Outside the hospital, the air was cold. The ethereal, soft rays of the sun rested on Kael's skin in a way that felt almost possessive.
Kael's eyes scanned the vicinity outside the hospital. The area was surrounded by numerous buildings, resembling the skyscrapers of modern Earth, though these had a unique feature at their base—dark purple shards, like jagged hills, rising several feet and anchoring themselves into the structures.
This sight surprised Kael, but what caught his attention even more was the reduced number of cars on the streets.
He decided not to dwell on the thought of hailing a cab after observing this. Instead, he crossed the street on foot, carefully ensuring both sides were clear before stepping forward.
As he continued walking, his gaze shifted to the people around him.
They bore similarities to him in terms of their tattoos, but their builds varied drastically. Some had grotesque mutations—tight, muscular arms shaped like long swords—while others had parts of their bodies twisted in unsettling ways.
"This must be the mutation they mentioned," Kael thought.
He made a conscious effort not to stare too long at those with bizarre deformities. Drawing unwanted attention was the last thing he needed, especially when he was still navigating this unfamiliar world.
At the same time, he noticed people glancing at one another's necklaces. Curious, Kael subtly glanced at theirs while keeping his own concealed beneath his clothing.
Most of the necklaces he saw were marked as Grade One, with the occasional Grade Two.
Kael felt relieved that his necklace remained hidden beneath his shirt. He understood the reason for the stares—people were trying to gauge whether others were weak enough to dominate as slaves or strong enough to serve.
Despite the world's changes, Kael knew he still lacked strength and information. If anyone discovered his true Grade, he had no doubt it would lead to trouble.
Navigating through the streets, Kael began to recognize familiar landmarks. To his surprise, many of them remained unchanged, despite the transformation of the world.
This realization excited him, not because he wanted to rush home and hide, but because it meant he could now navigate with greater ease and less stress.
His thoughts drifted to his friends—Miller, Ron, Elsa, and a few others.
"I hope they're alright too," he thought, a chill of suspense running down his spine. The uneasy feeling made him quicken his pace.
---
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, the scientist who had handled Kael's case had just finished his preparations and retreated to his quarters—a lavishly furnished room that reflected his high salary and extravagant taste.
He removed his lab coat and exhaled deeply, though the sigh wasn't one of physical exhaustion. These days, his workload was light. No, his fatigue stemmed from worry—Kael's awakening troubled him deeply.
"I really thought the poison would work. Damn it," he fumed silently, clutching his hair and tugging as though to rip it out.
The memory of his deal resurfaced—a mysterious individual had paid him a hefty sum to poison Kael Auron.
Initially, it seemed like an easy task. How hard could it be to poison a comatose man without arousing suspicion?
But Kael's survival now raised doubts in the scientist's mind.
"Could it be that he regenerates? Or..."
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the shrill ring of his phone, which he had left on a nearby table.
Slowly, he approached it, his eyes narrowing as he read the caller ID. The name on the screen made his throat go dry, and his heart thudded painfully in his chest.
It took him a moment to summon the courage to answer.
"Hello. I'm a bit busy, so—"
He barely got the words out before the voice on the other end cut him off with a sigh. The scientist immediately realized his feeble excuse had been seen through.
"Let's skip the formalities, Miller," the voice commanded.
On the other end, Miller's expression was grim, his grip on the phone tightening as he spoke.
"Any news?"
The scientist hesitated, his voice faltering. "Yeah, Kael Auron has woken up from Soul Slumber—"
"Are you serious?" Miller's voice rose in urgency, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Where is he now? Can I meet him at the hospital?"
"Uh... no," the scientist stammered. "He's already left, but I can give him a call if you'd like to meet at the lab."
"No, that won't be necessary. I know exactly where he lives," Miller replied coldly.
With that, Miller ended the call, slipping his phone into his pocket. A determined smirk crept across his face as he muttered under his breath:
"See you soon, Kael."