Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 91: Leo Vs Khyaal (2)Timeless AssassinC91: Leo Vs Khyaal (2)
WOOSH—
Yet another of Khyaal's devastating swings sliced through the air, missing Leo by a hair's breadth.
*BAM*
The sheer force of the missed strike sent out a shockwave, rattling Leo's bones and forcing him to react instantly, as in the next fraction of a second, Leo activated [Blade Switch], vanishing from his spot and reappearing twenty meters away.
Separation.
That was what he needed at this moment, as he needed to soft reset the fight, to buy himself some much needed thinking time.
'Think, think, think—' Leo urged his brain, as he barely had two seconds before Khyaal came charging again, and he needed a plan to face him again formulated in his head now!
'Well Vanish is off the table….' Leo thought, as he realized that if Khyaal had access to [Full Vision], then chances were that his invisibility wouldn't work on him, just like his [Mirror World] did not either.
Making it pointless to waste precious mana on it.
'Mirror World is useless too.' Leo mused, as Khyaal had already seen through it instantly.
'And then Kill Strike is prohibited— ' Leo thought in frustration, as the fight rules forbade the use of killing moves..
Which meant that, even if he did manage to land a clean hit, it would only get him disqualified.
'Which means the only skills I have left at my disposal now are [Full Counter], [ShadowBind]...
And [Parallel Processing]…' Leo thought, as he instantly scratched off parallel processing from that list too.
Because using parallel processing for longer than 20 seconds would leave him completely crippled.
'Fuck I'm screwed—' Leo realized, as his jaw tightened.
The reality of the fight was sinking in fast.
Khyaal had forced him into a corner where most of his core skills were completely useless.
And in a battle where his opponent had three times his strength, nearly his speed, and superior endurance—
Leo's only chance of victory…
Was to fight smart.
To fight dirty—
And to bait his opponent into making a mistake that he could exploit.
Hence, he decided to get creative.
"Stop running away from me, bunny—" Khyaal said, as he came charging towards Leo yet again, however, as he moved towards Leo this time, Leo did something unconventional.
Instead of using [ShadowBind] to restrain his opponent, he used it to create inverted 'U' shaped foot traps, all across the battlefield, in hopes of tripping Khyaal, should he step into one of them.
And step he did!
As on his mad dash towards Leo, he accidentally put his leg in one of the traps, tripping face first, which gave Leo the opening he needed.
*SHUA*
*SHUA*
*SHUA*
Leo released three daggers back to back towards Khyaal, all of which got embedded cleanly in his back, helping Leo draw the first blood.
*CHEEERS*
A rapturous cheer erupted from the crowd when the underdog finally landed a hit, as almost no-one saw this development coming.
Had this been a street fight, where Leo would have had his daggers laced with poison, then this would have been it for Khyaal, who would have lost his life to the neuro-toxins.
However, since this was not a street fight, the big guy simply got up, and flexed his back muscles, to eject the daggers out of his back like they were nothing.
*Clang*
*Clang—*
*Clang*
The daggers fell to the floor one after another, as Leo raised an eyebrow of disbelief.
A quick glance at the daggers showed that they had penetrated barely an inch deep into Khyaal's skin, leaving nothing more than a basic flesh wound.
'What is that rhino's skin made of? How the fuck did my daggers not even penetrate half way in?' Leo wondered, as he looked at his palms in surprise.
He was sure that it wasn't his strength that was lacking….
It was definitely the brute, whose defence was off the charts, who had somehow made his skin become as hard as iron.
"GYAAAHHHH—!"
Khyaal roared like a war beast and charged again, his monstrous frame barreling forward like an unstoppable avalanche of muscle and fury.
And at that exact moment—
Leo felt his bladder twitch.
For the first time in his life, he truly understood the phrase 'scared shitless'— except, in his case, it was more of a near-miss than an actual disaster.
Thankfully, he was running on empty.
But if even a drop had been in the tank?
Yeah. His pants would've been ruined.
And honestly?
He wouldn't even blame himself.
Because watching a vein-popping, seven-foot-six-inch monster barrel toward him at full speed—while howling like a berserker from hell—
Was nightmare fuel of the highest order.
'Nope—' Leo thought, as he used [Blade Switch] to run away once again, teleporting 20 meters to the other side, much to the annoyance of Khyaal!
"STOP FUCKING WITH ME–" Khyaal said at that moment, as turning, he cleaved his sword with all his strength, as he unleashed the AOE move [Tsunami Slash].
Instantly, a monstrous crescent-shaped wave of raw force and mana surged forward, carving through the ground like an unstoppable tidal wave of destruction.
'What the—'
Leo's eyes widened in sheer horror as the attack expanded—growing, stretching, devouring everything in its path.
There was no dodging it.
There was no escaping it.
It was too fast. Too wide. Too overwhelming.
In the blink of an eye, it was already upon him.
'Shit—'
For a split second, his mind screamed at him to use [Full Counter]—to send that devastating force right back at Khyaal.
But—
'If I use Full Counter now, I'll never win this fight…'
The thought sliced through his panic like a knife.
'I have to take this attack head-on…'
And at that moment, regret bloomed deep within his chest.
Because for the first time, he truly felt the consequences of his one-sided fighting style.
'Man… I wish I had a more balanced skill set…'
If he did—
He wouldn't be in this situation.
He wouldn't be completely defenseless.
He wouldn't have to brace himself for the pure agony that was about to rip through his body.
But—
It was too late for regrets.
BOOM!
The slash struck him like a thousand blades slicing through the air at once.
Leo barely had time to shield his vitals, crossing his arms over his chest and twisting his body at the last second to minimize the damage.
But it wasn't enough.
His world exploded into pure, searing pain.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
A thousand invisible blades carved into his skin.
His robe shredded.
His flesh burned.
Blood sprayed into the air in thin, crimson arcs as gashes and lacerations tore across his arms, legs, and torso.
The force of the attack sent him flying backward, slamming into the ground and skidding across the battlefield, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
THUD!
When he finally came to a stop, his vision swam, black spots dancing at the edges of his consciousness.
His breathing was ragged.
His entire body felt like it had been flayed open.
Pain.
Pain.
So much fucking pain.
His fingers dug into the ground as he gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to scream.
But god—
Did he want to.
His body was trembling, his muscles screaming in agony, but—
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And that was pretty much it.
Slowly—agonizingly—he pushed himself up, blood dripping from his arms and staining the ground beneath him as he could feel every single wound, every cut, every tear in his skin.
"Wow…. That was something," he mused, as he could taste the iron in his mouth, a bitter smile curling on his lips, as he saw Khyaal tower over him, yet again.
"It's over, little bunny—" Khyaal said, as he brought down a powerful blow, fully expecting Leo to be defenceless against it.
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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 92: Leo Vs Khyaal (3)Timeless AssassinC92: Leo Vs Khyaal (3)
As Khyaal's massive sword came crashing down toward Leo, he was convinced the fight was over.
And by all logical means, it should have been.
Leo was battered, bleeding, and barely holding himself together. There was no possible way he could mount a defense strong enough to stop the sheer force of the attack, as victory felt all but assured.
However, that's where Khyaal made his mistake of underestimating Leo Skyshard.
From the very beginning, Leo knew that if there was one move Khyaal hadn't accounted for—one trick that had remained completely hidden from his spying—it was [Full Counter].
And it wasn't a baseless assumption.
Unlike his other skills, [Full Counter] wasn't something he could practice out in the open, as to use it, he needed to be attacked first—and during all his solo training, that never happened.
Which meant…
Khyaal had no way of knowing it existed.
It was Leo's hidden ace. His trump card.
And he had been waiting for this moment to play it.
Sure, he could have used it earlier. When Khyaal unleashed [Tsunami Slash], to avoid getting hit.
But if he had done that, the element of surprise would have been lost, and hidden cards such as these could only be played once.
Hence instead of countering [Tsunami Slash] he chose to endure the pain and to take the hit head-on, all so that at this exact moment, when Khyaal believed he had already won— he could strike back twice as hard.
And so, as he saw Khyaal's blade finally descend upon him—
A bloodied smirk curled onto his lips.
"My turn, bitch." He declared, as with every ounce of strength left in his body, he fought back—activating [Full Counter.]
BOOM—
A violent pulse of mana surged through his veins.
As at the very last second, Leo raised his dagger, not to block—but to reverse.
