Youden didn't have any time to react, as he felt the punch connect directly into his jaw. Inside the basement, everyone was crouched when the attack connected, as they could feel the intense wind wrap around inside, picking up anything that the wind was able to lift up. The house itself was definitely not going to survive the attack, as the punch blew out a hole through the wall and part of the roof, sending wood chips and dust several hundred feet into the air. The attack only caused many of Youden's men to stare ahead at the direction of the cloud, in some state of worry.
Leon just stood there, as he no longer felt the flesh of Youden touching his skin, with the dust beginning to come back down. Testing his arm, feeling a bit sore, he looked around to see nothing within his vision. All he could see was a sight of disaster and ruins.
"Well, Leon Ganero, you still have power. That's a good sign." he heard a voice outside what was left of the home.
"I'm more surprised that you're able to talk. That was a direct hit." Leon noted, as he walked out the home, to see a sight of several men laid across the ground, barely visible through the cloud of dust still coming down and settling.
"Hmm, you sure killed a lot of my men. They'll be replaceable." Leon heard Youden speak, as he finally caught sight of his face.
The punch definitely messed the man's face up, as he could see a broken jaw and several bones sticking out of his face. But how was he able to still speak properly, Leon tensed up, watching with worry.
"Ah, you hate my appearance? Let me fix it." Leon watched him, as within a few seconds, Youden's face began to warp as if nothing ever happened.
"No way." Leon was shocked, stepping back.
"I'll admit, without this power, I would have likely died from being unable to eat and so from starvation. But we can thank the Supernaturals for that."
"So you really did kill them? I thought you imprisoned them?"
"I been had them killed. In fact, I was the one who personally killed Boom himself. It was only that I killed Erthymea only a month or so ago, before of course she lent me her power."
"That's a real pity, that I'll have to kill you then before Ja-, joining anything else you may try to convince me with." Leon managed to avoid saying.
"You're not worthy, at least not as worthy as Jamal." Youden cracked his neck in excitement, "Now, where is he?"
But Leon didn't reply back, as he rushed towards him, not giving him a chance near the basement. Youden just smirked, as he tilted his head to avoid another punch, before punching Leon's gut. The counter caused Leon to gasp for breath, as he temporarily halted another barrage, resulting in Youden getting another opportunity to kick him back into the house.
"Wow, this will be fun." Youden grinned, as Leon forced himself up, spitting blood onto the ground.
But Leon just stared him down, an aura beginning to form around him again. It was time to get serious.
"Times twenty." he spoke, as an aura was finished being formed.
"You're holding back your full power. That's fine." Youden shrugged, as he aimed a large ball of pure darkness at him.
Leon didn't hesitate to rush him, as Youden fired away the attack. Staying focused, Leon leaped over the ball, as he sliced his hand across the top, breaking it in half, and imploding to his side.
Youden noting this, put his hands towards the sky, as he quickly began absorbing light from above, temporarily darkening the sky. Leon didn't waver, as he was several feet away from him, before he looked above to see hundreds of shards of light hanging above.
"Should've thought twice." Youden laughed away, as he swatted them down onto him.
Leon just swiftly moved around them, but even he couldn't dodge the large amount of light, and by the end of it, he had several deep scratches into his body, causing blood to leak around him.
"That's all you got?" Leon grinned at him, blood staining his teeth. "It's my turn."
Youden stopped smiling, as Leon rushed him again, ending the form that he was currently in. I guess he's playing suicide, Youden huffed, as he pulled his hand back, covering it in metal. I'll make his death as quick as possible. Watching anxiously, Youden could only wait as Leon leaped a few feet into the air, barely above his head. Goodbye, Leon, Youden almost prayed for him, as he was arm's length away from death. But something was up, and by the time he figured it out, it was too late.
"Times one-thousand, Youden." Leon said with his teeth ground together to maintain the pressure, as an aura so strong that Youden being near it was causing pain, as he could only watch as the attack was approaching his face. Closing his eyes, he waited for the attack to connect, before he heard a bang erupt from the distance.
Opening them again, he could just see Leon's foot move over his head, before a crashing thud was heard. Looking back, he could see a small bullet hole barely piercing the man's skin, and a closer inspection on his back showed that it was one of his energy-latching bullets. Whoever took that shot will definitely be promoted, he smiled with his luck, before beginning to make way to the house.
"You okay sir?" A soldier rushed towards him, the tip of the rifle still smoking.
"You just saved my life there, potentially at least, and for that you'll instantly be promoted." Youden felt inside his pocket, before writing a note about so, and handing it to the man, "Thank you, and just make sure you notify some of the soldiers to come into the house with me, there's still a threat inside."
"Ye-yes sir!" the soldier stuttered out, before rushing to spread the word.
