Chapter 15: Timeskip
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Luxion (VO): In the months following the funeral, Master became obsessed with uncovering the truth behind the Rivia Incident.
Fueled not by greed… but by an insatiable need, a need for answers.
A need he could not allow himself to live without.
Even if the pursuit slowly destroyed him.
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Omni POV
Luxion's Main Body – Bio Research Chamber
The chamber was dimly lit, illuminated only by countless holographic screens suspended in the darkness.
Streams of data moved endlessly across them—biological readings, magical fluctuations, DNA sequences.
And at the center of it all—
Leon.His hands trembled faintly from exhaustion as he continued typing across the holographic interface before him.
"I advise you to rest, sir," Luxion said calmly nearby. "You have not slept in seventy-three hours."
Leon didn't even look away from the screen as he spoke. "I'm close, Luxion," he muttered quietly. "So close…" the last part he spoke as if trying to convince himself "I can't stop now."
Luxion's mechanical eye narrowed slightly.
"You said the same thing nineteen hours ago."
Leon ignored him completely as he focused completely on the displays in front of him.
Displayed before him were ten separate DNA strands.
One belonged to Leon himself.
Four belonged to ordinary New Humans.
And the remaining five. They belonged to victims of the Rivia Incident.
He zoomed in further, his bloodshot eyes scanning every detail.
"I found the difference between them…" he whispered.
"But the more I learn...the less any of this makes sense."
On Leon's own strand, a second structure existed alongside the normal DNA, a perfect parallel strand made entirely of golden light.
For ordinary New Humans, that golden strand was fully fused with the physical DNA—stable, unified, as if it had always belonged there.
But for the victims of Rivia, the golden strand was changing, slowly being corrupted.
Sections had darkened into something unstable… like rot spreading through flesh.
Leon stared at the data in silence. "…It's all connected to this strange energy," he said quietly. "But I can't identify what it actually is, it's even a miracle we were able to find it"
His fingers tightened in his hair as frustration finally leaked into his voice. "Luxion… are you absolutely sure it isn't in your records?"
"I am one hundred percent certain, sir," Luxion replied immediately. "It does not exist within my archives."
Silence followed.
Luxion hovered for a moment before speaking again. "If there is currently nothing more you can do," he said calmly, "then I once again advise rest."
Leon let out a weak laugh."How am I supposed to rest?" he asked quietly.
"People died because we didn't understand this."
His gaze drifted back to the corrupted strands."And if this happens again…"
"…then what?" The room fell silent as Luxion watched him carefully.
Then— "For someone attempting to prevent future deaths," Luxion said calmly, "you appear strangely unconcerned with your own."
Leon froze slightly and Luxion continued."Your physical condition has deteriorated significantly over the past three months."
"You forget meals.", "You rarely sleep.", "You train until collapse."
A brief pause. Then— "At your current pace, there is a statistically significant probability you will destroy yourself before fulfilling your master's dream… or finding the answers you seek."
Leon looked away quietly.
He knew Luxion was right, that was the frustrating part.
"…Just a little longer," he muttered.
Luxion's mechanical eye dimmed slightly, as he spoke with great reluctance"…Understood."
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Luxion (VO): But like all things… Even grief can eventually be worn down by time.
Slowly—
Master began allowing himself to enjoy life again.
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"It's been six months and I'm still nowhere close to figuring this out," Leon complained, leaning back in his chair.
"Then might I suggest slowing down and redirecting your attention toward other projects, sir?" Luxion replied.
He expected refusal, as always, Instead—
Leon sighed. "…Maybe you're right," he admitted. "I haven't checked on our NerveGear research in a while."
"Yes," Luxion said. "And beginning a new project may also improve your mental condition."
Sighing Leon waved a hand, dismissing the Rivia data from the holographic display. "Luxion, pull up the NerveGear files." Several new windows immediately opened.
But the moment they appeared—
Leon yawned loudly.
"…Maybe after a short nap."
That "short nap" lasted the entire day.
Later Luxion quietly carried the sleeping Leon back toward the manor, carefully avoiding detection from guards and servants.
As he floated through the night, Luxion looked down at him. "…I'm glad you're getting better, sir," he said softly.
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Luxion (VO): That day became a turning point.
Master no longer allowed pain to consume everything in his life.
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"LUXION STOP IT!" Leon shouted as he sprinted across the workshop.
Behind him— A metal tank propelled by compressed air tore across the room at terrifying speed.
"I repeatedly informed you that your measurements were incorrect, sir," Luxion replied calmly as he floated nearby. "You can only blame yourself for the consequences."
"HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THIS WORLD NEEDED DIFFERENT SPECIFICATIONS?!" Leon shouted, narrowly dodging impact.
"I repeatedly explained that as well, sir." Leon ignored him completely.
"Who knew building a car from scratch would be this hard…" he muttered, staring at the half-finished vehicle.
A partially completed 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS sat at the center of the workshop.
"Well," Luxion said, "the process would have been significantly faster had you not insisted on unnecessary additions."
"Hey. Those are important," Leon said immediately.
"Then explain why a ground vehicle requires a flight system."
"Just in case."
"The weapons system, the underwater mode, the party mode and the drill mode?"
"All still hundred percent valid"
"…And yet you succeeded in making it functional."
"Exactly," Leon said proudly. "So stop complaining."
Luxion paused. "…Then explain why it must be able to transform into a humanoid form."
Leon looked at him like the answer was obvious.
"It's because you lack culture, Luxion."
"If you had culture, you wouldn't be asking."
Silence. Then—
"…Sigh."
Leon had accomplished the impossible.
He had driven an AI signing.
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Luxion (VO): He was no longer confined to laboratories or his own thoughts.
He began spending time with his family—no longer just for training or meals.
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Two horses thundered across the field as Leon and Nicks raced side by side.
Nicks crossed the finish line first. "Yeah! I won again!" Nicks shouted, now over nine years old.
"Hey! You cheated! You threw my horse a carrot!" Leon, now six, protested.
"We never said that was illegal."
"Because it didn't need to be said!" Leon shot back.
"You know what? Let's ask the judge. Jenna!"
Jenna, eight years old, stood counting her winnings. "I'll allow it."
"That's because you bet on Nicks! I demand a retrial—the judge is biased!"
"Shut up already," Jenna said. "I'm not giving your money back."
"You and your obsession with money… what are you even saving for?" Leon asked.
"To start my own business empire, obviously," Jenna replied. "I refuse to be bossed around by some old woman." She clearly meant Zola.
"So just marry a noble at the academy," Leon said.
"Ew. That's like trading Zola for a mother-in-law version of her. No thanks."
Nicks leaned in. "So what kind of man would you even accept?"
"Why are you asking her that?" Leon said immediately.
"I need to know this, I'm going to the Academy soon," Nicks replied. "What would I need?"
"He'd need to be at least a count," Jenna said casually, "and be richer than me."
"How would that be possible, you said you want your own business empire?" Nicks asked.
Jenna smiled. "Exactly, he would need to do the impossible"
Nicks groaned. "I'm doomed…"
Leon patted his shoulder. "Enjoy the life of a noble dear brother."He spoke in an obvious gloating tone.
"You're lucky you know that, there's no way Zola is sending you to the Academy so you'll get to marry a sweet commoner girl, while it's mandatory for me as the second son to go".
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Luxion (VO): Time continued to move forward… until the day of Master Nicks's departure to the Capital for the Grace Initiation Ceremony.
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At the docks of the Bartfort Barony, the family's ship was prepared for departure.
Final farewells were being exchanged
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"Here you go, Nicks," Jenna said, handing over her savings to her brother with great reluctance. "Buy something nice in the Capital."
"Are you sure?" Nicks asked. "What about your dream?"
"It's a loan, I expect you to pay it back someday" she said quickly. "With interest."
Nicks smiled and hugged her. "Theres the sister I know." Jenna immediately ran off, joining their mother and Finley.
Leon stood there giving Nicks a complicated look.
"Say it," Nicks said. "You don't need to sugarcoat it with me."
"You know they don't expect you to get a Grace," Leon said bluntly. "What she gave you is her version of a consolation prize."
"You said 'they'… you think differently?"
"When it's my turn I'm going to get one," Leon said firmly. "So as my brother—the only person who can beat me—you can't possibly not get one."
Nicks laughed. "It's decided then,."
They then bade each other a final farewell in the form of a hug.
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Luxion (VO): Even now, I still find it difficult to comprehend how both his brother and sister obtained Graces, when their bloodline didn't have the talent.
Grade S: Storm — Nicks Bartfort.
Grade A: Shadow — Jenna Bartfort.
At present my analysis is… Master has influenced his entire family in ways I can't even begin to comprehend.
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[Chapter Image]
I am writing my A Levels this year so I'm already stumped and if you add the time I use writing I think I'm entitled to POWER STONES sooooooo give them to me
P.S
Let it be known that the Story is undergoing a Rewrite, hence if you read the unedited chapters its on you, they are no longer part of the story.