Chapter 10 to Chapter 15
The apartment door opened, and Sergei, along with Wanda in her sweatshirt, stepped out into the rain, umbrellas in hand. They got into the car parked on the street. The engine hummed to life, and the car began to slowly move away into the night.
As the car neared the end of the road, several other vehicles quietly followed. Inside one of the SUVs, a man in a combat uniform sitting in the passenger seat pulled a pistol from under his arm, checking it carefully. In the back, three others were inspecting their own gear.
"Captain, besides us, there are others tailing the experimental subjects."
"Let them move first. We'll clean up after. No one leaves alive," the captain replied calmly.
"Understood."
Their conversation was brief, and the mood remained eerily calm. As time passed, the lead car headed towards the suburbs, causing the captain in the passenger seat to frown. An inexplicable unease gnawed at him.
He couldn't pinpoint the source of his discomfort, but it left him feeling guilty and unsettled. Was something off with the operation?
No, it couldn't be—they were just a few ordinary experimental subjects with no awakened abilities.
While he was lost in thought, the driver suddenly slowed down and said, "Captain, the experimental subjects have parked at the abandoned factory."
"They stopped there? Is that their temporary base camp?"
The captain, gripping his gun, pulled out a high-precision infrared telescope and peered through the car window. He saw the vehicle parked in front of an abandoned factory. A man and a woman, the experimental subjects, exited the car and walked inside. The area was desolate; if anything went down here, it wouldn't attract any unwanted attention from the authorities.
Yet, the unease in his heart only grew stronger.
Suddenly, a thought struck him like lightning, and his face turned pale with horror.
"Not good!"
Before he could warn the others, a deafening roar shattered the tense silence, drawing everyone's attention forward. They all turned their gaze to the scene ahead, where the nearest vehicle had been crushed as if by a massive hammer, leaving it a total wreck. Blood flowed from the mangled car, mixing with the rain-soaked ground, painting it red.
But what really captured everyone's attention was the figure responsible for the carnage—a towering man, standing like a god of war, on the roof of the destroyed car, dressed in a black trench coat.
It was Sergei.
Sergei stood on the roof of the car, gripping a specially crafted cross sword. He glanced at the trailing vehicles in the distance and inhaled deeply, his chest expanding as a rush of air filled his lungs.
"Fuuuu!"
With that breath, his physical abilities surged to their peak. The moment to strike had arrived.
In combat, Sergei showed no mercy—Leon had drilled this into them during two years of intense training. The burden of taking a life did not weigh on him. After enduring so much darkness, he understood the harsh realities of their world.
Boom!
Sergei stomped down with his right foot, causing a blast of air as he propelled himself forward with speed that defied his massive frame. He became a blur, leaping twenty or thirty meters into the air and covering hundreds of meters in an instant. Like a meteorite, he descended upon one of the cars, creating such immense wind pressure that the people inside could barely move.
They had just started to reach for their guns when Sergei struck. The car roof crumpled under his force, and they were crushed along with it.
Bang!
The car caved in, sending shards of glass flying in all directions. The sheer brutality of the scene sent waves of terror through the dozen or so men who had been following. Realization dawned on them—they were facing a monster.
"Damn it, he's a monster!"
"Run!"
Panic set in as they started their engines and tried to flee, but their speed was no match for Sergei.
He pursued them like a juggernaut on his powerful legs. Seeing him closing in at terrifying speed, the men were gripped with fear. Desperately, they pulled out their weapons and fired at Sergei.
Sergei's eyes blazed with determination as he raced forward, his speed unrelenting. He swung the cross sword with precision, deflecting the hail of bullets with ease, sparks flying off with each deflection.
As he closed in on the cars, now less than a hundred meters away, he took a deep breath. Heat radiated from his body, and flames began to ignite around him.
"Flame Breathing: Fifth Form—Flame Tiger!"
Boom!
Scorching flames erupted, evaporating the rain as they burst into life. The fire formed a giant, roaring tiger that enveloped Sergei, propelling him forward with even greater speed. In a flash, he bridged the hundred-meter gap, leaving a fiery trail behind him.
