Keiko groaned as he woke up, finding a familiar face with black hair and red eyes leaning over him.
"Time for that favor, Keiko," Leo smirked.
The scene shifted quickly. Leo, now sporting horns, was standing across from Ryuga, ready to fight. As Fin approached Keiko, he couldn't help but ask, "Why does the guy who beat you look like your family?"
Keiko looked embarrassed as the memory flashed back.
Flashback
Keiko had sat up after hearing Leo's favor. "So... you want to be my brother?"
Leo nodded, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "I'm an illegitimate son, born with no ability. My family disowned me. But I developed this technique to rise to the top. I've heard demons can give someone their last name to make them part of their family. So that's what I want: to become your brother."
Ouiji, floating nearby, chimed in casually, "Sure, why not?" Since Ouiji was the head of the family, the transformation began instantly. Keiko watched in awe as Leo's body absorbed the Kuriguri name, expanding his mana pool immensely.
End Flashback
Now back in the present, Keiko watched as Ryuga squared off against Leo. Ryuga's face was twisted with frustration.
"You're boring, Ryuga," Leo taunted, cracking his knuckles. "Relying on the Monkey King's story... someone else's story."
Keiko blinked, confused. What did Leo mean by that? But before he could ask, Ouiji's voice cut in, his usual playful tone replaced by seriousness. "Leo's talking about legendary figures, Keiko. Creatures and gods who are etched into the fabric of their stories. Zeus versus Kronos, the birth of the cosmic monkey—all of these tales become part of their cores, giving them power. When their story is complete, their spirits remain within the core."
"That... makes sense," Keiko muttered, finally understanding.
The fight began with Ryuga lashing out, his hair snaking toward Leo as usual. But something was different. Ryuga opened his mouth, releasing a blast of black energy aimed at Leo. Leo stood his ground, unfazed, as the beam turned into a mist. From that mist, hundreds of copies of Leo materialized, each as solid as the original.
Ryuga growled, his body shifting. Fur sprouted from his skin, his form taking on the likeness of the golden monkey. But before Ryuga could fully transform, Leo clenched his fist. The golden monkey's aura, once vibrant and powerful, dissipated in an instant.
"What?!" Ryuga gasped, disbelief in his eyes.
Leo's aura flared, dark and immense. He closed the distance with blinding speed, his fist enveloped in a black energy so dense it made the air tremble. With a single strike, Ryuga was knocked out cold.