In the vast darkness of space, Aura held the secret to strength—it was the storage and usage of chaos photons.

Each time it circulated through your vessel, you’d grow stronger.

Leandro wasn't too knowledgable of its origins, but he sure was a genius in its application.

The chaos photons emerged from the universe's farthest reaches, a celestial frontier locked away. Beyond, the dormant Outer Abominations guarded the cosmic balance, ensuring the universe’s survival.

When the Abominations exhaled, a wave of potent photons rippled through space and time, birthing and obliterating stars in its cosmic wake. Yet, as they traveled through the vast expanse, they weren’t unaffected by the laws of entropy.

As such, the photons would gradually lose power and dissipate along the journey.

However, the remnants that managed to make it into planets either created life or empowered it. The Gods, beings who were closest to the initial outpour of energy, were the first to pioneer the power behind the chaos photons.

And since the Outer Abominations were mindless, omnipotent creatures whose purpose was to make sure the universe cycled through life and death, as it was destined to, uninterrupted, they didn’t concern themselves with the ongoings of the uncountable races inhabiting it.

… Or so was what the stories said. Leandro had never seen an Outer Abomination, nor did he know of someone who had. Then again, if there ever was anyone foolish enough to do that, they didn’t live to tell the tale.

Earth was tucked so far away from the core of that expansion of energy that Leandro, in his meditative state, could hardly lap up the excess that managed to reach the planet.

If it were not because he had experience with it in the first place, he doubted he’d be able to sense it or harness its powers. It was akin to muscle memory, perhaps, except that there were no muscles involved.

It was the essence of the soul, then.

Either way, no one else would be able to discover its presence, even if they were pointed in the right direction.

‘When Earth is integrated in the system, everyone will feel it.’

A staggering amount of chaos photons would slam into Earth, like a gamma-ray burst.

Changes would come swift. No one would be prepared for the abrupt shift.

And it was exactly because of that, that Leandro strived to get a head start. He’d stand at the frontline of this apocalypse, spearheading through whatever challenge may block his path. If the Gods watched—then he’d let them see the end he’d bring upon them.

This time, he won’t allow the ones closest to him to pay for his crimes.

He breathed in. The photons streamed through his muscles, veins, and nerves. In his meditative state, Leandro felt as if he was in a dark, enclosed space of his mind, a territory where time itself couldn’t affect it. Spots of light swirled in the darkness of his eyelids.

Despite their meager quantity, the chaos photons left a tingling, yet oddly delightful trail—a subtle breeze gently caressing his skin.

As the cycle concluded, he exhaled.

His veins shone a soft, faint gold, like a blazing sun hidden behind clouds. It happened when Leandro circulated the photons. Hardly anyone would notice unless they were watching it from really close up.

“Leandro, are you listening?”

Seok Oh’s childish voice was a bit grating, but it wasn’t exactly the kid’s fault.

At least, he was nice.

The youth stood, arms behind his back, grinning sheepishly.

Unexpectedly, there was a new addition behind Seok Oh. A girl with brief glints of sunlight dancing on her black hair. Her eyes, a beautiful shade of purple, were sparkly and lively—though, to a seasoned eye, there was something deeper hiding behind that well-crafted facade.

Seok Oh took his silence as an answer and patiently explained. “This is Geum Bada, my childhood friend.” He scratched the back of his head with a friendly smile.

Geum Bada stared at Leandro, waving her hand enthusiastically. “Hello~”

He tried his best to force a smile back; though, considering his tight lips and stoic expression, it didn't work.

He was a few hundred years too old to befriend kids, but his physical body didn't exactly give that away, and good-looking people, especially in school, had the curse of popularity—always surrounded by kids, like planets orbiting around the sun.

Nevertheless, Geum Bada, had a certain spark that interested him. There was something almost familiar and nostalgic behind the feigned cheerfulness.

This time, Leandro made the effort and nodded politely back. “Good afternoon… I didn’t know you had such a… beautiful childhood friend, Seok Oh." He finished, tentatively pronouncing her name.

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Geum Bada flashed a more mischievous smile once her ego received enough stroking, a faint blush on her cheeks.

Seok Oh seemed pleased—eager, almost. He glanced between Bada and Leandro expectantly, his smile growing bigger the longer it lasted, a ticking time-bomb of unbridled excitement. Leandro could feel something close to second-handed embarrassment creep upon him.

‘I hate interacting with kids. It’s awkward.’ Then again, they weren’t exactly kids. Were high school teenagers considered kids? Probably. Yes. At least to him.

And, to be fair, Seok Oh had been trying his best to integrate Leandro into his social circle.

Noticing the occasional stares in class and his out-of-place friendliness in the corridors were the obvious hints. If they weren’t enough, then the kid cornering Leandro right when classes came to an end definitely was.

Seok Oh snapped himself out of his daydreams, cleared his throat, and took Bada by the hand. "You know... you're always by yourself..." He started, lamely. "And I thought you could use a friend... or two."

Leandro arched an eyebrow at the poor delivery. It seemed that the kid had grown fond of him, but to go to such lengths…

Geum Bada found Leandro's reaction quite humorous. Her chuckle was concealed by a light giggle and a covered mouth. Leandro ignored it and focused on Seok Oh. The kid at least seemed honest enough in his intentions, as shameful as the execution may seem.

A few centuries back, and he might as well have entertained their shenanigans. But now, he wasn't feeling it.

Hari and Nari were enough for him. What could he ever possibly do or talk about with school kids? His body might have de-aged, but his mind hadn’t. Imagine dumbing yourself down to your body’s age to fit in with a bunch of children. That was out of discussion.