BOOM!
The flaming tiger smashed through the convoy with unstoppable force. In the horrified eyes of the men inside, several cars were obliterated in an instant, exploding into fiery wreckage.
As the flames dissipated, Sergei stood amidst the wreckage, the fire still flickering around him. He turned his gaze to the last remaining car, not bothering to look back at the inferno behind him.
Inside the car, the remaining Hydra soldiers were paralyzed with shock. The captain, realizing the danger, shouted, "Get out!" He fumbled for his communicator, trying to report the disaster unfolding.
But before they could move, the ground beneath the car cracked open, and a surge of red energy erupted, forming a massive hand. The giant red hand grabbed the car, lifting it two meters off the ground. Panic swept through the Hydra agents as they realized they were trapped.
The captain frantically dialed the communicator, but before he could speak, something caught his eye. Through the car window, he saw the girl in the gray sweatshirt standing more than ten meters away. Her eyes glowed red, and her right hand was clenched into a fist.
'What is she doing?'
That was his last thought.
As Wanda clenched her fist, the giant red energy hand gripping the SUV mimicked her motion, tightening its hold. In an instant, the SUV was crushed into a compact ball of metal.
Creak! Creak! Boom!
The sound of metal being compressed mixed with a deafening explosion, and in that moment, the Hydra agents inside were utterly obliterated.
The mangled, burning wreckage of the car hit the ground with a heavy thud. Without a glance back, Wanda released her powers, turned, and walked away.
…
Ten minutes later, on a highway under the dark night sky, an SUV was cruising along. In the driver's seat, Pietro, dressed in a T-shirt that highlighted his strong muscles, rested one hand on the steering wheel while the other supported his cheek against the window. He was humming an unknown tune, the light rain outside adding to his sense of comfort.
Suddenly, two bursts of sound came from behind. Pietro frowned and glanced in the rearview mirror, spotting two figures wrapped in a kind of wave, running through the rain at superhuman speed.
Before he could react, the two figures had already caught up with the SUV.
Bang!
The car doors opened and closed swiftly, and Wanda and Sergei were now seated inside. Pietro wasn't surprised by this scene that defied normal logic. He turned to his sister, who was taking off her hood in the passenger seat. "Done? That was fast."
"How hard to deal do you expect a group of ordinary people to be?" Wanda replied, leaning back in her chair and casually resting her slender legs on the plastic dashboard in front of her.
After two years of intense training in Water Breathing, Wanda had also awakened her own power—chaos magic. Combined, these abilities made her combat power formidable. Not to mention, Sergei alone could have taken care of all those people.
With Leon's guidance, Sergei had perfected Flame Breathing, and after two years of relentless training, he had reached a level where he could maintain 'Total Concentration' at all times.
Under normal conditions, Sergei's speed is close to two hundred meters per second, and it's still increasing rapidly. With such speed and strength, he could easily have taken down a Hydra base on his own two years ago. However, since these bases are typically equipped with self-destruction systems, only Pietro and Wanda could escape safely before an explosion, so Leon didn't involve them in the Hydra base raids.
"Hurry up, Pietro. This car is slower than a snail," Sergei grumbled from the back seat, casually setting his cross sword aside. He might have been getting hungry—eager to get back and eat.
"If you're in such a hurry, why don't you just run there?" Pietro shot back, rolling his eyes, though he did press harder on the accelerator. The SUV surged forward, speeding down the dark road. Less than an hour later, they arrived at a small forest near the Ural Mountains and pulled over.
After exiting the car, Sergei, Pietro, and Wanda each grabbed two large metal boxes. They immediately increased their speed to the extreme, moving towards the Ural Mountains so fast that they were barely visible to the naked eye.
Ten minutes later, they reached their home. The wooden house had undergone significant changes over the past two years. It had been renovated and expanded, now covering more than 400 square meters with two floors. The second floor housed the bedrooms, while the ground floor featured the living room, bathroom, and kitchen. A warehouse had also been built behind the house.
