completed circulating all the energy through his veins, from the biggest to the smallest ones. He smiled as he felt the warm sensation on his body.
Yet minutes after experiencing bliss, he felt an immeasurable pain in his head. His bone crack a hundred pieces and would be pieced back once again, they were breaking and healing all at the same time.
His blood surged out of his mouth, and he coughed as he vomited all of them. He held his chest and took a deep breath, he didn't dare change his posture and was still in a meditating position. He focus his energy to protect his body, still, he could barely block half of the pain.
"fuck!!" he cussed, he could feel tiny prickles on his skin penetrating every pores with tiny. Tiny beads of sweat form on his forehead, face, and back, they travel down his neck and to his chest, soaking his clothes.
'who told him again that breakthrough was easy? Did they say that the pain wasn't something to worry about? fuck*ng son of a....' Seven cursed the soldiers who said those words to him.
There were right though, a breakthrough at this level wouldn't hurt this badly. Seven, however, was a different case. His ability far exceed others, his mental power was even stronger. He needs to consider that his ability held many secrets he has yet to unveil. It would slowly awaken a part of its power depending on how much his body can take.
He had trained non-stop these passed months and opened a bigger container, with this, his ability can have more room to stretch and unleash its power. That's why Seven is experiencing this grueling pain.
He bit his lips until he tasted the iron-like liquid in his mouth, it was his blood. He bit so hard that his lips become bloodied and swollen.
The scream he wanted to shout was swallowed back when he felt another surge of energy penetrating his bones, this time, he could no longer held out and collapse. He curled up his body, trying to lessen the pain.
Seven felt like dying, he wanted to give up and just let this energy break him into pieces, but then he remember Maddox and Cross. They would be saddened if he were to fail and die here. There might only be two people worrying about him outside, but those two were enough for him, who didn't have any family in his previous and second life, to push through this trial.
Using his left hand, he pushed himself up and went back to meditate, the pain was still there, clawing his innards to bits. This time though was more bearable.
The energy around him became moist and cool. His white shirt was drenched with dirt and sweat, this was the impurities his body had accumulated. He repeated this process until all the veins cleared. After breaking so many bones, he got used to the pain and was relaxed as he let his bone, organs, and skin heal on their own.
He didn't know how many hours or days had passed, but he was finally able to complete body reconstruction. He stands up and felt the clothes he was wearing for who knows how many days?
They were rancid and dirty, the smell was unbearable. He immediately drag his still weakened body inside his room to take a bath. He took off all his clothes and went inside the shower to rinse the horrible smell on his body and scrape off the dirt sticking on his skin. He look down and my god, the water was dark and muddy. He had never felt this dirty.
He make sure that his body was thoroughly cleaned before stepping in the tub. The warm bath made his weak body energized.
He looked at his pale hands, the blood coursing through his veins was thicker. He clenches his long straight fingers and felt this bone stronger and sturdier. The results weren't visible on the outside but only he knows how different the insides were.
Although it's still not comparable to Cross and Magus, he knew he wasn't far behind, he smiled and leaned his back on the tub, this was just the beginning, he'll become even stronger. When that day came, he'll make sure to pulverize them. Who told Tresahil to use that damnable drugs? He couldn't get his revenge on Cerbrus, nor can he attack Eros, so he'll vent his frustration to them.
After he took a bath, he looks at his prescribed terminal watch, it barely contain s contact, the starnet was even disabled. He checked the time and found out two months had passed since he entered.
"ack....no wonder my body felt disgusting" he shivers as he remembers his filt-covered body. He had to suffer these results every time he finished every step.
He checked the messages and most of them were military orders.
Soldiers from his fleet noticed he was active and asked if he was ok. He left a message on the communicator for everyone to see.
"Still alive"