Leo stopped in his tracks as soon as Sprite lit up.
"Master Leonardo, It has been a long time. I'm glad to see you are well, Sir."
Leo couldn't help but give a big smile. His old pal had returned. "Sprite, what do you remember?"
"Only bits and pieces, Sir. I do know my past self served you as well."
"That good enough for me. I'm glad to have you back, Sprite."
"Sir, I also have memories from the goose spirit that my core crystal belonged."
"You do?" Leo asked. Those memories must be the second bit of corrupt information Sprite located.
"Yes, Sir. I have bits and pieces of cultivation techniques and battle skills the City of Geb trained in that were passed down from the Egyptian god, Geb."
Leo nodded with satisfaction. Not only did he get his companion back. He also got lost cultivation arts that bird spirit was hoarding.
Leo looked at those around him and grinned. "I think it's time." Leo walked a unique cultivation path that followed how the mana beast leveled up instead of humanoids. Walking into the largest open area in the chamber, Leo told everyone to back away.
Circulating the mana in his lion core, Leo let out a deep breathe. He had finally achieved one of his long promises. Why did Leo want power? It wasn't to rule others. It was to allow him to survive and live the life he chose to live. It was to protect the people he loved.
Standing there, Lucy came to his mind. He wondered what happen to her in the Sphinx realm since she never came to Duat. Leo thought about Lankani City and those he cared for there. He even thought about Hiro. All those people he cared about on Earth.
"I need to return..." Leo muttered to himself. "But first...Break!"
Leo caused all of the mana to surge in him to attack his core. This circulation was a painful process, and those that didn't succeed in cracking their core would forever be stuck in the Core Building realm.
His last realm level up was many times more painful. The mana crashed into his core like a firehose blasting a brick wall. The lion core Leo formed was many times stronger than most. Mana continued to slam into him, as he gritted his teeth.
Slowly a small crack formed on the lion core. Leo breathed a sigh of relief. He had advanced flawlessly, but it wasn't over yet. Most humanoid cultivators expel the core pieces, but mana beasts like Dark Razor and Void Slayer absorbed the particles into their hearts.
Leo also chose to walk this path and began to move those parts towards his heart. His heart throbbed as he merged the mana organ with his blood organ. His heart started to beat faster and faster, causing Leo to become red as a tomato.
His beast-like instincts kicked in, and Leo released his King's Roar. His roar echoed throughout the chamber, calming his pounding heart. The spirit attack affected Dark and Void quickly, almost making them prostrate themselves before Leo. They only held out due to the stage difference.
Leo's skin color went back to normal, but Leo was far from ordinary. Core Builder caused his exterior to become mana beast-like, and now his insides were following suit within the shattering realm.
The long dark-haired boy found in a refrigerator had finally entered the 1st stage of Shattering. He spat out a glob of blood. Shattering one's core caused several internal injuries, and one would take a while to heal.
"Congratulations, Sir," Sprite said as he broke the silence. He wanted to guide his Master but realized his Master's path was one he was forging himself.
"Congratulations, Leo," Keysol said as he walked over.
"Not bad for a lion in a human's body," joked Dark Razor.
"Congrats," Sepha said in an honest and gentle voice.
Void Slayer used his mana sense to check on Leo and realized that Leo was barely injured at all. This Shattering was what ancients referred to as a Perfect Shattering. If one could perform a Perfect breakthrough each time than once one made it to Avatar Establishment, then one would be many times stronger than those at the same level.
"You never disappoint...Leo." Void Slayer said with a smirk.
Everyone looked at Void Slayer. He rarely ever showed emotion as such. Even Dark Razor raised an eyebrow at his brother.
The cultivators discussed his breakthrough for a bit until Leo changed the topic. He looked at those around him. Each one of them he treated as his own family.
"With my breakthrough and repair of Sprite finished, it is time to leave Duat."
Everyone nodded in agreement. They finished the spaceship months ago but waited on Leo's behest. He wanted to finish repairing Sprite so he could navigate for them.
"We shall leave in one month's time. Please get your affairs in order and move your stuff to the ship." Leo told the group. He then picked up the communication device and ordered the guards and Shia to come to find him in the chamber.
A few minutes went by, and Papyrus, Djed, Haj, and Shia arrived at the chamber. Seeing Shia walk in, Leo hugged her and scanned her with his mana. Even in her late age, she had entered the 2nd stage of Body Tempering.
"I thank you three for looking after Shia and the populace of Ra," Leo said to the other three.
"We thank you for your gratitude, our Pharaoh."
Leo still had a hard time accepting their servitude, but he couldn't do anything about it. He looked at the three proudly. Through their own hard work, they were mighty Mana Fighters. Something this world's people hadn't attained in many years.
"I want to let you know. We have decided to depart in one month. I need one among you to stay and become Ra's guardian and protector."
All three perked up. This duty would be one's highest honor. Since their realm was so far beneath Leo, they would never be able to protect him. The three looked at each other. Even though it would be a high duty, it would also mean leaving the Pharaoh's side forever. Haj stepped forward after the three discussed briefly.
"I will become Ra's guardian."
"Thank you, Haj."
Hearing his name and Leo's gratitude, filled Haj with pride. He would never regret this decision for the rest of his life.
"We shall leave cultivation techniques for you to pass on as you see fit. Please guide the next generation, Haj."
"Yes, my Pharaoh," Haj responded, kneeling.
"Shia...may, you lead the city well once we are gone."
"Come here, my boy." Shia walked over and hugged Leo. Shia never had a kid, but ever since Leo came into her life. He was hers. "This ain't goodbye. When I leave this world, I hope my spirit will watch over you until you reach the stars." She knew this man was meant for greatness, and that made her proud.
Leo didn't know if her spirit would watch over him, but the thought of it comforted him a lot.
A month flew by, and the city of Ra all flooded the streets to watch the spaceship leave Duat. Leo and everyone loaded on the ship and blasted through the atmosphere going towards the next part of their journey.
In honor of Leo, Shia formed the Lion Dynasty. This kingdom ruled Duat and brought in an era of cultivators that hadn't been seen since ancient times on Earth. Statues were built in the pyramid chamber depicting seven warriors. Leo, Sepha, Geph, Keysol, Dark Razor, Green Tooth, and Void Slayer were carved to perfection due to Haj's guidance. He also placed the techniques, each one passed down into their respective statues. The pyramid became Duat's holy and sacred training place.