Before the three of them entered the wooden house, they could hear the familiar sounds of conversation and laughter inside. Climbing the steps, they walked through the open door and into the house.
The first thing they noticed was a long rug stretching from the entrance to the living room, adding a rustic touch to the space. Electric bulbs lined the walls, and a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. The living room's decor was simple yet had a retro and heavy feel, giving the spacious room a grand atmosphere. The stone fireplace, extending up to the roof, was the room's focal point and the most striking feature. Nearby, a large round dining table sat at the edge of the living room, ample enough for everyone to dine together. The kitchen was equipped with modern appliances, blending old and new.
A large LCD TV and several big sofas made the living room cozy and inviting. More than a dozen people were lounging on the sofas, watching TV with great interest, occasionally discussing and laughing about what was on screen. As soon as Wanda, Sergei, and Pietro returned home, they immediately drew the attention of the others.
Two ten-year-old girls, who had been curled up on the sofa, turned around and peered over the back of it with wide eyes. They cheered and greeted Wanda and the others excitedly.
"Sister Wanda, Sergei, Pietro, you're back!"
"Hey, Alina, Polina, come here. I brought you some snacks." Wanda smiled gently at the two little girls as she set down the metal boxes she had been carrying. After taking off her shoes and slipping on cotton slippers, she pulled two bags of chocolate snacks from her pocket and shook them playfully.
The girls' eyes lit up with excitement, but just as they were about to leap forward with joy, Leon's voice called out, stopping them in their tracks.
"Alina, Polina, you just had ice cream earlier, so no chocolate today. Have you forgotten the toothache you had last year, with all the tears and runny noses?"
Hearing Leon's words, the two little girls looked disappointed and turned their heads to him. Wanda's eyes lit up as she joined them in looking toward the kitchen. There, Leon appeared, wearing a black-and-white checkered shirt, carrying an iron pot, which he placed on the large round table without minding the heat.
The table was already covered with a variety of dishes. As Leon set the pot down, he noticed the lingering tension around Wanda and Sergei, the aura of recent battle still clinging to them. His brows furrowed slightly, but he chose not to comment. Instead, he said, "I heard the noise. I figured you'd be here soon."
Clapping his hands to get everyone's attention, Leon invited the family to start dinner. The group in the living room cheered, getting up from the sofas. They joked and laughed as they headed to the bathroom to wash their hands. Afterward, they crowded around the kitchen, grabbing utensils and taking their seats at the table.
Wanda, Sergei, and Pietro joined in, helping to uncover the dishes and reveal a spread of fragrant delicacies.
"Wow!!" Everyone's faces lit up with eager anticipation.
Leon chuckled and began serving himself, prompting the others to dive into the meal. Two years had passed, and the once little kids had grown significantly.
Even the two ten-year-old girls had appetites two or three times larger than that of an average adult. The meal prepared for them was a feast of hearty dishes like roasted suckling pig, whole lamb, steak, and stewed chicken. Without following the strategy of robbing the rich and giving to the poor for the last two years, it would have been nearly impossible to support such a large family.
…
During the meal, everyone chatted occasionally. They had no strict rules about eating, talking, or sleeping. After finishing, a few people took turns clearing the table and washing the dishes, while others moved to the living room sofa with their desserts, waiting for the rest to join.
Once everyone was there, Leon took out the remote control, paused the TV, and began discussing business. He first looked at Wanda, who nodded in response.
"In the past two months, we've gone to the city to replenish supplies. There were intense gang fights, and several gangs we'd robbed before have been eliminated. While this initially had nothing to do with us, they somehow noticed us, and then Hydra found us. I suspect Hydra is connected to these gangs and has been keeping an eye on us."
The reason is straightforward. Despite their efforts to stay hidden, their increasing need for supplies has attracted unwanted attention—something unavoidable. Fortunately, most of these groups are minor threats. Over two years, their strength has grown, so they can largely be ignored.
