Rain opened the bathroom door and stepped out to see Dr. Sen standing beside the machine, adjusting the controls, while Principal Gupta observed from the adjacent room. Dr. Sen noticed him in the hospital robe and gestured toward the chair. "Come, sit."
Nodding, Rain walked over and sat down. As he settled in, he noticed straps on the armrests and at the legs of the chair, which were bolted to the floor to keep the seat securely in place. His gaze lingered for a moment on the sturdy design, realizing what it was for.
"You've noticed the straps," Dr. Sen said, his voice steady. "Put them on your wrists and ankles. They'll help keep you steady during the process."
Following the instructions, Rain fastened the straps around his hands and feet. Once secured, Dr. Sen moved closer, adjusting the machine so that the syringe was positioned against Rain's bicep. "Are you ready?" the doctor asked, his tone gentle but firm.
Rain took a deep breath. This was it—the moment that would mark the beginning of his journey as a genetic warrior. Nodding, he braced himself as the syringe pierced his skin and sunk deep into his muscle.
"Close your eyes and meditate," Dr. Sen instructed. "Feel the genetic medicine entering your body. Focus on the energy."
Rain complied, closing his eyes and drawing his attention inward. Within moments, he felt the first wave of the genetic medicine coursing through his veins, transforming almost immediately into raw energy. A searing pain erupted in his body, a sensation that reminded him all too well of the chemotherapy from his past life. Back then, the pain was concentrated in his hands and feet, but now it engulfed his entire being.
The burning sensation intensified with each passing second as the medicine's energy clashed with his own body's natural energy, creating an internal conflict. The pain was sharp, relentless, and all-consuming, as though his very cells were being torn apart and rebuilt from the inside. Rain clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he fought to stay focused through the agony.
He knew this was a necessary step. The merging of energies would create the new, powerful force that would push him to D-rank. But knowing that didn't ease the torment. His mind flickered back to the lessons he had learned about this process—the theory was simple, but the reality was far more brutal than he had imagined.
Still, he forced himself to endure, gritting his teeth through the pain. He focused on the goal ahead, on the genetic door that would soon appear once his body reached its limit. This was the price of strength. The price of leaving his old life behind.
And Rain was willing to pay the price. He gritted his teeth, trying to control the wild, surging energy from the genetic medicine as it continuously flooded his body. The energy was chaotic, like a raging storm, and trying to control it all at once seemed impossible. The pain was relentless, but Rain knew he had to act quickly.
He thought of a method—a way to manage the overwhelming force. Realizing it was too difficult to control the entire energy flow at once, he focused on one area of his body. Concentrating his own energy, he visualized it forming a spinning vortex, a tornado within him. As the medicine's energy entered this tornado, the speed of its rotation began to slowly merge the two forces. Bit by bit, the chaotic medicine energy was absorbed and transformed by the tornado, merging with his body's energy to form a new force—genetic energy.
The moment he succeeded in forming that genetic energy, Rain felt a shift. The wild force had become something he could control. He stopped the internal tornado, and now, with more confidence, he directed the newly formed genetic energy to spread throughout his body. Everywhere the genetic energy touched, it absorbed the remaining medicine energy, transforming it instantly.
The first step was complete. Rain felt a wave of relief wash over him as the pain began to subside. The genetic energy spread to every corner of his body, and with each moment, the incoming medicine energy was more easily converted.
Then, he heard Dr. Sen's voice in the distance, "60%."
For a moment, Rain didn't understand what the number meant, but then he remembered—it was the percentage of energy his body had absorbed. He needed to reach 90% for the genetic lock to appear. Focusing once again, he directed his energy to maintain its control over the incoming flood.
"70%," Dr. Sen called out.
Rain emptied his mind of all distractions, hyper-focusing on controlling the flow of energy. Time seemed to stretch as he became lost in the process.
"80%."
Rain stopped listening to the outside world. His senses narrowed, completely immersed in guiding the genetic energy. The outside voices disappeared, leaving only the sensation of the energy pulsing through him. Then, it happened—a door appeared in his mind, the genetic lock.
Without hesitation, Rain gathered his energy and pushed it against the door. A sharp pain shot through him like an electric shock, coursing through every nerve in his body. Gritting his teeth, he pushed harder, but the pain grew more intense, almost unbearable. Still, he refused to give in.
He pushed again, enduring another wave of painful shocks. His entire body felt like it was on fire. But Rain knew this was the final hurdle. Summoning all his strength, he gave one last powerful push.
