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"Leo, let's move," Logan said once his wounds had finally knit themselves closed. He patted the younger man on the shoulder.
"Yeah. Got it." Leo glanced at Logan's face, now with both eyes fully regenerated. The miracle of healing fascinated him, but he kept his wonder to himself.
"Hey, kid, don't stare at me like that," Logan muttered, brow furrowing. "You're making me think you've got some bad intentions."
Leo smirked. "Don't flatter yourself. By the way, where's Paul's truck?"
Logan rubbed his chin, uncertain. "Uh… think it's that way?"
"Finding it will at least make him smile. After what happened to his house…" Leo's voice dipped, heavy with guilt.
"That was on me," Logan said, his tone steady but sincere. "I'll make it right. I promise I'll repay them."
"I'll hold you to that," Leo shot back dryly.
Logan frowned. "Aren't you supposed to say 'No need'? You're making this difficult."
"That's not my style."
"Figures," Logan muttered, then gave a rare laugh.
After a stretch of light banter, they found Logan's motorcycle by the roadside. Leo gripped his shoulder, and with a surge of energy, teleported Logan and the bike straight back to Paul and Lynn.
The moment they landed, agony stabbed through his skull. Leo's knees buckled, and he collapsed.
"Leo! Kid!" Paul and Lynn cried out, rushing over.
"I'm fine," Leo gasped, pale but defiant. "Just… burned out. Gimme a minute." He sprawled on the dirt like a starfish, eyes squeezed shut.
Too many teleports? He wondered grimly. With only four hundred points left, he focused on the system.
"System. How do I fix this? How can I improve my stamina?"
[Search request detected. Cost: 10 Points. Proceed?]
Leo's jaw dropped.
"Ten points just to check? You rob me blind every chance you get." Swearing under his breath, he still accepted.
[Search complete. Based on the Host's current balance (390 points remaining), only one option is available: Exchange for Physical Enhancement. This increases baseline attributes such as strength, stamina, endurance, and durability.]
Leo rolled his eyes. "That's it? No shiny powers? Just hitting the gym on steroids?"
[Available Exchange Options:
– Double baseline strength: 100 Points.
– Triple baseline strength: 200 Points.
– Quadruple baseline strength: 300 Points.
Restriction: Must start at 2x and purchase sequentially.]
Leo cursed.
"Not even a loophole? Figures." Grinding his teeth, he finally whispered: "Exchange for double."
Points plummeted to Two ninety. A sharp burn spread through his veins acid, lightning, and fire all at once. He clenched his jaw until it passed, then sat up slowly. His body thrummed with raw vitality.
The exhaustion from earlier was gone, replaced with a sense of power he'd never known.
He flexed his fists, marveling. Stronger. Faster. Tougher. Even my senses are sharper.
"Leo? You okay now?" Logan asked, crouching beside him.
"Kid, don't scare us like that," Paul added, Lynn nodding quickly.
Leo smiled, warmth in his chest. "Yeah. Just needed a breather. How long was I out?"
"Fifteen minutes tops. My cigar's not even finished," Logan said, flicking ash with a smirk.
"Good. Then we should move before they regroup." Rising to his feet, Leo brushed off his clothes. He turned to the elderly couple, guilt written on his face. "Paul, Lynn… I'm sorry."
Paul's weathered hand landed on his shoulder. "Don't you dare apologize, son. Logan told us enough. Experimenting on people like you… monsters in charge, that's what they are." His voice shook with fury.
Lynn added softly, "You don't have to hide who you are anymore, Leo."
The words touched him deeply, though he shot Logan a glare. Leaning close, he hissed, "What did you tell them?"
"Relax. Just that you and I are both running from people who experiment on mutants." Logan shrugged, tossing away his cigar butt.
"Hey, that's your tragic backstory, not mine!" Leo growled.
Logan winked. "Details, details." Louder, he said: "Paul, Lynn—let Leo take us somewhere safe."
With a sigh, Leo had the three of them place their hands on him. A flash of light, and they vanished.
They reappeared in a narrow alley of the same town where Paul and Lynn had shopped days earlier.
Paul blinked in awe. "Amazing…"
"Don't get distracted, old man," Leo teased, then cocked a brow. "Didn't you say you were thinking about selling your bike?"
Paul sighed, stroking the seat fondly. "We'll need the cash more than the wheels now. Logan needs clothes, we need a roof, and I'm too old to ride anyway."
Leo hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."
By nightfall, Paul sold the bike, and the group checked into a small inn.
After dinner, Leo and Logan knocked on Paul's door. His sharp eyes studied them both.
"You look like two men about to do something reckless."
"We don't have a choice," Logan replied flatly.
"Bull. There's always a choice. You know where this leads ashes and blood." Paul's voice thundered.
"Uncle Paul." Leo gripped his shoulder firmly. "We swear we'll come back safe."
Lynn intervened before Paul could argue further. "Let them go. They've already decided, but promise me you'll return."
She removed a silver necklace from her neck, unclasping it to reveal two small crosses. One went to Leo, the other to Logan.
"God will watch over you both."
Leo looped his into a bracelet and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be back. Someone has to take care of you two."
Logan awkwardly added his to the chain with his dog tags, meeting Lynn's hopeful eyes.
As they left, Logan muttered, "You don't have to come with me. I can handle this alone."
Leo smirked. "Maybe. But I don't let friends fight alone. Besides, with me around, you're a little less likely to get shredded, right?" (Of course...)
For the first time in years, warmth stirred in Logan's chest. "Kid, how you're talking… almost sounds like a confession."
"Don't get sentimental. Vegas, right?" Leo rolled his eyes, grabbed Logan's shoulder—
And they vanished.
The next instant, they reappeared ten thousand meters above Las Vegas.
"What the—?" Logan froze, staring at the glowing city far below.
"Vegas!" Leo laughed as gravity yanked them down.
"Holy shit!" Logan's voice cracked as he flailed, sweat beading despite the icy wind.
Leo spread his arms, twisting in freefall, exhilarated. In his old world, he'd skydived countless times but never without a parachute. The raw thrill had his blood singing.
"Leo! You lunatic!" Logan roared as the ground rushed up.
Leo snickered. "Don't tell me you're afraid of heights?"
"I said get us down! This is hell!" Logan's voice shook as he kicked uselessly at the air.
"Fine, fine. Big baby." With a grin, Leo grabbed him and teleported.
They landed safely on a deserted street, the neon glow of Vegas buzzing above them.
Logan's legs trembled violently.
"Next time you pull a stunt like that, I'll cut your balls off," he snarled.
"Logan."
"What?"
Leo pointed at his shaking knees. "Maybe get those under control first. Right now you look more like an angry kitten."
Logan glared, jaw tight. After a long silence, he muttered one word through his teeth: "…Fuck."
Leo doubled over laughing.
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