However, Hydra is different. Although Baron Strucker's faction is weaker than others in Hydra, their foundations are strong, and they have ties to various countries, oligarchs, and governments in Eastern Europe. They don't have to operate in the shadows, but once they're exposed, trouble follows.
Leon took a sip of coffee and placed the cup back on the table. "Don't worry about them for now. Our location is well-hidden, and they won't find us easily. What matters now is that you need more growth."
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
As he spoke, he looked at everyone, his gaze moving from Wanda to Sergei and the others. "You've each developed your own breathing technique, and most of you have reached the state of 'Total Concentration,' but that's not enough. You still need more time to grow. Armament Haki and Observation Haki are crucial for your journey to becoming stronger, so you can't afford to slack off."
Two years of practice and training with him had transformed this group of ordinary kids into something more. The breathing techniques they learned have great potential, but they have limits. The two haki are different. Over the past two years, Leon had gained the power of the three forms of Haki. In addition to Conqueror's Haki, he also taught Wanda and the others Armament and Observation Haki, which significantly accelerated their growth.
The breathing techniques improve physical fitness, while the haki, when fully developed, can unleash enough power to destroy a town with a single punch—like a walking nuclear bomb. But this kind of power can only be built through hard training and time.
It wasn't their time yet. Even after two years of intense training, Leon himself hadn't reached the level of an Admiral. His cautious nature made him decide to stay hidden for another two years, refusing to come out until he reached that level. During this time, he accumulated rewards from two years of sign-ins, expecting the rewards to be generous—how generous remained to be seen.
No one objected to Leon's plan. Over the past two years, Leon's status among them had grown immensely. His words were law, and no one dared to question him. Besides, these children, who had lost their families and grown up in darkness, loved the life they had now. They trained, grew, played, laughed, and hunted together, living the life they had always dreamed of. What more could they ask for?
Leon rubbed the heads of the two ten-year-old girls sitting next to him, who grinned up at him. After a moment of thought, he turned to Wanda. "You're in a golden period of growth, but you need more nutrients than just food can provide. When I raided the Hydra base, I found a formula for a nutrient solution. Soon, we'll need to get the materials for it."
Wanda's eyes lit up with joy, and she nodded. "I understand."
"Good. You don't need to go to Yekaterinburg for now. Go to a nearby city instead. Sergei will assist you."
"Got it!" Sergei said. Pietro and the others nodded in agreement.
"Alright, in the next few days, I'll show you some new tricks. Your strength is important, but you also need to develop your own skills, mysteries, and moves," Leon said, causing everyone's expressions to change—except for Wanda, whose eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Haha, I'm going to rest now. Today's training was exhausting," someone said, followed by another, "Me too. Good night, everyone."
As the group scattered, clearly uneasy, Leon couldn't help but laugh. Over the past two years, alongside intense training, he had often pushed them hard—maybe even too hard, enough to give them PTSD.
"Aren't you going to rest, Wanda?" Leon asked gently.
"I, uh..." Wanda hesitated.
"It seems you have something on your mind," Leon observed, noticing her expression. With a smile, he stood up and led Wanda towards the door.
Leon and Wanda sat side by side on the wooden railing of the porch, gazing into the distance. The sky was covered by light rain, falling gently under the moonlight. The orange glow from inside the wooden house pushed back the darkness, blending with the fading daylight. The drizzle fell steadily on the soil in front of them, where wooden stakes, scarred from repeated blows, stood as silent witnesses to their training.
Neither of them spoke, simply listening to the soft patter of rain and the distant chirping of insects and birds. After a while, Wanda broke the silence.
"I never thought Pietro and I would have a day like this," she said softly.
"Mhm," Leon murmured in acknowledgment.
"Sometimes I feel really lucky that we ended up at the same base as you, Leon." Wanda turned to look at Leon, his sharp features highlighted by the warm, yellow light. Her heart skipped a beat.
"I can see that Pietro has come out of his despair and is truly happy now," she added.