CHING—
Sparks erupted as the two blades connected.
Khyaal, expecting his raw strength to overwhelm Leo effortlessly, pushed down with all his might— Only for his attack to rebound violently.
"WHAT—?!"
His eyes went wide in pure, unfiltered shock.
A massive shockwave exploded outward from Leo's body, a force so intense it pushed back against Khyaal's overwhelming strength, as for the first time in the fight—Khyaal felt like he was losing ground.
"Arghhhh–" he screamed, as he tried to force his attack through.
Every muscle in his massive body was strained to its limits, however, the harder he pushed— the more his attack was turned against him.
"Impossible—!"
Khyaal's pupils dilated in disbelief, as no matter how much force he exerted, he felt himself being overpowered by someone half his size.
BOOM—
The next moment—he was launched off his feet.
His seven-foot-six frame twisted violently mid-air, flung back like a ragdoll as the sheer force of his own attack threw him across the battlefield.
But the humiliation didn't stop there.
As his body was sent hurtling backward—
His sword—his colossal two-handed weapon—was ripped from his grasp as the shockwave seemed to have completely disarmed him, causing his blade to spiral wildly out of bounds, flipping end over end before—
CRASH!
It embedded itself deep into the ground, far outside the arena's fighting zone.
Khyaal's most powerful weapon was now out of reach.
He was weaponless.
And before he could even process that reality—
THUD—!
His body slammed into the arena floor, the sheer impact sending spiderweb cracks splintering through the stone, as he skidded backward, tumbling uncontrollably and kicking up dust and debris around him which obscured him from the audience's view momentarily.
*....*
For a moment, there was nothing but silence, as a stunned, breathless shockwave swept across the arena.
The spectators were frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened, as just moments ago—Leo was the one struggling and barely surviving.
But now?
He was still standing.
While Khyaal— the massive giant, and the favorite to win this fight, lay sprawled on the battlefield, disarmed and dazed, in what had to be the biggest turning point of the match so far.
—-----
Yu Shen's fingers twitched slightly as he saw Leo counter Khyaal's finishing move.
'He actually pulled it off.' Yu Shen thought, as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, as he silently appreciated Leo's genius.
'That move he used there was undoubtedly 'Full Counter'.
In itself, it's a pretty basic move.
However, the way he used it is commendable.
He let himself get pushed to the absolute limit before deploying it, just so it would have maximum impact.' Yu Shen analysed, as he could not help but feel excited watching a talent like Leo in action.
Yu Shen had expected Leo to try something clever.
But this?
This was gambling with death.
The decision to take Tsunami Slash head-on, to endure it rather than counter it immediately, was something only a madman or a genius would do.
And Leo?
He was both.
'He waited for Khyaal to get greedy. To go all-in on the finishing blow. And when he did—'
Yu Shen's smirk widened.
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But that wasn't even the most brilliant part.
The shockwave from the counterattack had disarmed Khyaal completely.
The brute's sword was now outside the arena, making it impossible for him to retrieve, as the fight had just gotten a lot more interesting because of it.
—--------
"AGHHH—"
A groan echoed through the silence of the arena, as Khyaal, battered and dazed, pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, his massive frame trembling from the impact.
He had clearly not expected to be tossed backwards like a rag-doll, as was evident from his ragged breathing and his shaky arms.
"Did I get pushed back?" He wondered out-loud, as when his eyes snapped open, his gaze immediately darted towards the edge of the arena—where his sword lay out of reach, as for the first time in the match, a flicker of uncertainty flashed across his face.
The crowd still hadn't fully processed what had just happened.
One moment, Leo was losing.
The next?
He had turned the entire battle on its head.
And then—
The first wave of cheers erupted.
"LEO! LEO! LEO!"
It started as a murmur.
Then it grew, like a storm gathering momentum, spreading through the audience like a wildfire.
"Holy shit! That was amazing—"
"Holy shit! Khyaal is in real trouble now, and he doesn't even have his weapon on him!"
"Leo can do this… he can actually win this fight!"
The spectators roared as they realized that the underdog had just dropped a titan.
In what seemed to be an impossible fight at the start, Leo had now managed to knock Khyaal off his pedestal, forcing him into a dogfight without his weapon at hand.
"If this was a sparring match, losing his weapon would have meant that Khyaal lost this round, as professor Hen would declare the fight to be concluded, however, since we are fighting under circuit rules, Khyaal can still carry on, as in a circuit rules fight, the can only end via incapacitation or surrender!" a spectator noted, as he clutched his head in disbelief.
If this was a friendly spar, Leo would already have won this bout, however, only because it was an official duel, he still had to carry on and forcefully incapacitate his opponent to get the win.
"What happened? Little Bunny? Too scared to fight me without your tiny sword in hand?" Leo said at this moment, as after holding his words for the entire fight, he finally chose this moment to hit back at Khyaal.
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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 93: Leo Vs Khyaal (4)Timeless AssassinC93: Leo Vs Khyaal (4)
"What happened? Little Bunny? Too scared to fight me without your tiny sword in hand?" Leo taunted, flipping and juggling his daggers as he slowly advanced toward the now weaponless Khyaal.
*Cheers*
The crowd erupted in deafening cheers, fully rallying behind Leo now as they sensed the momentum shift in his favor.
At the start of this match, most had doubted him. He wasn't their pick to win, nor did they expect him to last this long. But as the fight unfolded into a classic David versus Goliath spectacle, something shifted. The underdog, battered and bruised, still stood tall against an overwhelming force—and by the end, they couldn't help but root for David.
Yet, despite how it appeared on the surface, Leo wasn't truly in control of the fight, as the reality was far grimmer.
His body was wrecked—bruised, battered, and barely holding itself together. The sheer amount of blood he had already lost made his head feel weightless, his vision threatening to blur if he let his focus slip for even a second.
Every breath burned in his chest. Every movement sent fresh waves of agony through his body. He could no longer move at full capacity, nor could he bend his body at certain angles without the risk of tearing his wounds open further.
And yet—he kept going.
His face remained unreadable, his movements sharp, his grin unwavering.
To the crowd, he looked like a predator circling his wounded prey. But beneath the surface bravado, Leo knew the truth.
He wasn't pressing his advantage. He wasn't in any physical state to.
All he could do now—was pretend to be strong and fight till the end through sheer guts, as there wasn't much else left in him.
However, just as he reached within a ten meter range of Khyaal, something on his opponent's face shifted, as his eyes turned from shock to conviction.
"Scared? Me? Of you?" Khyaal scoffed, his lips curling into a grin as he cracked his neck. "You overestimate yourself, bunny. And you underestimate me."
A moment ago, uncertainty flickered in his eyes, the briefest hesitation on how to continue this fight without his weapon. But the second he saw Leo closing in, all his doubts vanished.
Confidence surged back into his stance, his broad frame straightening as he prepared to meet his opponent head-on.
BOOM!
Khyaal stomped down with his full weight, the sheer force of his step fracturing the very ground beneath him, as without a second's delay, he dug his fingers into the shattered battlefield and, with monstrous strength, wrenched a massive chunk of stone straight out of the ground, as if uprooting a mere pebble.
Leo's eyes widened in disbelief.
'Shit—!' he thought, as WHOOSH!
Before he could even process the absurdity of the moment, the massive slab of stone was already flying towards his skull.
SHUA!
Leo's instincts took over. He bent backward in a desperate evasive maneuver, narrowly avoiding the lethal projectile as it whizzed past his face.
As a fraction of a second later, it crashed into the ground behind him—
BOOM!
Stone exploded upon impact, sending razor-sharp shrapnel flying in all directions as the crowd gasped in collective shock.
"HOLY SHIT—!"
"He just—ripped the ground apart?! With his hands?!"
"HOW STRONG IS THIS GUY?!"
The disbelief was evident in the roars of the audience, but Khyaal wasn't interested in their awe.
His first throw had missed.
And he wasn't keen on missing again.
Hence, the instant the first stone shattered, he stomped again, effortlessly prying another massive chunk from the earth before hurling it with even more force.
WHOOSH!
Leo flipped backward just in time, dodging by the narrowest of margins.
As BOOM!
Another explosion rocked the ground as the second boulder struck, sending another wave of shrapnel slicing across his back.
Gritting his teeth, Leo barely had time to process the pain before—
WHOOSH!
A third stone was already flying at him.
