Chapter 154 — What Did He Become

"Interesting that he ended up in their household. Another improbable coincidence."

"Indeed... Keep monitoring him closely, Gia. Damian Valcor is either going to become one of humanity’s greatest assets or one of our most dangerous problems. I need to know which long before it becomes obvious to everyone else."

"...Understood."

The holographic figure faded, leaving the Chairman alone with his thoughts.

He continued watching the broadcast, seeing how soldiers nervously kept distance from the teenager, how even an A+ rank commander showed visible caution.

"Sixteen years old. Already this powerful, filled with confidence and already building an organization and challenging established power structures."

The Chairman’s smile widened slightly.

"You’re going to change the world, Damian Valcor. One way or another. I’m curious to see which direction you choose."

He closed the holographic display and returned to other important matters requiring his attention.

The Earth continued spinning with millions of lives requiring guidance and oversight.

But he’d be watching... Always watching.

Because instability could be useful. But uncontrolled instability could be catastrophic as well.

And determining which category Damian Valcor fell into was now a top priority.

Before he grew up to become unstoppable.

****

[Military Installation - Interview Room]

Damian had been given clean clothes – simple military issue pants and a black shirt – and directed to a small room where he’d promptly fallen asleep on the provided bed.

When Major General Eric had tried to ask questions, Damian had waved him off with barely opened eyes.

"I’m too tired. Please ask the others. They were there as well."

Then he’d been unconscious within seconds, his body finally allowing itself rest after two months of constant survival pressure.

Eric had decided not to push. The survivors could provide initial information while Valcor recovered.

Now he sat in an interrogation room with three other officers, recording equipment active, facing the ten exhausted survivors who’d emerged from the portal.

Major Ryan sat at the front. He was clean now but his eyes were still exhausted.

"Let’s begin from the beginning. The portal formed and pulled you through. What happened immediately after?"

Ryan took a slow breath and started explaining.

The initial confusion. The Giant army of one thousand warriors. The desperate ambush that killed twenty humans in minutes. Damian’s leadership of the survivors. The split between those who followed him and those who stayed with Ryan.

The officers listened with growing seriousness as the casualty numbers mounted.

Then Ryan described the battles. The systematic elimination of Giant patrols. Damian’s growing power and increasing violence alongside him having some kind of bond with a raven beast named Kuro.

The other survivors added details, their voices shaking as they relived the trauma.

But notably, they carefully avoided discussing anything about Damian’s specific methods.

About what he’d done to gain power... About the transformation they’d witnessed.

Until Eric asked directly.

"How did Damian Valcor kill hundreds of Giants? What weapon arts or skills did he use that gave him such a dramatic advantage despite being outnumbered?"

Silence filled the room as soon as he asked that question.

The survivors exchanged glances, a silent conversation happening in micro-expressions and slight head shakes.

Nobody wanted to answer that question.

Finally, Ryan spoke, his voice heavy with guilt.

"He created a new art after his team was almost completely slaughtered. The principle was probably consuming Monster flesh and using specialized Aura circulation to integrate their biological advantages into his own physiology."

Complete shocked silence from the officers.

"He... ate them?"

Eric’s voice came out strangled.

"He consumed sentient Monster flesh? Deliberately?"

"Yes."

Ryan’s face showed shame and horror.

"He would kill Giants, then consume parts of their bodies – arms, legs, organs, blood – and his body would transform, gaining immense physical strength and capabilities."

The other survivors turned to glare at Ryan, clear killing intent radiating from multiple directions.

He’d broken the unspoken agreement not to reveal that particular horror.

But Ryan met their gazes steadily.

"...They need to know. The military needs to understand what he became even if he saved us all."

Eric looked at his fellow officers, seeing his own nausea and disbelief reflected in their faces.

"That’s... that’s fundamentally against every moral and ethical boundary. Even in warfare, consuming sentient species is considered one of the most severe taboos."

"...I know."

Ryan’s voice was flat.

"We all know... But we watched him do it hundreds of times over two months. Watched him transform from a student into something that scared us as much as the Giants did."

