Blood dripped onto the forest floor.
Leo stumbled backward, one hand pressed against the fresh wound across his chest.
His icy blue eyes widened slightly.
He hadn't even seen the attack.
The man in black stood several meters away, his ordinary-looking dagger hanging loosely at his side.
His expression remained calm.
Disinterested.
As though he hadn't just nearly killed Leo with a single strike.
"...You're alive," the man observed.
Leo exhaled sharply.
Purple flames flickered around his hands.
Spatial energy distorted the air around him.
"...Are you so bold to believe that you could escape and enraged sovereign.?" Leo smiled as he asked.
He had already abandoned any hope of outside help or winning this fight with words yet he needed time to ensure his energy was at it's peak.
The stranger's gaze remained steady.
" Of course not... At least alone I couldn't."
The answer intrigued leo.
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"Then explain why you're trying to kill me.. the Zodiac might just kill you afterwards."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"Maybe..."
A pause.
"...but if they don't...
I'll be immortalized in the Underworld."
Leo's smile broadened then he disappeared.
Space folded beneath his feet.
The forest blurred around him.
His fist ignited with purple flames as he appeared directly behind the stranger.
BOOOM!
The punch shattered the earth.
Trees collapsed.
A crater formed.
Smoke rose into the sky.
Leo stood breathing heavily.
"...Did I get him.. was it seriously that easy?"
"...No."
Leo's eyes widened.
The voice came from behind him.
He turned instantly.
The stranger remained completely unharmed.
"... your spatial movement is efficient..," the man commented.
"..But predictable to someone like me .."
The black blade moved.
SHHHK!
Leo barely twisted aside.
Blood sprayed from his shoulder.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
Leo retreated instantly.
His breathing became uneven.
This wasn't like fighting the corrupted beasts.
Or the Zodiac member.
Those enemies where stronger but the gap wasn't uncrossable.
Yet
This man...
Overwelmed him with pure power.
No wasted movements.
No unnecessary energy.
Every action served a purpose.
This was the gap between a world saint and world king in a one on one battle.
"...You're analyzing me," Leo said.
The stranger nodded.
"Correct."
"Why?"
The man raised his blade again.
"Because you are disappointing.
The words struck harder than the sword.
And the actions even harder.
'What did this stranger know..
How dare he judge me'.
The fact that the opponent was analysing him mid fight was annoying.
"...What?"
The stranger took another step.
"You possess exceptional abilities."
Purple flames danced around Leo's fingers.
"You manipulate space."
The stranger continued walking.
"You've begun touching celestial principles."
Another step.
"And yet..."
His gaze sharpened.
"...you rely entirely upon talent alone."
Leo clenched his fists.
"...You don't know anything about me."
"No?"
The stranger vanished.
Leo's instincts screamed.
He raised spatial barriers instantly.
CRACK!
The barriers shattered.
Leo barely managed to twist away.
The sword cut across his ribs.
Blood splattered.
The stranger stood beside him.
"...Then why haven't you adapted?"
Leo jumped backward.
Purple flames exploded outward.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire clearing disappeared beneath a sea of violet fire.
Trees collapsed.
Space distorted violently.
The flames consumed everything.
Leo panted heavily.
His injuries accumulated rapidly.
"...Stay down..."
Silence.
Then
"...Impressive."
The flames parted.
The stranger emerged.
Unburned.
Yet
Not untouched.
Purple flames clung to his skin yet the energy around him pushed them away
Leo stared .
The man looked around thoughtfully.
"Your flames possess destructive characteristics unlike ordinary fire."
His gaze shifted back toward Leo.
"They erase."
A pause.
"But your control is inadequate.
Leo's expression hardened irritation boiling into his voice.
"...Then teach me."
The stranger blinked.
Leo wiped blood from his mouth.
"If you're going to criticize everything I do..."
Purple flames intensified.
"...then show me something better."
For the first time
The stranger smiled faintly.
"...Interesting."
Then
He vanished.
Leo barely tracked the movement.
The sword descended.
Leo created a spatial rift.
