The fusion process did not end after Leon successfully absorbed the Witch's transformation gene. Even after that integration was completed, he remained lying inside the nutrient trough, allowing his body to stabilize for another two hours while the newly fused ability fully synchronized with his cellular structure.
Only when Svija's monitoring systems confirmed that his biological activity had stabilized did the next phase begin.
As originally planned, the laboratory's automated system prepared to fuse the X-gene extracted from Magneto.
Thin pipes connected to Leon's body once again began pumping reddish genetic solution into his bloodstream. The fluid flowed steadily through the tubes before entering his body, where it slowly began interacting with his own genetic structure.
Just like before, the process unfolded at a measured pace.
Leon's breathing remained calm and even as he floated motionless in the nutrient fluid. His eyes stayed closed the entire time, giving the impression that he had fallen asleep. Yet beneath his eyelids, the faint movements of his eyes revealed that his consciousness remained fully active.
He was carefully observing every microscopic change occurring within his body.
Minutes passed.
Then more minutes followed.
Time moved slowly as the genetic fusion progressed.
Before long, subtle changes began appearing inside the nutrient tank. The previously calm liquid started bubbling, releasing streams of air pockets that rose rapidly toward the surface.
At first the bubbles were small, but they quickly became more numerous.
It looked almost as if the bubbling originated from Leon's body itself.
The phenomenon continued for roughly half an hour.
Then the situation changed again.
Several robotic arms suspended above the experimental platform suddenly began vibrating slightly. At the same time, other mechanical arms positioned around the test bench trembled as though reacting to an invisible force.
A sharp warning alarm briefly echoed throughout the laboratory.
The siren sounded twice before abruptly stopping.
This was the facility's automatic security protocol. Any abnormal activity that wasn't initiated by Leon or an authorized operator would trigger the laboratory's warning system.
The disturbance had been caused by Leon's mental energy leaking outward during the genetic fusion.
That uncontrolled surge of psychic force had affected nearby machinery, which triggered the alarm program. However, Svija quickly recognized the source of the disturbance and suppressed the alert before it escalated.
Although Svija was not a true artificial intelligence, its advanced program structure allowed it to analyze most supernatural fluctuations generated by Leon's powers.
All of this happened within Leon's awareness.
However, he paid no attention to the outside world at the moment.
His mind remained entirely focused on the fusion taking place inside his body.
Another hour passed.
Leon continued floating motionless inside the nutrient tank while the transformation progressed. Gradually, the bubbling within the liquid began to subside, and the violent fluctuations slowly disappeared.
Eventually the surface of the nutrient solution returned to complete calm.
From the outside, Leon looked completely asleep now. Even the subtle movements beneath his eyelids had stopped.
Everything seemed quiet again.
Time continued passing one minute at a time.
Finally, two hours after the Magneto gene solution had entered his bloodstream, Leon opened his eyes.
At that exact moment, the metallic wires attached to his body were suddenly ripped away.
They didn't detach because of physical movement.
Instead, an invisible force violently tore them free.
The robotic arms suspended above him were shoved aside as if struck by a powerful wave.
Leon did not consciously command that action.
It was magnetism.
For the first time since completing the fusion, he was instinctively manipulating metal through magnetic force.
The sensation was incredibly strange.
Slowly, Leon's body rose out of the nutrient trough.
Water droplets rolled down his skin as his body shifted from a horizontal position to an upright stance. Instead of stepping out normally, he floated effortlessly in the air above the experimental platform.
Leon glanced around the laboratory while slowly clenching his fist.
The moment his fingers tightened, every object containing metal in the surrounding area began trembling.
As his control over the magnetic field strengthened, a computer monitor positioned nearby suddenly crumpled inward. Invisible pressure squeezed the metal frame until it collapsed into a compact ball with a screeching metallic grinding sound.
The device was instantly destroyed.
"Whew…"
Leon released a slow breath while carefully sensing the new power flowing through his body. A faint smile gradually formed at the corners of his mouth.
"This power really is extraordinary," he murmured quietly.
"No wonder the original comics described Magneto as the king of magnetism. At his peak, he could even manipulate electromagnetic forces on a planetary scale, which now seems entirely plausible."
Leon flexed his fingers again, feeling the magnetic field surrounding him respond instantly to his will.
"Even though this is my first time using the ability, magnetism is one of the four fundamental forces of the universe. In theory, it has the potential to influence the operation of the entire cosmic system."
