As I began preparing the serum, my hands moved with meticulous precision, each motion guided by countless hours of research and experimentation.
Day and night blended as I mixed the compound, each vial a small victory, until at last, the formula was complete. I'd done it. Now, only one step remained.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside the cylindrical chamber filled with "Culture Fluid," a thick, nutrient-rich liquid I'd specially designed to sustain and enhance cellular growth during the transformation process. I could feel it cradling me, almost pulling me into a state of deep, unconscious calm. Before I knew it, darkness took over, and I drifted.
---
I had no concept of time while I was submerged. Only fragments of dreams lingered—a flicker of faces, scenes of battles, images of towering cliffs under alien skies. And then, as if surfacing from deep water, my senses returned. Slowly, I opened my eyes. Groggy, my thoughts muddled, I blinked into the dim light of the lab.
My first attempt to speak was a hoarse whisper. My throat felt parched, every breath pulling painfully at my lungs. After a few moments, I managed to steady myself, and I carefully pushed open the cylinder, stumbling forward.
A mirror stood nearby, and I barely recognized the man looking back at me. I was taller, leaner, with muscle definition honed to a razor's edge. My face had sharpened, my jaw stronger, my cheekbones more pronounced. Even my eyes seemed to burn with a new intensity, a fierce brown that carried the weight of both power and purpose. And my hair—spiky, jet black, a few strands falling across my forehead. I smirked. A Saiyan.
"Woah," I muttered, clenching my fists and feeling the raw, explosive energy surge through me. Every fiber of my body pulsed with strength, a controlled chaos begging to be unleashed. "So, this is what it feels like…"
In my excitement, I brought up my status panel, and my heart pounded.
---
**No Pain No Gain**
Name: Kairos
Year: 743
Power: 2340
Life Stage: 0.001
Intelligence: 330
Endurance: 1200
Ability: None
Techniques: Floating Technique (Level 2), Ki (Level 6), Afterimage Fist (Level 2)
Bloodline: Half-Human Saiyan
Physique: Half-Human Saiyan
Evolution Stage: 0.005
Talents:
Mechanical Engineer (Level 7)
Biological Researcher (Level 8)
Mathematician (Level 8)
Cellular Biologist (Level 9)
Researcher (Level 7)
Accounting (Level 4)
Programming (Level 4)
Coding (Level 7)
Genetic Engineering (Level 6)
Gene Expression Data Analyst (Level 5)
---
I laughed in amazement. "I gained so much power. I could… I could actually take down Raditz. His power level was only 1500, and here I am at 2340."
My heart raced, the urge to release this newfound energy surging through my veins. I clenched my fist, letting the energy build, ready to test the true extent of my strength.
"KA-BLOOOM!"
I unleashed it in a single powerful wave, a burst of wind sweeping across the lab, knocking equipment and papers in every direction. The very floor creaked beneath me, and for a brief moment, I felt as if I was untouchable.
---
Far above the clouds, somewhere out of sight, Kami-sama felt the sudden spike in power.
"When did such a strong ki appear on Earth?" His voice trembled with worry. "First, there was that human with unusual ki… and now this." He closed his eyes, his mind's eye tracing the energy source to a single individual. "The same man… and now his power has grown so quickly. This talent… it's monstrous."
Kami-sama paused, deep in thought. "Perhaps he could even be a candidate for Earth's guardian. But I must keep an eye on him."
---
Meanwhile, back in the lab, I stood amidst the chaos, feeling the power ripple through me like waves. "This feels… incredible. But just how long was I out?"
I hurried over to the computer, checking the date. My jaw dropped.
"Three years?" My voice was barely a whisper. "Three whole years. No wonder I felt different. I… I missed everything."
Realizing the implications, I pulled out my phone, scrolling through the hundreds of missed calls and messages.
Mia, Celeste, and Julia—they'd all called me repeatedly, sending messages, trying to reach out. I felt a pang of guilt. No one knew what I'd been doing, and I hadn't prepared them for my absence. They probably thought I was dead.
I took a deep breath, dialing Mia's number. It rang once before she answered, her voice filled with a mix of relief and frustration.
"Kairos! Where have you been?" Her words came out in a rush. "We thought you were gone, or worse… What on earth happened?"
I told her everything—well, almost everything. I explained how I'd been developing a serum to increase my combat power, my aspirations to become a martial artist. I left out the specifics of the Saiyan DNA, but it was enough.
Soon, I heard the familiar, scolding tones of Celeste and Julia joining in, each taking turns to lecture me about responsibility, precaution, and the risks I'd taken. I smiled, feeling warmth in their words, even if they were full of reproach.
Celeste gave me one last smack on the shoulder. "Next time, tell us. You nearly gave us all a heart attack."
By the end of the night, they'd finally accepted my new appearance, though they eyed me with a mix of awe and disbelief. I could see it in their faces; something had changed. Maybe it was my transformation, or maybe it was simply the time apart. We had all grown, somehow, during those lost years.
---
The next morning, I awoke feeling rested. I'd missed the routine of daily life, the grounding effect of friends, of laughter. Mia walked into the room with a fresh notebook and a tablet, ready to bring me up to speed on everything that had happened.
"Boss, here's everything from the company while you were… away." She handed me the tablet, her eyes sparkling with both excitement and professionalism. "We've had ups and downs, but I think you'll find it all interesting."
I nodded, grateful. "Thank you, Mia. Let's see what needs my attention." I was ready to reclaim the life I'd put on hold, knowing that my journey was just beginning.