Too fast.
Too close.
And with no time to dodge.
"The fuck—" Leo cursed, his mind barely registering the incoming attack before his body reacted on pure survival instinct, crossing his arms to brace for impact.
CRASH!
The sheer force sent him skidding backward, his boots digging trenches into the dirt as he struggled to stay upright.
His arms burned from the impact, muscles screaming in protest, but he had no time to recover.
Because Khyaal was already on him.
"Your little tricks won't save you now, bunny." His voice was guttural, animalistic, raw with bloodlust.
He fought like a true berserker—unshackled by weapons, unbound by technique.
Where others would falter without a blade in hand, Khyaal thrived.
His brute force alone was a weapon and with every movement of his carrying devastating weight, he was as dangerous a fighter without his weapon as he was with it.
WHOOSH!
A violent right hook came straight for Leo's head, as Leo twisted to the left, narrowly dodging the crushing blow, his instincts kicking in to counter immediately as he flashed his dagger, aiming straight for Khyaal's exposed throat—
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But although he made a good counter, the brute reacted faster.
With sheer raw force, Khyaal grabbed Leo's arm mid-strike, halting the blade's momentum in an iron grip, as Leo's eyes widened slightly in disbelief.
'Shit—he's even faster without his sword.' Leo realized, as it seemed like without having to swing his massive heavy weapon, Khyaal moved with even more freedom and speed.
A slow grin spread across Khyaal's face as he tightened his grip, muscles flexing.
"You're quick, bunny," he said, voice dripping with amusement. "But I'm stronger."
As then, without warning—
Khyaal yanked Leo forward, slamming his knee into his stomach.
"Uh—Oh" Leo mused, as he felt the wind being knocked out of his chest, before he felt his body being lifted into the air with brute power, as Khyaal took him to the skies, before slamming him back down towards the ground with a powerful WHAM!
*THUD*
Leo felt the air being knocked off his lungs, as he was slammed down to the floor with a powerful crash.
His skull rattled, his lungs emptied, and before he could even register the pain, Khyaal pressed his massive giant-like hands against his throat, as he started to choke him out.
The pressure was instant, overwhelming, as Leo kicked and thrashed against the pressure.
His right dagger was knocked from his grip, clattering uselessly against the stone, while his left one was dangerously teetering on the edge of his finger tips, threatening to drop out of reach.
'Must fight back—' Leo thought, as his fingers clawed desperately against his left hand dagger, bringing it back into firm grip, before he slammed it into Khyaal's right arm.
"KYAAA—" Khyaal roared in pain, as blood sprinkled out of his wound like a fountain, however, despite Leo plunging a dagger in his right arm, he still did not let-go of the pressure, as he choked Leo down with all his strength.
'Fuck—' Leo thought, as his body screamed for air.
His vision darkened at the edges. The world blurred. His heartbeat pounded, thudding in his ears like war drums, as the roar of the crowd, the battlefield, Khyaal's snarl—everything dulled, as it felt drowned beneath the suffocating grip crushing his windpipe.
'Move. Do something. Don't black out. Don't black out—' Leo thought, as feeling desperate and with no other options left, he activated [Kill Strike] hoping to blow one of Khyaal's arms clean off—
as BOOM!
Blood. Flesh. Bone.
Khyaal's left arm erupted in a violent explosion of raw force, his bicep ripped apart as muscle and sinew were torn asunder.
"AAAAA—-"
A deep, guttural roar of agony erupted from his throat, but even as his limb was blown off, even as the sheer pain should have sent him reeling—he still did not let go with his one good arm.
Leo gasped for air, his entire body convulsing, but Khyaal still held him down with his remaining arm.
His grip had weakened slightly, but it was still there. Still pressing. Still choking.
The bastard was actually fighting through it, and Leo saw it at that moment— the absolute, terrifying willpower in Khyaal's eyes, which looked down on him with conviction, even with an arm blown off.
'I'm going to lose–' Leo realized at that moment, as his vision flickered, and his limbs stopped responding to the commands of his brain.
Slowly, the world around him turned into nothing but distant noise, as his thoughts slowed, and his consciousness faded.
As then—
Everything went dark.
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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 94: AftermathTimeless AssassinC94: Aftermath
"Winner—Second Year Student Khyaal!" The referee announced, as Leo's body finally went limp.
The arena erupted.
A deafening, rapturous cheer tore through the air as the victorious fighter, bloodied and barely standing Khyaal, struggled to lift his fist in triumph.
However, before he could gloat, his knees buckled beneath him. His body swayed, and he collapsed onto one knee, panting heavily.
Khyaal had won.
But just barely.
His entire body screamed in agony, and his vision swam, the sheer blood loss making even breathing feel like a herculean task.
He had scraped by with this victory by the thinnest of margins, and the unconscious first-year junior lying beneath him had nearly taken him down.
A first-year.
A monarch-level talent, yes—but an untrained first-year.
*SIGHHH–*
Khyaal let out a slow, ragged breath, his massive frame trembling under the strain of his wounds.
That kid.
That damn kid.
Leo Skyshard.
He had fought like a monster.
Khyaal had faced countless opponents since joining Rodova—swordsmen, mages, assassins—but this? This was the fight that was undoubtedly the hardest, most grueling battle of his life.
A fight where he had thrown everything he had. A fight where his strength alone had not been enough. A fight where he had to dig deeper than ever before, relying not just on his brute force, but on sheer willpower, on the unwavering desire to not fall to finally scrape by a win.
Khyaal had no delusions.
Leo was not at his full potential yet.
But once he awakened fully—once the academy administered the Genetic Awakening Serum to him, once he trained properly—
That monster under his feet would become a true nightmare.
And that thought… terrified him.
"Damn…" Khyaal muttered under his breath, still struggling to breathe. "How strong are you going to be a year from now?"
He had no answer.
But he knew that this was only the beginning.
Today's victory belonged to him.
But a year from now? Two years from now?
Would it still be the same?
Could he really hold on to the circuits team spot before the interschool's when the final selections began 8 months from now?
Hold on against a monster like Leo Skyshard?
'I—' Khyaal doubted, as he clenched his fists, determined not to let himself be left behind.
For himself.
For Yu Shen and for the entire team that had survived the Summer Camp of Hell together, he promised to train just as hard as Leo Skyshard for the next 8 months, so that even if they met again in battle, the outcome would be the same.
—-------
Yu Shen leaned forward in his seat, exhaling softly as he watched Khyaal on the battlefield.
He was proud.
Proud of Khyaal.
Proud of how, despite losing his weapon, despite losing an arm, despite being pushed to his absolute limit, his teammate never crumbled.
Khyaal had earned this win and in the process showed the entire academy that the circuit team this year had more heart in them than any team before today.
But he wasn't the only one who impressed the crowd today, as Leo's fighting also sent a goosebump down Yu Shen's spine.
That brat's limp body, even in unconsciousness and covered in blood, demanded respect, as even though he had lost, his unconscious body laid on the ground with a presence to it that made a grown man hesitant to approach for the kill.
"You really are something else, aren't you?" Yu Shen smirked, as he clapped for Leo as well.
Leo had fought like a warrior, like a true member of Rodova's elite.
And while Yu Shen would never admit it out loud—he knew, deep down, that if given enough time…
Leo Skyshard would absolutely be circuits material.
Not now.
Not yet.
But soon.
Too soon.
For a first-year to be this good already?
It was only a matter of time before he picked up a spot on this year's team and there was nothing that Yu Shen or anyone in his team could do about it.
And even though Yu Shen had no intention of allowing Leo to join the Circuits Team until he earned his place, from today onwards, he was going to pay special attention to Leo's growth, helping him in any way he could, for it was undeniable that the brat would be his team member soon.
If Leo was this strong without the academy's training and without the genetic awakening serum administered, Yu Shen could not even fathom how much stronger he would grow in the coming months, as that thought itself excited him.
"I'm looking forward to it, Skyshard." he mumbled finally, before turning to leave the arena.
—------
"MEDICS! GET IN THERE, NOW!"
Principal Alric's voice boomed across the battlefield, a rare panic lacing his tone as he jumped to his feet, waving frantically for the medical team to move.
His face was contorted in a mixture of urgency and frustration, as his normally composed demeanor completely shattered.
Two students.
Two star students.
Both of them lay on the battlefield, broken and bleeding, and Alric hated every second of it.
