Chapter 36 to 39
A year passed quietly, marking the beginning of events that would change everything.
In the heart of Siberia, during the winter solstice, the land was barren and blanketed in white. The wind and snow swept across the endless ice, burying all traces beneath a layer of pure, biting cold.
Snow whipped through the air as fierce winds howled over the vast frozen expanse. On top of a towering iceberg, several figures stood braced against the storm, their thick scarves flapping wildly in the gusts.
One of the taller figures, a woman with a delicate and beautiful face partially hidden beneath a gray velvet hat, stared intently at the ice ahead.
"What are we waiting for?" she asked.
Beside her stood a man wrapped in a heavy down jacket, his blue hair standing out in stark contrast to the snowy landscape. Strong and broad-shouldered, he held onto his hat, shielding it from the wind. Confused, he shouted over the howling storm, "What's going on?"
"We're waiting for him," the woman said, glancing at the man and his companion before pointing ahead with a smirk.
The blue-haired man exchanged a puzzled look with his companion, following her gesture. All they saw was the vast expanse of ice. Just as the man was about to say something—
The ground trembled violently, shaking the ice for kilometers around. Wind, snow, and gravel swirled as the ice cracked. Suddenly, there was a deafening explosion.
BOOM!
The ice in the direction the woman had pointed shattered, and from the depths of an icy cavern, a blinding golden torrent shot into the sky. The dazzling light surged like molten gold, painting the heavens in brilliant streaks. The sky turned into a glowing river of yellow as the golden light overwhelmed everything.
The wind and snow halted, and an oppressive, terrifying aura radiated from the explosion, engulfing the entire landscape. The once white world was now bathed in hues of gold and red. The overwhelming force crushed the man and his companion, their faces drained of color. It felt as if a godlike presence sat high above them, its oppressive power weighing down on their souls.
The sheer terror filled their hearts, and under the crushing pressure, their minds began to fade. Consciousness blurred, teetering on the edge of collapse.
They endured the mental strain and looked up. The golden sky seemed torn apart by the terrifying power that had just been unleashed.
"What… is this?" the blue-haired man, looking like a beast in human form, muttered in disbelief. Every instinct screamed at him to flee, warning him that this place was like the very abyss of death. The woman beside him, who had been trying to keep her composure, couldn't help but smile despite her own apprehension.
"Isn't the person you're waiting for right there?" she said.
BOOM!
A torrent of gold erupted from the ice cave, spewing thousands of golden particles like meteors racing toward them. The man in red quartz glasses instinctively prepared to attack, but something deep inside told him to hold back.
In the blink of an eye, the golden particles gathered in midair, forming a human figure in front of them. Standing tall at 1.85 meters, the man had a flawless, athletic physique. His sharp, hawk-like eyes glowed with a streak of red lightning, and his handsome, mature face seemed out of place for his age. He wore only a white vest that hugged his muscular frame.
The woman tossed him a red coat, which he caught effortlessly and draped over himself with elegance. Slowly, the figure descended from the sky to stand before them.
"It's great to meet you, Hank, Scott," the man said, his voice slightly magnetic. "And I'm even more excited for the surprise."
As his words echoed, the blinding golden light in the sky faded, and the heavy snow resumed its fall.
The man was Leon, and the woman was Wanda.
Cyclops, Scott Summers, and Hank McCoy still looked stunned. Scott, usually seen as the best leader by Professor Xavier, was speechless.
"I finally understand how you managed to penetrate Stryker's base so easily," Scott said.
Hank nodded in agreement. A year ago, Leon had downloaded human experiment data from Stryker's base, which had significantly improved the situation for mutants. In response, Hank had worked hard to build a plane that met Leon's requirements. However, they hadn't expected to witness such a powerful display when they delivered it.
Both of them had even begun to question whether Leon might be a mutant himself. His abilities were so far beyond what they had imagined, making his actions seem almost impossible for a human. His courage and poise were unlike anything they had ever seen, not even in someone as formidable as Magneto. While Magneto's power was undeniable, he never wielded it with such control or calm.
