Test Subject

"Wah! Strong Strong!" An excited Seraphine cheerfully said as her starry eyes gaze at the figure of Vander, just mowing through the battlefield with his unfathomable strength, added with his stature and burly physique, the scene looks like the God of War descended into the mortal world himself!

"Don't you think so too Papa!?" Seraphine turns her head toward Jayce, wanting to see his reaction, but she would soon be disappointed...

"Papa? PAPA!" She waved her hand in front of his face, but there was no reaction! It's like the dude suddenly turned into a statue!

"Mou!" From her initial excitement, her small and petite mouth shaped into a pout, she crossed her arms in a huff, tears started to brim her eyes, any moment now and she would bust out crying!

Just as Seraphine was about to throw a tantrum, a slender palm landed on top of her head as it playfully ruffles her hair.

"Just ignore the idiot, even if you burn his clothes, he won't pay attention to you when he's in that "Zone"." Caitlyn playfully chuckles at the girl as she slowly explains; no longer is she mad or holding any grudges at the small girl after that "incident" occurred in the bedroom.

She even sympathizes with Seraphine, at such young age and to see your loved ones die in front of you while you could only powerlessly watch it happens, knowing nothing you could do in your power to stop the situation. It must be dramatizing, to say the least. Luckily, the girl lost her memories, otherwise, continuing to live while having to bear that torment would only be a nightmare.

'She is amazing...' Caitlyn thought, she doesn't know what she would do if you were to put her in Seraphine's shoe. Imagining Jayce or any of her family dying in front of her... Maybe she would just follow them to the afterlife as well... She might look and act strong on the outside, but her mind is extremely fragile, or so she thought.

'Talking about the devil....' She then looks toward Jayce with a frustrated gaze, wondering why she fell deep into the hole with this guy...

'Hmph! How could this sweet angel fall into the grasp of this pervert!? Look, he's not even paying attention to his so-called "daughter" while she's crying. How indigent!' Caitlyn curses at Jayce millions of times inside her head.

*BOOM* Just as Caitlyn was in her own world, a major shockwave reverberated through the area, even the tavern which was far away from the battlefield shook a little.

"VANDER!"-Powder

"FATHER!" -Vi

The siblings cried out in horror as they shakily stared at the spot Vander stood. Looking at the collapsed area that was demolished by the 7 commanders, the siblings' eyes redden in anger, even Vi's Arcane aura fluctuating wildly, she wants nothing more than to rush in there and kill the bastards!

"MOTHERFUCKER!"-Vi

Just as she was about to run out to the battlefield, a hand materializes behind her as it chops at the back of her neck, leaving her to fall to the ground, unconscious.

But a pair of strong arms caught her body before the impact.

"Sigh, I hope the reward is worth it" Jayce sighs under his breath as he mutters, looking at the ongoing war with a complicated expression. Although he had experienced bloodbath and battles, as a 21st century person, this is the first time he has witnessed a full-out war between humans and themselves.

'It's truly...pathic.' Maybe he's a pacifist in nature, but he doesn't understand why there must be war among themselves? Isn't it hard enough to resist other races, and unite humans as a whole? Their ancestors sacrificed their lives, risking for a better future just so the descendants fight and kill one another. It's just.... sad and disappointing.

Jayce sighs one last time before he looks at the battlefield once more, this time with a determined expression. Turning his head to look at Caitlyn and Seraphine, then the unconscious Powder and Vi.

[AN: He also knocked Powder out.]

'It doesn't matter, all I have to do is to grow strong while protecting my family. Humanity can perish for all I care.'

"Caitlyn, hold these two for me, yeah?" Jayce said while handing the two bodies to his dear wife. Ruffling the little Seraphine's hair in the process.

"I'll be back." Before Caitlyn could say anything in protest, Jayce disappeared from the spot.

"Hmph! Bastard!"- Caitlyn

….

Zaun, Shurima continent

Inside an underground laboratory, 10 people could be seen within an office room.

"How sure are you about that "Thing", Singed?" Sitting in a chair is a scar-faced man wearing a green military hat with the logo of PiltOver imbued on it. Behind him are 8 similarly dressed people, wearing a legion's uniform, with a black scarf covering their faces. The scar-faced looking man is the current leader of the Legion that was situated in Zaun. He has another identity that the public isn't aware of.... the righthand of BolBok, Scarfaced Steward.

