Seven days passed in the blink of an eye, and Leon's brief vacation finally came to an end. As soon as the break was over, he returned to the laboratory in the Sixth District, the place where most of his long-term experiments and gene fusion work took place. The sterile corridors were as quiet as ever, humming faintly with the sound of distant machinery and automated systems performing their endless routines.
Inside the central laboratory chamber, two massive nutrient pods stood side by side. Suspended within the transparent tanks were two unconscious figures—Magneto and the mutant woman whose unique genetic ability Leon intended to claim next. Both of them floated quietly in the nutrient fluid, their eyes closed and their bodies motionless, as though they had fallen into a deep and dreamless sleep.
Leon stood in front of the two pods and studied them for a long moment without speaking. His expression remained calm and composed, but behind that calmness lay the precise calculations of a man carefully executing a long-planned strategy.
The silence lasted until a familiar mechanical voice echoed softly through the room.
"Sir, all preparations for gene fusion have been completed," Svija announced through the laboratory speakers. "You may begin integrating the X-genes extracted from Magneto and the Witch."
Leon nodded slightly, his tone steady and unhurried. "Understood. Begin the procedure."
He turned away from the nutrient pods and walked toward the adjacent laboratory chamber where the fusion equipment had already been prepared. The room was dominated by a large experimental platform surrounded by automated robotic arms, medical scanners, and countless monitoring instruments.
Without hesitation, Leon removed the clothing from his upper body and stepped into the nutrient trough at the center of the platform. He lay down as calmly as if this were an ordinary routine, allowing Svija's robotic arms to begin their precise work.
Just like during his previous gene fusion experiment, a circular containment wall slowly rose around the experimental platform. Within seconds, nutrient solution began pouring into the chamber until Leon's body was completely submerged in the pale green liquid.
A breathing mask was placed over his nose and mouth to regulate oxygen flow. At the same time, dozens of monitoring cables connected to his chest, arms, and spine, recording every fluctuation in his vital signs. Several thin tubes were inserted through small injection ports and guided deep into his bloodstream.
Two days earlier, the healing-factor gene he had absorbed from Sabretooth had finally stabilized within his body. The new mutation had dramatically strengthened his physiology, allowing his cells to regenerate and adapt at astonishing speed.
More importantly, that healing factor had achieved something Leon had been aiming for since the beginning—it brought his physical body into a stable balance with the overwhelming power of the Phoenix Force residing within his soul.
Now, subtle transformations were occurring inside him every second.
The Phoenix Force continued to grow stronger, and with each surge of cosmic energy his body slowly adapted to contain more of it. This power originated from the deepest regions of existence, from a level of reality so distant that even many cosmic entities rarely touched it.
In Leon's understanding, the Phoenix Force was born from the chaotic moment between nothingness and creation. It was a fundamental manifestation of cosmic life energy, something that could draw power from the universe itself.
If he could reach the third stage of mastery, he believed it might even allow him to manipulate the energy of the entire universe.
With that immense source of power as a foundation, every additional X-gene ability he acquired could be pushed to terrifying levels of strength. The process would resemble a snowball rolling down a mountain—each increase in power feeding the next until the growth became unstoppable.
His plan was simple in theory but monumental in execution.
First, strengthen his body with powerful regenerative abilities so it could withstand more of the Phoenix Force. As his physical limits expanded, the Phoenix energy would grow alongside it, creating a continuous cycle of mutual enhancement.
Then, at carefully selected stages, he would integrate additional mutant abilities into his genetic structure. Once fused, those powers could be nourished and amplified by the endless energy of the Phoenix Force.
Over time, those abilities could evolve toward near-limitless potential.
The Phoenix Force was already considered one of the most powerful forces in the Marvel universe. However, Leon understood that even this cosmic entity had an inherent limitation—it was bound to the universe itself.
Although the Phoenix could travel across dimensions and reach other worlds within the multiverse, its core authority remained tied to the energy system of its original universe.
Leon had no intention of stopping there.
Simply wandering between universes and conquering them one by one was far too inefficient. Even if he mastered the Phoenix Force completely, repeating the process across countless universes would take unimaginable time.