The good news was that Leon's terrifying strength seemed free of malice. He didn't hide his power, which made them feel, at least for now, that they weren't facing an enemy.
Leon exhaled slowly, the earlier dominant aura replaced by a calm gentleness. His tone was almost lighthearted as he said, "I'm looking forward to the work of this century's greatest inventor."
…
On the endless, windswept snowy road, Leon and his group appeared as small as ants in the vast, white world. As they marched forward, Leon led the way, with a sleek black fighter jet parked a thousand meters ahead on the icy plain.
The jet, though not overly large, had a streamlined metal shell that exuded futuristic technology. The hatch lowered, and they all boarded the aircraft.
Hank, regaining his confidence, began introducing the jet to Leon and Wanda.
"This fighter is powered by a turbine engine and designed for maximum acceleration in a short time," Hank explained. "It's equipped with anti-gravity vertical takeoff and landing technology, optical stealth, and radar-shielding features. This allows it to evade tracking from military satellites and radar worldwide."
He continued, "Its speed can reach up to Mach 3, and it can fly at altitudes that break through the atmosphere. For that reason, the cabin has an oxygen system and space suits. The interior can comfortably accommodate twenty to thirty people."
Even Wanda, who wasn't particularly interested in technology, widened her eyes in amazement at Hank's detailed introduction.
Hank's introduction of the fighter plane made it clear that it surpassed any other known aircraft in terms of capability and design. The only downside? The immense cost of operating it.
Luckily, with Leon's resources—three billion dollars and some of Dreykov's gray industry assets—he could easily cover the maintenance expenses of this remarkable machine.
Leon was thoroughly satisfied with the fighter. It would save him a lot of trouble. As for concerns about breaking any country's laws? That wasn't even on his radar. Laws, after all, tend to restrict those who can't break the system. But for those with real power, the law is a suggestion, not a limit.
While Leon might not have political authority, his strength gave him all the power he needed. After a year of relentless training, mastering the abilities of the Glint-Glint Fruit and honing his Haki skills, he was more powerful than ever. With this kind of combat strength, he had the confidence to challenge the world's top powers—including the United States.
The fighter plane came equipped with an auxiliary pilot function, making it easy to fly. Under Hank's guidance, Leon and Wanda quickly mastered the controls and took off, heading towards the Ural Mountains. Through the window, the vast snowy landscape stretched out below, an endless expanse of frost and desolation.
Upon landing in the Ural Mountains, Hank and the others disembarked. Leon had thoughtfully arranged a cheap second-hand pickup truck and a map for Hank, and the two drove toward the nearest city, leaving the cold, empty road behind.
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As for how Hank and his companion would return to New York, that wasn't Leon's concern.
Flying the plane back to their wooden villa, they slowly descended to the open ground nearby. The landing immediately caught the attention of Sergei, Natasha, and the others, who had already noticed the plane's arrival.
Over the past year, the children had matured considerably. Regular training had filled them with energy, and even in the cold wind and snow, they emerged wearing only thin clothes, full of life. They eagerly approached the fighter, admiration in their eyes. The boys crowded around as the hatch opened, pouring in with excitement. They inspected every corner of the plane, though they were sensible enough not to touch the strange buttons.
"Cool, what a sleek plane," one of them marveled.
"The space is huge! I hope everyone from the family has their very own private jet in the future," another joked.
"With this plane, does it mean we won't need passports or have to rent smuggled cars from the black market?" someone asked.
"I bet flying this would be incredible," another added.
The chatter filled the air, especially from the mischievous Pietro, who was zipping around at high speed, even inspecting the plane's engine nozzle.
Meanwhile, Natasha remained the calmest of the group, making her way directly to the cockpit.
Leon handed the airplane manual that Hank had prepared to Natasha. After flipping through it for a while, she was impressed by the aircraft's advanced and comprehensive features. "Hank is really talented," she said. "It took him just a year to build something like this."
