The memories ended, leaving Lucian in a daze. He blinked, a bit disoriented by the rush of information. Invading someone's privacy was not something he wanted to make a habit out of. It was better to not know some things.
Lucian rubbed his temples, trying to get rid of the headache, "Done."
Sweat was dripping down the Varia woman's chin, her breathing labored. She pulled the silver line back into her head and released the trapped spirit inside the sphere within Jax's body, before collapsing on the bed.
Lucian checked Jax's condition. The golden tattoo took on Jax's tattoo's original design, but the color stayed.
He sat on the ground next to the bed and rested his back on it. Wiping his nose, a streak of blood appeared on his sleeve.
Spirits' potential and body's potential seemed to be separate from each other.
'If I were born with black hair, how fast would I have progressed?'
Lucian closed his eyes, leaning his head back. Leaving astral projections in other people's bodies didn't leave a big strain on him, contrary to his expectations. He was spreading his footprint like a disease, lending his power to those who couldn't achieve it otherwise.
'I always thought changing other people's fate would affect my own. Tangible proof that miracles were real, or at least possible.'
He raised his hand to the dim light of the cabin.
'You can kill them all, Voice. But the moment you do, my will, will spread. You will find me in every person you try to kill, in every house you try to burn, and every kingdom you try to conquer.'
If he couldn't die, he will become the world, and the world will become him.
"Sumon all the Vices," he ordered Jax, opening his eyes, "Take the safest routes. I want to see them all."
Jax coughed, his eyes fluttering open. His body was still broken, but he could send his message, "Yes...Boss." He fell back asleep, drained of his energy.
Goblin entered the room quietly, bringing with him the ship's physician to tend to Jax's wounds. He noticed Lucian's state, "Boss?"
"Towel." Lucian held out his hand. Goblin handed him a wet towel, and he wiped the blood off his face. "Thank you."
They waited until Jax's wounds were stitched and bandaged. The Varia woman remained asleep, oblivious to her surroundings.
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Roland, Fishbone, Cansan, Mumbai, Lord Ashtor, Loran, and Leaf were summoned to the ship in the following days. Everyone was in a bad mood due to the recent ambush.
"Her name is Krystal," Lucian introduced her within the ship's meeting room. She was sitting on a chair. Her eyes vacant as he explained how he could help them alter their bodies, allowing them to exceed their potential.
Everyone besides Mumbai were intrigued by the offer.
"Stronger?"
"Faster?"
"More powerful?"
"How?"
"Jax should wake up any time now, so you will see for yourself," Lucian said, and on cue, a scream so loud it shook the ship came from the next room.
They followed behind Lucian to check on Jax. Their lips twitched, as if wishing they had recorded the moment Jax saw himself in the mirror.
"Wha-What is this? What happened?!" He pulled his shirt up, his hand touching the golden tattoo on his chest, "Why am I...HANDSOME?! IS THIS ME?!"
His curly hair had grown a bit longer, falling over his eyes. He turned to the others with his mouth agape, and then back to the mirror, "It is...I look so good!"
Jax was flexing his straight teeth and admiring his sharp eyebrows, "Boss! What did you do?!"
Roland scoffed, "You actually look decent. Who would have thought."
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Jax said, poking his dimple. He pulled his collar down to check his chest, "I'm gonna get all the ladies with this body."
Goblin covered his smile behind his hand, "Do you think I will grow a few more inches?"
"That's what I'm talking about!" Jax grinned, pointing at Goblin, "We are going to be the new hot guys of Glory!"
"We have to reach Varia's seas first. There's still the risk of your spirit escaping Krystal's sphere," Lucian said, going back to the meeting room.
"What's her identity? She has a strange presence to her." Roland followed, asking the question on everyone's mind.
"She's a Varia warrior," Lucian sat at the head of the table, the others taking their seats around him. "I promised to release her after she helps us."
"I heard they don't have genders. Is that true?" Roland asked.
"They can reproduce through asexual means," Penny Woodheart entered the meeting, causing Goblin to stand up before the Varia woman in defence, "Their children inherit the memories of their parents. Each generation is more advanced than the last."
"Good day, Miss Woodheart," Lucian gestured to an empty seat, "Did you bring what I asked for?"
She stepped aside, revealing two men behind her. Both had luminescent hair, like her own. Strong build and height, they could have passed as her brothers. "They are the only ones with Eastern blood, and know the northern language."
"Please introduce yourselves," Lucian said.
"Wolk." The older of the two said, his facial hair a bit wild.
"Slin," the other said, younger and slimmer than Wolk.
"What brings you to Glory?" Roland asked, his hand on his chin, "You are not here for fun, I assume."
Ignoring Roland's words, they scanned the people around the table.
"They look weak for the Glory's high ranks," Slin commented, not liking what he saw.
Laughter erupted around the table, making him frown.
Mumbai was the only one not laughing, as she agreed with the assessment, "My fists are for counting money, not fighting."
Cansan agreed, "I prefer to handle matters with words rather than weapons."
"As do I," Lord Ashtor added, "I have others to do my fighting for me."
Leaf joined the fun, "A wise man knows when to fight and when to run."
Fishbone grinned, "Glory is a business from what I know. Not an army."
Goblin and Lord Ashtor continued to laugh, clutching their stomachs.
"Hahaha! Was that supposed to be an insult?! I've heard worse from my own father!" Lord Ashtor slapped his knee, unable to contain himself.
"I heard worse from our customers!" Goblin managed to wheeze between laughs.
Jax, the newly transformed handsome guy, leaned back on his chair, and put his feet on the table, "I wonder how strong you are to ask us, the weaklings, to help you with your own battles."
Roland shook his head in disappointment, "People really don't think before they open their mouths these days."
The sparkles between the two sides were enough to start a fire. Slin and Wolk were not amused by the jabs, their eyes narrowing at the group.
Even the Varia woman, who looked lifeless, had a hint of a smile on her lips. Was she judging them?