CH: 3

The personal training hall of House Varian was a marvel of modern engineering—a fusion of magic and technology. The floors were reinforced with impact-dampening nanomaterials, capable of withstanding high-intensity combat, while holographic interfaces floated along the walls, tracking movements, analyzing techniques, and projecting real-time data.

Inside, the air thrummed with the rhythmic sound of combat—the sharp exhale of breath, the impact of fists against training dummies, the occasional hum of an energy field absorbing excess force.

And standing at the center of the room was Leon Varian, five years old but far from an ordinary child.

From the moment he could walk, he had been trained, conditioned, and sharpened like a blade meant for war. While most children his age played with toys and enjoyed the carefree bliss of youth, Leon had spent his early years in grueling physical conditioning, mental training, and education that far surpassed his age.

This was something he asked his father when he was around 2 years old. He wanted to prepare himself for the future, not to be a minor villain but a major player in the story.

Despite his young age, Leon's body was already beginning to reflect the discipline forced upon him.

He was slightly taller than most children his age, his frame lean but compact with muscle—not bulky, but toned in a way that spoke of regular exertion. His dark hair, often damp from training, clung to his forehead, the strands cut short to prevent interference.

His eyes, a piercing steel-gray, held an unnatural sharpness—not the naïve curiosity of a child, but the calculating gaze of someone far beyond his years. Though his skin still had the softness of youth, his knuckles were hardened from repeated impact, small bruises and scrapes dotting his arms and legs—reminders of his training.

Opposite him stood Garrick Varian, his father.

A towering man with a broad, battle-hardened frame, Garrick was the very embodiment of a warrior—a soldier forged in blood and discipline. His face was sharp, angular, his dark eyes carrying the weight of experience. Unlike the younger generation that relied too heavily on augmentations, Garrick was a firm believer in fundamentals.

"Again," Garrick commanded, his voice deep and firm.

Leon exhaled sharply and lunged.

His fist shot forward in a perfectly executed straight punch, his body twisting to generate maximum force. But Garrick moved with effortless speed—sidestepping just enough to avoid the blow before countering with a quick, controlled tap to Leon's shoulder.

A minor opening. A lesson.

Leon stumbled back, taking in a deep breath.

"You're still relying too much on linear attacks," Garrick said, crossing his arms. "In a real fight, that's a death sentence."

Leon steadied himself. He already knew that. But knowing something and executing it in real time were two different things.

His father wasn't going easy on him, but that was expected. The Varian family was a lesser family under the Supreme Novaris Family—one of the five Supreme Families that ruled beneath the Dominion's Supreme Council. Their entire lineage was dedicated to serving the Novaris Family, acting as one of their loyal retainers, elite warriors, and enforcers in their name.

This meant that the expectations on Leon were far higher than any common child.

Because in this society, power wasn't just respected—it was everything.

And now, at five years old, he was approaching the Awakening Ceremony—a crucial event that determined one's future strength and potential.

If he failed to awaken a powerful talent, if his genetic compatibility with the Dominion's energy system was weak, his future would be sealed.

And failure was not an option.

In the story Leon was said to have B-rank potential, but he mostly squandered it by bullying others and having fun instead of dedicating his time to training.

Garrick studied his son for a long moment before speaking again. "You're progressing well. Faster than I expected."

Leon wiped sweat from his brow and looked up at him. "I have a good teacher," he said, his voice steady.

A small smirk ghosted across Garrick's lips. "Flattery won't make the training easier."

"It was worth a try."

Garrick let out a short chuckle before his expression hardened again. "Your Awakening is coming soon. You need to be ready." He stepped closer, kneeling so that he was at eye level with his son. "This world doesn't reward weakness, Leon. The Dominion is ruled by the strong, and those who fall behind—"

"—are crushed beneath those who rise above," Leon finished, his eyes dark with understanding.

Garrick nodded in approval. "Good. Then show me again."

Leon lowered into his stance, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to be just good.

He had already died once.

He used to be a nobody, a mere statistic on government pages and powerless to change his own fate. 

And he refused to be powerless ever again.

Just as Leon was about to strike again, the doors to the training hall slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Selene Varian, his mother.

Unlike his father, who carried the presence of a hardened warrior, Selene was the image of precision and refinement. She was a scientist, a strategist, and a geneticist who worked under the Supreme Novaris Family.

Her silver eyes swept across the room, immediately landing on Leon and his father.

"It's time," she announced, her voice composed yet firm.

Leon slowly lowered his stance. His breathing was still steady, despite the training. "The ceremony?" he asked, already knowing the answer. Novaris Awakening Hall.

This is where the Novaris family and it's affiliates under them awakened. It gave the affiliate families a high mana area for a successful awakening and allowed the Novaris elders to pick talented seedlings to serve as their children's retainers.

Selene gave a single nod. "The children of the other lesser families serving House Novaris will undergo their Awakening together. The process has already begun for some of them. We cannot be late."

Garrick exhaled, stepping back. "Then the real test begins." He turned to Leon, his gaze sharp. "You know what's expected of you."

Leon nodded without hesitation. He did.

The Awakening Ceremony wasn't just a simple rite of passage. It was the defining moment of every child's future.

The Supreme Families, the Great Guilds, the Dominion's strongest forces—all of them measured worth by power. Those who Awakened to high-tier abilities were nurtured. Those who showed weak potential were discarded.

And Leon?

He had been reborn into a villain's body.

With the owner's previous talent and partial knowledge of the story's progression he was sure he would be able to evolve his talent far beyond what it was worth and stand at the world's peak.

"This time I won't be a nobody." He thought determinedly.

Selene approached her son and placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes radiating warmth and affection. "No matter what happens, you must remain composed. House Varian's reputation is at stake."

"I understand."

And he did.

Leon Varian was stepping into the beginning of his fate.

But this time, he would not follow the script.

This time, he'll follow his own rules.