"He's an incredible scientist," Leon agreed. "If he weren't a mutant, he'd probably be world-famous under a different name."
"That's the harsh reality of this world," Natasha replied, as Leon and Wanda turned to watch the others exploring the plane's cabin.
Leon turned to Natasha. "I'll leave it to you, Natasha. Make sure they all learn how to fly this thing."
As Leon walked away, Natasha raised an eyebrow at Wanda. "He seems in unusually high spirits."
"I noticed it too, back on the ice," Wanda replied.
"Is it just because of the plane?" Natasha asked.
"You know him better than that. A fighter jet isn't enough to make him this excited. Even when he escaped the test facility, I never saw him this way," Wanda shrugged.
Natasha nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe there's something we don't understand about him."
"Yeah, there's something deeper inside him that we're not seeing," Wanda agreed.
Natasha and Wanda, ever observant, noticed the subtle shift in Leon's demeanor, though he didn't seem aware of it. His focus was entirely on his sign-in system. After accumulating more than 700 days of check-ins, he was eager to see what kind of reward awaited him.
Instead of heading straight back to the wooden villa, Leon made his way deep into the Ural Mountains, to the secluded training ground he often used. Standing on an open expanse of ice, with heavy snow falling around him, he concentrated on the virtual screen only he could see.
"Sign-in has been accumulated for 748 days. Would you like to start signing in?"
With a soft "Ding," the system responded, "Sign-in successful. You've received the reward: Sky Blade No. 7, currently located in the Merlot Star."
Leon's eyes widened in shock.
Sky Blade No. 7?
A space battleship wasn't what he had expected after two years of sign-ins. His emotions were mixed—part surprise, part excitement, and perhaps a touch of disappointment. Yet, having one of the Sky Blade series battleships—a powerful technological marvel—was undeniably an asset. It was an invaluable tool in his hands, something that could potentially change the course of the future.
As the pinnacle of angelic civilization, developed over countless billions of years, the Sky Blade series battleships represent the height of technology. Few vessels in the universe could compare to their power and sophistication.
But for Leon, Sky Blade No. 7 wasn't enough. He craved more. Why can't I get the entire Merlot Star itself—the heart of the angel civilization—from the sign-in? The complete Merlot Star, after all, was the true center of angelic power.
Ding!
A cold, ethereal voice echoed in Leon's mind:
"Positioning complete. Leon, person with the highest authority."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "Open the wormhole and send me to Sky Blade No. 7."
"The wormhole is open."
WHOOSH!
As soon as the voice finished, ripples surrounded Leon, and in an instant, he vanished.
The next moment, a bright light filled his vision, and he found himself standing in a stunning, majestic hall. It was a place of such beauty and artistry that it seemed impossible for humans to have crafted it. The smooth floor gleamed, and a long red carpet stretched from the entrance to a grand staircase leading to a throne.
Four intricately carved stone pillars supported the hall, and the entire space was bathed in radiant light.
Whoosh!
As Leon admired the hall, a beautiful, ethereal figure appeared before him. She was breathtakingly gorgeous, her beauty beyond words. Her long golden hair cascaded down her slender neck, and she wore gleaming silver armor that barely contained her large chest. Sacred white wings spread from her back, and she donned a red skirt with silver combat boots on her legs. She glowed with a holy light.
Upon seeing Leon, the angel immediately placed her right fist over her chest in a salute, her red lips parting to deliver a melodic, ethereal greeting.
"Welcome, Captain Leon."
Leon stared at her, slightly hesitant. "And you are…?"
"My name is Keisha, a fragment of memory data from the original captain of Sky Blade No. 7, here to assist the new captain," Keisha explained. Although she called herself memory data, her eyes and subtle expressions made her seem almost alive, more like a real person than just a simulation.
Leon recalled that Keisha had been a high-ranking angel, with over fifteen thousand years of history. He knew better than to underestimate her.
