Chapter 13 - Chapter Twelve: Abomination

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To the right of the statue, an ornate table stood, seemingly reserved for offerings. The table bore remnants of long-since dried flowers, aged coins, and the faint residue of ash from incense. An incense altar nearby exuded faint trails of multicolored smoke that drifted lazily upward, merging with the soft luminescence of the crystals. Despite the otherworldly beauty of the place, there was no immediate sign of life or danger. Rosa gestured for Sam to follow. Reluctantly, Sam entered, her eyes widening as she took in the sheer scale and intricacy of the temple. Her gaze was drawn to the incense altar, where the drifting colors seemed to swirl with a hypnotic rhythm. They moved as though alive, an unseen force guiding their patterns. The colors seemed to whisper to her senses, compelling her attention.

"A temple," Trini muttered, her voice hushed with awe. Sam's gaze shifted to the statue of the deity, and she felt a tug deep within her chest—a pull she couldn't ignore. It was the same sensation that had drawn her to this place in the first place. As if in response, the birthmark on her wrist—a strange, ancient symbol she had never understood—ceased its faint glow, dimming as if its purpose had been fulfilled.

Sam's presence unsettled the others. The group of mundane humans who had inexplicably ended up in this mysterious place cast her wary glances. Fear and suspicion flickered in their eyes. To them, Sam's connection to this temple—her ability to open its sealed doors and the strange symbol on her wrist—was unnerving. Even Sam couldn't deny how abnormal it all felt, though she tried her best to ignore it. Her attention was caught by a second table near the base of the statue. Unlike the offering table, this one held a stone tablet. Its surface was etched with runic markings, glowing faintly as though imbued with dormant energy. The runes were intricate, forming a language that seemed both ancient and alien.

"Those are AurenIdril's ancient runic alphabets," Trynr said, his tone grave. His words carried the weight of understanding, though Sam had no idea what an 'AurenIdril' was. Her focus remained locked on the markings, drawn to their strange and unearthly aura.

"What are they doing here?" Rosa asked, her voice tinged with unease.

Sam's fingers hovered above the tablet as she murmured, "I… I don't know." Despite being inexplicably drawn to this place, she couldn't explain why or how she knew she was meant to be here. The runes seemed to call to her, their faint glow intensifying as her hand finally made contact with the surface. The moment her fingers brushed the stone, the runes flared to life, their glow spreading outward in rippling waves of light. The markings shifted and rearranged themselves as if responding to her touch. A deep, resonant crack thundered through the hall, the vibrations rattling the walls.

"Sam, get away from it!" Rosa shouted, rushing forward to pull Sam back. As she did, the glowing runes lifted from the tablet, swirling upward into the air and forming a vortex of dark energy above them. The swirling mass expanded, black tendrils spiraling outward as a circular void opened at its center. The temperature in the room plummeted, and an oppressive pressure filled the air. From the void, two objects shot out in opposite directions, crashing into the ground with bone-rattling force. The impact sent shockwaves through the temple, knocking the mundane humans off their feet and kicking up a dense cloud of dust. Rosa tightened her grip on Sam, steadying both of them as the tremors subsided. Through the settling dust, Sam's eyes locked onto the figure closest to her. It lay crumpled on the left side of the hall, partially obscured by debris. The faint outline of a humanoid form became visible, though its features remained hidden within the haze. A raspy cough broke the silence, followed by a string of muffled curses.

Sam's breath caught in her throat. Whatever it was, it was alive. As the dust began to clear, the figure's silhouette sharpened. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat growing louder as the scene before her slowly came into focus. She took a cautious step forward, her mind racing with possibilities. And then, as the last remnants of dust faded away, Sam found herself staring at…

"It's you," Leonard Haravok said, his attention snapping to Sam's stunned face. Sam froze, her heart pounding as she recognized him. The Sun Prince—her Sun Prince, the character she had sketched over and over again since childhood—was standing before her, alive. He looked just as she had imagined, down to the smallest detail: the black leather trench coat flowing with every subtle movement, the tailored black jacket layered over a white button-down shirt, the top buttons left undone to reveal his bronze chest. His golden hair gleamed as if kissed by sunlight, and his vivid blue eyes glowed, eerily similar to the crystal she clutched tightly in her hands. Those eyes scanned the area with sharp precision as if cataloging every corner of the strange space where he had appeared.

"An Echo Field," Leon muttered, his voice calm but edged with curiosity. "So, this is where you all vanished."

"Leon!" Rosa's voice rang out, a mix of excitement and exasperation. Despite her obvious disdain for him, there was relief in her expression.

Leon turned to face her, his gaze cool and assessing. "You're here," he said, acknowledging her presence with a subtle nod.

Sam glanced between the two, bewildered. "Do you... know him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rosa didn't respond to Sam's question. Instead, she demanded, "Did you just come from the outside?"

"Yes," Leon answered simply, his tone clipped, "and I have business to attend to."

Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural growl filled the air, reverberating through the hall. The sound sent chills racing down Sam's spine, and even Rosa stiffened. The growl's source emerged from the swirling dust behind Leon—a monstrous figure rising to its full, towering height. Sam's breath hitched. The creature was unlike anything she had ever seen, worse than the crimson ants they had faced before. It stood nearly eight feet tall, its muscular frame covered in streaks of crimson fur and plated with jagged armor-like growths. Its face was twisted into something nightmarish, its black eyes bottomless voids that radiated a malevolent energy. Sam's skin prickled as an oppressive aura filled the room, thick and suffocating. The monster's presence seemed to drain the very air, making it impossible to breathe. She turned her head desperately, searching for Henry. He lay collapsed on the ground, foam dripping from his mouth. Around her, others were in similar states, unconscious or convulsing under the weight of the beast's aura. Even Rosa, unshakable Rosa, looked pale.

"Is that... an Abomination?" Rosa muttered, her voice cracking. For the first time since they'd entered the Echo Field, Sam saw fear in Rosa's eyes.

"Yes," Leon replied coldly, his gaze never leaving the monster. "So stay out of my way."

With that, Leon began walking toward the beast, his movements deliberate and unflinching. The creature roared in response, the oppressive pressure in the air intensifying. Sam's legs buckled under the weight, the force pinning her to the ground. She tried to push herself up, but the gravity-like pull was relentless. Still, deep within her, something resisted—a spark, a fragment of her being fighting against the influence. Even so, she found herself crawling, inching toward Henry and Rosa for safety. Rosa, though visibly struggling, managed to stay partially upright, one knee on the ground as she resisted the crushing force. The Abomination moved suddenly, faster than its massive size should have allowed. Its arm extended toward Sam, the flesh tearing away to reveal an expanding, jagged bone structure.

Leon reacted instantly. With a single punch, he deflected the monstrous limb, sending it crashing into the ceiling. Dust and debris rained down as Leon followed up with two rapid strikes to the creature's face. Each impact reverberated through the hall like a thunderclap, shaking the walls. Sam tumbled backward, landing hard on the floor as the ground trembled beneath her. She scrambled toward Rosa and Henry, her breaths shallow and uneven.

The Abomination staggered but did not fall. Its growl deepened, fueled by rage. Despite Leon's powerful strikes, the beast seemed to absorb the blows, its fury unrelenting. Its dark eyes, however, were no longer on Leon. They locked onto Sam, filled with an insidious hunger. Leon noticed the shift immediately. His body tensed, his voice dropping to a low, commanding growl.

"You're not getting past me."

The monster roared in response, its intent clear. Sam could only watch in horror as the clash between the Sun Prince and the Abomination began in earnest.

"What's the matter?" Leon asked, his voice calm yet edged with challenge. He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the sting of ineffectual blows. Despite his earlier attacks, the Abomination stood unfazed, its monstrous form looming over him.

"Palaadiiinn…" the Beast hissed, its voice guttural and dripping with malice. Without warning, the ape-like creature lunged. Its massive body tore through the air with terrifying speed, its claws slashing at Leon. He shifted his stance in an instant, his feet digging into the cracked crystal floor as he dodged, weaving just out of reach.

The temple shook as the Abomination's kick tore through the ground, shattering the crystalline tiles like brittle glass. Leon met its next attack with precision, raising his leg to block the monstrous kick before retaliating. His fists blurred, delivering two lightning-fast jabs to the creature's chin. The impact cracked like thunder. Black blood spattered the floor, thick and oily, as broken fangs tumbled from the monster's gaping maw. It growled low, its feral eyes locking onto Leon with renewed fury. With a guttural roar, it spat the blood onto the temple floor, then charged again. Leon braced, his expression neutral but focused. The Beast's massive arms swung down like twin sledgehammers, slamming into him with enough force to send a shockwave rippling outward. The blast threw everyone nearby off their feet.

Sam was hurled backward, her breath catching as she tumbled. Rosa darted forward, grabbing her mid-air and shielding her from the debris with her own body. Around them, the scene dissolved into chaos. The sounds of battle reverberated through the temple—a relentless barrage of thundering blows, growls, and the shattering of crystal. Debris rained down like jagged hailstones as Leon and the Beast collided again and again. Leon moved with uncanny speed, weaving between the Abomination's brutal, sweeping attacks. His punches landed true, sharp, and precise, black blood spraying with every hit. But the monster was relentless, its sheer size and power making up for its slower strikes. An explosion of force blasted through the temple. Huge chunks of crystal shot outward, crushing the unfortunate souls caught in their path. Sam froze as a massive shard tore through the air, obliterating several humans in a sickening instant. More debris rained down, and she barely had time to process the carnage as Rosa yanked her away, pushing her toward safety.