"Check Skyshard first!" he barked, his sharp eyes locked onto Leo's unmoving form, while another team rushed to stabilize Khyaal.
His heart pounded furiously in his chest, but not because he was disappointed.
No.
This fight had proved everything he needed it to.
Everything.
Everyone in this arena had seen it. Every teacher. Every student. Every instructor.
They had all witnessed it with their own eyes.
The raw, terrifying potential of an untrained first-year monarch talent.
Nobody could question Leo Skyshard's future anymore.
Nobody could doubt why Alric prioritized his and Su Yang's growth.
Even if Yu Shen wouldn't allow them to train with the Circuits Team in the coming months, Alric didn't care.
He would find another way.
He would bring in senior adventurers.
He would hire past circuit champions.
He would create an entirely new training regimen just for Leo and Su Yang.
And no one would dare call it favoritism anymore.
Because today?
Leo had shown the difference between monarch level talents and the others.
—------
The entire practical combat arena was alive with electrified voices, as students burst into heated discussions, replaying the battle in their minds.
"Holy shit, that was insane—" Your journey continues on NovelBin.Côm
"I still can't believe it! Leo actually pushed Khyaal that far! If this had been a regular spar, he would have already won when Khyaal lost his sword!"
"He was a single move away from victory… a single moment. That's terrifying!"
"Do you think he'll be strong enough to join the Circuits Team by next year?"
"Next year? Try next semester! If he gets the right training, that guy could be a monster within months!"
"Yeah, but… damn. Khyaal's endurance was inhuman. I thought he was going to collapse, but he kept going even after losing an arm!"
"Respect to both of them, honestly."
The audience was split between celebrating Khyaal's incredible victory and acknowledging Leo's sheer insanity.
What they had witnessed today was not just a fight.
It was the beginning of something much, much bigger.
And nobody was going to forget it.
Not today. Not ever.
As this was simply a fight for the ages that students were going to talk about even years from now.
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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 95: Road to RedemptionTimeless AssassinC95: Road to Redemption
(Rodova Military Academy – Medical Wing, A Block, One Day After the Fight)
The Administrative Building's Medical Wing was the most advanced medical facility in the entire academy—reserved exclusively for faculty members and students suffering from severe injuries.
It wasn't a place where students wanted to end up.
Yet, here they were.
Leo and Su Yang—bunkmates in defeat.
Both lay in their respective beds, wrapped in thick layers of bandages, bruised, battered, and sulking hard as they stared at the ceiling in utter silence, each lost in their own thoughts, replaying their respective battles over and over again.
It had been a long, grueling twenty-four hours since their fights had concluded.
And neither of them was handling the loss well.
'I am Su Yang! I belong to the main branch of the Su Clan… My grandfather is a God! Yet, I failed to defeat a clan-less female archer.
I failed to land a single blow on her body—'
Su Yang's thoughts churned with anger and shame as his fingers clenched into trembling fists, the pressure turning his knuckles white.
The loss weighed on him like a crushing boulder, as he felt helpless and suffocated under its weight.
He had been raised his entire life to believe in his superiority. To believe that he was a supreme genius who was supposed to be untouchable, invincible and destined for greatness.
Yet, in the end, when it truly mattered—
He had been humiliated. Continue your adventure with NovelBin.Côm
Not by a legendary warrior.
Not by a fellow prodigy.
But by an upperclassman with a bow.
Someone without a named family name. Someone he had mocked before the fight even began.
And she had made him pay for it. She had humbled his arrogance, and made him lose his appetite for food completely, because he couldn't stomach the taste of defeat.
"Please, Student Su Yang, you must hydrate yourself—otherwise, your recovery process will be impeded," the nurse pleaded, her voice laced with concern.
But despite her insistence, Su Yang remained unmoved. He sat stiffly on his medical cot, arms crossed, jaw clenched, refusing to so much as acknowledge the bowl of nutrient-rich broth placed before him.
Not a single grain of food.
Not a single drop of water.
No matter how much they begged, he would not yield.
And beside him, another nurse sighed in exasperation, turning toward the other equally stubborn patient in the room.
"Please, Student Leo Skyshard, you must take your recovery medicine," she pleaded, offering him a small vial of shimmering liquid designed to accelerate healing.
But Leo, much like Su Yang, refused.
Though his reasons were entirely different.
Unlike Su Yang, whose defeat had been absolute, Leo had not been humiliated.
His fight against Khyaal had not been a one-sided slaughter. He had fought back. He had pushed his opponent to his very limits and had nearly won.
However, in the end—he still lost, and the bitterness of that reality settled in his stomach like a stone.
'I couldn't have done better even if I tried. There is nothing, in hindsight, that I could have done differently.
I lost because I simply wasn't strong enough.
That's it. That's the truth.' Leo realized, as the truth disgusted him.
Every time the thought crossed his mind, a sharp wave of shame followed, crawling under his skin like an unbearable itch.
Defeat did not feel natural to him.
And more than anything—he was a sore loser.
His mood had plummeted drastically since the fight, weighed down by the harsh reality of his own inadequacy.
It wasn't the pain of his injuries that soured his appetite. It was the embarrassment which did, as he couldn't stomach food, while feeling uncomfortable under his own skin.
"You're both impossible! I'm complaining to the Principal!"
The head nurse finally snapped, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
But before she could storm off, the sound of heavy boots echoed through the medical wing as Major Hen strode into the room, his sharp, authoritative gaze locking onto both boys like a hawk.
His presence alone was enough to make the air feel heavier.
"Enough," Hen said plainly, his tone firm yet calm. "Don't give the nurse a hard time."
And just like that—Su Yang immediately lifted his bowl and began drinking the broth, while Leo wordlessly grabbed the vial of medicine and downed it in one go as the nurse blinked in disbelief.
"Huh?!" She gawked at the scene unfolding before her.
Just moments ago, these two had been acting like the most stubborn brats in the academy—yet the second Major Hen walked in, they obediently followed his command without question.
Hen didn't even react to her shock. Instead, he walked further into the room, crossing his arms as he regarded both boys.
"You both fought well yesterday," he stated, his voice carrying the weight of his assessment. "Your fundamentals are strong. And while you still have room to grow, there is no doubt in my mind that you will both become excellent representatives of this academy in the future."
Su Yang remained quiet, his face tense, while Leo simply watched the Major with an unreadable expression.
"Skyshard," Hen continued, turning his gaze toward Leo, "your fight was mesmerizing. You exceeded all of our expectations."
Leo didn't react.
"And you, Su Yang," Hen said, shifting his focus to the sulking first-year. "You have a lot to improve. However—if we put aside the outcome of the fight—there were still many positives to take away from your performance."
Su Yang's fingers curled slightly over his blanket, but he remained silent.
"Your sword balance, your power, your reflexes—these are all top-notch," Hen acknowledged. "It's clear to me that you have more raw talent in your little finger than half the Elite Class has in their whole bodies combined."
Su Yang exhaled sharply through his nose.
"But talent alone isn't enough," Hen said bluntly. "You're a great fighter, but you still have a long road ahead before you can call yourself a great warrior."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then—Hen shifted the conversation.
"The rest of your class received their first dosage of the Genetic Awakening Serum yesterday," he informed them. "You're both scheduled to receive yours today. I'm here to take you with me, as soon as the nurse clears you to leave."
Leo's eyes flickered with interest at the mention of the Genetic Awakening Serum—but just as quickly as the excitement appeared, it faded, as his expression darkened slightly, and his voice came out steady but weighted when he spoke.
"Major… about our selection for the Circuits Team," Leo said, meeting Hen's eyes.
"What does this loss mean for us?" Leo asked, as Su Yang, who had been sulking just moments ago, also perked up at this question.
"Look, kids," Hen started, as he let out a deep sigh.
"It's the end of June right now—" Hen said, pausing, as he looked towards the ceiling, trying to form some words that sounded gentle.
"The Interschool Circuits Championship takes place in February next year, However, the Circuits Team doesn't just sit around until then. Throughout the year, they participate in numerous practice matches, visit other military academies for mock battles, and use that time to build momentum and confidence leading up to the main event."
He paused for a beat, then continued, his tone shifting slightly.
"Had you won your bouts, you both would have secured permanent slots on the team and joined them for that entire journey. You would have been part of every practice match, every exchange, every team-building exercise."
Leo and Su Yang already knew where this was going.