He went straight to the point, asking the question that mattered most to him. "Are there any other angelic genes or memory data in the Sky Blade's database?"
"None," Keisha replied.
Leon was a bit disappointed, but he quickly moved on. "I need a detailed explanation of all the functions of Sky Blade No. 7."
Without hesitation, Keisha responded softly, "The memories are ready to be linked. Do you accept them?"
"Accept!" Leon said immediately.
Weng!
A flood of memories surged into Leon's mind. Thankfully, his strong mental will shielded him from any pain or discomfort. Instead, he quickly absorbed the information.
Sky Blade No. 7 was a cutting-edge weapon of the Angel Civilization, a marvel of their advanced technology.
Sky Blade No. 7 is equipped with incredibly powerful strike capabilities. Its lower blade alone can easily split a planet in two. In Earth terms, it's like a celestial computer with immense computational power. This allows it to locate and track targets across multiple galaxies effortlessly.
On both sides of the ship are dense sky windows, which act as crossing points between distant worlds. The ship's built-in engine can unleash devastating forces, such as triggering solar winds, capable of wiping out even the strongest opponents. However, this requires an enormous amount of energy, which the Sky Blade can only absorb through dark energy from the universe. As a result, this massive destructive power has a cooldown period between uses.
One limitation Leon faces is that, while he has full command over Sky Blade No. 7, he lacks the angelic gene to fully connect with the ship's engine. Angels, like Angel Yan, can use this connection to enhance their combat abilities, but Leon cannot tap into that potential directly.
Fortunately, the ship can still provide long-distance support. Through a specialized algorithm connection, Leon can control advanced Earth technology, using the power of his Glint-Glint Fruit as a driving force. For example, he can perform a technique called "Flare Bombing," which harnesses Yang Technology's firepower to devastating effect.
In essence, Leon, with his admiral-level combat abilities, can leverage the support of Sky Blade No. 7 to launch attacks that could obliterate Earth's surface. With external help from the ship, he even has the power to destroy planets.
It's a pity that Sky Blade No. 7 doesn't contain the memory or genetic data of other angels. Otherwise, Leon could have potentially resurrected those powerful and beautiful beings. But fortunately, Leon isn't that greedy.
For now, Sky Blade No. 7 is more than enough to satisfy him. Still, he can't help but think that maybe, one day, he'll sign in and get Merlot Star itself. Who knows? Perhaps a beautiful angel army will be his in the future. Hehehe.
Of course, this was just Leon's wishful thinking. After all, what man could resist the idea of commanding an army of powerful and beautiful angelic warriors? It would be like heaven.
Leon, being human, wasn't above such fantasies. But now that he fully understood the immense power of Sky Blade No. 7, his original plans had to evolve.
Thanks to the sign-in system, he had spent years evading enemies with Wanda and the group of children he had rescued, working tirelessly to build a home in the Ural Mountains. He started from nothing, using the breathing technique to nurture and train them.
Now he had a house, a car, a private jet—and even a battleship.
With such power at his disposal, Leon realized his need for secrecy could be lessened, though his ultimate goal remained unchanged. He was still on the path to becoming a god. In fact, he now had the resources to compete with the gods themselves.
….
Though in his opinion, it wasn't much, but it was something.
Leon strolled out of the grand hall in a good mood, with Keisha following him like a loyal guardian angel. Though the Sky Blade was a battleship, it was much more than a mere weapon. It was also a sanctuary for angels, who infused beauty into every aspect of life.
The ship itself resembled a cross, with immense skylight wings stretching from its sides. Between them lay a vast, magnificent city. Its architecture was breathtakingly imaginative, like something out of a dream. Castle-like structures seamlessly blended with roads, parks, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and fields of flowers, creating a unique and self-sustaining ecosystem. There were birds, butterflies, and other creatures—so lifelike, even in the harshest corners of space, this environment could flourish on its own.
The city had its own day and night cycles, and living here felt like being immersed in the beauty of nature itself.