The door finally swung open.
Instantly, the genetic energy surged into the new space that opened up within him. Rain felt his body's capacity for energy triple in an instant. The relief was overwhelming—the pain that had wracked his body eased, and a powerful sense of strength and clarity washed over him.
He had done it. The genetic lock was broken, and Rain was now a true genetic warrior. But before he could even begin to celebrate, a new wave of pain surged through his body, far worse than before. He quickly calmed himself, remembering what he had learned—the body undergoes a transformation after the first genetic lock is opened. This was part of the process.
Focusing his mind, Rain spread his spiritual sense throughout his body. He observed his cells as they began to die off, only to be replaced by new ones. The new cells were different—stronger, with sturdier walls, and each bore a faint jade-colored spot at its center. He watched in awe as these cells, too, died, giving way to even more durable versions, with the jade spots growing brighter and more defined. The cycle of death and rebirth continued, each new generation of cells tougher and more resilient than the last.
The pain was excruciating, a constant assault on his senses. He gritted his teeth, determined to endure it and remain conscious throughout the process. But then, a memory from his classes surfaced—there was no need to endure this pain. They had been told that it was natural to lose consciousness during this stage.
Realizing this, Rain stopped fighting. He let go, releasing the tension in his body and mind. Slowly, his awareness began to fade, the pain dulling as his consciousness drifted. His body continued its transformation without him, each cell becoming stronger, more advanced—each one a small step toward his new life as a genetic warrior.
As darkness overtook him, Rain knew that when he woke, he would be reborn—more powerful than ever before. Rain's consciousness stirred, gradually awakening. He found himself floating in a vast, empty space—an endless void that stretched in all directions. There was no sound, no sensation, just a deep, silent nothingness.
But above him, a distant light glimmered—a bright, pure white glow that beckoned him upward. Slowly, instinctively, Rain began to rise toward it. He couldn't feel his body, but his awareness soared higher and higher, drawn to the light as though it were the source of everything. The blank space around him seemed to stretch and pulse, but his focus was locked on that light.
As he ascended, the light grew stronger, more radiant, filling his entire field of vision. It was like looking into the heart of a star—dazzling, blinding, yet utterly serene. The closer he got, the more he felt a pull, a warmth, like an embrace waiting for him at the end of the journey.
Rain's consciousness stretched toward it, yearning for contact. And then, at the very moment his awareness brushed the surface of the light, everything changed.
The white light engulfed him completely, swallowing him whole. It was as if the light itself had become a vast ocean, and he was being submerged into its depths. He could feel his thoughts, his very consciousness, dissolving into the radiance. There was no pain, no fear—just an overwhelming sense of peace, a return to something primordial and pure.
The light drowned him, erasing everything. Rain's consciousness faded into the endless white, leaving only profound stillness.
When he opened his eyes, confusion flooded his mind. *What was that?* He blinked, staring at the concrete floor beneath his feet and the endless blue sky above. He raised his hand and touched his clothes—his old clothes. The familiar texture was unmistakable; these were from his previous life.
*Was I dreaming before?* His heart sank. Had everything—the genetic warrior training, the new world—been an illusion? His mind raced as he looked around and realized where he was. The hospital roof. The same hospital where he had been admitted during his cancer treatment.
A wave of sadness hit him like a punch. He had been so sure—so certain—that he was destined for something greater, that he had left behind the frailty and pain of his former life. He had embraced a new world, hoping to live an extraordinary life beyond the ordinary suffering he had known. But now, standing here, everything felt like it had come crashing down.
Rain walked slowly toward the edge of the rooftop, his movements heavy with sorrow. The familiar sight of the city spread out below him, just as it always had. But something was wrong. As he gazed out, he noticed the city was smaller—much smaller. Where the horizon once seemed endless, now it abruptly faded into a blank, white space, like the very world was incomplete.
He froze, realization dawning on him. This wasn't real. He wasn't truly back. The city was a mirage, a reflection of a life he had once lived but could never return to. Elation surged through him, a rush of relief that his new life had not been a dream. But with that elation came a deep, aching sorrow.
*I can never see them again—my parents.* The thought was bittersweet, a mixture of joy and grief. He had been given a new beginning, but it meant leaving behind everything he had once known, everything he had once loved.
Rain stood there, staring at the edge where the city faded into white, his emotions a tangled storm of hope and loss. The extraordinary life he sought was real, but it came with a cost. And now, standing on the threshold of both worlds, he had to face the truth: he could never go back.