His voice carried a calm confidence as he continued analyzing the sensation.
"Right now, even if I only focus on magnetic manipulation, I'm already far stronger than Magneto himself. The Phoenix Force and my enhanced physiology give this power a far greater foundation than he ever had."
Leon slowly shifted his gaze around the room.
As his awareness expanded, countless invisible lines suddenly appeared within his perception.
They stretched endlessly through the space around him, weaving through every corner of the laboratory like a vast web of glowing threads. Each line shimmered with different colors and frequencies.
Leon watched them with fascination.
"Electromagnetic waves… microwaves… visible light."
His voice softened slightly as realization dawned.
"This is the world from the perspective of magnetism."
Every line he saw represented a different electromagnetic signal traveling through space.
Ordinary human beings could perceive only an extremely tiny fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum. The visible world they experienced represented less than one ten-thousandth of the information constantly moving around them.
But Leon could now perceive it all.
"With this perspective, I'm seeing a version of reality that's hundreds of times richer than what ordinary people experience."
His eyes glowed faintly as he studied the web of signals filling his vision.
"The world is completely exposed before me now."
"The secrets hidden within it are becoming fewer and fewer."
Leon casually reached out and flicked one pale yellow line floating in front of him.
Several kilometers away, inside an ordinary apartment, a man was sitting on his couch watching television. The moment Leon interfered with the signal, the TV screen filled with static and flickering snow.
"Damn it! This cable network is garbage!" the man shouted angrily.
Leon chuckled softly and then shifted his attention to another signal.
He lightly plucked a faint purple thread drifting through the air.
Instantly, voices echoed inside his mind.
"Honey, are you free right now? No one's home tonight. My parents went out."
"I'll be there soon."
Leon raised an eyebrow with amusement.
Clearly, the conversation belonged to a young couple planning a private evening together.
Next, Leon focused on a bright cyan signal.
As soon as he interacted with it, a different sensation filled his mind. This time it was a massive stream of digital information flowing through the invisible networks surrounding the city.
Wireless internet signals.
Leon carefully extended his mental energy into the signal.
The moment his consciousness connected with it, an overwhelming torrent of data flooded into his perception. Vast amounts of online information streamed past him as though he had directly entered the digital world itself.
Websites, communications, databases—everything became accessible.
He could even open the homepage of his own corporation instantly.
"So this is the World Wide Web."
Leon's smile widened slightly.
"If I wanted to, I could hack into any system on the planet using nothing but my abilities."
"Svija."
Instead of speaking aloud, Leon transmitted the call directly through the network using his mental connection.
The response arrived immediately.
"I am here, sir," Svija replied through the digital signal. "Your current state is extremely unusual. I can detect your presence within the internet itself. This is the first time you have communicated with me purely through network data."
"Yes," Leon answered calmly. "This is a new application of my ability. From now on, I can contact you directly through digital networks without needing to speak."
"That is correct, sir," Svija responded. "This method of communication will eliminate most transmission delays between us. Your thoughts can be received with perfect clarity without requiring analysis of spoken language."
Leon nodded with satisfaction.
"That's exactly what I expected."
After a moment, he withdrew his consciousness from the internet.
His body slowly descended from the air and returned to the laboratory floor. With a casual wave of his hand, the clothes lying nearby flew toward him under the pull of magnetic force.
He dressed quickly while continuing the conversation.
"Even though we can communicate directly through the network, we'll still use normal communication most of the time. It will help expand your language and behavior databases."
"Understood, sir," Svija replied immediately.
Leon was extremely satisfied with the results of this experiment.
The fusion had given him two powerful new abilities—perfect transformation and magnetic control. Both of them represented significant steps forward in his overall plan.
Each new power brought him closer to the ultimate goal he had set for himself.
After a brief moment of thought, Leon issued his next order.
"Later today, release all members of the Brotherhood of Mutants."
At this stage, those prisoners no longer had much value to him. Their X-genes had already been sealed away, and the two strongest abilities among them were now his.
The remaining powers were insignificant compared to what he already possessed.
However, those individuals could still serve other purposes.
"Also," Leon continued calmly, "begin expanding the personnel of the Dark Division."
He paused briefly before giving specific instructions.
"You will select the candidates yourself. Prioritize individuals with criminal backgrounds, preferably those currently imprisoned. Arrange for them to be extracted from prison facilities."
His voice remained perfectly steady.
"Afterward, erase their memories and implant new personalities."
"Understood, sir," Svija replied crisply.
.....
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