Leon staggered backward, breathing heavily.
Despite knowing that in terms of skill and experience he far surpassed Rigo, his body betrayed him. His small, underdeveloped frame was an undeniable limitation—his muscles lacked the strength they once had, and his reflexes were nowhere near as sharp as when he had been an adult.
Now, trapped in the body of a child, he felt imprisoned within a form that could not fully support the abilities he once possessed.
Rigo slowly lowered her wooden sword, her eyes gleaming with cold evaluation.
She had noticed something strange.
Leon’s attacks carried a level of precision and technique far beyond what any child should possess. His movements were controlled, sharp, and efficient—like those of a killer who had spent years mastering the art of death.
Yet every time Leon launched what should have been a decisive strike, his fragile body became the greatest obstacle.
“You’re skilled,” Rigo said bluntly, her tone flat but attentive. “More skilled than most members of the Gelar Clan.”
She paused briefly.
“But your body isn’t ready to support those techniques.”
Her gaze hardened slightly.
“You’re too weak. Physically.”
Leon stared at her, frustration flickering across his face.
“I know,” he said between breaths, unable to hide the dissatisfaction in his voice. “But I’m not going to stop trying.”
Rigo nodded slowly.
There was no mockery in her expression.
Instead, there was something unusual—curiosity, as if she were studying something unfamiliar yet intriguing.
“You’re stubborn,” she commented calmly.
“But stubbornness alone won’t keep you alive here.”
Before Leon could respond, the training hall doors burst open.
Darius entered with long strides, his expression serious.
“Rigo,” he called firmly, his eyes briefly flicking toward Leon, who was still catching his breath. “The Emperor wants to see you. Now.”
Rigo turned toward him and nodded obediently before glancing back at Leon.
“Training’s over,” she said shortly.
“But remember this—if you want to survive here, you’ll need to find a way to overcome your body’s limitations.”
Leon simply nodded, though his body trembled from exhaustion.
Deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.
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As Rigo and Darius left the room, Leon remained standing, forcing himself upright despite his heavy breathing.
His resolve only grew stronger.
He had to adapt his new body to the skills he carried within him.
No matter what it took.
In the grand hall of the Imperial Palace, the Emperor waited upon his magnificent throne.
His eyes gleamed with curiosity mixed with suspicion.
When Rigo entered the chamber and bowed respectfully before him, the Emperor spoke immediately.
“Rigo,” he said in a low yet commanding tone, “I want your report on the new boy—Leon.”
Rigo straightened, her gaze steady.
“Leon possesses extremely high combat skills,” she answered honestly. “Higher than most of our soldiers.”
“But his physical condition is too weak to fully utilize those techniques.”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
“How can a child possess such skill?” he asked, suspicion evident in his voice.
Rigo resisted the urge to show uncertainty.
“I don’t know, Your Majesty,” she replied carefully.
“But there’s something unusual about him.”
She paused.
“His movements are extremely refined… as if he has years of combat experience.”
The Emperor smiled faintly.
It was not a smile of joy—but one of cold intrigue.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” he murmured.
“That boy is hiding something far greater than he appears.”
His gaze sharpened.
“I want you to watch him closely.”
Rigo bowed slightly.
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor leaned back against his throne with regal calm.
His eyes remained fixed on her.
“If you see any signs of betrayal,” he added coldly, “you know what to do.”
Rigo bowed once more before turning to leave.
Yet an unsettling feeling lingered in her mind.
Leon was not an ordinary child.
There was something about him that reminded her of herself.
Something she could not fully explain.
What exactly was that boy?
How could someone possess such refined skill… yet be trapped in such a fragile body?
Meanwhile, Leon lay on his narrow bed, his body aching from the intense training.
He clenched his fists, frustration burning within him.
His mind drifted back to his past life as Rigo—to the time when his body had been at the peak of its physical strength.
Now he felt like a veteran warrior trapped inside the body of a child, powerless against opponents he once could have defeated effortlessly.
“This body… is too weak,” he muttered under his breath.
“How am I supposed to survive if I can’t use my skills properly?”
Leon knew he couldn’t rely solely on technique.
He needed to build physical strength—even if that meant enduring training far harsher than before.
But how?
This body needed time to grow.
And time was a luxury he did not have.
A gentle knock sounded at his door.
Before Leon could answer, it slowly opened.
Elina stepped inside, carrying a tray of warm food.
She offered a soft smile, though concern lingered in her eyes.
“I brought you lunch,” she said gently.
“You must be exhausted after training.”
Leon looked at her with mixed emotions—warmth, longing… and guilt he could not express.
“Thank you,” he replied quietly.
Elina sat beside the bed, gazing at him with gentle affection.
“It’s okay to feel weak, Leon,” she said softly.
“Everyone has weaknesses.”
“And sometimes it’s through those weaknesses that we become stronger.”
Leon lowered his gaze, trying to hide his frustration.
Elina’s words reminded him of the past—when he had lived as Rigo, often feeling alone despite being surrounded by assassins just like himself.
Yet Elina’s presence had always brought him a strange sense of calm.
Even if he never fully understood why.
“I just want to be strong,” Leon whispered.
“But this body is too weak to fight the way I should.”
Elina gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“True strength doesn’t come from the body alone, Leon,” she said warmly.
“True strength is the ability to endure—even when everything is against you.”
Leon looked up at her, his eyes slightly moist.
In the midst of his doubts and confusion, Elina’s words gave him something he desperately needed.
Hope.
Perhaps even in his current weakness… there was another path toward strength.
On a cold balcony of the palace, Rigo stood alone beneath the star-filled sky.
Her thoughts were still tangled with the Emperor’s orders—and the image of Leon.
She could not ignore the strange feeling growing inside her.
A feeling that reminded her of something buried deep in her past.
“Who are you, Leon?” Rigo murmured quietly to herself.
“How can someone like you exist?”
Behind her cold expression, Rigo knew something.
The answer to that question would change everything.
Not just for Leon.
But for her as well.
