The battlefield had become almost completely silent.
Leo was still standing.
Barely.
One hand hung at his side, while the other remained raised toward the terrifying figure standing before him.
Kaito Jin's body was no longer completely human.
The black scales covering his skin reflected the faint light of the ruined battlefield. A long dragon tail moved slowly behind him. A horn had emerged from the center of his forehead, and his eyes had become completely black.
The being inside him—the original Black Dragon—looked down at Leo.
Black Dragon: "You should understand by now, Leo."
Leo breathed heavily.
His body was exhausted.
His clothes were torn.
His muscles trembled.
But then…
Leo smiled.
Leo: "You really are something…"
Black Dragon tilted Kaito's head slightly.
Leo: "You even took control of my rival's body."
He looked at Kaito's transformed body.
Leo: "You know what?"
His smile became wider.
Leo: "I'm actually happy."
Black Dragon stared at him.
Leo slowly straightened his body.
Leo: "Because I was getting bored."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Leo laughed.
Leo: "HAHAHAHA!"
The laughter echoed across the ruined land.
Black Dragon: "You think this is funny?"
Leo: "Of course it is."
Leo raised his head.
Leo: "I may not be able to save this world anymore…"
His aura suddenly began to rise.
Leo: "…but I can definitely kill you in this fight."
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
BOOM!
A wave of energy exploded outward.
Black Dragon's eyes narrowed.
Black Dragon: "Then come."
Leo disappeared.
BOOM!
The instant he reappeared, his fist was already moving toward Kaito's face.
Black Dragon blocked it with one hand.
The impact created a shockwave that pushed dust and broken stones across the battlefield.
Leo immediately twisted his body.
His leg swept toward Kaito's head.
Black Dragon ducked.
Leo's foot passed over him.
But Leo didn't stop.
He planted his foot against the ground and spun.
His other leg came around like the kick of a wild beast.
Black Dragon crossed both arms.
BAAAM!
The force sent him sliding several meters backward.
Leo landed on all fours.
His posture had completely changed.
His shoulders were lowered.
His fingers were spread.
His nails had become longer.
His breathing had changed.
Slow.
Deep.
Predatory.
Black Dragon stared at him.
Black Dragon: "What are you doing?"
Leo slowly lifted his head.
Leo: "I'm fighting like a lion."
His eyes narrowed.
Leo: "This isn't ordinary Martial Art anymore."
The aura surrounding him suddenly exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
The earth shook.
Rocks began floating around him.
Dust rose into the sky.
The energy continued increasing.
Higher.
Higher.
And higher.
It passed through the atmosphere.
It passed beyond the Earth.
It continued into space.
The energy traveled farther than the planet itself.
Beyond the solar system.
Beyond the known universe.
And then…
It reached the Multiverse.
A brilliant column of light rose from Earth and disappeared into the unimaginable distance.
The energy could be felt across the Multiverse.
And, somewhere within that vast existence, even the main characters of other worlds could feel that strange power.
But this time, the story did not stop to name them.
This energy belonged to Leo.
The wind became violent.
Dust covered the battlefield.
Black Dragon stood motionless inside the storm.
Then—
BOOM!
A massive wave of energy erupted from Leo.
The dust completely swallowed him.
Black Dragon watched.
Black Dragon: "So this is your answer?"
The dust slowly began to settle.
A silhouette appeared.
One step.
Then another.
Leo walked out of the dust.
His T-shirt was completely gone.
Only his pants remained.
His hair stood upward wildly.
His human-like features had begun disappearing.
Two lion ears had appeared on top of his head.
His eyes had completely changed.
They were no longer the eyes of an ordinary human.
His fingernails had grown into sharp claws.
A powerful golden aura surrounded his entire body.
He lowered his shoulders.
His fingers curled slightly.
His breathing became calm.
Almost like a lion waiting for its prey.
Black Dragon stared at him.
Leo slowly looked up.
Leo: "Beast Merge."
The words echoed across the battlefield.
This was no longer simply Leo using the power of the Lion Spiritual Beast.
This was a complete fusion.
Human consciousness.
Lion instinct.
Martial Art.
Spiritual Energy.
Everything had merged into one body.
Beast Merge.
Leo suddenly vanished.
Black Dragon's eyes widened.
BOOM!
Leo appeared directly beside him.
His claws slashed across Kaito's armor-like scales.
Black Dragon immediately raised his arm.
SHRAAAK!
Several marks appeared across his arm.
Black Dragon countered with a punch.
Leo twisted his body and narrowly avoided it.
The punch passed beside his face.
Leo grabbed Kaito's arm.
He pulled himself forward.
Then—
BAM!
His knee struck Kaito's stomach.
Black Dragon was pushed backward.
Leo followed instantly.
One claw.
Two.
Three.
Four.
A rapid series of attacks.
Black Dragon defended against every strike.
