[A day later]

As Leo and Geralt made their way towards the medical facility in the secret base, Leo asked Geralt, "So, what's the reason the higher-ups have chosen me to try wielding this teigu? I didn't ask you yesterday because I knew you wouldn't have told me the reason."

Leo was well aware of the inherent dangers involved in handling this specific teigu that Geralt was going to demonstrate to him.

"A long time ago, this Teigu was found and attracted the attention of numerous highly skilled individuals in the Revolutionary Army.

They were entranced by its powerful aura and mysterious nature, even if they didn't know what it does or its name."

Geralt gave a direct answer to Leo, as there was no longer a need to conceal this topic, as they were already at the testing site.

"I see a big 'but' coming, " Leo said fully knowing the main topic is just starting.

"But there is definitely a dangerous circumstance in wielding this Teigu," Geralt explained to Leo in a stern tone. "All the people who have previously tried to wield this particular Teigu have ended up in a near-death state or died, unable to bear the pain as their bodies were sucked dry of their life force. Because of this, it was locked away under high protection until you arrived."

Leo nodded, taking in Geralt's words. "And I've been chosen to wield this particular Teigu because of my regenerative powers, I suppose," he replied, acknowledging the risks involved, but not letting them deter him from his purpose.

"Although you possess a regenerative factor, I would still warn you to keep your distance from this teigu.

Yet, I am well aware of your nature and stubbornness, as you would eagerly pursue any chance to become more powerful, even if it meant sacrificing your life."

Geralt said while he narrowed his eyes towards Leo. He couldn't see Leo's face because of his demon mask, but he could imagine him grinning at this very moment.

"Yeah, I would have tried even if you had told me not to." Leo replied to Geralt's reasoning, which was indeed correct.

"And I think you would definitely have a dangerous mission ready for me given by the higher-ups depending on the outcome of the compatibility test which we are going to do now." Leo asks Geralt without turning his head towards Geralt.

Leo knows the higher-ups are preparing him for a dangerous mission, but he is not worried about his life at all. As long as he survives the ordeal and doesn't die during the mission, he believes he will become more powerful at the end of it.

"Correct," Geralt answered Leo's query,

"it is related to the increase in annihilation of several Revolutionary Army's secret squads and associates throughout the whole empire by the Imperial force's secret Assassination unit, which is hunting them at a dangerously fast rate.

The Revolutionary army and its associates are confronted with a major problem, resulting in the decision to deploy you alongside famous assassination groups who will be paid a hefty sum. I will give further details to you after the test if you succeed in it."

As Geralt finished speaking, both he and Leo reached inside a white chamber which was empty except a single object that was kept at the centre.

Within the chamber, there was a transparent glass water tank, and a single medical staff, donning a full coat with a mask, positioned at the corner of the room with an emergency kit ready for any immediate events during the Teigu compatibility test.

Leo, paying no attention to the medical staff, moved towards the transparent glass tank to inspect the object contained within it.

As Leo approached the tank, he felt the pressure rising. And when he touched the glass, goosebumps crept up his arms, despite not yet making contact with the object inside.

The object inside the tank was a metallic white belt, which was floating effortlessly within the transparent water.

Its sinuous form coiled in a serpentine embrace, the crystal-clear walls of the tank magnifying its eerie beauty, enhancing its ominous presence as if it were a creature from another realm suspended in a watery abyss.

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The surface of the metallic belt rippled with an ominous energy, radiating a dangerous aura that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who dared to gaze upon it.

Crown-like horns adorned its sleek form towards its head, gleaming with an otherworldly sheen as if the teigu was forged from the purest silver.

The serpent's crimson eyes were glowing with an intense fiery hue and was pulsating with a malevolent energy that seemed to pierce through the very soul of its beholder.

As the teigu hung suspended in the water, it exuded an undeniable sense of power and dominance, commanding respect and instilling fear in equal measure.

"It's truly both magnificent and terrifying, don't you agree?" Geralt said to Leo as he stood beside him, eyeing the terrifying Teigu contained within the tank.

"The preferred method of keeping this Teigu calm is by placing it in a water tank, as it exudes less pressure that way.

We still don't know whether this Teigu is a biological one or an inanimate object, but the pressure it emits definitely tells a different story," Geralt explained.