They were here with the mission from the higher up, to acquire reinforcements.

Across from Steward are two familiar figures, Vander's brother, Silco, and the mad chemist, Singed!

[AN: Spoiler. Yes, Zilco is Vander's brother, in case you haven't watched the Arcane series.]

"Don't worry, that creature is a killing machine! It won't dare to disobey my order, you see..." Singed unlike last time, he has bandages covering his face as he said in a rough voice. Taking out a small silver item, which looked somewhat like a whistle from his left pocket.

"Just blow this and it will be under your command! HehehehAHHAHA!" Tossing the whistle to Steward as he releases a menacing laugh.

"Now that is done, I hope you won't forget our deal... Oh, Scarface Steward...." By his side, Silco who's sitting on a chair said as he stirs the teacup. His sarcastic tone made the atmosphere more solemn.

*clack* Once they heard his word, the soldiers behind Steward took out their weapons instantly, readying to shoot down the man.

"STOP!" As he raised his hand, Steward shouted, motioning his soldiers not to be reckless; his dangerous gaze hasn't lingered away from Zilco.

"I don't know how you know about it, but you best keep that secret shut, otherwise the councillors won't let you off," Steward spoke out harshly, his eyes showing a glint of disdain.

In his mind, it's already beneath him to even speak to these rats from the slump, after all, he was from the prestigious PiltOver's legion, and his backer is one of the councillors himself, Bolbok! So, if not for the higher up ordering him to negotiate with them, he would not have come here in the first place. Now, a rat dares to threaten him? How presumptuous!?

'Just you wait, rat! I will deal with you sooner or later.' Steward had already imagined the scene where he would torture the bastard and feed it to the creatures below!

But of course, if he's aware of the latest news in PiltOver, his actions and thought would have been completely different.

Hearing his threat, Zilco just casually shrugged his shoulders, as if what Steward said was just an empty threat, and it really is!

"Hehehe, that depends on... your end of the deal." Zilco gave the man in front of him a quirky smirk. As a businessman with networks all over the place, Zilco is privy to many unknown secrets, he is already aware of BolBok's situation, how could he be afraid of this dog whose owner already abandoned it?

"Hmph! Let's go." Steward huff, he stood up from the seat, leaving the office as the soldiers obediently followed him, leaving Zilco and Singed alone inside.

"Tcch, they really have their head up in their ass, no wonder that fool of a brother of mine hates them to the core...." Zilco said out loud, turning his gaze toward his side.

"What do you think?" He asks sarcastically, already knowing his answer but doing it anyway for the reaction.

"Cheh, don't ask me that. Those pigs could die for all I care." And as expected, Singed has an annoyed expression, he glares at Zilco as he dugs his ear, walking toward the door, intending to leave.

"Now, this should consider my end of the bargain, don't bother me again unless you have something important."

*Bam* the door closes.

Now only Zilco is left within the office, he turns his chair around as he watches a strange, unknown creature, similar to that of a gigantic Angler fish, biting another sea creature, the two fought hard but eventually, the Angler managed to emerge victorious as it feasts upon its opponent's corpse.

[AN: For visual, think of the office is like an aquarium, just like what transpired in Arcane ep.1]

This is how cruel the world itself is, a dog-eat-dog world.

Zilco remains undisturbed, reaching behind his back as he takes a hold of a document paper. The more he read, the more his grins became apparent.

"HAHAHAHHA! MARVELOUS!" Soon he releases an evil laugh that would give the onlooker goosebump, luckily no one was there to experience such horror.

'Subject name: Terreck Bilhold

Age: 35

Background: A slump dweller that stood at the bottom of the ladder. Recently he became a small gang's leader, but it quickly disbanded with the missing leader.

Serial number: 8867

Status: Semi-Successful

Nickname: Warwick.

….

Zaun, Shurima continent

'I'm sorry Vi, Powder, I fail you guys as a father….' Vander muttering under his breath, his hazy vision can only see a blur, but that didn't stop him from recognizing the tavern that is a distance away. He could make out several figures standing at the front, which are exactly Powder and them.

'If heaven grants me one last wish, I'd like to be a proper father in the next life.' A pearl of tear dripped out from his right eye.

