Chapter 355: Overflowing Power
Alexander opened his eyes slowly and sat up from the floor, brushing the dust off his clothes with absolute composure.
"How do you feel?" said Stephen, taking a step forward while trying to hide his bloody palms.
"I feel... normal," said Alexander, looking up.
However before Alexander’s eyes, the interface’s floating screens flickered with an urgent message:
[Power level exceeded. Releasing slowly...]
[Integration progress: 0.001% completed.]
Alexander stared at the numbers in silence. Barely an infinitesimal fraction of the serum’s immense energy had been processed by his body, while the rest remained sealed and gradually distributing itself to keep him from collapsing.
"Do you really feel normal?" said Stephen, examining him closely from head to toe with an incredulous look. "You should be feeling an overwhelming transformation in your muscle fibers."
"Maybe the energy is just settling in little by little," said Alexander, keeping his cool in front of Stephen without revealing his system’s messages.
Stephen guided Alexander to the evaluation room and began conducting a full medical scan on him using the laboratory instruments. He spent minutes reviewing the readings on the screens, his frown deepening by the second. However, he found nothing out of the ordinary. Alexander’s system concealed everything blocking any energy or cellular anomaly from the scanners’ view.
"This is bizarre... I’m not detecting any drastic changes in your physiology," said Stephen, adjusting the sensors on Alexander’s arm. "Let’s do a physical performance test. Use the impact gauge."
Alexander walked over to the gym’s dynamometer, raised his fist, and landed a direct punch against the test pad. The impact echoed loudly throughout the room, and the digital display flashed the figure.
Stephen stepped closer to check the screen, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Incredible... Your physical strength increased by nearly two hundred percent compared to your last evaluation," said Stephen, looking at Alexander with genuine awe.
Alexander stared at his own hands, equally astonished. Knowing that barely that 0.001% of energy released by the system had been enough to more than double his physical strength left him shocked by the terrifying potential now resting inside him.
"It’s a phenomenal result to start with," said Stephen, adjusting his glasses as he examined the readings. "Your strength increased by nearly two hundred percent, but I don’t know where the rest of that energy went... It must be stored somewhere in your body. Be careful; if that stored energy ever bursts out of control and explodes, you could die instantly."
"I guess my body is assimilating it at its own pace," said Alexander, clenching his fist and feeling the contained power beneath his skin.
"Don’t get cocky," said Stephen, turning toward the workbench to put the instruments away. "Over the next few days, you might feel a constant heat in your chest. That’s the energy seeking stability. Do not try to force it under any circumstances."
"Understood. Is there anything else I should know?" said Alexander.
"For now, no. You fulfilled your part, and I fulfilled mine," said Stephen, looking at him intently with a serious expression. "You now have the body of a potential monster. It’s up to you how you use that strength in the other world... or here."
"Don’t worry, I know perfectly well what to do with it," said Alexander with a cold grin, turning around to head for the exit.
"Don’t worry, I know perfectly well what to do with it," said Alexander with a cold grin.
Alexander took a couple of steps toward the exit, but stopped abruptly, turned around, and looked at Stephen again.
"I forgot what I originally came for," said Alexander, crossing his arms. "I’ve established myself in the other world and I have access to almost unlimited resources. I think we could build a good business relationship."
Stephen raised both eyebrows with clear interest and folded his hands over the table.
"In which realm did you establish yourself?" said Stephen.
"It’s called Sandoria, it belongs to the beastwomen," said Alexander.
"Sandoria... doesn’t ring a bell," said Stephen, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But I’m curious about going back to the other world. How about I go with you?"
Upon hearing that proposal, Alexander found himself at an internal crossroads. Bringing Stephen along meant having a top-tier bodyguard protecting him at all times; however, Stephen was an expert hunter who smelled skills and gauged strength. If they traveled together, Stephen would see how fast Alexander grew in power, and there would be no credible way to explain the origin of such strength or the existence of his system.
Alexander quickly processed the options in his mind. Refusing outright would raise suspicion, so he decided to test the waters before giving in.
"Will the leader of the TMC allow you to go?" said Alexander, raising an eyebrow with skepticism. "I thought you couldn’t leave the area so easily."
"There shouldn’t be a problem," said Stephen, waving his hand nonchalantly. "I’m not restricted in this place. I’m an advisor, not a prisoner. As long as I leave everything in order at the gym, I can move wherever I please."
Alexander searched for another excuse in his head, but seeing the insistence in Stephen’s gaze and the calmness of his posture, he realized there was no logical way to refuse without shattering the trust they had just built. Having a monster of his caliber nearby was a double-edged sword, but he would just have to manage the suspicions as they came.
"Alright, come with me," said Alexander, letting out a subtle sigh. "But keep a low profile. Sandoria isn’t a place to cause unnecessary trouble."
"Don’t worry, I’ll be like a shadow," said Stephen, wearing a calm smile as he walked over to pack his things.
Alexander turned around and finally exited the gym. The sunlight hit him all at once as the suited guards stood at attention and opened the rear door of the armored vehicle for him. He climbed into the car, leaned back on the leather seat, and stared out the window, knowing that the journey back to Sandoria was about to get much more complicated.