"And you?" Leon asked, turning to meet Wanda's gaze with a smile.
"Me? Me too," Wanda replied, suddenly flustered. She quickly turned away, her voice barely above a whisper.
"We no longer dwell on the past; the future is ours, and together we'll reach heights that will capture the world's attention," Leon said, almost out of habit.
These children are still sensitive, and as a parental figure, he feels responsible for guiding them out of the shadows of their past. He doesn't want any of them to carry lingering darkness in their hearts, which could lead to depression later on.
So far, his efforts have been successful. In two years, the children have regained their confidence and warmth. Wanda, being a bit more sensitive, requires a little extra attention from him.
Wanda, following Leon's lead, felt her lingering emotions dissolve with his words. She lifted her gaze to the sky, her big eyes bright as she looked through the distant woods at the incomplete moon, lost in thought.
While Leon's side was filled with laughter, Baron Strucker was far from pleased. Two years ago, a group of experimental subjects, including Leon, had broken through the base and escaped. Leon's successful awakening of his abilities had fueled Strucker's fanaticism, making him believe Leon was the key to Hydra's world domination.
But for over a year, Leon and the others vanished without a trace, as if they'd disappeared from the face of the Earth. Despite deploying most of Hydra's resources, they found no clues.
Just when Strucker was on the verge of despair, half a year ago, one of his bases was suddenly attacked by what felt like a divine force. In the time since their escape, the experimental subjects had undergone significant changes, with Leon's strength becoming extraordinary. He not only stole supplies and money from the base but also buried all the Hydra soldiers and scientists there.
Soon after, two more bases were easily destroyed. Realizing that Leon must have obtained the Hydra base distribution map from the original experimental base, Strucker panicked. He was forced to abandon his original bases, leave the castle, and search for new locations. This series of events strained him severely, despite his vast resources.
Baron Strucker found himself in an increasingly difficult situation. Analysis showed that Leon's abilities were not only powerful but also highly unique. Leon seemed capable of controlling light energy, allowing him to fly in an elemental form at astonishing speeds. In fact, surveillance footage from the destroyed bases had to be slowed down hundreds of times just to capture his figure.
When Leon was in his elemental form, conventional weapons were entirely ineffective against him. It was as if Strucker's arsenal had been rendered useless. A single laser beam from Leon had the destructive power of a TNT bomb, and a mere stomp could cause an entire base to collapse instantly. This level of power far exceeded Strucker's expectations, reversing the roles between hunter and prey.
The situation gave Strucker a terrible headache. What kind of monster had he created? In just two years, Leon had grown beyond control. The worst part was that Strucker's desperate efforts to reclaim the experimental data had proven futile. Over the past two years, he had invested vast amounts of money and time in attempting to replicate Leon's abilities, but all his experiments had failed.
His scientists concluded that the data from Subject No. 37 was entirely normal, making replication impossible. In other words, Leon's ability awakening was completely unique.
When Strucker first heard the news, his initial reaction was to pull out his gun and shoot the incompetent fools one by one. The frustration was overwhelming. Should he ask for help? Strucker found himself at a crossroads...
...
BOOM!
On the edge of a cliff near a waterfall in the Ural Mountains, a figure was flung across the river like a cannonball, crashing through a dozen trees before finally coming to a stop. The violent impact caused blood to surge through Sergei's body, and his internal organs felt as if they had been shaken.
Despite the brutal blow, Sergei didn't stay down. He immediately got back up, ignoring the shattered trees around him. He took a deep breath, focusing on the thunderous roars and explosions that echoed in his ears. A scorching heat surrounded him, and red flames flickered around him. The cross sword in his hand began to glow faintly red.
Bang!!
With a powerful step, the ground beneath him cracked, and Sergei spiraled through the air, engulfed in blazing flames. A second later, the force of his movement created a massive wind pressure that bent the surrounding trees and vegetation. In less than a second, he crossed over two hundred meters and arrived at the riverbank.
Sergei let out a low shout: Flame Breathing: Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!