"But because you lost," Hen said, leveling them both with a firm stare, "you won't get that chance."
Silence.
Instead of immediate protests, neither of them spoke, though their expressions darkened.
"That being said," Hen continued, "there's still one way for you to make it onto the team."
"In January, we hold our final selections for the official Circuits Team lineup," Hen explained. "So if you want to represent Rodova in the Interschool Circuits Championship as first-year students—you will have to compete for it."
Both boys inhaled sharply at the same time.
"You will have to defeat an established team member in a one-on-one match during the final selections," Hen said.
"As only then will you earn your place in the team now—" He concluded, as a heavy silence followed his words.
Defeating an already experienced and established team member was going to be very hard in 6 months time, especially since they would have had a whole year of mock battles and practice rounds to prepare for the circuit's format.
However, some hope was still better than no hope.
As both Leo and Su Yang resolved to get a spot in the final line-ups, no matter how hard they needed to work to get it.
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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 96: Secure FacilityTimeless AssassinC96: Secure Facility
It took the head nurse an additional fifteen minutes to clear Leo and Su Yang for discharge after Major Hen's arrival.
She meticulously removed their bandages, reapplied fresh medicinal ointments to their wounds, and then carefully rewrapped them, ensuring their injuries were properly tended to before granting them permission to leave, as Major Hen escorted them to the Genetic Awakening Chamber.
—---------
(Rodova Military Academy, Super Secure Basement Level-2, Genetic Awakening Chamber)
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The Genetic Awakening Chamber was, without a doubt, the most fortified facility within the Rodova Military Academy— which essentially functioned as a fortress within a fortress.
Accessing it was no simple task.
To even reach the chamber, one had to pass through three layers of intense security checkpoints, each equipped with cutting-edge scanning systems capable of detecting any and all anomalies.
The path was lined with armed guards, trained to eliminate threats without hesitation, and finally, the last barrier—a biometric lock that required manual authorization from a high-ranking academy official, such as Major Hen, to grant entry.
To the uninformed, such extreme security measures might seem excessive.
But in reality, they were a necessity.
Because what lay within this chamber wasn't just another medical procedure.
It was one of the most prized assets of the Righteous Alliance.
Unlike the widely available cheap awakening serums sold in the open market—formulations riddled with impurities and crafted with subpar ingredients—the Genetic Awakening Serum of Rodova Military Academy was the real deal.
It was a serum perfected through centuries of research. A formula so potent, so refined, that it had been classified as top-secret biotechnology, its true composition hidden from even the most powerful factions in the universe.
The Righteous Alliance had made a calculated decision years ago—to publicly release a lesser version of the Genetic Awakening Serum, ensuring that any warrior or noble family with enough wealth could purchase an awakening formula.
But that version?
It was a shadow of the original. A diluted imitation. A mere fraction of what the true formula could achieve.
The real, perfected serum—the one that could fully unlock a warrior's dormant potential, rewriting their genetic code at the highest possible level—was reserved for only three institutions in the entire universe.
•Rodova Military Academy
•Geneva War Academy
•The Chief Research Laboratory at the Universal Government Headquarters
Not even the Six Great Clans had access to it.
As no matter how powerful, how wealthy, or how influential they were—the great clans did not own this technology.
And that singular fact was what forced them to send their most promising heirs and scions to institutions like Rodova and Geneva.
Not out of tradition.
Not out of preference.
But out of necessity.
Because no matter how mighty their bloodlines were, no matter how fiercely they guarded their secrets—without this serum, their future generations would always fall short of their true potential.
It was a political masterstroke by the Universal Government—a calculated move that ensured the Six Great Clans remained permanently bound to the system.
By monopolizing the perfected Genetic Awakening Serum, the government forced even the most powerful bloodlines to send their heirs to institutions under their direct control.
This was a leash—one that the Great Clans had no choice but to accept, as their ambitions could never surpass the genetic advantage that this serum provided.
This was why the Rodova Genetic Awakening Chamber was one of the most heavily guarded facilities in the entire academy.
A single lost vial—whether to the Evil Cult, an independent faction, or even the Six Great Clans—could destabilize the entire power structure of the righteous alliance.
And it was a risk that the Universal Government could simply not take, which was why, only a select few individuals like Major Hen who had given their life to the Universal Army were given the final biometric access to open the final lock.
"Alright, Su Yang. Skyshard. Go take your seats in the awakening pods.
Today is the day you get your first dosage of the Genetic Awakening Serum, and this is the dose that will likely trigger the most significant changes in your body.
You might feel dizzy, disoriented, and lethargic for the next 24 hours, but don't panic—it's completely normal.
Your body may suddenly grow taller, you could gain a few inches overnight, or your hormonal system might go into overdrive, making you grow a full beard or a chest full of hair.
Then there's the Ghost Sleep.
It's an unpleasant experience where your mind drifts between reality and something… else. Some describe it as a dream, others as a vision, but most just call it a nightmare. You'll be aware, but unable to move, trapped between waking and unconsciousness.
It's terrifying—but it's also temporary. Push through it.
Most importantly, you might suddenly find combat knowledge flooding your brain. Techniques you've never practiced but somehow understand instinctively.
Or, if you're lucky, you might awaken a bloodline-specific trait—something like Yu Shen's [Dominance].
If that happens, do not resist it.
Let the knowledge sink in. Let your genes unravel their full potential. The first shot is the most critical, setting the foundation for your entire awakening process.
So no matter how painful it gets—endure." Hen instructed, his voice steady and commanding as he gestured toward the two empty awakening pods, motioning for Leo and Su Yang to take their seats.
"I know both your bodies have taken a beating in recent days, however, the genetic awakening serum's potency doesn't decrease based on the condition your body is in, so just relax and don't stress about that.
Even if you were dragged to this table as cripples, you would still gain the maximum benefits from this serum, as it only depends on the strength of your mind and the history of your bloodline." Hen said, as Leo and Su Yang took their seats, as he tried to ease their minds of any doubts or distractions that might hinder their awakening process.
"Principal Alric cares about you boys more than you can ever imagine.
And although it's only a theory for now, the researchers studying the serum say that subjects that are in emotional distress before receiving the serum, usually gain 10% more benefits from it compared to their peers who are not.
So just consider all of your anger and turmoil at your combat losses, as necessary fuel for this awakening process.
As there's no way Principal Alric would clear you boys for getting the first shot, if he did not think you were ready for it–" Hen said finally, as a couple military doctors walked into the room with a coded and locked briefcase in hand.
The two doctors gave Hen a curt nod, before placing the briefcases on the table beside Leo and Su Yang, as Hen walked up to the table and began tapping on a personal encoded device that gave him real-time codes to open the briefcase.
Although Leo could not confirm it, he had a good hunch that the serum within the suitcase would automatically be destroyed if someone tried to forcefully pry it open or if someone entered the wrong code, as the Universal Government seemed to be very thorough on its security measures to access the serum.
However, with Hen having the right codes, he did manage to unlock both briefcases, which unveiled two tiny shots of neon green serums, stored neatly within padded walls of the briefcase.
"Relax and breathe—" The military doctor instructed, as he disinfected the area where he was supposed to give Leo the shot, before finally picking up the serum shot and flicking it with his fingers to activate the formula.
"Ready?" He asked Leo once he was prepared to administer the shot, as after taking a deep breath, Leo gave him the nod.
"Ready—" he mused, as the injection pricked his skin.
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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 97: Genetic Awakening (First Shot)Timeless AssassinC97: Genetic Awakening (First Shot)
The sharp prick of the needle barely registered at first as it felt like a quick sting—no different from any other injection. But within seconds, a foreign sensation spread throughout Leo's bloodstream.
It started as an icy chill, rushing through his veins like liquid nitrogen, surging from the injection site up his arm and straight into his chest as he shivered involuntarily, a deep, instinctual reaction to something far beyond his body's natural equilibrium.
Then—his pulse skipped.
*Thump.*
His heartbeat faltered.
*Thump.* *Thump.*
A second of silence followed, like the entire world had paused—and then his heart slammed back into motion, hammering violently against his ribs.
His breathing hitched, his muscles tensed, and an overwhelming pressure spread through his entire body.
"Dose Administered…. Pod closing…. Clear" The military doctor beside him said, as he took a step back.
*HISS–*
A sudden hiss of air filled the pod he was sleeping in as the automated bindings activated, ensuring his body remained still as the transformation began.