Standing at the top of the steps outside the main hall, gazing at the mesmerizing city before him, Leon felt a sense of awe. Angels were indeed artists, embedding beauty into everything they touched. This wasn't just a human concept of beauty; it was a universal one, something any race or civilization could appreciate.
He couldn't help but be intoxicated by the sight.
"It's hard to imagine just how spectacular and beautiful Sky Blade truly is," Leon murmured, taking in the sight.
Keisha stood silently beside him, her eyes shimmering.
"Keisha, use Sky Blade to gather information on this universe, but keep it hidden. We can't risk exposure," Leon instructed.
"Yes, Captain!" Keisha responded promptly.
Leon's gaze deepened. The Sky Blade battleships were at the pinnacle of science and technology in this universe. If the top civilizations discovered them, they would undoubtedly attempt to steal or destroy them. Each of those civilizations had strength beyond imagination. Leon wasn't arrogant enough to think one Sky Blade could stand against the entire universe.
After giving his instructions, Leon focused his mind. Activating the wormhole technology, he returned to his original spot deep in the Ural Mountains.
He glanced around, now equipped with one of the angels' basic abilities: the Eye of Insight, courtesy of the celestial computer. This ability allowed him to perceive information on the dark plane, revealing details at the genetic level about his surroundings. Only people or Gods of immense power could interfere with the Eye of Insight.
The entire landscape of the Ural Mountains became clear in his mind. Looking up, he spotted a plane flying 30,000 feet above. Instantly, he could access all the information—from the captain to the flight attendants, and even the passengers.
If he wanted to, Leon could easily lock onto the aircraft and control it through Sky Blade No. 7, crashing it on the spot. In that moment, he fully grasped just how primitive the technology of lower civilizations was compared to the angelic civilization. A single thought could send humanity's technological advancements back to the Stone Age. It was like comparing an ant to an elephant.
He gave a brief moment of silence for human civilization, then quickly adjusted his mindset—after all, he was the elephant now.
In high spirits, Leon transformed into golden particles and reappeared at the wooden villa. Inside, it was lively. Alina sat with Clarice, who had finally emerged from her dark mood, and a few others on the sofa watching anime on a tablet. The kids huddled together, their cheeks pressing against each other, occasionally making sounds of excitement. Others were watching TV, playing billiards, showing off their skills, or sparring in a corner.
The villa itself had been expanded significantly, now covering over a thousand square meters—more than enough space for the large family. Two playful little sables darted around the room, running straight into Leon's legs as he entered. The small creatures nearly bumped their heads, but upon seeing him, they squeaked and quickly scurried up his pants, settling on his shoulders and rubbing their soft, furry heads against his cheeks. They were irresistibly cute.
Leon casually petted them for a moment, greeting everyone as he made his way to the fridge. Grabbing a cold drink, he sat down on the sofa, feeling content.
Next to Leon, Wanda and Natasha were flipping through a manual Hank had brought.
"Where did you go?" Natasha asked casually, glancing at him.
Leon took a sip of his drink, his eyes on the TV. "Just went for a walk," he replied nonchalantly.
Suddenly, something on the news caught his attention. He raised an eyebrow at what the female host was saying.
"Dreykov is dead?"
Natasha and Wanda immediately turned their heads to the TV. The news anchor was reporting on a car explosion in Brazil. Dreykov, a wealthy man, had just closed a deal with another industrial magnate when the explosion killed him and his bodyguard yesterday afternoon.
"Finally, he's dead," Sergei, who was sitting on the nearby sofa, muttered while scrolling through his phone, not particularly invested in the news.
Natasha's expression grew complicated. The man responsible for her traumatic childhood was gone. Was she happy? Relieved? Perhaps a little of both. And even that was because she caused his end.
Wanda, always observant, sensed Natasha's inner conflict. She leaned over and said softly, "If you need to go see for yourself, we're your family. We'll be with you."
"Maybe, I'll do that," Natasha responded, exhaling a quiet sigh.