I am sorry, Mother," Leo murmured, seated near a fountain on a small elevated platform made of cent and marble.
With both fists clenched and eyes cast downward, he couldn't shake the mory of how he had been unable to stay by his mother's side for longer.
He recalled the way she fought for every breath, her body worn to the brink of exhaustion, yet still managing to muster a weary smile.
Her face, though fragile, radiated a fierce determination to continue her battle for life.
All of these images pointed to the harsh reality: she was nearing her limits, holding on as best as she could.
But even more poignant was the glimr of hope in her eyes, a silent plea for her son to strive for a better life.
It was as if, in her mont of greatest vulnerability, she was still encouraging him to chase after his dreams.
Despite the weight of these mories, he had fled the hospital, feeling an all-consuming sense of helplessness—as he always did.
He had returned to this place, where he first glimpsed a sliver of hope for saving his mother, the only person who remained in his life and ant everything to him.
As he sprinted away from the hospital, thoughts raced through his mind, each burst of adrenaline fueled by the promise of the man who had granted him a glimr of strength.
That man had assured him that he would be able to save his mother—offering a lifeline amidst the chaos that engulfed Leo's mind.
"I see that you seem to be deep in thought," a voice interrupted, pulling him from his thoughts.
Without standing, Leo turned his head beside him where a man with a well-built physique sat nearby.
Looking forward and pointing towards a tree, he asked, "What do you see there?"
"...." Leo, hearing thoughts from Avendial, seed to narrow his gaze as he turned his eyes in the sa direction, looking towards the empty garden where trees and flowers could be seen.
But instead of just that vague view, what Leo saw, due to his enhanced eyes, were the petals and small pores present on the leaves of a tree known as stomata.
He added, "It's small pores on leaves, pollen on flowers..."
He didn't stretch his words too much, just describing what his eyes saw, not caring if it sounded ridiculous, given he trusted that this man would understand what he ant.
After all, he was the one who bestowed this unnatural strength upon him.
"Hmm, let's improve your vision then," Avendial muttered, tapping the marble beneath him, prompting Leo to look towards him as he also stood, keeping that calm face.
As Avendial moved ten steps away, he halted before gesturing toward Aria with his finger, calling her near.
'This...' Aria was already bewildered, her gaze fixed towards the status window of Leo.
During her thoughts, she was pulled out of her reverie as she approached, unable to clearly read what was ntioned on the status.
Upon arriving, she offered his suit back.
"What?" Avendial raised an eyebrow, giving a doubtful look as he observed how she offered his suit back.
"...take it back," Aria muttered as her eyes t his, averting down instinctively and feeling hate for not daring to look at him.
But it was montarily as she finally lifted her eyes.
Before long, her eyes t those blue ones, and she mumbled, "...it slls."
'....'
'....'
Leo and Rivia, due to their enhanced senses, were able to hear what she just said clearly.
They exhibited their usual expressions, but sohow, given the context, it was funny, highlighted by the twitch on Avendial's face.
"I see," Avendial said, hearing her words and observing how her inner strength was recovering, given she boldly stirred those words.
He leaned slightly toward her, though still maintaining a distance between them, with a head tilt and a smile, and in the sa tone as her, with a hint of tease added, "It seems you still have not beco accustod to my sll, even after bathing in it.
Guess you need more baths."
'!'
Thump thump.
'D-damn you,' Aria thought, seeing how, without a hint of embarrassnt, he stared at the birds with that straight face.
She tightened her grip on the suit, turning her gaze downward as she stood beside him, clearly feeling his eyes poking over her head and not wanting to et his gaze until her mind was much more composed.
"Let's deal with this another ti.
So, Rivia," Avendial turned his gaze towards Rivia, who stood clearly glaring at Aria for so reason.
Though there was no hint of malice in her controlled expression, it was clear to Avendial that sothing was going on inside her mind, which soon shattered as her athyst pupils turned towards him.
"Yes, Master," Rivia said, her voice mild with a hesitation in her eyes, given that he had called her again for the second ti since they t.
She was still fearful, thinking that he would abandon her for doing sothing reckless.
She just wanted to avoid that, even if it ant seeing another woman beside him.
Having to never see him again was far worse than seeing him beside another woman.
"No sword, just punch him, Rivia," Avendial's face was serious—no jokes here—as he gave Rivia the command.
A quick gesture towards Leo was enough for her.
SWISH!
The air seed to ripple as Rivia moved.
One mont, she was standing still, and the next, her figure blurred into motion.
SCREECH.
The screech of her boots scraping the dirt echoed as she skidded to a halt, re inches from Leo.
Her piercing gaze locked onto his wide-eyed shock.
'!?!'
He barely had ti to react; his muscles tensed, but his realization ca too late.
Her fist was already drawn back, the motion creating a gust so sharp it rustled the leaves nearby.
SWOOSH!
In an instant, Rivia's entire body beca enshrouded in a shimring, smoke-like aura of white.
Her fist glowed, radiant with the sa ethereal energy, as it surged forward like a lightning bolt.
"Ugh!" Leo's instincts kicked in, and he crossed his arms in a desperate attempt to shield himself.
BAM!
The impact was deafening.
The air exploded with sound as Leo's body was launched backward, completely out of his control.
His feet barely grazed the ground as he spiraled through the air, hurtling toward the dense forest.
The force of the punch sent shockwaves rippling outward, bending the nearby trees and scattering leaves like confetti.
CRACK! — SWISH!
The first tree didn't stand a chance.
"Khwack! — Argh!"
Leo's body crashed into it with a sickening snap, splintering the trunk in two.
His montum carried him into a second tree, which groaned and cracked under the sheer force.
"KURGH—!?"
Debris flew in all directions as his body finally ca to a halt, slamming into the ground with a resounding sound.
THUD.
The whole atmosphere went silent, save for the rustling of leaves settling from the impact.
Leo's body lay limp against the broken bark, his arms grotesquely twisted, bones jutting out at odd angles.
drip drip
Blood trickled from his mangled hands, and his head lolled to the side, unconscious.
A gust of wind swept through the clearing, carrying away the dust that had blurred the surroundings of Avendial and Aria, who stood with her mouth agape.
But ignoring Aria's shock, Avendial ordered Rivia, "Every ti he heals completely, give him another punch. If he withstands it, increase the force."
With those words, Avendial stepped out of there, heading off as Aria trailed behind, glancing at both Rivia and Leo every now and then, her eyes focused on their status window, while Avendial's voice drifted away, echoing in the background and reaching Rivia,"Beat him, give him ti to heal, and then continue this process until you are exhausted."
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