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Within moments, the reinforced chamber sealed shut with a mechanical clang, cutting off the outside world and enclosing him in a sterile, pressurized cocoon of medical-grade fluids, nanite-infused oxygen, and a constant influx of vital nutrients.
This wasn't just an awakening. It was a controlled evolution where his body was about to be rebuilt from the ground up, and to ensure that he had all the necessary nutrients to facilitate this transformation, he was sealed in a pod that had everything within it that one could hope to sustain life.
—--------
Stage 1: Genetic Reconfiguration (30-60 seconds)
About 30 seconds into the shot being administered into his arm, the unbearable burning began.
At first, it was subtle. A tingling sensation beneath his skin, like a mild fever creeping through his bones. But it intensified rapidly, escalating into a full-blown inferno that roared inside him.
His bones ached—no, they stretched. As every cell in his skeletal structure expanded, reinforcing itself, growing denser and stronger.
His ribs felt like they were widening, his spine elongating as his entire frame recalibrated to accommodate his evolving genetic structure, and the genetic pod compensated immediately.
Thin, transparent tubes connected to his skin pulsed as they flooded his bloodstream with calcium, phosphorus, and specialized stem cells, reinforcing his bones so they wouldn't splinter under the sudden change.
His muscles shredded and rebuilt in real time, each fiber tearing itself apart and regenerating stronger than before as protein-enriched biofluids surged into his system, ensuring his body had the raw materials it needed to keep up with the transformation.
'Fucking hell–' Leo cursed as he grit his teeth, this wasn't just painful.
It was like his entire existence was being rewritten from the molecular level, and it felt unbearable to say the least.
—------
Stage 2: External Changes (60 seconds – 3 minutes)
The first thing to change was his hair.
His once neatly trimmed dark strands grew rapidly, lengthening by inches within moments, cascading down the nape of his neck. His eyebrows thickened, darkening slightly, while a goatee sprouted along his chin—where only smooth, clean skin had been minutes before.
His fingernails sharpened, hardening slightly, as if his body was adapting for battle in ways beyond just brute strength.
Then—his eyes burned.
The sharpest, most intense sensation of all.
His pupils expanded, dilating unnaturally, while the whites of his eyes darkened into a slight silver hue. His irises—once a deep black—turned a shade of dark gray, a color that seemed almost metallic under the sterile glow of the pod's lights.
And then, something more terrifying happened.
His vision changed.
For a moment, his sight flickered—like a screen adjusting its resolution—before sharpening into crystal-clear hyper-awareness.
It wasn't just that he could see more clearly.
It was that he could perceive depth, detail, and motion in a way he never had before.
The top of the pod was a completely opaque glass that stopped 96% of the light that came through it, however, even though it was practically impossible to see through that glass, Leo could vaguely perceive the movement of the doctors in the room through it, after his vision improved.
The flickering lights inside the pod, the micro-movements of the nutrient fluids around him, the faintest vibrations in the enclosed chamber—he registered all of it at once, as he felt his perception shift fundamentally.
But before he could even process the change—
—------
Stage 3: Genetic Memory Unlocking (3 – 30 minutes)
His mind snapped open like a floodgate breaking under pressure, as knowledge, instinct and experience flooded into his mind.
It felt extremely odd, as although it was new knowledge that he had no access to before today, it somehow felt like old knowledge, that his body somehow always instinctively knew but had forgotten?
It was knowledge acquired over generations of trauma to the bloodline, whereby, knowledge gained by his ancestors at their emotional highs and lows was passed down to him as instinct.
Random bits of information, such as how to survive if you are swallowed alive by a dragon?
Entered his brain, which felt confusing to say the least, however, as Hen instructed, Leo did not fight it, and instead let the knowledge flow as it desired.
"All the most powerful beasts are territorial…. They will mark the area under their control to warn other predators to stay off their turf.
Always check for such marks when entering the wild—"
"Darkness is not your ally and it never will be.
You are a surface dweller who has spent the majority of your life in the sun and don't have an inherent understanding of darkness like those born in it.
There are worlds where the sun doesn't shine.
World's where generations have never seen a ray of light, yet they hunt, survive and thrive in such an environment.
You think you have mastered darkness? You don't even know what true absence of all visible light looks like"
"Time is the greatest equalizer in this universe. You want to rule over this universe? You start by becoming stronger than time"
Leo heard a weird voice ringing in his head, that sounded like him, but also did not.
The words it uttered made no sense when heard without context, however, Leo could feel the emotion behind it.
The regret behind the speaker speaking those words.
To him, it almost sounded like the speaker had lost someone he loved to the wild beasts, and someone loved to darkness, which was why he was warning someone to not make the same mistakes.
However, before Leo could dwell more on what the voice wanted to convey, the main event finally began, as knowledge about skills he had never practiced before began flooding his head.
His brain registered flashes of combat maneuvers, hand-to-hand sequences, advanced dagger techniques, movements that felt both alien and intimately familiar at the same time as he felt his horizons broaden on how to approach a fight.
He instinctively understood the mistakes he was making with [Parallel Processing] and why it was taking so much out of him with every use, as [Parallel Processing] was actually supposed to be a technique where the cost of activating it had to be supplemented using mana and not his body's stamina, however, he was apparently trying to run a house using toy remote batteries, which was why he was left so drained after each use.
However, the more knowledge that his brain gained, the heavier his heart felt, as an irrational pain of sadness and betrayal spread through him.
TRUST NO-ONE
BE ATTACHED TO NO-ONE.
THE ***##@&# MUST ALWAYS BE FREE—
Leo heard someone screaming in his head, as the boiling of his blood finally reached a fever pitch.
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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 98: A Changed LeoTimeless AssassinC98: A Changed Leo
(Rodova Military Academy – Genetic Awakening Chamber, Major Hen's POV)
Hen paced around nervously in the room, as although he maintained a straight face on the surface, internally he was sweating buckets.
This awakening fell under his purview, which meant that if anything went wrong here, it would be his head that shouldered the blame, and when the future of two monarch level talents was at stake, the blame that would befall on him should something go wrong, would undoubtedly be massive.
'Please let me retire with a pension–' Hen thought, as he paced around the room with his arms tied behind his back, as he thought about how, after their biological birth, this was undoubtedly the most important day in the lives of these kids.
The first dose of the Genetic Awakening Serum was always the most impactful.
It was to shape the foundation of their power for the rest of their lives and for a first-year monarch-level talent, this was arguably the most important moment of their entire existence.
And Hen had personally seen it go both ways.
Some prodigies left the pod with a terrifying new presence, their entire physiology reshaped for battle, while others came out weaker than expected, their true potential disappointing everyone.
There was no guarantee in genetic awakening. No certainty of success.
Which was why he hated waiting for the result, especially when his own future was tied to it.
'28 minutes have passed already….' Hen thought as he stood there, eyes locked on the countdown timer as the minutes stretched painfully long.
And then—finally, after exactly thirty minutes, the first pod depressurized with a deep mechanical hiss.
As Su Yang's Awakening was finally complete.
—---------
*HISSS—*
The pod's metal shell split apart, releasing bursts of sterile mist that swirled in the air like fog.
And from within, Su Yang emerged as Hen's sharp eyes immediately scanned him for changes.
The first thing he noticed was the sheer mass Su Yang had gained.
The boy had always been well-built, but now? He looked carved from stone.
His muscles had thickened drastically, broadening his frame. He had gained at least 30 pounds of pure, raw muscle, with his shoulders appearing wider, his stance more grounded and his overall frame like a warrior who belonged to the battlefield.
His facial structure had subtly shifted too—his jawline sharper, his features more refined. But the most unsettling change was his eyes.
Those golden irises, already striking before, had deepened into something fiercer, more intense, as it seemed to now carry a divine element to it.
"Are you okay, kid? Can you see me?" Hen asked, stepping forward cautiously, as for a moment, Su Yang did not respond.
Su Yang's pupils dilated, his breathing steady but eerily controlled, as he looked dizzy and unfocused—until the moment that his gaze finally landed on Hen.
And in that instant—
Hen felt a pressure slam into his spine.
His instincts screamed, as for the first time in years, his body reacted like prey in the presence of a predator.
'What the hell was that—?!' Hen wondered, as it took every ounce of his experience to suppress the sudden instinct to step back.
