Chapter 83: Sky Train

Scar stepped onto the open street. The morning air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew from the estate's outer gardens. The sky was beginning to lighten, pink and gold creeping over the horizon.

Scar walked to the edge of the driveway. He tapped his wristband, pulling up a digital stopwatch. Then, he dropped into a runner's stance and took a deep, steadying breath.

The last time he'd timed himself, he'd been impressed with his speed. He was fast enough to make the world blur past him, fast enough to reach the park in what seemed like no time at all.

But that was before.

Now, with a speed of over 1100 km/h, and a body that felt like it had been rebuilt from the ground up, he was eager to see what he could do.

He hit the start button on the stopwatch, and moved.

BOOM!!

The resulting acceleration was instant and overwhelming. His feet left the ground with a force that shattered the concrete beneath him, sending hairline fractures spreading outward from his launch point. A localized shockwave of displaced air blasted outward, violently bending the nearby trees and bushes forward. Leaves tore from branches and spiraled into the air. Dust and debris kicked up behind him, forming a trailing cloud that marked his path like a comet's tail.

Scar ran.

His legs moved with mechanical precision, each stride carrying him dozens of meters forward. His arms pumped rhythmically at his sides, and his movements were perfectly fluid, his newly structured muscles absorbing the friction without a single microscopic tear.

He accelerated to exactly 900 km/h, but his breathing remained perfectly steady. He didn't feel a fraction of the strain that usually accompanied his high speeds.

The world blurred into a tunnel of light. But it wasn't like the disorienting blur of his previous sprints. This was different.

He could see everything.

His enhanced perception took in every detail—the texture of the road beneath his feet, the movement of individual leaves in the trees, the startled expressions of early-morning pedestrians who caught glimpses of him as he passed. His improved spatial awareness processed it all instantly, allowing him to adjust his path with microscopic precision.

This is incredible.

He was faster than before. Not really by a huge margin, but by the increased agility and control which made the speed feel completely different.

He could think at this speed.

He could react.

He could adapt.

Before, he might have been able to match this pace in a straight line, but now he could maintain it through complex terrain, making split-second adjustments without losing momentum.

This was what real speed felt like.

Scar continued his pace until he finally spotted the park entrance ahead. He slowed down, his body decelerating with the same effortless control he'd displayed throughout the sprint. His feet touched down lightly, coming to a smooth stop at the same exact spot he always did in front of the park.

[Objective 1 Complete: Run 1 kilometer without stopping]

[You have received: 5 EXP, +10 km/h to Top Speed]

[Top Speed: 1140 km/h]

[Exp: 1915/2400]

[Daily Quest Complete]

Scar closed the system tab and looked down at the stopwatch on his wristband.

[Total Time Recorded = 0:04]

Scar stared at the number in awe.

Four seconds.

He had cleared a full kilometer in just four seconds. Yet, he felt like he had simply taken a light stroll. His stamina bar had barely decreased, and he wasn't feeling the slightest hint of fatigue.

A grin spread across his face.

The serum had worked beyond his wildest expectations. He was stronger, faster, more durable, more agile—and he hadn't experienced a single negative side effect. He was fine. And better than he'd ever been.

Taking the serum was the right choice, afterall.

Scar turned off his wristband and walked into the park.

Bruno's food truck was already there, the familiar aroma of sizzling meat and fresh bread drifting through the morning air. The old vendor was arranging his supplies when Scar approached, his back turned to the path.

"Morning, Bruno." He greeted politely, seemingly in a good mood.

Bruno looked up and froze. His face went through several expressions in rapid succession—confusion, surprise, then dawning recognition as he caught sight of Scar's purple eyes.

"Kid?" He squinted. "Is that you?"

"Yeah." Scar chuckled.

Bruno's eyes swept over Scar's new physique. "What happened to you? You look so much different from when I last saw you two days ago."

Scar shrugged. "Growth spurt," he said simply

"Right." Bruno laughed in amusement. He obviously didn't buy it. "Growth spurt, indeed." But he didn't press the matter. He simply shook his head and reached for a bun. "Same as usual?"

"Yeah." Scar nodded. "Extra everything."

Bruno got to work and delivered Scar's meal a few minutes later. The burger was just as good as always.

Scar ate slowly, savoring the taste. The morning sun was fully up now, casting long shadows across the park. A few early risers were already out—joggers, dog walkers, people heading to work.

And almost all of them stared at him.

Women in particular seemed to notice his new physique, their eyes lingering as they passed. Some offered small smiles or subtle waves. Men stared too, their expressions a mixture of envy and admiration.

Scar chuckled quietly.

He finished his burger and made his way to the park entrance.

Xavier usually picked him up at 7am on training days. But 7 came and went.

7:10

7:20

Time passed rapidly. And there was still no sign on Xavier.

Scar checked the time on his wristband again and again.

Where the hell is he?

He leaned against the park entrance sign and waited.

The morning crowd was thickening now, more people streaming past on their way to work or school. And as expected, the stares continued… but Scar had already gotten used to them. He focused instead on the rhythm of his breathing, the subtle awareness of his own body that seemed to have sharpened since waking up.

A man jogging past slowed down, his eyes fixed on Scar. "Hey, man," he called out. "You a model or something?"

"No." Scar replied simply.

"You should be," the man chuckled. "That's a hell of a physique."

Scar didn't respond.

The man shrugged and continued his jog.

Time continued to tick by. Xavier still hadn't arrived. Scar was beginning to lose his patience.

