Awakening

With purposeful strides, Leon made his way to the Trait-Activating System, nestled in the heart of the base alongside the research centre.

He enters the facility and surveyed the scene before him - researchers bustling about in suits and white coats, tending to the enormous machinery with its numerous chambers. His gaze settled on the researcher who had operated the machine during his last awakening ceremony.

"stop right there, why are you here cadet?" The guard stopped him from proceeding further.

 "I need to have my traits activated. The Chief has given the orders. Feel free to run it by her if you wish."

"Good day," he said confidently to the guard at the door and he stepped into the decontamination chamber as if he owns the place.

….

"Just who does this kid think he is?" The the guard thought and informed the operator to call to the chief to verify.

She picked up and he informed her, "Chief, there's this kid who walked in saying he needs his traits awakened. He says you're vouching for him."

"Yeah, register him as Leo and send me his data later." she said coolly before ending the call, leaving the operator speechless and even more irritated.

"Does everyone take me for granted in this goddamn facility?" he grumbled as he watched Leon exit the decontamination chamber, donned in the awakening suit.

"Shall I proceed further?" Leon asked the researcher, who let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

"We will first do a Biomarkers test as per protocol and proceed with the awakening," the researcher reported, his tone serious and professional.

But Leon was insistent, "Can we skip the biomarkers part?" he requested, only to be met with a firm warning.

"Do not take the awakening test lightly. Without the biomarkers, the pain alone can easily kill the individual so stop asking questions to the person who has been working here for the past 7 years" the researcher warned, his voice stern and unyielding.

Leon sighed, resigned to the fact that there was no way around it.

He offered his arm for the DNA blood sample to be collected. Within a few minutes, Leon got the green light, and the researcher's expression transformed into one of excitement.

"No wonder that haughty chief let this be an exception! An S-ranked and an A-ranked trait!" he muttered to himself as he opened the awakening capsule and Leon stepped in.

"Okay, here are the instructions. Lay on your back on the inclined horizontal abdomen support and strap yourself at your waist with the belt. Then put on the mouthpiece which is kept on the side," the researcher instructed, his voice now laced with a hint of eagerness.

There are sockets for each of your limbs where you fit them in and signal me with a nod,

After that close your eyes and think of something happy, because you have strong abilities, the greater the ability, the stronger the pain. so this is going to hurt, kiddo."

The researcher instructed and nodded at the operator once Leon nodded, the capsule closed.

"We are Initiating your awakening," He said as each limb gets strapped up and numerous cylindrical objects arise from each socket and connect to the suit.

Leon closes his eyes as he then felt MULTIPLE Injections piercing every major muscle group in his body and feels something inject in.

It took a few moments as the pain seeped in and gets stronger with each throb, an anaesthetic injection was then injected near his left clavicle which numbed the pain for a short term.

Leon steadies his breathing as he kept thinking.

'Eh it wasn't that bad, you got this, this is nothing compared to seeing 'that' again... '

He remembered the moment when Alice hugs Luke and were talking happily making him bite down the mouthpiece harder.

The pain came back with tenfold now as he felt the pain radiate to every joint and then go up straight to his eyes, making him writhe till all the capsules were removed from the suit.

He could not even close his eyes as his muscles kept twitching while tears are pouring out.

His eyes slowly turned gold as he felt every cell in his eye burn all the way to his brain almost making him lose consciousness.

'Come on… you've handled worse… this is nothing really' He kept talking to himself throughout the pain and after a while, it slowly subsided.

The capsule opened up and a few researchers came in and helped Leon out as he still had his eyes closed.

"Congratulations Leo Regalis, You are now an awakened," The operator said into the mic and the researchers clapped giving rise to positive emotions in Leon.

He slowly opened his eyes once he stood up on his own legs and quickly took note of every individual in the room.

His eyes glowed as his ability took forth and noticed every individual in the room, including the chief who just entered the facility.

"Hey there Chief!" Leon grinned cheekily as he yelled "You missed me already?!"

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. No one and I means NO ONE, ever speaks to the chief so casually without risking their guts clawed out.

But Leon, unfazed, nodded at the workers, signalling for them to let him pass as he made his way back to decontamination and slipped back into his uniform.

As he buttoned up his suit, he couldn't help but think to himself,

"I don't feel much different."

His expression then turned to a frown as he glanced at the paper he had received from Loki.

******************

Quest 1 - [Military drills are baby steps - part 1]

BECOME A SEARGENT [Initiated]

Subtask 1 -NEW LOOK[Completed]

Subtask 2- Get yourself admitted into the military [completed on paper]

Subtask 3 [optional] Get a girl [Not started]

Subtask 4- Get awakened

Subtask 5-???

Subtask 6- ???