Su Yang's aura had changed.
It was no longer just a physical transformation—he had unlocked something much greater, as only once had Hen felt something similar before.
Yu Shen's [Dominance].
That was the only skill close enough to what Su Yang did now, however, compared to [Dominance], this was raw, untamed….. like a technique yet to be controlled and mastered.
'He has awakened an Aura Skill.' Hen realized, as he felt his own breath hitch in his throat.
"Not bad…" Hen finally said, breaking the silence as he forced himself to relax.
"Seems like your Awakening went well." He complimented, before quickly stepping forward as he grabbed Su Yang's arm to support him before he collapsed.
Su Yang looked dazed, still adjusting to his newfound self, as he could barely move his feet to where Hen guided him, as the Major dragged him to the recovery room, where he could lay down and rest until his senses returned back to him.
—--------
By the time Hen returned, five minutes had already passed since Su Yang's pod opened.
And yet—
Leo's pod remained sealed, as Hen's nervous eyes flicked to the countdown display.
(Thirty Five minutes, Five seconds)
He read, as a deep frown settled on his face.
The greater one's potential, the longer the Awakening took, as usually–
Grandmaster-level talents awakened in 3 to 7 minutes.
While Transcendent-level talents took anywhere between 15 to 20.
But for Leo to cross the 35 minutes mark was already unheard of.
Even monarch level talents were rumoured to complete their awakening between 30-35 minutes, which was why when his pod timer hit 42 minutes, a chill ran down Hen's spine.
'This is unnatural.'
Had the pod malfunctioned? Had something gone wrong?
He wondered, as he could no longer keep his calm, as he looked towards the doctors in the room for answers, who looked equally as worried as him.
They couldn't intervene as doing so could potentially halt Leo's progress, but they couldn't stop and watch idly either if the pod had indeed malfunctioned.
Then—just as Hen was about to step forward—
*HISSSS—*
The pod was finally released.
And out came Leo Skyshard, much to everyone's relief.
—-----------
Hen's breath got caught in his throat as he looked at the transformed Leo, as the Leo that came out of the pod was not the same Leo who had gone in, as he had grown in size significantly.
Before, he had already been a solid 6'2"—but now, he had easily pushed past 6'6" or even 6'7".
But unlike Su Yang's heavily muscled transformation, Leo's body was lean.
Not thin or slender, but strong, as although his muscles weren't bulging, Hen could still see the underlying power in them.
His was a build designed for speed, precision, and lethality, which was the biggest visible change in his body.
However, then there were the more subtle changes—
Such as how his hair had grown longer, cascading down to frame his face.
Or how his once dark eyes had lightened, turning into an unsettling shade of dark gray and his pupils had enlarged to an unnatural size.
'Hmm… I've never seen that before' Hen thought, as he looked into Leo's eyes, as while his eyes were not fear-inducing like Su Yang's—there was still something else to them.
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Something unnerving.
Something indifferent.
Before, Leo had always looked at Hen with respect, if not outright admiration.
But now?
Now, Leo stared at him like he was just another person in the room.
As if Hen didn't matter at all to him, which made the Major's jaw tighten.
"How are you feeling, boy? Are you okay?" Hen asked, as Leo did not answer immediately.
His newly cold, apathetic eyes met Hen's with the slow deliberation of someone who simply didn't care.
Then, finally—
"Fine." He said, as he did not provide any more elaboration, nor any reaction.
Then, without waiting for assistance, Leo stepped out of the pod—on his own two feet, as much to Hen's shock he did not stumble, nor look disoriented, as he somehow managed to maintain his balance.
Even seasoned soldiers needed help walking after their final awakening shot, much less their first one.
Yet Leo—who had undergone one of the longest awakenings in recorded history—was moving like it was just another day.
And Hen did not like it one bit.
"Alright," Hen muttered, still watching him carefully.
"Let's get you to recovery." He instructed, as fulfilling his duty, he offered his shoulder to Leo for support, but Leo didn't lean on him.
He walked alone, not with pride, not with arrogance but with a calmness that was almost inhuman as Hen escorted him to the recovery room, where he laid him down on the medical cot.
"Stay here… they'll bring you some potions soon," Hen said, as he turned to leave.
But before leaving—
He cast one last glance at Leo.
At those gray, piercing eyes.
At the absolute apathy written across his face.
And for the first time since the Awakening had started—
Hen felt a small seed of unease settle in his chest.
Because whatever Leo Skyshard had become in that pod…
It wasn't the same boy who had walked in.
And whatever he had become, terrified even a Major like Hen.
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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 99: Indifferent LeoTimeless AssassinC99: Indifferent Leo
(Rodova Military Academy – Post Genetic Awakening, Recovery Room)
The doctors kept Leo and Su Yang under strict observation for about an hour, monitoring their vitals and ensuring their bodies had stabilized before clearing them for discharge.
There were no lectures scheduled for them today.
They had been granted a full day of recovery by professor Hen—as a necessary respite after undergoing one of the most physically and mentally taxing experiences of their lives.
For Su Yang, this break came as a welcome relief.
Even now, as he sat up, his head still throbbed, and his limbs felt heavier than before.
Every fiber of his body was adjusting to the genetic changes, and the sensation was far from pleasant.
"Ugh… Are you okay, Skyshard?" Su Yang groaned as they walked out of the medical wing. "I feel like someone hammered a million nails into my skull."
Leo walked beside him—completely normal, his strides smooth and unhurried. There was no sluggishness, no sign of discomfort on him.
It was almost like he had not just undergone the most excruciating transformation of his life, which caused Su Yang to squint towards him with mild irritation.
"And I feel this… intense hatred for the Evil Cult," Su Yang muttered, massaging his temples.
"Those bastards must've slaughtered a lot of my ancestors or something, because the second my Awakening was complete, I could feel it. A deep, burning resentment inside me." He said, as Leo turned his head slightly at those words but showed no real reaction.
"I see no point in harboring such a useless emotion," Leo said, his voice noticeably deeper than before, carrying an eerie calm.
"Hatred clouds judgment. It blinds clarity in battle. If anything, it is a liability." Leo advised as Su Yang blinked in confusion.
"What?" He scoffed, casting Leo a suspicious glance.
"Did you suddenly become some kind of monk? What's up with the philosophy?" Su Yang asked sarcastically, as Leo did not answer immediately.
He simply shrugged.
Indifferent. Unbothered. Like he couldn't care less what Su Yang thought of his words.
And immediately, Su Yang could sense that something about his behaviour today was…. Off.
For a moment he scowled, wondering if he should bring it up?
However, with his own head hurting badly, he let it slide for the moment, as he was in no condition for a debate.
"Whatever, I guess I'll see you around then. Hopefully, neither of us gets hit with Ghost Sleep tonight." He said, as he tapped Leo on the shoulder lightly, before moving ahead, as they had reached the fork in the road where their paths diverged
The two of them had reached Leo's dormitory, while his own was still a few meters ahead, which was why while Leo stayed back outside his door, Su Yang wobbled onwards while holding his head.
'Idiot–' Leo thought, as he watched him go—before finally stepping inside.
—-----------
The moment Leo stepped into his room, he knew someone was there.
"I know someone is in my room…" he murmured, his voice low and unreadable as he closed the door behind him.
His dark gray eyes flickered slightly as he scanned the space, noticing what others wouldn't.
Then, as if speaking to the empty air, he continued, "Is it you, Muiyan Faye?"
He asked, as for a brief moment there was nothing but absolute silence.
Then—
"Interesting…"
A feminine voice replied, sounding smooth and almost amused. Experience tales with NovelBin.Côm
A slight ripple disturbed the stillness of the room, as Muiyan Faye, who had been seated on his bed with her presence completely erased, finally revealed herself.
She leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other, as she regarded him with a look of mild intrigue.
"How did you know I was here?" she asked, tilting her head.
"At your current level, it shouldn't be possible for you to detect me." She said, as she stared directly into Leo's eyes, waiting for an answer.
For a long moment, Leo simply studied her, offering no immediate response—as if debating whether she was even worth answering.
Then, finally, he exhaled lightly, his lips curving into a barely-there smirk as he said "It was he door handle—"
"Huh?" Muiyan Faye blinked in confusion, as Leo raised his hand, gesturing toward the entrance.