With a thunderous roar, the flames transformed into a giant tiger, charging toward the golden figure floating above the river. Sergei swung his cross sword with all his might, the blade now completely engulfed in flames. The strike was powerful enough to split a heavy tank in two.
However—bang!—at the critical moment, a dark finger blocked the sword. The collision between the finger and the blade generated a terrifying shockwave, sending turbulent air currents sweeping in all directions. The force of the impact nearly made Sergei lose his grip on the sword.
His eyes widened in disbelief. He had known for some time that Boss Leon's strength was on a different level, but seeing Leon block his full-force blow with just one finger was hard to comprehend. How much training must one undergo to achieve such power?
Before Sergei could react, he saw Leon's black rags and coat billowing wildly in the air currents. Leon's sharp eyes locked onto Sergei as he whispered, "Facing a powerful enemy, distraction is a death sentence."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Leon suddenly raised his right leg. A surging golden light flowed over his foot, and in the next instant, he kicked Sergei fiercely in the chest. The speed was so incredible that there was no time to react.
Sergei felt a crushing sense of impending doom, his scalp tingling with fear. In a desperate move, he mustered all his strength, pushing his body to its limits. He managed to raise his sword just in time to block the kick.
Boom!!
Sergei was sent hurtling into the depths of the river like a meteorite, creating massive columns of water as he crashed down.
"Wow!" came excited exclamations from across the river.
A group of kids stood on the opposite bank, watching with glee as Sergei got a beating. Their excitement was understandable—they'd all been in his shoes before. After all, seeing someone else in pain often brings a strange sense of satisfaction.
Pietro, in particular, was enjoying the scene. Lately, he'd been acting a bit too cocky. His super-speed made him the fastest, second only to Leon, and his strength had grown as a result. That success had fed his pride.
Leon didn't want Pietro's overconfidence to lead to carelessness—like getting grazed by a bullet in the future. So, he struck hard, almost humbling the boy into submission.
Using his superior speed, Leon quickly overwhelmed Pietro, landing a swift kick to his backside. After a few more kicks, Pietro felt his rear go numb. Frustrated, he eventually gave up and lay flat on the ground, no longer bothering to resist. Meanwhile, his friends seized the moment to tease him. Pietro had always loved taunting them with his speed, so they had long been eager to see him taken down a peg. It was Leon who finally knocked his arrogance down.
The kids squatting on the riverbank gazed up at Leon, who hovered in the air like a radiant sun, their eyes filled with envy. Flying was the ability everyone craved most—seeing the world from the sky was entirely different from seeing it from the ground.
The younger ones especially loved to sweet-talk Leon into taking them on sky-high adventures, and when they returned, they couldn't stop bragging about it. The envy from the others was palpable.
"Wow, Sergei's really taking a beating. He still hasn't gotten up?" said Lomon, a 12-year-old boy standing at 1.65 meters, peering toward the middle of the river, where only a few bubbles were rising to the surface.
"Heh, Boss Leon's light-speed kick could knock down a mountain. Sergei's definitely hurting," Pietro gloated.
"I'm not so sure," Wanda, standing beside Pietro, shook her head slightly. Having spent so much time together, she could see how much Sergei had grown.
"Leon mentioned that Sergei's physical talent is second only to Gennady and Sumarokov. Plus, Leon didn't use the full force of his kick, so Sergei's probably still looking for a chance to counterattack."
"Tsk," the others grumbled. When it came to physical talent, the rest of the group—Pietro included—couldn't help but feel a bit sour. Only Gennady and Sumarokov shrugged, unfazed.
At nearly thirteen, Gennady and Sumarokov had fully tapped into their physical potential, thanks to intense training and nutrition. They already stood an impressive 1.8 meters tall, with broad shoulders and solid frames—on par with full-grown, strong Eastern European men. The rest of the group lagged far behind, with the tallest not even reaching 1.7 meters. The gap in physical talent was clear.
