A/N: You can access additional chapters in p@treon.
p@treon com/GreekGreenGlass (Chapter 35 right now)
Also, given we have enough votes I will increase the rate of upload. I will be uploading a chapter a day for now. Let's hit 100 powerstones first and I'll give you a bonus chapter!!
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"We no longer dwell on the past; the future is ours, and together we'll reach heights that will capture the world's attention," Leon said, almost out of habit.
These children are still sensitive, and as a parental figure, he feels responsible for guiding them out of the shadows of their past. He doesn't want any of them to carry lingering darkness in their hearts, which could lead to depression later on.
So far, his efforts have been successful. In two years, the children have regained their confidence and warmth. Wanda, being a bit more sensitive, requires a little extra attention from him.
Wanda, following Leon's lead, felt her lingering emotions dissolve with his words. She lifted her gaze to the sky, her big eyes bright as she looked through the distant woods at the incomplete moon, lost in thought.
While Leon's side was filled with laughter, Baron Strucker was far from pleased. Two years ago, a group of experimental subjects, including Leon, had broken through the base and escaped. Leon's successful awakening of his abilities had fueled Strucker's fanaticism, making him believe Leon was the key to Hydra's world domination.
But for over a year, Leon and the others vanished without a trace, as if they'd disappeared from the face of the Earth. Despite deploying most of Hydra's resources, they found no clues.
Just when Strucker was on the verge of despair, half a year ago, one of his bases was suddenly attacked by what felt like a divine force. In the time since their escape, the experimental subjects had undergone significant changes, with Leon's strength becoming extraordinary. He not only stole supplies and money from the base but also buried all the Hydra soldiers and scientists there.
Soon after, two more bases were easily destroyed. Realizing that Leon must have obtained the Hydra base distribution map from the original experimental base, Strucker panicked. He was forced to abandon his original bases, leave the castle, and search for new locations. This series of events strained him severely, despite his vast resources.
Baron Strucker found himself in an increasingly difficult situation. Analysis showed that Leon's abilities were not only powerful but also highly unique. Leon seemed capable of controlling light energy, allowing him to fly in an elemental form at astonishing speeds. In fact, surveillance footage from the destroyed bases had to be slowed down hundreds of times just to capture his figure.
When Leon was in his elemental form, conventional weapons were entirely ineffective against him. It was as if Strucker's arsenal had been rendered useless. A single laser beam from Leon had the destructive power of a TNT bomb, and a mere stomp could cause an entire base to collapse instantly. This level of power far exceeded Strucker's expectations, reversing the roles between hunter and prey.
The situation gave Strucker a terrible headache. What kind of monster had he created? In just two years, Leon had grown beyond control. The worst part was that Strucker's desperate efforts to reclaim the experimental data had proven futile. Over the past two years, he had invested vast amounts of money and time in attempting to replicate Leon's abilities, but all his experiments had failed.
His scientists concluded that the data from Subject No. 37 was entirely normal, making replication impossible. In other words, Leon's ability awakening was completely unique.
When Strucker first heard the news, his initial reaction was to pull out his gun and shoot the incompetent fools one by one. The frustration was overwhelming. Should he ask for help? Strucker found himself at a crossroads...
...
BOOM!
On the edge of a cliff near a waterfall in the Ural Mountains, a figure was flung across the river like a cannonball, crashing through a dozen trees before finally coming to a stop. The violent impact caused blood to surge through Sergei's body, and his internal organs felt as if they had been shaken.
Despite the brutal blow, Sergei didn't stay down. He immediately got back up, ignoring the shattered trees around him. He took a deep breath, focusing on the thunderous roars and explosions that echoed in his ears. A scorching heat surrounded him, and red flames flickered around him. The cross sword in his hand began to glow faintly red.
Bang!!
With a powerful step, the ground beneath him cracked, and Sergei spiraled through the air, engulfed in blazing flames. A second later, the force of his movement created a massive wind pressure that bent the surrounding trees and vegetation. In less than a second, he crossed over two hundred meters and arrived at the riverbank.
Sergei let out a low shout: Flame Breathing: Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!
With a thunderous roar, the flames transformed into a giant tiger, charging toward the golden figure floating above the river. Sergei swung his cross sword with all his might, the blade now completely engulfed in flames. The strike was powerful enough to split a heavy tank in two.
However—bang!—at the critical moment, a dark finger blocked the sword. The collision between the finger and the blade generated a terrifying shockwave, sending turbulent air currents sweeping in all directions. The force of the impact nearly made Sergei lose his grip on the sword.
His eyes widened in disbelief. He had known for some time that Boss Leon's strength was on a different level, but seeing Leon block his full-force blow with just one finger was hard to comprehend. How much training must one undergo to achieve such power?
Before Sergei could react, he saw Leon's black rags and coat billowing wildly in the air currents. Leon's sharp eyes locked onto Sergei as he whispered, "Facing a powerful enemy, distraction is a death sentence."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Leon suddenly raised his right leg. A surging golden light flowed over his foot, and in the next instant, he kicked Sergei fiercely in the chest. The speed was so incredible that there was no time to react.
Sergei felt a crushing sense of impending doom, his scalp tingling with fear. In a desperate move, he mustered all his strength, pushing his body to its limits. He managed to raise his sword just in time to block the kick.
Boom!!
Sergei was sent hurtling into the depths of the river like a meteorite, creating massive columns of water as he crashed down.