"Do you still want to try it, kid? The thing inside the tank is a terrifying beast that will devour you if your compatibility doesn't match." Geralt cautioned Leo one last time, trying to dissuade him from attempting the risky task.

However, as Geralt moved his head towards Leo, he noticed Leo's dazed state; Leo's eyes were solely fixed on teigu, as if the surrounding people didn't matter.

Geralt shook his head, knowing there was nothing he could do to stop Leo from proceeding with the dangerous act of compatibility test.

He was going to pull the liver to take Teigu out of the water, but Leo interrupted him, saying, "Just open the tank's lid."

"What do you want to do, kid?" Geralt questioned Leo as Leo asked him to open the tank's lid instead of taking Teigu out of the water.

"Just open the lid. I want to go inside the water tank. It's just an instinctual feeling that Teigu is calling me inside the tank," Leo said, surprising Geralt.

Geralt knew that Leo had been contained inside a similar glass container for almost 5 years, so Leo should be uncomfortable even at the sight of a glass tank.

Yet, here he was asking Geralt to let him go inside the tank.

At first, Geralt wanted to stop Leo, but after seeing Leo's determined gaze, he decided to let him go inside the tank.

However, he was ready to intervene by slicing open the glass tank if there was any problem during the compatibility test.

Leo undressed, leaving only his underwear, and revealing his body, which was covered with hollow red spots like pox all over its surface, with the only exception being his dainty white hands.

Geralt and the medical staff both knew Leo's condition, so there was no problem with Leo taking off his clothes.

Without paying more attention to this topic, Leo dived inside the water tank through the stairs on its side.

Leo didn't need a respirator, as he was able to breathe underwater due to the experimentation done on him by the mad scientist.

As he touched the metallic surface of the Teigu inside the water, it instantly wrapped itself around Leo's waist without him having to do anything.

"GRAHHHHHHH!!" The chamber echoed with the otherworldly roar of a deadly beast, sending shivers down Geralt and the medical staff. It was as if they were in a presence of a mighty beast.

The medical staff who was in the furthest corner of the room was scared shitless and began to tremble out of fear, but he was still at the furthest corner of the room.

But Geralt, who was near the glass tank and was able to witness the bone chilling beastial roar that was emitted by the teigu,

Geralt danger senses which were honed by countless battles were going haywire and telling him to get the fu*k out of the chamber immediately, but he persisted for Leo. He would definitely not leave the child alone.

Leo's face began to contort due to an increase in pain, which was abnormal, as Leo had a level of pain tolerance. Leo would not even twitch, even receiving grievous wounds, but at this moment, he felt as if someone was squeezing his soul.

Leo's body began to tremble and his mind started to become heavy every second, as if someone had placed over a ton weight on his head.

"ARGHHHHHHH!!!" Leo roared, though his voice couldn't be heard as he was inside the tank.

One could see him in agony as his mouth was opening and closing inside the tank at a rapid pace.

Seeing Leo tremble and roar inside the water tank, Geralt instantly took out his sword to cut open the tank to save Leo.

Nonetheless, he stopped what he was doing as soon as he saw Leo, who was holding out a hand to him while struggling inside the water tank.

Geralt just tightened his grip on the sword's handle and didn't unsheathe it, as he was ready for an emergency.

If Leo's condition would not improve after some time, he would take Leo out of the tank even if Leo protested against it.

But it didn't come to that situation as, after some time, Leo's roar began to subside and his trembling began to halt down.

But another mind-boggling phenomenon started to occur in front of Geralt as changes began to occur on Leo's body's surface.

Geralt detected subtle transformations in Leo's physique: the red pox-like spots became slightly less prominent, the sunken areas on Leo's skin showed slight improvement, and his body began to assume a more slender and graceful contour.

But after a minute, Leo began to tremble and the changes that had occurred started reversing and Leo returned to his previous appearance.

Creak

The Teigu's unyielding force caused the thick glass to fracture, resulting in Leo's descent alongside the water that had filled the tank.

Leo was swiftly caught by Geralt in a protective embrace, and moments later, he lost consciousness while muttering something that Geralt managed to hear.

Geralt took Leo to the corner of the room, where the apprehensive medical staff began Leo's check-up. Geralt remained nearby, observing Leo's face as the medical staff attended to him.

After a moment, Geralt repeated the word that Leo had said before he fainted.

"Jörmungandr"