Physical talent involves more than height; it includes bone density, skeletal structure, and muscle strength. Gennady, Sumarokov, and Sergei excelled in these areas, which gave them a significant edge in combat. Over the past two years, their strength had far outpaced the rest of the group.
Without their special abilities, even Pietro and Wanda would have fallen behind the three of them. Sergei, in particular, had mastered Flame Breathing, greatly enhancing his strength. While he wasn't as physically powerful as Gennady and Sumarokov, nor as fast as Pietro, his balanced abilities, combined with the sheer destructive power of Flame Breathing, made him a formidable fighter.
Just as Wanda predicted, Sergei had been kicked to the bottom of the river by Leon's light-speed strike. Though he blocked it with his sword, the force left faint cracks in the blade, and it was slightly bent. Still, Sergei refused to give up. Instead, he used the opportunity to think through how to leverage his strengths and tactics for a counterattack.
Maybe...
Bubbles gurgled from his mouth as Sergei crouched at the riverbed, gripping his sword with both hands. The hilt rested on his right shoulder. Even without oxygen, he was determined to summon his power.
Boom!
A fierce wave of scorching heat erupted. The intense heat caused the surrounding water to boil instantly, sending a surge of white bubbles rushing to the surface. The powerful force began to spin the water, creating a massive whirlpool in seconds.
The sudden shift in the river immediately drew the attention of Wanda and the others, who were watching from the shore.
High above, Leon's red coat flapped wildly in the wind. A slight smirk played on his lips as he looked down at the scene. "Using the environment to obscure vision is clever, but..."
Boom!
It was as if thousands of tons of dynamite had exploded. The clear whirlpool turned a deep red, like a fiery cloud sinking into the river's depths.
In the next moment, a massive ball of red flames took the shape of a roaring bear, fangs bared as it charged toward the sky. The heat evaporated the surrounding water droplets, reducing visibility as steam filled the air. The fiery bear, fueled by explosive power, seemed determined to tear Leon apart.
Leon inhaled deeply, the air rushing into his lungs like a hurricane. He slightly raised his right hand, clenched his fist, and a dark, ominous glow spread over it. His eyes sharpened like an eagle's. As the flame bear lunged, Leon twisted his body and unleashed a powerful punch.
His fist collided with the bear's fiery claws, sending it flying back. Sparks erupted like red fireworks in the sky, beautiful but short-lived. Yet, there was no sign of Sergei.
Suddenly, from behind, Sergei's voice came, filled with excitement: "Flame Breathing: Flame Tornado!"
A massive tornado of fire appeared, roaring toward Leon as it spiraled with destructive energy, as if it would consume everything in its path. Within the fiery vortex, Sergei's silhouette flickered in and out of view.
But Leon reacted swiftly. He turned, his hand cutting through the flaming tornado with precision, and caught Sergei by the neck like a steel vice. In an instant, the swirling flames disappeared, and the red sky brightened as the heat dissipated.
Hovering in the air with Sergei in his grasp, Leon sighed. "Who taught you to shout out your moves during a fight? Is it just because it sounds cool?"
Leon had just finished pointing out everyone's weaknesses in combat and training. Noticing that it was almost noon, he decided to have a barbecue by the river. The group was excited by the idea and eagerly returned to the wooden house to gather the barbecue tools.
Since they were all big eaters, they had bought plenty of food. There was no worry about running out. The ingredients were plentiful, including a whole lamb, beef cattle, suckling pig, and whole chicken. Over the past two years, everyone had become skilled at grilling, especially the simple technique of barbecue.
With two bonfires set up, they placed the meats on the grills. As the meat roasted, it became crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Once sprinkled with the prepared barbecue sauce, the aroma filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.
Alongside the meats, there were frozen fruit drinks and vegetable salads, creating a rich and satisfying meal. Eating was casual; everyone either stood or sat on rocks, tearing into the lamb and beef, chatting and laughing. The youngest children played around, chasing each other and adding to the joyful atmosphere.
