At first, Leo thought he was dead.
He couldn't see anything—just an endless void. But then, a steady thump echoed in his chest.
The dead don't have heartbeats… right?
His dulled senses stirred. A coarse blanket draped over him. Cool air brushed against his skin, tinged with the sharp, sterile scent of disinfectant.
He was back. The same hospital bed where he had wasted away for years.
Fear coiled in his chest. He didn't dare look at himself.
Was he still the same? Still weak, emaciated?
What if the Body Upgrade had been nothing more than a cruel joke?
His breath hitched—but even that faded. Something was different.
The pain. Or rather, the lack of it.
The agony that had tormented him for years… was gone.
With shaky hands, he reached up, fingertips brushing against cold metal—the VR console.
A lump formed in his throat. Slowly, he lifted his head and pulled it off, keeping his eyes shut.
He took a deep breath. Then, cautiously, he opened his eyes.