Plus, Bada seemed… nice, but shallow. Definitely not a bad girl, but she was trying a bit too hard. She followed Seok Oh like a shadow.

Wasn't this the age where kids wanted to fool around? He really couldn't remember.

Different races had different puberties.

Besides, this was a different version of Earth, wasn't it? Not quite two sides of a coin, but two different coins entirely. Maybe human puberties had a different stage here, for all he cared.

The mere thought sounded far-fetched, but honestly, Leandro didn’t concern himself with such details.

‘Well… it would explain why Hari and Nari would just stare at me so often.’

Seok Oh gulped and added. "So... how about it...?"

"I appreciate it." Leandro blurted out with little to no emotion in his voice. "But... I'm good by myself. Don't worry about me."

He fixed his posture, glancing at them apologetically. He pushed a few books down the desk into his messenger bag—which he kept open by pushing the flap down onto it—and stood to leave.

Seok Oh said nothing, a constipated expression dawned on his face, his jaw hanging a bit open.

Geum Bada arched an eyebrow at him.

Leandro rushed out of the class as best as he could, walking past the two with quick strides, Seok Oh and Geum Bada watching him as he left.

The light that bled through the windows temporarily cast a golden glare off his face, reminiscent of something almost divine, something unfitting for a kid his age.

Unfortunately for Leandro…

"Waaaaait!"

…Seok-Oh didn’t give up. He ran after Leandro, leaving Geum Bada to stand there, smile twitching but not going down.

----------------------------------------

Once they were outside the school gates, Leandro looked back. The footsteps behind him had tapered off into a leisure walk. There was no avoiding him, it seemed.

Seok Oh easily caught up with him. The determination in his eyes didn’t waver. “Are you free right now? You, me, and Bada could—”

"Seok Oh?" A gentle, feminine voice, naturally alluring yet tinged with a playful hint, interrupted Seok Oh's unfinished sentence.

Leandro turned to the source. A woman, whose body took after an hourglass, walked into view. She had her arms crossed under her impressive bust. A very impressive bust.

She flashed Leandro an unreserved glance. Her lipstick-coated lips slightly curled upward when their eyes briefly met. She wore an outfit that probably broke some public decency laws, but who was he to judge anyway?

Still, even Leandro had to begrudgingly admit that she was otherworldly beautiful.

Her hair cascaded down her shoulders and back in a dark waterfall of wavy but tamed locks. There was a captivating purple sheen to it, and to her eyes as well—eyes that fell on Leandro, glimmering with barely-restrained interest. They narrowed, and a fox-like smile flashed across her face. “And who’s your friend?”

Leandro was suddenly reminded of his stressful nights on the 41st floor of the Monolith, where succubi sieged his dreams. It had been rough back then, but he had come out stronger because of it.

“Oh… Noona…” Seok-Oh blinked, a little surprised. Then, just as he opened his mouth to reply. “He’s—”

“—Leandro.” Leandro cut in, holding the young woman’s eyes, whose interest grew in intensity the longer they were stuck in that deadlock.

“Leandro, huh?” She purred, rolling his name around her tongue, which just so happened to stick out and sweep provocatively across her lips. “I like the way it sounds. Lee-an-dro. Hmm. Foreigner?”

He nodded, amused yet slightly wary. “On my father’s side.” There was a weird vibe coming off of her. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. “I’m pretty sure that there are some German and Italian roots to my ancestry as well. I’m an interracial salad.”

She chuckled behind a hand, her velvety eyelashes batting coyly as she stared at him.

“A beautiful blend of ethnicities, and it shows.”

Leandro rolled his eyes, and her grin broadened as a response. Seok Oh alternated his gaze between the two of them.

It was only then that she extended a hand. A faint rush of perfume invaded his senses. “I’m Heo Yuhee.” She said, still smiling. There was nothing vulgar in her grin. In fact, it radiated class—but, at the same time, there was this… lurking undertone behind those captivating eyes of hers.

Leandro accepted the handshake. "Pleased to meet you."

And when he tried to pull away, she tightened her grip. "The pleasure is all mine, Lee-an-dro."

Seok Oh seemed displeased, eyes downcast and full of worry. "He's my… classmate, Noona. Please stop it." He said, firmly. It seemed the kid knew his sister wasn’t all rainbows and sparkles.

Yuhee didn’t even turn to glance at him. She seemed stuck on Leandro.

Leandro applied a little force and successfully freed his appendage from her grasp.

The smile on her face stayed. Her nails lightly grazed past the palm of his hand before parting, a barely noticeable graze, but there nonetheless.

She winked at Leandro, chuckling at his apathetic response, clearly enjoying the quiet power play in some twisted manner.

The bell must have tolled again without him realizing.

Students were filing out of the building, walking briskly past them, but not before stealing a long, hard look at Yuhee. And how could he blame them?

"Don't mind him... Seok Oh's too serious most of the time." Finally, she tore her eyes away from him. “But I hope you two can become great friends.”

Leandro noticed that Yuhee lingered on those words, only returning to face him after a bit of staring. And all he offered her was a faint but polite smile.

He didn’t try to run his eyes up and down her figure.

“Come on, little brother. Let’s go back.”

Seok Oh scratched the back of his head as he stared at Leandro. “Uhh… I guess I’ll be seeing you around, then?”

Despite the sarcastic remark that hung on the tip of his tongue, Leandro decided not to be too petty to a kid. ‘I’m supposed to be the adult here.’

“I guess so. Take care.”

With an awkward nod from Seok Oh, and a grin from Yuhee, they stalked off.

Just in time too.

Leandro turned around, immediately picking Nari’s head among the throng of students.