Transcendent Gene
Chapter 117: Deployment [3]

Chapter 117: Deployment [3]

Training with Raymond was different. Gio could tell almost immediately that the pace was going to be much slower.

Naturally, they weren’t going to do anything wild. Their actions had to be contained to the scale of what could be allowed within the zephyr.

However, that was not the reason for the change of pace.

It was because Raymond’s focus wasn’t strength at all.

Every member of the team who helped Gio tried to comprehensively improve his base strength. There wasn’t anything wrong with their approach as it was the best way to prepare him for real combat scenarios.

Once one reached a higher level, it was the same with Sequences. Individual training was always great, but the best way to see qualitative changes in one’s abilities was to use them over and over again, pushing them to their absolute limits.

"That’s how you’ll train once you’ve established a foothold as a Sequencer. Right now, you aren’t even at the stairs yet. To get there and to take the first step, you have to go a lot slower."

Gio knew the most complex and most abrasive ways to use the Rune of Change. He knew how it was best used in combat scenarios.

But what did he know about how the Rune of Change itself worked?

Even he had already admitted that it was beyond his reach.

"Whether it’s a Gene Sequence or an Original Gene, they won’t respond to us just because they’re parts of our bodies. They can’t coddle us and tell us the way forward. We have to learn them, understand them, and find it for ourselves," Raymond said.

"Ah..."

It was obvious if Gio only took a second to think about it.

’How did I start off in the tower?’

He also started his journey there with small experiments. That was his first time feeling a Combat Sequence in his body, so he couldn’t take big steps from the start.

’I never even considered doing the same thing with the Guardian Runes.’

Their existence alone was so vast that Gio’s mind never tried to rationalize them as ordinary Sequences to be trained like ordinary Sequences.

For some reason, he never even thought to take it slow.

"...so we’ll start here."

Raymond’s words came back into his ears as the man wheeled himself over to one of the walls of the room.

They’d moved to a space Gio hadn’t seen before. The walls, ceiling, and ground were made of connected steel tiles. There were several shelves and countertops lining the walls containing an array of items.

Raymond reached for one of the shelves, taking a glass jar filled with large metal balls to where Gio stood.

"Grab one," he said.

Gio did as he was told and reached into the jar. His eyes widened slightly at the surprising weight of the ball that filled his entire hand. It was difficult to even raise his arm out of the jar.

"Don’t worry about having to carry it. Sit down and place it on the ground in front of you."

As Gio followed his instructions, Raymond continued his explanation.

"The first thing you need to understand is the energy of your Sequence. You’ve used it already, so you must already know that it draws on your stamina, but stamina isn’t energy. It’s just what gets converted into energy."

Every unique Sequence had a unique energy signature. Most of them could be categorized under the "stamina" umbrella, but even they were all different.

"Hover your hands over the ball and release your energy. Try to influence it however your power wants to flow and focus your mind into the space between you and its surface."

A white hue covered Gio’s hands.

’Hekat’s energy...’

The Rune of Change’s energy was vague. It was like a piece of translucent fabric sheltering him from the sun. If Gio just pushed a little too hard, he’d brush right past it.

But the fabric was still there. If he touched it gently, brushing just the tips of his fingers against its stitching, he could still feel it.

"Calm, smooth, flowing..."

That was how the energy felt.

"...like a river."

Hekat’s energy felt like flowing liquid. It was a smooth flow that reminded Gio of water before anything else.

Raymond nodded with a smile as he heard the words.

"Concentrate more. Feel the way your energy is interacting with the ball. Without your influence, what does it want to do?"

How did Hekat’s energy react when it came in contact with the ball?

’Like nature, it molds the ball into its form. It turns it into a habitat it can inhabit and alter as it pleases. What does it want to change...?’

"Nothing."

"Sorry?"

"It doesn’t want to do anything. It just wants to exist, and by existing..."

Gio pushed a little.

"Change" was not a proactive force. Gio could use it proactively, but it was naturally a force that acted by existing alone.

As long as it existed, everything would feel its effects.

When it was used as a Sequence, "existing" meant purely speeding up the rate of "change" the target experienced without doing anything else.

The metal ball, in this case, deformed just slightly. Gio didn’t use much power, so the change wasn’t pronounced, but it was enough for both him and Raymond to see.

"Good."

Raymond smiled and nodded.

"What you feel is the ’nature’ of your Sequence. It isn’t an end-all-be-all, but for the most part, the nature of a Sequence will teach you where most of its potential is."

It was a completely new piece of information to Gio.

"The nature of a Sequence...?" He repeated.

It wasn’t something he’d ever seen in a record.

But it made sense. He couldn’t deny that what he felt from Hekat was its true potential. He could even hear the snake’s voice in his head silently expressing its excitement.

"Do you have a rough idea of what it is?" Raymond asked.

"I..." Gio wrinkled his brows as he looked at the light around his hands.

"I think I do."

He couldn’t be sure, but perhaps he’d found an inkling of a path.

"Let’s explore it, then."

It was a great start; a phenomenal start, even. Gio was able to take the first step far faster than most others his age.

’I’ve been wanting to see it too.’

Gio wasn’t the only one excited. Raymond had been wondering about Gio’s talents for a long time now. He never had a chance to truly see Gio’s Sequence in action.

By now, everyone else had seen his abilities properly as he used them against enemies. This situation was even better than that.

’I can finally see where his limits lie.’

Raymond set his eyes on Gio from the beginning not out of curiosity, but out of greed. He saw the talent within the young boy from their very first meeting.

At that time, he thought it was a talent for backline duties. He only later found out that the talent in question extended far further than just the back line.

’But if he’s able to learn at the pace I have planned for him...’

Raymond’s eyes glinted with a certain light.

’...he might even be better than I gave him credit for.’

He’d changed his opinion of Gio several times by now.

But was it time to do it again?