Chapter 204: Seventy Days of Suffering (8).

“Tell me about my… conditioning,” Nero said, changing the subject. “You mentioned that what you’re going to do to me will be more intense than what most candidates endure. What does that mean exactly?”

Lyon’s expression grew more serious, and he leaned forward again, his dark eyes locking onto Nero’s.

“It means we are going to break you down, Nero. Completely and utterly. We are going to dismantle everything you are at this moment, your body, your mind, your spirit, and rebuild you into something capable of surviving the most treacherous of battlefields. The procedures you have already undergone are only the beginning. Over the next several weeks, you will be subjected to a series of increasingly intense modifications, both physical and spiritual. We will push your body to its absolute limits, force it to adapt and evolve in ways that should not be possible. We will train your mind to endure pain and suffering beyond what most humans can imagine. We will condition your spirit to resist corruption and madness, to hold onto your sense of self even as your Sins try to strip it away.”

He paused, his tone growing darker.

“Many candidates do not survive this process. Their bodies fail and their minds shatter, or their spirits simply collapse under the weight of corruption. But those who do survive emerge as something greater than human. Something… capable. Capable of standing against the darkness and holding the line, even if only for a little while.”

Nero felt a chill run through him, though he kept his expression neutral. He had already agreed to this, meaning he was essentially committed to whatever they would do to him, but hearing it laid out so plainly made the reality of his situation sink in deeper.

There was a high chance he was not getting out of this alive.

“Why?” Nero asked quietly. “Why go to such lengths? Why not just brand the Seal and be done with it?”

Lyon’s smile returned, though it was thin and humorless.

“Because the Seal alone is not enough,” he said. “A Seal grants power, yes, but power without the body and mind to wield it properly is useless. A warrior who is not properly conditioned will burn out within days or weeks, consumed by the corruption before they can contribute anything meaningful. But one who has been broken down and rebuilt, who has been forged with resilience flowing with the blood in his veins, can last for years, even decades. They become weapons of immense value, capable of turning the tide in battles that would otherwise be lost, bringing endless glory to the Empire.”

He gestured toward Nero.

“You have potential, Nero. But if we do not guide that potential’s evolution, if we do not shape it properly, you will become a threat to yourself and everyone around you. That is why you must be destroyed… To ensure that what emerges is something that can be controlled, something that can be directed toward the darkness.”

Nero said nothing, his mind racing.

Lyon’s words confirmed what he had already suspected, that his abnormal regeneration had drawn their attention. But they did not know the full truth.

They had only seen the surface, the symptoms of something deeper.

“What about the trials?” Nero asked. “You mentioned that the trials have changed due to current circumstances. What does that mean?”

Lyon’s expression grew grim.

“The trials were originally designed to test a candidate’s worthiness, to ensure they possessed the strength, skill, and resolve necessary to become a Templar. But the situation has changed.” When he said this, Lyon’s expression shifted.

“This new corruption… the Defilement, it is spreading faster than we anticipated, and the Church is losing ground on multiple fronts. We need Templars now, not months or years from now. So the trials have been condensed, streamlined to produce results more quickly. They will be more dangerous, more brutal, and the mortality rate will be higher. But it will produce Templars who are battle-ready from day one.”

He paused, his gaze sharpening.

“You will undergo these trials once your conditioning is complete. If you survive, you will be granted the Seal of Blood and inducted into the Crimson Crucible. If you do not survive…” He trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.

Nero nodded slowly, absorbing the information. The trials were another obstacle, another test he would have to overcome, but they were also an opportunity. If he could prove himself during the trials, if he could demonstrate his value to the Church, then he would gain access to resources, information, and power that would be invaluable in his pursuit of revenge against Captain Orpheus.

“One last thing,” Lyon said, his tone shifting.

Nero could see a slight twinkle in his eyes. One of a mischievous nature…

“What we are doing here, all this, it must remain secret. Not even the Commander can know the full details of what we are attempting. If word gets out and the elites or certain factions within the Church learn of what you are, they will seek to either claim you for themselves or eliminate you as a threat. Do you understand?”

Nero met Lyon’s gaze and nodded.

“I understand,” he said quietly.

Lyon smiled, and for the first time, there was something almost genuine in the expression.

“Good,” he said. “Then let us begin in earnest.”

He stood from his chair and gestured toward the door.

“Come with me. There is much work to be done, and time is not on our side.”

Nero rose from his seat. He hesitated only for the briefest of moments then followed Lyon toward the door. As they stepped into the corridor beyond, Nero felt the weight of the world resting on his shoulders.

The moment he took the next step, he would officially be leaving a portion of himself behind.

He would be leaving the past behind as well. However, every death he had witnessed, every drop of blood spilt…

He would not forget even one, that he swore, on his blood and on his name.

He would walk this path, come hail, come storms, come turbulent seas of blood boiling with war and death.

He clenched his fists tight and quickly followed behind Doctor Lyon.

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