His ambition was far greater.
Leon's ultimate goal was to stand at the absolute pinnacle of the multiverse, looking down upon every universe within the Marvel cosmic structure. And if possible, one day he would go even further—transcending the multiverse itself and stepping beyond the boundaries of existence.
Magneto's power and the Witch's genetic ability were merely stepping stones along that path.
With the Phoenix Force as his foundation, Leon would continue collecting powerful mutant abilities. Each new gene would be strengthened and refined by cosmic energy until it evolved far beyond its original limits.
Inside the laboratory, the atmosphere remained perfectly silent except for the mechanical movements of Svija's robotic arms and the faint humming of complex instruments.
Leon kept his eyes open as he floated within the nutrient solution, calmly observing the process.
Through the transparent tubes connected to his body, a reddish liquid slowly flowed into his bloodstream. These fluids contained concentrated genetic samples extracted from the captured mutants.
The first gene scheduled for integration was the Witch's mutation.
Among mutant abilities, this particular gene was extremely unusual. Its power did not appear overwhelmingly destructive on the surface, but its true value lay in a rare and extraordinary property—the ability to neutralize or stabilize other mutant powers.
For Leon, that ability was invaluable.
The Witch's gene would serve as a form of internal safety lock, stabilizing the complex genetic structure he planned to build in the future. Its strategic importance within his overall plan was actually greater than Magneto's famous magnetic manipulation.
As the genetic solution entered his bloodstream, Leon's body trembled slightly.
Whenever a new X-gene entered a host body, the first response was always rejection. Foreign genetic structures clashed violently with existing cells, creating instability at the molecular level.
But Leon's situation was different.
Thanks to Sabretooth's healing factor, his cells immediately began adapting to the new gene. Instead of violently rejecting it, his body actively absorbed and transformed the foreign genetic material.
This fusion method was far more direct than his previous experiments.
Rather than relying entirely on technology to suppress genetic conflict, Leon was using his own regenerative system to digest and integrate the new gene as if it were natural evolution.
Time passed quietly inside the sealed laboratory.
More than two hours slipped by without interruption.
Once the last of the gene solution had entered his bloodstream, Leon finally closed his eyes and focused inward. With his telepathic perception, he carefully observed the subtle transformations happening inside his body.
The changes were incredibly delicate, but his mental senses could track them with precision.
At first, the transformation occurred at the genetic level. The Witch's mutation slowly embedded itself into the structure of his DNA, merging with his existing genes as though it had always been there.
Next, the change spread to the cellular level.
Every cell in his body began adjusting to the new ability, gradually reorganizing itself to support the transformation power contained within the gene. From there, the effects expanded outward through muscles, skin, bones, and organs.
The process eventually reached the surface of his body.
Through the transparent nutrient tank, Leon's skin began shifting colors and textures like a living kaleidoscope. One moment it resembled the spotted pattern of a leopard, the next it hardened into something resembling crocodile scales.
At other times, his body briefly reshaped into different human forms before shifting again.
The changes happened continuously until Leon slowly opened his eyes.
Almost immediately, his body returned to its original appearance.
The X-gene fusion was complete.
Leon raised his hand within the nutrient solution and focused his thoughts for a moment. His fingers instantly reshaped themselves, first turning into the sharp claws of a tiger, then flattening into the hooves of a horse.
A moment later, feathered wings briefly formed along his forearm before dissolving back into normal human skin.
"Exactly as expected," Leon murmured quietly while observing the transformation. His voice carried a hint of satisfaction that he rarely revealed.
"With the Phoenix Force and my healing factor supporting it, the transformation ability is far stronger than the Witch's original power. In the source material, she could only imitate human forms or humanoid shapes without changing the physical properties of her body."
Leon flexed his fingers again, watching them morph effortlessly between different structures.
"I'm not restricted by those limits."
His lips curved into a faint smile as he continued analyzing the results.
"This is essentially the mythical seventy-two transformations. Once my body becomes stronger and I can control more energy in the future, it should be entirely possible to transform into a giant—or shrink down to something as small as a grain of dust."
.....
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