He frowned. Where is that old—

"Hey, kid." A voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

Scar flinched, his head snapping to the right. Xavier was standing right beside him, his hands stuffed casually into his pockets. Scar hadn't even heard him approach, nor had he seen a vehicle pulling up. It was as if he'd materialized out of thin air.

Scar turned to face him fully, already preparing for Xavier reaction; the surprise, questions, and inevitable commentary about his dramatic physical change.

But Xavier simply said: "Nice look. You get a haircut or something?"

Scar stared at him in awe. "What?"

"A haircut." Xavier gestured vaguely at Scar's head. "You look different."

Scar was stunned. "Are you serious right now?" He asked in disbelief. It was surprising enough that Xavier could instantly recognize him when no one else could, and even more frustrating that he didn't seem to care about his physique.

Xavier raised a brow, looking genuinely confused. "What?"

Scar scoffed. "Are you going to pretend you didn't notice my physique?"

Xavier shrugged lazily. "I did. I just didn't find it interesting enough to comment on."

Scar's jaw tightened. But before he could retort, Xavier chuckled. "Taking steroids will kill you, you know." He added.

Scar bristled. "I didn't take steroids."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. He looked Scar up and down again. Then, without warning, he threw a punch at Scar's face.

The attack was fast. Faster than anything Jane had thrown during their training sessions.

But Scar caught it easily.

His hand closed around Xavier's fist, stopping it dead in the air. He didn't need accelerated perception or a conscious thought. Just pure instinct and reflexes sharpened to a razor's edge.

Xavier hummed, a genuine smirk finally breaking through his nonchalant facade. "You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that." He pulled his fist back, flexing his fingers. "Taking steroids is madness. But taking the Durability Serum… that's some serious devotion." He chuckled softly. "Perhaps you are interesting after all."

Scar's eyes widened in shock. How on earth could Xavier tell he had taken the serum just by the fact that he stopped a punch heading for his face? And rather than scolding him, it sounded like Xavier was actually proud of his reckless pursuit of power.

"But you are aware of the risks involved, right?" Xavier continued casually.

"I'm fine," Scar dismissed. "I didn't develop any side effects."

"Yeah. For now." Xavier scoffed. "But if the side effects does kick in later… you will be missed."

Scar frowned. "Nothing's going to happen."

"Sure thing, kid." Xavier chuckled amusingly. "But if it does, I'll send flowers to the funeral."

"I'm not going to die." Scar retorted sharply.

"Everyone dies." Xavier said flatly. "But I guess that's Felicity's problem to worry about. She just got you back, and now you're already trying to leave her again. For good."

The words hit harder than Scar expected.

"But I have to say, you are one crazy kid." Xavier laughed, clapping Scar heavily on his broadened shoulder. "We should definitely wrestle sometime... if you're still alive in a few weeks."

Scar rolled his eyes, ignoring the morbid taunts. "Let's just go. I have other things to do after this."

"Alright, then," Xavier gestured down the street. "Come on."

Scar raised a brow. He was confused. "Wait, where are we going?" He demanded. "And where's your car? Aren't we were going to the forest?"

"No," Xavier said, turning and walking down the sidewalk. "We're going somewhere else today."

"Where?" Scar asked, falling into step beside him.

Xavier smirked. "You'll see," he murmured.

They walked in silence.

The city streets were busy now, filled with morning traffic and pedestrians going about their daily routines. Scar followed Xavier through the crowds, noting how the older man moved through the urban environment with the same easy confidence he displayed in the wilderness.

They walked for several minutes before reaching the nearest subway station.

Except—

It wasn't really a subway.

Scar stopped beneath the massive entrance. He had expected something ordinary—a staircase leading underground, the familiar architecture of public transit systems.

Instead, the station rose upward.

It was a massive glass tower, its exterior gleaming in the morning sun. Elevated tracks extended from its upper levels, suspended dozens of meters above the street below. The trains that ran along these tracks were sleek, aerodynamic vehicles that glided on magnetic rails, their passage barely making a sound.

Xavier led him inside.

The station's interior was just as impressive as its exterior. Holographic displays floated in the air, showing arrival times and route maps in vibrant color. Automated ticket machines processed passengers with quiet efficiency. The whole space hummed with the subtle energy of advanced technology.

They boarded the sky train without a word.

The car was moderately crowded, filled with commuters heading into the city center. Scar found a spot near the window, watching as the train accelerated smoothly along its elevated track. The city spread out below them—a vast expanse of gleaming towers, billboards, and winding streets.

Xavier stood nearby, his expression unreadable.

The train hummed along.

After a few minutes, people inside the train slowly began to notice him, whispering among themselves as they recognized him as the son of Felicity Myers.

-"Hey. Is that Henry Myers?"

-"No way. What would he be doing on a sky train?"

-"Look at his eyes. It has to be him."

-"Damn, why does he look so jacked?"

Scar kept his gaze fixed on the window, ignoring the hushed conversations. The name Henry Myers still felt strange to him—a label that belonged to someone else, someone who had existed before he arrived in this world. But the people in this city knew him as that person, and their recognition was an inconvenience he had to deal with.

A few minutes later, the train hissed to a halt in the deep city sectors. They stepped off and walked down the bustling street for a few more blocks.

Finally, Xavier stopped in front of a building flashing with holographic displays. "We're here." He announced.

Scar looked up.

The building in front of them was huge, its facade covered in neon lights and animated holograms depicting various games and activities. Above the entrance, in massive glowing letters:

VEE'S ARCADE