He has many regrets, so many...The regret of not being able to save his mother, the regret of not being able to see through the revolutionary war, the regrets of not being a proper father... If only heaven gives him another chance… He would be eternally grateful.

With that thought, he closes his eyes, waiting for the impending doom to descend upon him. Hoping for a better life next time...

But heaven seems to have a different plan for him...

It was just at that moment.

"GURA GURA NOMI!" A low, and cold voice that of a child resounds out of nowhere as it descends from above.

"SHINGEN"

"NO"

"ICHIGEKI"

Time seemed to have slowed down at this moment as out of nowhere, a skinny and bony fist appeared midair, white spherical energy enveloped the fist that pact tremendous destruction.

*BANG* The bony fist drills down the creature's head, causing its expression to slowly strain. Its head along with the body plummeted toward the ground.

*crack* Upon impact, visible spider web cracks could be seen in the air around the collision. Even the ground fractures at an alarming rate if not for the time being slowed.

Time resumed at this moment, and you could imagine what happen next...

*BOOM* The impact created a small explosion as it kicked up a small amount of dust and debris.

*WHIMPER* The creature let out a whimpering cry as it vomits a large amount of blood, lying powerless on the ground. Its grips on Vander loosen, as he was thrown away like a ragdoll due to the impact of the collision.

*Tap tap tap* A silhouette of Jayce could be seen amid the dust, he walked toward the body of Vander. Ignoring the half-dead creature behind his back.

Kneeling on his right knee, Jayce's aura surges as a cyan light descends upon him, on the back of his hand is a cyan coloured sigil, Unsealed Spellbook!

"Heal…" Jayce muttered as green particles emitted from his hand, they flew toward Vander's body, slowly healing him in the process.

The hole in his abdomen is slowly closing up at the naked eyes, luckily, he already passed out, otherwise, the excruciating pain would only be a torture.

"This should save him for now…." Jayce mutters, he isn't exactly sure whether the healing actually works or not, he just hopes it does. The heal spell fluctuates between people and depends on their severity, it's very random, so he tries to avoid using it if possible.

*CRUNCH*

*CRUNCH*

While Jayce was buying healing Vander and his injuries, loud crunching sounds could be heard coming from behind…

"This is bad…" Jayce muttered with a solemn expression… although he hasn't expected the creature to die from one punch since his previous attack only has a strength of roughly 2k true damage (around C-rank).

[AN: 'Gura-Gura no mi: Shingen no Ichigeki. (Hypocenter attack.)

Description: Vibration will focus on the user's body, releasing the concentrated force toward the target. Dealing 40% True damage.

Cost: 200 Stamina + range (300S/Mile)

His strength is 4090, and 40% is around 2k I hope (too lazy to do maff).]

But that isn't the surprising thing, it's the fact that he could visibly feel its diminished aura is slowly getting stronger as it crunches on the remains of the soldiers/allies' dead bodies! It has the ability to heal!

He has to finish it off before anything else happens.

'I can't let it touch me either.' he had already seen how deadly those claws are from the way how the beast decimated the battlefield with it, even he isn't sure he could survive once the creature gets a hold of him...

So, with that thought and without giving it more time to react, Jayce suddenly burst out with great speed as a blue runic Sigil appeared at the back of his hand, Phase rush!

'Rune Line ability: Phase Rush.

Description: User get an increase in speed, up to 200%

Cost: 100 AP/Min'

A beautiful pair of blue wings materialized behind his back, his figure became a blur as it accelerated toward the creature in an instant.

Some might ask why he isn't using the stopwatch that would literally give him free hits on the opponent for 10 SECONDS?

Well...

'DING! Experience gained: 0....'

One had to remember that any being that he kills or defeats, he would gain experience points, based on his performances that the system is "supposed" to calculate.

Jayce was so flabbergasted when he received the message that he gained zero, ZERO, experience points when he killed one of the deadliest assassins in IONIA! The Virtuoso, Jhin.

Well, he eventually knows the reason why and he was pissed! It's all because of the stopwatch... Apparently, it was too "easy", so the system gave him 0 points for his performance.

Now, he has to start getting used to fighting with his own abilities if he wants to earn any experience points...

[AN: Experience points can be used to upgrade his "learned" abilities, such as fast; there might be other uses for such points in the future as well! 😉]