Marcus spoke up, his businessman’s voice trying to add rationality.

"He saved our lives multiple times! Whatever methods he used, however horrifying they were, the result is that ten of us are alive when we should all be dead. And we managed to gain control of the portal."

"...But at what cost?"

One of Eric’s officers asked quietly.

"What difference is there between monsters and us if we follow the same practices as those scum? Do you not understand why this is so much frowned upon?

If a person can even eat monsters who speak like us and have their own cultures, this tells us that he can even eat humans if it comes to his survival!

We as humans have our own moral boundaries for many reasons! What can we use to describe him now? A human or a monster? What did he become in the process?"

Nobody had an answer for that.

The interrogation continued for another hour with the survivors describing the final battle, Vorgath’s defeat and the elimination of the entire Giant army.

By the end, all the officers looked sick, their faces pale, their hands shaking slightly.

Eric stood slowly.

"We should meet with him now..."

****

The officers walked down the hallway toward Damian’s room, their footsteps echoing in the quiet facility.

Through the small window in the door, they could see him sleeping peacefully, his new clothes clean, his breathing steady and looking like any exhausted teenager after a difficult experience.

’Finding it hard to believe that’s the same person described in those reports. The one who ate hundreds of sentient beings. The one who slaughtered an entire army single-handedly.’

Eric reached for the door handle but before he could open the door...

Two terrifying presences locked onto him simultaneously.

The pressure was immediate and overwhelming.

Eric broke into cold sweat, his A+ rank Aura completely suppressed by the weight of what was focusing on him.

His hand froze on the door handle, unable to move forward or backward.

The other officers went rigid with several of them reaching for weapons instinctively before realizing how futile that would be.

Then... two figures appeared at the end of the hallway.

A tall man with silver hair and eyes, his bearing radiating controlled lethality despite his casual walk.

A woman with black hair and eyes, her maternal appearance hiding something predatory that made survival instincts scream.

Eric’s eyes went wide with recognition.

"SIR!"

He saluted immediately, fist to chest, his voice carrying respect and fear in equal measure.

Alaric and Lyandra Valcor walked forward with unhurried confidence, their combined presence making the hallway feel smaller.

They nodded to Eric, acknowledging his salute.

"Major General Langsten. We’ll be taking our son now. There’s no need for further investigation or questioning."

Alaric’s voice was very calm, carrying no hint of the threat everyone present could feel radiating from him.

"He’s been through enough. He needs to be with his family."

Eric didn’t even consider refusing.

"Of course, sir. No investigations are necessary. He’s free to leave whenever he wishes."

The pressure disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.

Alaric and Lyandra walked past the officers and entered Damian’s room, closing the door behind them.

The officers collectively exhaled with several leaning against walls for support.

One of them turned to Eric, his voice shaking.

"Sir, why did you just let them take him? We have procedures, protocols and required debriefing for anyone emerging from portal dimensions–"

"Shut up!"

Eric’s voice was sharp.

"All of you. There’s a legend in the military. I’m sure you’ve all heard it at some point during your service."

The officers exchanged confused glances, clearly not understanding what legend he meant.

Eric’s expression grew deadly serious, his voice dropping to a respectful, fearful whisper.

"Twin Terrors."

Every officer went rigid with recognition dawning on their faces.

Several actually stepped back involuntarily, their faces going pale.

"You mean... they’re...?"

"Yes."

Eric looked at the closed door, his expression mixing awe and terror.

"Alaric and Lyandra Valcor. The famed Twin Terrors! The legendary pair who made several Monster species avoid entire portals out of fear. The two awakeners who disappeared from active service years ago."

He took a slow breath.

"They are Damian Valcor’s adoptive parents. And... you haven’t seen what they’re capable of when properly motivated."

Silence spread through the hallway.

The officers stood frozen, processing the implications.

Damian Valcor was already powerful enough to slaughter hundreds of Giants alone.

Raised by the Twin Terrors...

What would he become in another year? Five years? Ten years?

The thought was simultaneously inspiring and absolutely terrifying.