Who are you ?

"Wait."

Jun turned around with an inquisitive look, wondering what this despaired man wanted from him.

"Do you want to get great power ?"

The youth looked suspiciously at the hologram. 'What ? Has he some sort of inheritance at disposal ?' Of course he was interested. But it depended on what needed to be done to get it. Furthermore, he didn't like the idea to owe something, even if it was only to a hologram.

"Who are you anyway ?"

"Ha ha ! Have you heard of the mighty name Nox Julius, the Annihilator ? He is me. I mean... I'm a trace of his consciousness recorded in this apparatus."

"..." Facing the complete lack of reaction from Jun, he coughed a few times from awkwardness.

"What do you learn at school these times ? Haven't you heard about the story of the Great War that started this era, young boy ? The Holy Generals ? The Emperor's Fight ? Bloody Monarch ? Nothing ?"

"..."

"Doesn't matter. All you need to understand is that I was once a splendid officer in one the greatest armies that walked on this earth. But we were betrayed by the most evil man that lived to this day... Long story short, I had to deliver an intel that could change the course of History but failed my duty. And now here I am, talking to some inconsistent brat. Anyway... I'm left with an ancestral method that can help a man accomplish all his dreams, and only you to share it with. What do you say ?"

"No thanks."

"What ? Why ?"

"I don't want to owe anything to anyone."

"Hm." Nox Julius was appreciating Jun's answer but shook his head in disagreement. "It isn't wise to shut down an offer like this one. You must recognize the opportunities that stand before you."

Jun reconsidered a bit. What this Nox Julius just told him resonated with some thoughts he developed recently. Even if he didn't want to owe anything for some reasons, he realized this last days that it would be much more difficult than he thought to get stronger. He already almost died in less than half a day outside. What was he going to encounter in the near future if he kept on going like that ?

"Besides, you won't really owe me since it is only if you're strong enough that you'll succeed. It is a test of will and persistence. It is your fight, not mine. And also... I don't give you the right to decline."

"What ?"

"You see... I'm only a remnant. A computer program that needs to fulfill its mission. It's a good thing that you don't want to owe me, because then I can be sure you'll accept my price."

Jun grinded his teeth as he stared at the hologram without blinking. "What do you want ?"

"Simple. I told you I failed my duty, so I need you to deliver this message. Well... The receiver is probably dead by now but it would suffice if you give it to his most direct heir."

"I don't have a choice, huh ?"

"Nope. So... What do you say ?"

Taking five seconds to consider, Jun shrugged then sighed. "Bring it."

"Ha ha ! That's more like it ! Okay, you see, this method is very particular. As you probably already know, all the earth technology was developed around genetic experiments. The greatest soldiers are the ones who upgraded the most their DNA. There are many ways to do so. Evolution serums or breed crossing are the most widespread. Even when encountering a particularly perilous danger may someone evolve.

But everyone starts from somewhere. That's the genetic potential that draws a line for every body. And my method is a way to break this barrier, allowing you to advance by leaps and bounds each time you fight. Again, the result of this surgery only depends on your innate talent. You're probably going to die, but I have no one else to test it with."

Nox Julius looked upward and a light shone on the ceiling. Then a box appeared, descending slowly as if it was carried by the light. It flew down until it came in Jun's arms.

"Open it."

The box wasn't locked so he followed the instructions of the hologram. Inside if only found a flask filled with thick red liquid. "Is that blood ?"

"There is. Swallow it all."

"That's the method ?"

"No. It's only a stimulant to keep you awake while the surgery goes on. As soon as you faint, you'll die."

Not really at ease with the idea that he needed to be awake for a complex surgery, Jun opened the flask with a perplex look.

"Hurry, we don't have all day."

Jun stared at the hologram with a judging look.

"I mean... Yes, we have, but if you could not delay the procedure..."

Turning his sight back to the flask, Jun took a deep breath then emptied it in one sip. The metallic taste invaded his stomach before quickly dispersing everywhere in his body. But most of it went to his heart that started to pump faster, and stronger. The mad run of his blood going through his brain made him dizzy, forcing him to kneel on the floor out of balance.

"I need almost all the energy I have left to precede so I'm gonna be pretty tired when this is over. Don't resist, okay ? All right... Let's start."

Nox Julius closed his eyes to focus and ordered the energy to envelop Jun's body. The boy felt like he was floating in the air but couldn't see anything since he had to close his eyes because of the blinding light that filled the cave. He lost all senses of up and down and started to feel some pain in his limbs.

The energy that surrounded him permeated through his skin in multiple places he did not recognize. Then it went through his bones first. His bone marrow seemed to be cleansed as it looked purer and purer. After a while, the energy left his marrow to wrought his bones one by one. Each of them went through a lot of pain, shortened then expanded, again and again...

Jun felt like he was in hell at that moment. He never thought that you could be in so much pain without passing out. But the stimulant Nox Julius gave him worked well. Bone after bone, he had to endure torture that would kill anybody whose will wasn't strong enough. Finally, after what seemed like days, his bones settled down.

But Jun had no time to rest as the second part of the energy filled his veins and arteries and went to his heart. All his circulatory system went through the same treatment and Jun's screams started all over again.

A long time passed in this state when Nox Julius, his eyes still closed, speaked again. "Perfect, you're doing great. But now is the worst part so stay focused !"

As Jun was about to ask what could possibly feel worse that it already was, all the energy gathered in his head. 'Shit.' Without a break, it assaulted his brain, all his neurons including those from his senses, his memory and motor skills. It followed his optic, olfactory and cochlear nerves to his eyes, his organ of smell and ears. An uncontrollable headache grew constantly until Jun was screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Wait. That's odd. There should be some energy left. How is it possible that all of it is used for one surgery ? His genetic potential must be... But I never saw one before. Who are you, boy ?"