A drawback of Leo’s newly obtained hypervision was how unappetizing it made all food look to him.
If a single grain of rice had been tossed in oil, he could now pinpoint exactly how much of the grain was coated and which minuscule spots remained untouched.
What was imperceptible to the average eye was now glaringly obvious to him, exposing a whole new dimension of imperfections in a person’s cooking— as he could see micro-flaws that made every meal seem less appealing.
’This seared meat has uneven charring. Some areas have lost all their natural fat, while other spots still have residual grease from the grill clinging to them…’ Leo observed, his enhanced vision dissecting the dish with unsettling precision as without hesitation, he scraped off the burnt and greasy parts before taking a careful bite.
’At least it still tastes the same,’ he thought, exhaling slightly in relief.
Deciding it was best to momentarily close his eyes, he focused purely on the act of eating for now as he blocked out the microscopic details his vision insisted on revealing.
His stomach was already gurgling in protest, demanding fuel for his newly heightened metabolism.
And so, he dug in.
Plate after plate vanished before him, his body consuming food at an alarming pace—like a well-oiled war machine replenishing its fuel reserves.
"Ooo—Skyshard sure is eating a lot today. That’s his fourth refill."
"I think he’s just starving after the awakening. I remember I was the same after my first shot."
The seniors murmured among themselves, watching from a distance, as regardless of what he did, Leo always seemed to be at the center of attention—his status as a Monarch-Level Talent ensuring that every move he made was scrutinized.
If this was the old him, he might have felt self-conscious under their lingering gazes.
If this was the old him, he might have hesitated in taking more food or second guessed his need to eat more.
But the new Leo?
He didn’t give a damn.
His mind was razor-sharp, his focus absolute. He knew exactly what his body needed and how much food was required to keep it operating at peak efficiency, as nothing—not stares, not whispers, not anyone’s opinions—mattered beyond that.
The new Leo was methodical. Detached. Singular in purpose.
And as a result, his already unapproachable aura had only deepened, making him feel even more like an island unto himself, as he gave the vibes of a lone warrior fixated solely on self-improvement that could not be approached at all by outsiders.
From start to finish, he devoured his meal in under fifteen minutes, moving through the mess hall like a storm, efficient and unstoppable.
He wasted not a single second more than necessary on non-training activities as by the time others were still casually chatting over their meals, Leo was already gone—rushing back to his dorm, immersing himself once again in meditation.
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For a good few hours, he meditated nonstop, making the most of this free day, before turning his focus to also training [Absolute Vision], which he practiced from after dinner, till he fell asleep at night.
—---------
(Rodova Military Academy, Leo’s Dorm Room)
It took Leo a good half an hour of conscious effort to finally fall asleep, as his new heightened brain was too focused and active for sleep to easily find him.
However, once he drifted to the dream-land, the inevitable did finally occur, as his consciousness was pulled into an alternate realm, giving him his first experience of ’Ghost Sleep’.
—-----------
(A Random Ancient Courtyard, 2700 Years Ago)
Leo found himself floating above a spacious courtyard, watching as two young assassins sparred with deadly precision.
For a moment, he felt confused about why he was having such a vivid and realistic dream, where he could even perceive his metaphysical body, however, he soon realized that he was experiencing his first episode of ’Ghost Sleep’, as he steeled his heart for what was to come next.
’Please be a happy memory–’ He prayed, as although the chances of a monarch level bloodline experiencing a happy memory were less to none, Leo hoped that he would be an exception to the norm.
*SHING–*
*SHING–*
The two assassin’s clashed, their movements fluid and sharp, as Leo felt momentarily mesmerized by their battle.
Each attack and counter that they performed seemed instinctual, as if ingrained through years of relentless training, as there was not a single wasted movement.
The taller one amongst the two wielded twin daggers, pressing the attack with aggressive yet controlled slashes, while his opponent, slightly shorter but just as skilled, moved like a shadow, narrowly dodging before countering with a spinning strike.
’They’re insane…’ Leo thought, completely baffled by the exchange, as their coordination was unlike anything he had ever witnessed, as it was refined to a level that seemed almost supernatural.
However, as he observed the duo some more, he noticed something peculiar about them.
Both fighters shared strikingly similar features—sharp jawlines, the same piercing eyes, and identical expressions of intense focus.
’They’re probably brothers…’ Leo concluded, however, before he could dwell on the thought for too long, a third figure entered the courtyard.
A man.
Seeing whom, Leo’s breath got caught in his throat.
The newcomer had a commanding presence, his steps calm yet authoritative.
However, it wasn’t his presence that stunned Leo—-
No.
Leo felt stunned by how much of a striking resemblance the man bore, both to the two boys and also to his own face.
’Holy shit… If I had a full beard and was middle-aged, I’d look just like him.’ Leo realized, as pure shock coursed through his veins, while his mind raced with questions.
*Silence*
The moment the father appeared, the sparring came to an abrupt halt, as both youngsters turned to him, excitement flashing in their eyes.
"Father! Have you finally perfected it? The elder one asked eagerly.
"Have you mastered the unbreakable formation?" the younger one added, their voices filled with anticipation, as the man only smiled in response, pride evident in his gaze as he reached out to ruffle their hair.
"I have," he confirmed, his tone warm yet firm.
"Come with me. I want to show you both the results." he said, as without hesitation, the two boys followed him, their enthusiasm palpable.
But before Leo could even process what was happening, he felt himself being pulled forward—his surroundings shifting, as the courtyard dissolved into an unfamiliar space.
The next thing he knew, he was inside an ancient study, standing behind the father and his sons as they gathered around a large, weathered scroll.
"This…. This is the greatest equalizer the universe has ever seen. This will be the ultimate legacy that I give the universe before my death" The man said, as he looked proudly over the old scroll that he had scribbled over probably a hundred times.
"There is no mortal who can slay a god they said…..
Only gods can slay gods they said…..
Well no more!
Mortals will remain suppressed by gods no more.
With the use of this unbreakable formation, a bunch of the strongest mortal warriors can band together to take down a god, as not even gods can escape this trap alive, should they find themselves at the centre of it—" The man said, as both children looked at his work with glee.