…

Quest -2 collects 3 human souls [Not started]

Deadline [ 90 days left]

Penalty: Permanent soul extermination

Reward: ??

'Penalty and reward Are he serious about making my life like a game?' Leon raises his eyebrows as the first and second subtasks then glow and a few changes in it.

Quest 1 - [Military drills are baby steps - part 1]

BECOME A SEARGENT [Initiated]

Subtask 1 -NEW LOOK[Completed]

Subtask 2- Get yourself admitted into the military [completed on paper]

Subtask 3 [optional] Get a girl [Not started]

Subtask 4- Get awakened [Completed]

Subtask 5- Become a corporal

Subtask 6- ???

…

Penalty: Death offered by Hel

Reward: Unlocking a random rune.

Quest -2

collects 3 human souls [Not started]

Deadline [ 90 days left]

Penalty: Permanent soul extermination

Reward: ??

As Leon read the reward, a smile spread across his face.

"You know what, I'll play along, partner. Let's see what this life has to offer," he thought to himself as he folded the paper and slipped it into his inner shirt pocket.

Lana was waiting for him and was discussing with the other researchers saw Leon walk out.

"Ah you're finally out, I thought you were going to make me miss you a bit longer," she said which brought a smile to Leon's face.

"Of course not, chief. I couldn't make you wait for a cadet like me any longer than that. I apologize for the delay," Leon apologized and saluted her, trying to save face.

"Good to see that you made it through the hard way" she commented and turned around.

"Follow me, I've got someone to introduce you to," she said, nodding to the researcher and leading the way. Leon felt awkward following her and staring at her behind, so he quickened his pace and joined her side, trying to start a conversation.

"Now since you held your side of the bargain, how about I do something for you, Like dealing with Mr president for example." Leon commented along the way.

"Just how much do you know about me and the president anyways?" Lana enquired.

"I do not know much about what is going on between the two of you but I do know enough bout the president." Leon answered.

'After all, He was the kind of scumbag who even made father owe him a debt.' He recalled with a stern face.

"Then I don't see the point of a cadet like you being capable of doing anything against that man, so I suggest you forget that part of that contract and besides" she turned her head and glanced at him.

"I would be worried about your own situation if I were you," she replied, making Leon give up on his conversation and follow her lead.

"So, who are you bringing me to meet and why?" Leon asked as he observed the route and realized they were heading toward the training hall.

"You wanted to join the military as a cadet, but the current batch will go through a promotion test today so they can be promoted to second-class privates,"

"So, I straight up promotion?" Leon enquired.

"If you pass that is, according to your data, you are already 21. normally you are supposed to be a corporal at least by now" she casually dropped in with a smile while she was hoping to humiliate him this way.

she said as the doors to the training hall opened and the whole batch of cadets was present, with Sergeant Kim addressing them.

Everyone noticed her presence and turned around and saluted in unison, Lana nodded in response.

"Is he the one, Chief?" The sergeant asked as he glances at Leon from the side of his eyes.

"Indeed, He is a transfer cadet from Cocoon 6" This got everyone gasping and the murmurs of gossip began they were immediately silenced by the sergeant's stamp on the ground.

' Cocoon 6 was known as the lawless zone which employed criminals and murderers as soldiers to fight in the most dangerous missions, why would chief bring such a guy here.' Kim thought to himself.

"Introduce yourself to everyone" Lana pushes Leon forward and smirks.

"I am Leo Regalis, 21 years old, Transferred from Cocoon 6, Pleasure to be working with you," Leon responded with a smile while revising the details of his Alias in his head.

"Cadet Regalis do you know what is the promotion test?" Sergeant Kim asked Leon while taking a glance at Lana and receiving a nod.

"No sir" Leon responded.

"Usually we make it a battle circuit of sorts, the last 30 standing will qualify for the second class private rank" Sergeant explained.

"But for you, we are going to make things a little different." He added making Leon turn his gaze towards Lana.

"You just have to complete the circuit before everyone else and qualify No.1 to join in," she said with a smirk.

"Any complaints cadet? Or do you want an easier challenge?" Kim asked with an aggressive tone

"No sir, I accept the challenge" Leon confidently replied.

***********************************

Quest 1 - [Military drills are baby steps - part 1]

BECOME A SEARGENT [1%]

Subtask 1 -NEW LOOK[Completed]

Subtask 2- Get yourself admitted into the military [completed on paper]

Subtask 3 [optional] Get a girl [Not started]

Subtask 4- Get awakened [Completed]

Subtask 5- Attain the corporal rank [initiated]

Subtask 6- ???

…

Penalty: Death offered by Hel

Reward: Unlocking a random rune.

Quest -2 collects 3 human souls [Not started]

Deadline [ 90 days left]

Penalty: Permanent Death

Reward: ??

***************************************