Next Tuesday, Richard had just come back from his late-night shift. Recently, his work time had changed drastically. From working 6 to 6, it had now become 9 to 9.
That meant he could finally go to sleep earlier and enjoy more time with his two kids.
"It's already been 5 days. My colleagues at the factory told me that usually, someone undergoing metamorphosis only takes 1 to 2 days at most. And even you only took 3 days, Alissa." Richard expressed his worries as he sat on the sofa alongside his daughter Alissa.
"It's fine, Dad," Alissa said casually. "This usually happens with second awakeners. Their bodies were originally unable to sense or take in energy. Now that he has become an Evolver, his body is completely reforging itself to be more compatible with energy."
"Is that so?" Richard nodded. He had indeed heard something about it before.
Just then, they both heard the door to Grey's room opening.
Immediately, they stopped whatever they were doing and looked ahead.
"Hey, guys." From the room, Grey emerged with a casual greeting.
However, the instant they saw Grey, they were stunned.
If the Grey from 5 days ago still had at least some similarities to the old one, now they were completely gone.
This… this was a completely different person!
Standing before them was a young man who appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen. He had a tall frame, a lean build, and broad shoulders. His long black hair was tied into a high ponytail, and his pupils now gleamed with a sharp violet hue, a faint black dot lingering at their center. His face had refined into an oval shape with angular features—his forehead, cheekbones, and jawline perfectly balanced. The sun-kissed tone he once carried had vanished, replaced by smooth, flawless skin that radiated a clear, youthful brilliance.
"Grey?" Richard called out with a stunned look on his face.
He hadn't really seen Grey's face during the past 5 days, as he would simply leave food in Grey's room and walk away so as not to disturb his metamorphosis.
"Yes, Dad, it's me." Grey chuckled dryly.
He had also seen his own reflection, and even he was stunned. But this was the work of Nexus Energy. It embodied perfection—it was only natural that it would improve his appearance by making his entire body more perfect. In truth, this was merely a small effect compared to the changes within his body.
Now his entire being was infused with Nexus Energy. Of course, he wasn't actually perfect in essence— to truly achieve the definition of perfection, he would have to reach higher levels of life and become an invincible Evolver.
Alissa was also slightly stunned after seeing Grey. She could no longer see the shadows of the old Grey.
The Grey she once knew and remembered had completely vanished.
Seeing Grey's new appearance only further reminded her that this was no longer the same Grey, but the reincarnated one.
For a moment, she completely forgot how to react.
A feeling of sadness unknowingly overwhelmed her…
But that quickly disappeared when she remembered the old Grey's actions.
She still hadn't thought about how to communicate with this new person who had taken over Grey's body.
Should she treat him as her brother?
She honestly didn't want to think about it, because whenever she did, she was struck by the cold truth—the old Grey was dead.
"You have completely changed, my son." Richard sighed emotionally as he stood up. Grey was now as tall as Richard himself. "Now that you are a martial artist at the Innate Realm, are you planning on going to the Evolver's Association and registering yourself as an Evolver?"
"Yes, Dad. I'm heading to the Evolver's Association," Grey replied with a small smile.
Today was Tuesday, and starting today, he would begin teaching Lia. So he was going to go straight to the Evolver's Association before doing anything else, like researching other evolutionary paths.
He also wanted to create an appraisal skill that would allow him to view information on everything with a glance. If he was not wrong, there was a specific Esper ability related to that. But to perform Esper abilities, he first needed to awaken his mind. That meant he also needed to look into the Esper evolutionary path and the method of mind awakening.
Even if he was incompatible with that path, all he had to do was comprehend it with his heaven-defying ability, and it would adjust itself into a form Grey could utilize.
"Since you are going out, you can't go empty-handed." Saying that, Richard took out his phone. "Dad just got his salary today, I'll give some to you. Make sure to spend it responsibly."
Hearing this, Grey was slightly startled. He quickly tried to stop Richard.
"No, Dad, I don't need money!" Grey said in one single breath. "Please keep it in case of emergencies."
"Huh?" Richard was stunned.
This… what happened to this kid…?
Richard knew his son well—he would always ask for money whenever he went out. But this was completely different.
Alissa, on the other hand, had a light flash in her eyes. She knew the old Grey far better than Richard since they had spent more time together. If this were the old Grey, he would never have refused.
"It's fine, Dad. I'm just going to the Evolver's Association, and I should get money from them myself after becoming an official ranker." Grey replied with a smile.
At the same time, Grey felt slightly warm in his heart. Richard truly cherished him as his son, and he was even incredibly proud of the fact that he had become an Evolver.
Richard had always been a great father to the old Grey, while the old Grey had been nothing more than an ungrateful bastard. Yet despite all of that, Richard still cherished him as his own.
He worked hard day and night for his children and cared for them dearly. That honesty and devotion made Grey feel unexpectedly emotional.
Richard had taken care of him until now, so it was only natural for Grey to repay that favor. Even if the truth were to come out—that he wasn't Richard's biological son at all—Grey had already decided. Even if Richard rejected him from then on, he would still support him from the shadows.
Richard deserved nothing less, for all the help, care, and love he had given—even though Grey was merely an adopted child.
"I'm leaving, Dad." Grey smiled gently. "I'll be back by evening."
"Alright." Richard said with a smile. "Do your best in the Evolver's assessment exam, son."
"I will." After replying, Grey left the house.
It was time to meet Lia.