"I saw the heat prints of your hand on the metal. The temperature difference stood out the moment I walked in." He explained with a steady voice, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"My eyes have become… hypersensitive,"
"I can perceive even the slightest temperature fluctuations on all surfaces. Even on metal." he said, as he met her gaze again... his expression unreadable.
"That's how I knew someone had entered my room just a few minutes ago." he concluded, as Muiyan Faye stared at him, feeling speechless.
Heat prints? Metal temperature fluctuations?
That was beyond ridiculous.
Most people couldn't even sense her presence when she was actively moving—yet here he was, detecting her lingering trace through something as subtle as heat differentials?
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Just what kind of absurd vision did he awaken?
"I still don't understand how you managed that…" Muiyan Faye admitted, her voice carrying a mix of skepticism and intrigue.
"But more power to you if you can notice something so subtle….. I assume that means your genetic awakening went well?" She asked, as Leo remained silent for an uncomfortably long pause.
Then, finally—
"It went well," he said, his tone flat, devoid of any emotion. "I gained the knowledge for two passive skills and completed the understanding of one active skill I already had."
There was no excitement in his voice. No hint of satisfaction or curiosity. Just a cold, matter-of-fact response.
And it was at this point that Muiyan Faye finally noticed it.
Something was off about Leo.
His presence—his demeanor—everything about him felt different.
"What's happened to you?" she asked, frowning. "Why are you acting so… detached?"
She asked with concern, as Leo merely shrugged in response.
"It's one of the passive skills I gained," he said.
"It's called [Monarch's Indifference]."
"I'm not even sure if I want the skill, But it's latched onto me like an unwanted parasite for now." Leo explained as he tilted his head slightly as if trying to assess himself from an outsider's perspective.
"If my previous emotional spectrum ranged from -100 to +100, then this skill has restricted it to something between -20 and +20." He explained as Muiyan Faye's eyes narrowed.
"I can't feel extreme sadness anymore, or extreme happiness for that matter, or even anger. It's like an invisible wall has been placed between me and my emotions."
"My mind continuously remains in a state of peak performance, unaffected by mood swings, distractions, or irrational thoughts."
"It's… strange," he admitted, finally.
"I'm as focused right now as I would be in a life-or-death scenario. But it makes me feel like I'm a robot instead of a human." Leo concluded, as Muiyan Faye studied him in silence, her unease growing.
Leo had always been sharp, calculating, that much about him wasn't new, however, there was something inherently human about him before that was gone now.
Now he felt like something else entirely, and Muiyan Faye did not like this development in the future dragon.
Emotions were an important tool to possess for carrying out the impossible, as a rational soldier could never take on impossible odds, but an emotional soldier could.
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Muiyan Faye frowned, absorbing Leo's words carefully before offering a rare solution.
"There are ways to unlearn a passive skill,"
"I… I can help you remove it from your subconscious if you want me to." She offered while hesitating, as Leo simply shook his head in dismissal.
"While it's true that I don't particularly enjoy having my range of emotions limited to this degree— as it makes me feel less alive—I also can't ignore the obvious benefits that it brings." Leo replied in an eerily calm voice.
"In this state, I can meditate better. Learn new techniques faster and push myself harder in training.
My focus is absolute. If this is my permanent mental state, then at least in the short term… it's an advantage I don't intend to discard."
He exhaled slowly, tilting his head slightly as he stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.
"And as for the long term…" He trailed off before looking back at Muiyan Faye, his gray eyes unreadable. "I think I will learn how to activate and deactivate this skill at will once my genetic awakening is fully complete."
His tone carried a certainty that left little room for debate.
"Just like my other skill—[Parallel Processing]—which I only had partial knowledge of before this first dose, I have a strong feeling that my current understanding of [Monarch's Indifference] is also incomplete." Leo said, as he flexed his fingers slightly, testing the unfamiliar sensation of his new body.
"I am confident that I will learn more about this skill once I undergo additional awakenings, but for now… I'll keep it as is— even if I don't like it." Leo concluded, as his indifferent voice made it clear that there was no room for arguments or negotiations.
"Very well… if that's what you wish for, then I will respect your choice," Muiyan Faye said, as she let out a deep sigh.
On a personal level, she did not like these changes in Leo, however, if it brought significant advantages to him, then Muiyan Faye was definitely not going to stop him from making rapid progress.
"Well… what's the other skill you picked up?" Muiyan Faye asked, her curiosity piqued as she inquired about the second passive ability Leo had acquired. However, Leo simply shook his head in quiet refusal.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to keep that private. I don't want to reveal all my cards to anyone—including you," he said, his tone firm but not unkind.
However, the moment those words left his mouth, Faye's expression darkened. Her jaw tightened, and for a split second, she looked as though she was about to explode.
The frustration burning in her eyes was unmistakable, but just as quickly as the emotion flared, she forced herself to hold it back, inhaling sharply through her nose.
"Look—" she began, her voice laced with restrained irritation as she raised a single finger in the air.
"I need to know what skills you've awakened because they may or may not be a security threat to you.
Your bloodline is special, Leo. There are people—many people—who can identify your origins just by observing the skills you display.
So you will tell me what ability you've awakened because I need to determine whether it's safe for you to use or if you should hide it from the universe like your life depends on it."
Her tone had shifted—firm, authoritative, almost parental, like a mother scolding a reckless child.
For a long moment, Leo stared at her, weighing his options. Could he trust her? Should he trust her?
But in the end, faced with the sheer intensity of Muiyan Faye's motherly gaze, he exhaled softly and relented.
"My second passive skill is called [Faster Regeneration]."
Faye's expression flickered with interest, but she remained silent as Leo continued.
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"It allows my body to heal from injuries at an accelerated rate and expel toxins from my bloodstream in case I'm ever poisoned.
However, in exchange, my metabolism has skyrocketed. My appetite has tripled, and my body now burns through energy at an insane rate. I'll probably need to eat a lot more just to keep up," Leo admitted.
A deep sigh escaped Faye's lips as she ran a hand through her hair, nodding slowly as the pieces fell into place.
"So that's why you're not disoriented after your first awakening…" she muttered. "Your [Faster Regeneration] must be helping you recover at an unnatural speed."
She folded her arms, glancing at Leo with an unreadable expression before finally nodding in approval.
"Both of these are great skills. You've gained a lot from this awakening," she admitted before stepping forward, closing the distance between them.
Then, with a serious expression, she looked Leo directly in the eye.
"Six months."
"You have six months until the final Circuits Team selection. You must find a way in, Leo. For the sake of the mission, you have to find a way in.
There is no other option." She said, as she gave him a subtle yet firm push towards his goals.
She tacitly did not bring up the topic of his loss to Khyaal, however, the implication behind her words was clear— as she asked him to not fail again, no matter what.
"Don't worry. I'll make it onto that team for sure." Leo said emotionlessly, as he kept a straight face.
It was his personal goal to make it to the circuits team, and even without Muiyan Faye's push, that was exactly what he intended to do.
*Sigh–*
Faye studied him for a moment longer before stepping past him, heading toward the door. But just before she exited, she paused.
"One more thing," she said, glancing over her shoulder.
"Throughout the year, whenever you awaken a new skill—you must inform me."
Her tone left no room for argument.
"Don't act like a stubborn brat and keep things from me, as whether you believe it or not, I'm looking out for you.
I'm trying to keep you safe and alive in a very dangerous world, so you better believe that I'm on your side." She said, as with those final words, she stepped out the door, leaving Leo alone to dwell on them.
—--------
Once Faye left, Leo sat down on his bed after grabbing a dagger from his closet, as he studied the weapons edge carefully.
'Sorry Faye, but the voice in my head tells me to trust no one. Maybe it's paranoia. Maybe it's wisdom. Either way, I'll listen' Leo thought, as he activated his third skill that he had gained from this awakening, called [Dark Blade].
This was an active ability, which increased the lethality of his daggers by a hundred fold when activated.
Whether used to throw daggers, or used to slash at close range, [Dark Blade] was a move that significantly improved the blade's destructive power, by infusing it with the 'Darkness Element'.
'Faye's right…. I don't know enough about my background to show my true skills recklessly.
Hence, it's best to not reveal this skill to anyone, unless it's my very life on the line' Leo concluded, as he decided to hide the presence of [Dark Blade] in his arsenal completely.
He decided to not use it within the academy, and not reveal its presence to Faye either, as he reserved it as a hidden card known only to himself.
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