The blade cut through it.
Leo's eyes widened.
WHAM!
The stranger's fist slammed into Leo's stomach.
The world blurred.
Leo crashed through several trees.
His body screamed in pain.
He forced himself upright.
The stranger approached calmly.
"Power without understanding."
Another step.
"Talent without discipline."
Another.
"You fight like someone who has never truly been hunted."
Leo staggered.
"...Shut up."
The stranger stopped.
"Then prove me wrong."
Leo roared.
Space distorted violently.
Dozens of spatial tears opened around the battlefield.
Purple flames erupted.
The forest became a storm of destruction.
Leo pushed harder than ever before.
He moved faster.
Hit harder.
Fought smarter.
Spatial rifts trapped movement.
Flames cut escape routes.
Every lesson from Skycrest.
Every battle from the Elven Kingdom.
Everything he'd learned.
Poured into this fight.
The stranger finally drew his blade properly.
Steel clashed against space itself.
His movements remained perfect.
Yet.
He began retreating.
Leo noticed.
'..I'm pushing him back.'
The voice inside him laughed.
"No."
Leo's heart skipped.
"He's allowing it."
The stranger's sword shifted.
A simple movement.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing grand.
The world stopped.
Leo's instincts screamed.
He moved instantly.
Too late.
SHHHK!
Agony exploded through his body.
Leo collapsed onto one knee.
Blood pooled beneath him.
His spatial constructs shattered.
His flames dispersed.
He looked down.
The blade had pierced his side.
The stranger stepped back.
"...Better."
Leo struggled to breathe.
"...You..."
The stranger sheathed his sword
"...Now I understand."
Leo glared upward.
"...Understand what?"
The man's gaze softened slightly
"...Why they fear you."
Silence.
Then
"You possess potential beyond imagination."
His expression darkened.
"But potential means nothing."
He drew his sword again.
"...if you die before realizing it."
Leo forced himself upright.
His vision blurred.
His body reached its limits.
The stranger approached.
"...Your greatest weakness."
He stopped before Leo.
"...is that you don't know..
Why..
You don't know.
Who.
You don't know what you fight for."
Leo's breathing became ragged.
Images flashed through his mind from his journey in Aether.
His father.
Master Ren.
Seth.
Arthur.
Sandra.
Evangeline.
The people waiting for him.
Even memories from his past life.
A life of confinement.
A life of limits.
"...No."
The stranger raised his blade.
"What do you fight for?. "
Leo slowly stood.
Purple flames flickered weakly.
Space trembled around him.
His body shook.
But his eyes remained steady.
"...I ..
I fight for.."
The voice inside him laughed softly.
" what do you want?"
Leo tightened his fists.
"...Strength."
The voice spoke again.
"...why? ."
Leo's blades rose.
Moonlight reflected across black steel.
Leo's heart thundered.
His body failed.
He could barely stand.
The stranger's remained calm.
His gaze locked onto Leo's.
"The world will not wait for you to become stronger."
His blade descended.
"...So evolve."
Leo's eyes widened.
The voice inside him roared.
Something shattered.
The suppression surrounding his soul cracked violently.
Space trembled.
Stars flickered overhead despite the approaching dawn.
The stranger stopped.
For the first time.
His composure broke.
A smile full of battle will spread on his face.
"...Finally."
Purple and blue energy erupted around Leo.
The forest shook violently.
The voice within him laughed.
Wild.
Ancient.
Triumphant.
"YES ... More .. more ."
Leo screamed.
The heavens answered.
Silver energy burst from his body .
World energy poured into him.
His wounds closed.
His energy reserves filled.
His mind cleared.
His body started changing.
His very presence distorted reality.
The stranger answered by releasing his own aura .
Darkness clouded around him.
His presence became vast and consuming.
Intense battle will erupted from his soul.
He was finally fighting with everything because he knew this would end only with the death of one of them.
As both launched towards each other.
Leo's eyes shone with understanding.
A peaceful smile crossed his lips.
"I fight for ...
FREEDOM..."
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!