“Seems like I need to enter the World of Shadows to find my Shadow.”
After walking through the white, sterile corridor for a few minutes, he came across a door.
A green light shot out of the door and scanned Neo.
“Neo Hargraves confirmed, Entry allowed.”
The doors opened with a shooosh.
The massive laboratory behind still shocked Neo even though he had come here multiple times in the past days.
A sprawling, high-tech laboratory filled with glowing holographic screens, advanced machinery, and sterile metal corridors.
Robotic arms assembled complex devices, while scientists in sleek uniforms analyzed data on floating interfaces.
The people wearing white clothes were busy with different experiments.
They ignored him.
Neo went past them and arrived at the door at the other corner of the laboratory.
The door opened, and he entered another room.
The room was smaller than the laboratory.
It had a single giant tube filled with an unknown liquid in the center.
Pipes were connected to the tube. Their other end went underground.
Henry and Luna stood before the tube.
They were calibrating the device.
“I’m here.”
“Oh, welcome.”
The two turned to see Neo.
Henry frowned when he saw Neo’s haggard state.
However, he stayed silent.
“Neo, are you sure you want to go through this exoskeleton surgery?” Luna questioned.
“We have developed a new technology for exoskeleton surgery.
“It is much safer than the standard surgery.
“However, the fact remains that the trident used to make the serum for the surgery is an antithesis to you.
“It can kill Immortals.”
Luna pursed her lips and added,
“You might die. The chances are low, but they aren’t zero.”
“I’m okay with it.”
Neo smiled.
He knew that the new technology for the surgery was not supposed to have been completed yet.
It should’ve been complete six months later.
Henry, along with Luna and other head scientists, have pushed themselves to the limit to complete the new technology for the surgery before the scheduled time.
Because it was safer, and it increased Neo’s chances of survival.
“Please remove your clothes and enter the pod.”
Neo nodded.
He took off his clothes and climbed the ladder.
The lid on top of the pod opened.
He turned to Henry before entering the pod.
“Thank you.”
‘For doing your best for me.’
Neo entered the pod.
The lid closed above him, and an unknown liquid entered the pod from the tubes connected to it.
Henry watched the process, the concern behind his gaze clear to Neo.
He stood with crossed arms, his fingers gripping his arms tightly, and he maintained a stoic expression.
The liquid filled the pod to the brim.
“I’ll start the process,” Luna said.
Neo nodded.
He did not feel any different for a few minutes.
As time passed, the temperature started to increase.
It was bearable at first.
As a Mythic Demigod, he could hold his breath for a few minutes and fend off slight heat easily. Only on freewebnovel
It soon turned into scorching heat.
Neo closed his eyes and tried to concentrate.
He didn’t want to thrash around in pain before his brother’s eye and worry him.
The scorching heat made his skin sizzle.
The liquid seeped into his skin forcefully.
It made him feel as if someone was forcing pebbles into the pores of his skin.
The liquid started to turn red as Neo bled and it seeped deeper into his skin.
Deeper and deeper.
From skin to muscles.
It continued sinking it’s fang into Neo until it reached the bones.
The liquid touched them and wrapped itself around their surface.
A sickening cruch echoed.
Neo’s bones started to break.
The liquid was eating them.
Corroding and replacing his bones.
Neo stifled his screams.
His nails dug into his skin as he tried to stop himself from blacking out.
Pain.
Neo was used to it.
He should’ve been able to shrug it off.
However, he felt as if his soul was being peeled away. Layer by layer. As if something entirely else was replacing the damaged parts.
His very essence started to tremble.
His consciousness grew hazy.
Whispers entered his ears.
“…o.”
“…Neo!”
“Neo!”
He was jolted awake.
“Take deep breaths!”
Henry held him in his arms, having taken him out of the pod just a few seconds ago.
“How are you feeling!? Answer me!?”
“Don’t shout near my ears.”
Henry’s expression relaxed when Neo answered him.
He helped Neo stand.
“Can you give me a towel?”
Neo spoke as the pain disappeared slowly.
Luna passed him the item.
He wiped his body with trembling arms and turned to Henry.
“I can… stand on my… own…”
“Shut the fuck up, bitch. Just take my support.”
Henry helped him to the seats at the end of the room.
After taking a minute to wash away the drowsiness, Neo changed into his clothes.
“How are you feeling now?” Luna questioned.
She kept a notepad in her hands to write down the details about his condition.
“I’m good.”
Neo clenched his fists and reopened them several times.
The pain and weakness had almost disappeared.
It was replaced by a deep power coursing through his limbs.
Luna took his full check before nodding.
“Seems like there are no harmful side effects.
“It’s a miracle thar the surgery ended so easily.”
“…”
Henry stared at Neo from the side.
‘The trident merged with him too smoothly.’
‘His Concept,’ Henry thought. ‘The only reason I can think of is his Concept.’ freewēbnoveℓ.com
‘It must be something similar to the trident’s trait, which is why the trident accepted him without much resistance.’
Neo stood up with a jump.
The weakness had disappeared completely.
He felt refreshed and energized.
“Let’s test out my strength.”
The corner of his lips rose slightly, surprised by the changes in his body.
“I can feel my Water and Death mastery has increased. I’m almost at Adept-mastery in Water element.”
“Those must be the side effects,” Luna explained. “Exoskeleton surgery mainly strengthens the physical stats.”
“I know.
“That’s why I want to test my strength.
“If the side effects are so great, the boost to my physical strength must be immense.”
Henry clicked his tongue when he saw Neo excited like a child.
Henry himself was extremely happy; however, he didn’t show it.
“Fine. Follow me.”
Henry took Neo to the sixth basement floor.
Luna followed behind them.
They entered the third door they encountered after entering the floor.
The room beyond the door looked like a destroyed city.
“We test large-scale weapons here.”
“You can try out your strength—”
“Got it.”
Neo cut off Henry and stepped forward.
He pulled his fist back and punched towards the seven-floor building at the front.
The air exploded.
A beat later, Neo saw the building he had attacked.
It had been pulverized along with dozens of buildings behind it.
Henry remained expressionless.
Luna, on the other hand, was shell-shocked.
She had seen many Mythic Demigods.
But…
“N-Neo, what is your current rank?”
“Grade 5 Mythic.”
She couldn’t believe her ears.
“Only Grade 5?”
Luna turned to the destruction Neo had laid with a single punch and looked back at him.