Now, let's see what's been hiding here for years, Youden cracked his knuckles, as he entered the premise again, noting the roof waiting to collapse any second. Looking down, he could see the basement door still open, and hesitating for a second, before continuing down the depths.
.....
Hearing the attacks outside still continuing, Ula could only hold Laken tightly, as he was whimpering in fear.
"Everything will be okay. Don't worry." she kissed his forehead while watching Alice still muttering and the book glowing. "How much longer?"
"It's a bit hard here." Alice managed to say, before attempting another incantation, "Especially with the amount of power being used outside, it was easier to do it prior. Would have been nice if I was warned sooner."
"Perfect." Hops said in frustration, as he heard the attacks dying down. "Welp, someone won or lost."
"Just wait for Leon to come back, if Jamal could've beaten Youden, I'm sure he could too." Fonda reminded him of the battle four years ago.
"You meant to say that I saved him. Without those vials, it would have been over, and he and I both knew it."
Brat didn't take note of the words they were saying, as Alice finally got a protective shield up, hopefully keeping them safe for now.
"How long will this last?" Brat asked, not even hearing the footsteps from above.
"Give or take, an hour at best." Alice grinned at her work. "More time would have made it better, but it'll do."
"I would rather say a minute." A different voice spoke that no one recognized.
Everyone looking up, could see a large man standing behind the bubble, with a height only a foot or two away from the eight-foot tall basement ceiling. No, it couldn't be, Ula could assume, covering her mouth.
"No way." Hops eyes' widened in shock, "Youden."
"Ah, I remember you. Let's talk face to face, shall we?" Youden smiled back.
They could only watch, as Youden's right index finger was swirling in darkness before flicking it at the shield. At first, nothing happened, and everyone cautiously watched for what might have been a bluff, until the spot where he had flicked at began to crack. In horror, the crack began to spread even further, until the entire shield was completely cracked, before it broke down and crashed onto the floor, and disappeared.
"There we go. Now, where were we?" Youden looked behind him, to see several soldiers coming to his side with cuffs. "Ah yes, where's Jamal?"
"He's gone." Alice spoke up before anyone else could say anything.
"Yeah, I'm stupid." Youden brushed off, before staring at Ula and Laken, "Oh wait, we too can play this game."
"Stay away from us!" Ula cried out, aiming a ball of darkness, as she backed up in a corner with Youden taking his time moving towards her.
"Let me know where Jamal is, and we'll have no problem." Youden grinned, as he grabbed Laken's arm.
"Momma!" he cried out, as Ula held on tight, with Youden not giving up.
"He's gone! We kicked him out! Please, I just want my baby!" she cried out, tears running down her face, the ball of darkness dying away.
Youden temporarily stopped pulling Laken back, not letting go of his grip, considering her thoughts. Just by her reaction, he figured out that she was telling the truth, but he already had plans regardless of whether he was or wasn't here.
"I suppose that's unfortunate." Youden sighed, "But I didn't waste several years of resources for nothing, so I'll be taking you and Jamal's child with us."
"No!" Ula cried out, as darkness sprouted around her, as she let go of Laken to rush him.
Youden could only yawn, as with a simple swat, he knocked her to the ground, as he held tightly to the now crying boy, and taking him to one of the soldiers.
"Take him back to the Palace. Notify the officials that I want him on the Ariocaster that took me here a week ago. We found what we were looking for." Youden told the soldier who nodded, before forcefully grabbing the child and began carrying him up the stairs.
"My momma! Momma!" Ula could hear her son crying out, knowing that she couldn't do anything. "Momma!"
"That was sad. It really was." Youden just laughed off, "Who knew the reports were actually true."
"I'm going to kill you." Ula got back up, taking a stance like all those years ago in training. "I won't let you take him away from me."
But before Youden could accept such a result, a quick shot rang out, before Ula collapsed onto the ground, an energy-latching bullet striking her. Well, that made everything easier for him.
"In this case, we can do this process the easy way or the hard way. Let's pick sides today, shall we?" Youden made his final statement, the soldiers re-shifting themselves to be back by his side.
Brat just gulped as he just watched Hops, Fonda, Heskins, and Alice slowly put their hands up. No one way they were going out like this. It couldn't be like this, it couldn't be true, it's imposs-.
"So, Brat, or should I really say Hingai Akimato, what's your move?" Youden snapped him back into reality.
Brat looked around one last time, and came to a final conclusion. Without anyone's help, they were bound to lose, especially without Jamal in the first place. He knew they should have trained harder, he cursed himself, and he slowly put his hands up. Only moments later, were they forcefully cuffed and onto the floor, and Brat could only watch a pleased Youden.
"Send them to the capital as well. However, do it by carr. The Laken boy is mine." he informed the soldiers, to which they agreed upon before he walked out.
Why, Brat grounded his teeth in fury. Why didn't we just have Jamal when we needed him?