Leon, watching from the grill, smiled slightly. He enjoyed this comfortable, relaxed moment, appreciating the break from his usual state of anxiety and urgency. While he always felt a sense of crisis and was motivated by the need to protect himself from those who sought to harm him, he found solace in these peaceful, ordinary moments.
He had a particular disdain for Hydra but acknowledged that, in a way, their actions had been somewhat useful. Despite his desire to eliminate them, he was not ready to do so just yet.
At least Leon had a clear goal: to harvest the benefits from Hydra's efforts on this Eastern European continent. Hydra had accumulated a lot of advanced technology and resources, and Leon looked forward to reaping the rewards of their hard work.
After their barbecue feast, it was back to intense training. However, two days later, it was time to replenish their supplies, mainly to purchase materials for the nutrient solution.
The nutrient solution developed by Hydra was a marvel of black technology. It contained biologically synthesized proteins and compounds essential for the human body, requiring specially designed equipment. A single bottle of this concentrated nutrient solution could provide all the nutrients needed for a day. It was perfect for Leon and his team and crucial for their growth.
Leon took Sergei and Wanda with him to Perm, a city located near Yekaterinburg. The direct distance is only 291 kilometers, but it was still a bit of a drive. They found a pickup truck on the opposite side of the mountain road and set off for Perm.
The trip took just over three hours. Compared to Yekaterinburg, Perm is slightly smaller but remains one of Russia's largest industrial cities. Despite its industrial nature, Perm is known for its beautiful natural scenery. The city is surrounded by forests and the Kama River runs through it. There are two forest parks and an artificial butterfly garden within the city.
As they entered Perm, they were greeted by buildings in the classic Russian style.
The streets of Perm were bustling, with crowds growing denser as they approached the city center.
Leon, Sergei, and Wanda first found a hotel called Amax Premier and checked in. To get around the issue of identity verification, they had purchased fake identity documents from the black market in Yekaterinburg. The fakes were convincing enough to avoid any issues.
After settling into their hotel room, they grabbed a map of Perm from the lobby and began exploring the city like typical tourists. Despite its industrial reputation, Perm was lively, with busy streets and lots of traffic.
Wanda, though mature for her age, was still a young girl and enjoyed taking in the sights of the bustling city.
The trio wandered into a neighborhood where Leon noticed a restaurant. Checking his watch, he suggested, "That restaurant looks good. Let's give it a try."
Wanda and Sergei, who were feeling hungry, agreed and followed Leon inside. The restaurant had a simple, unadorned decor with a touch of Russian ruggedness. It was spacious and clean but not overcrowded.
They chose a table by the window and ordered a variety of dishes. As they chatted and waited for their food, a news segment on the TV caught their attention. A reporter was interviewing the Russian police, and the news seemed to be quite intriguing.
The news on TV grabbed the trio's attention: just last night, a theater two streets away had been the scene of explosions and gun battles, resulting in over 20 civilian casualties. This wasn't just a gang shootout; it was something more serious.
The police described it as a dramatic chase. The odd part was that no bodies were left behind. After the female reporter interviewed the police, she showed a video. In the blurry footage, it was hard to make out details, but it was clear that the person being chased was a woman. Despite being pursued by more than a dozen attackers, she managed to escape.
"I couldn't sleep because of this," one restaurant guest said. "There were a lot of police dispatched last night. My newborn kept getting scared out of sleep. Yesterday night was hell!"
"Oh, as for me, I saw the explosions and gunfire from the theater," another guest added. "God, I thought they were terrorists."
"But the person being hunted was a woman?" someone else said. "She must be really powerful. Could she be a spy?"
The other guests in the restaurant were buzzing with speculation.
Leon's gaze shifted slightly, and Sergei, who was seated with his back to the TV, turned around with a frown. "These people are really something," he remarked.
Wanda, clearly impressed, added, "That woman was amazing. To escape under such heavy fire is not something ordinary people can do."
Leon nodded. "It's interesting, but it isn't something we need to concern ourselves with. Let's finish our meal and get back to our plans."