His hands moved like lightning.
Leo's claws came from every direction.
Left.
Right.
Above.
Below.
Black Dragon blocked.
Countered.
Dodged.
Blocked again.
The two fighters moved so quickly that their bodies became flashes across the battlefield.
BOOM!
They collided.
BOOM!
They separated.
BOOM!
They collided again.
Neither side gave the other a moment to breathe.
Leo jumped backward.
His hands opened.
Golden spiritual energy gathered between his palms.
Leo: "Lion Spirit Blast!"
FWOOOOOOOSH!
A massive golden blast erupted toward Kaito.
Black Dragon crossed his arms.
A dark barrier appeared.
KRAAAAAASH!
The blast collided with the barrier.
The entire area shook.
Black Dragon forced his way through the explosion.
Leo was already waiting.
He lunged forward.
His claws struck Kaito's shoulder.
Black Dragon countered.
Leo blocked with his forearm.
The impact sent both of them flying backward.
Leo landed on his feet.
Black Dragon landed several meters away.
Both were breathing heavily now.
Small cuts covered their bodies.
Their clothing and armor were damaged.
The battle had become completely even.
Leo stared at Kaito.
Leo: "You're really strong."
Black Dragon: "And you are still holding back."
Leo grinned.
Leo: "Maybe."
Black Dragon disappeared.
BOOM!
Leo barely raised his arm in time.
BAM!
The punch struck his defense.
Leo was pushed backward.
Black Dragon followed.
Another punch.
Leo dodged.
A kick.
Leo jumped.
A claw-like strike.
Leo twisted sideways.
Then Leo landed behind him.
His claws moved toward Kaito's back.
Black Dragon turned at the last second.
CLASH!
Their attacks collided.
The shockwave blew away everything around them.
Leo jumped backward.
He landed low to the ground.
His lion ears twitched.
His eyes narrowed.
For a brief moment, Leo looked less like a martial artist…
…and more like a wild lion preparing to attack.
Black Dragon rushed forward.
Leo rushed toward him too.
The two collided in the center of the battlefield.
BOOOOOOM!
Their fists struck.
Neither moved.
They pushed harder.
Leo's golden aura collided with Black Dragon's dark aura.
The earth beneath them cracked.
Leo growled.
Black Dragon roared.
Both suddenly released their energy.
KRAAAAAAAAAAASH!
A massive explosion swallowed them.
For several seconds, nothing could be seen.
Then—
A figure flew out of the smoke.
Leo.
He rolled across the ground and stopped himself with one hand.
He immediately stood.
Black Dragon emerged from the smoke as well.
Leo wiped the corner of his mouth.
He smiled.
Leo: "That's more like it."
Black Dragon: "You still want to laugh?"
Leo: "Yeah."
He raised his claws.
Leo: "Because this is the first time in a long while I've had a real fight."
Black Dragon's aura intensified.
Black Dragon: "Then enjoy it."
He vanished.
Leo's eyes followed him.
BOOM!
Black Dragon appeared directly in front of him.
Leo blocked.
BAM!
Another strike.
Leo blocked again.
BAM!
Another.
Leo's feet slid backward.
Black Dragon continued attacking.
One strike after another.
Leo tried to counter, but Black Dragon's movements had become faster.
The Black Dragon inside Kaito's body was adapting.
Learning.
Growing.
Every exchange made it stronger.
Leo's breathing became heavier.
His Beast Merge aura flickered.
Just once.
Leo noticed it.
His expression changed slightly.
Black Dragon noticed too.
Black Dragon: "There."
Leo looked up.
Black Dragon: "Your power is disappearing."
Leo didn't answer.
Black Dragon attacked again.
BAM!
Leo was thrown backward.
He landed hard but immediately rose.
His lion ears twitched.
His golden aura flickered again.
This time, it was more obvious.
The Beast Merge was beginning to weaken.
Black Dragon slowly walked toward him.
Black Dragon: "Your body cannot maintain that form forever."
Leo clenched his claws.
Leo: "I know."
Black Dragon: "Then your time is almost over."
Leo's golden aura suddenly weakened.
The transformation around his body began to crack like fading energy.
His lion-like features trembled.
His claws slowly became less prominent.
The golden aura around him became unstable.
Leo was still standing.
Still smiling.
But his Beast Merge was beginning to break apart.
Black Dragon raised his hand.
Black Dragon: "Now…"
His dark aura exploded around Kaito's body.
Black Dragon: "…you will finally fall."
Leo stared at him.
His body trembled.
His Beast Merge continued fading.
The battlefield became silent.
And for the first time since the battle began…
Leo was being pushed back.
The Beast Merge was slowly collapsing.
And Black Dragon was only getting stronger.
To be continued…
So, guys… the chapter has ended. The story has ended. But someday, somewhere in a new universe, from another corner of existence… we'll remember it again.