"This," Rosa said, her voice grim as she dragged Sam across the crumbling floor, "is what happens when an Ascendant and an Infernal collide." Sam's heart pounded as her gaze darted between the survivors and the combatants. Leon's movements were almost too fast to follow, his strikes impossibly sharp and deliberate. Yet despite his strength, the collateral damage was mounting. The Beast roared, its guttural challenge shaking the very air. Leon grinned in response, the corner of his mouth twisting into a savage expression that teetered between exhilaration and indifference. He sprang backward, landing against one of the temple's pillars, which groaned under the force of impact. For a moment, he was still, sizing up his opponent. And then he moved. Sam blinked—and Leon was gone. No indication of how he achieved it.

He reappeared beside the Abomination in an instant, his fist already driving into its side. The Beast howled as the blow connected, sending another ripple of force through the temple. Leon's attacks came in rapid succession, each strike, a precise combination of explosive power and unrelenting speed. The ground trembled beneath them, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across the floor. The entire temple seemed to groan under the strain of their fight. Around them, what remained of the survivors screamed and scrambled for cover.

Sam could only stare in awe and terror. Despite the monstrous size and ferocity of the Abomination, Leon held his own, trading blows with the beast as though he were it's equal. Each punch sent tremors through the ground, the sheer force of their clash creating miniature quakes that rippled outward. Yet amidst the chaos, Sam's mind clung to one horrifying thought: If they kept fighting like this, there'd be nothing left of the temple—or the people inside it.

Boom!

A shockwave erupted through the temple, like a thunderclap ripping through the fabric of reality itself. The sound was deafening, reverberating off the crumbling walls and shaking the air. The Abomination, its glowing eyes blazing with primal rage, extended one of its massive arms. With a grotesque burst of strength, it wrenched a wrecked pillar free from the ground and hurled it at Leon with terrifying force. Leon caught the massive stone mid-air, his muscles flexing as if the weight was nothing. With an almost dismissive motion, he tore the pillar in half, the rock shattering in his hands. Using one of the jagged halves, he swung it like a club, slamming it into the Beast's torso. The impact echoed like a cannon blast, sending the creature staggering backward.

Leon exhaled slowly, his movements deliberate, as if he had already grown bored of the fight. He had spent the last several exchanges merely testing the Beast—gauging its power, its speed, and its weaknesses. And now, the truth was clear. The Abomination was lacking. Most of its strength had died along with its pack, leaving it a hollow shell of what it had been. Every blow Leon had exchanged with it was little more than a game, a way to pass the time. The glint in his golden eyes carried an edge of disappointment, as though he had expected more. Leon flexed his fingers, golden particles of light gathering in his palm. The air around him grew heavy, a palpable intensity radiating from his form. The golden light coalesced, shaping itself into a single-edged, curved blade that shimmered with electricity. Leon gripped the sword tightly, his stance shifting. The Beast snarled, lunging forward with a furious roar, but Leon was already in motion.

He moved like lightning, his blade slashing through the air with crackling arcs of yellow electricity. The Ape raised its massive, armored arms to block the strikes, but the blade cut through its defenses as if they were paper. Black blood sprayed in thick torrents as the metal armor cracked and splintered under the relentless assault. By the time the Beast realized its armor was useless, it was already too late. Leon's strikes came faster, each one deliberate and devastating. He danced around the monster, carving deep gashes across its hide, spilling more of its foul, black ichor onto the temple floor. His movements blurred as he unleashed vertical slashes, smashing the Abomination up and down across the crumbling hall. Meanwhile, Rosa, with the help of Callum and Tyrnr, worked to shield the survivors. They conjured a shimmering green barrier in the corner of the temple, a protective dome that pulsed with energy. The survivors huddled together beneath it, their faces pale with terror. Rosa spared a glance at Leon, her brow furrowed with worry, but she kept her focus on maintaining the spell. Knowing Rosa had the others protected, Leon finally let loose.

Golden light wrapped around him, his tanned skin glowing with an almost divine aura. The warmth of it spread across the battlefield, washing over Sam like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. The sensation made her chest feel lighter, filling her with an odd sense of comfort amidst the chaos. But the Beast roared again, a bone-shaking sound that pierced through the air like a blade. Sam winced, clamping her hands over her ears as the roar vibrated through her very bones. The overwhelming darkness emanating from the Abomination seemed to press down on her, suffocating in its weight. The Beast crouched low, gathering power in its legs, then leaped toward Leon with terrifying force.

Leon moved to meet it head-on, his sword blazing as he charged. They collided in mid-air, the impact creating a circular shockwave that ripped the ground apart. Chunks of crystal and rock flew in all directions, the temple floor reduced to rubble beneath their feet. But the Beast was faster than Sam had realized. Its massive arm backhanded Leon with brutal force, black claws tearing through the air. Blood splattered from his mouth as he was sent hurtling backward, slamming into the ground with enough force to crack it further. The Abomination didn't stop. It lunged forward, driving a powerful kick into Leon's gut, followed by a crushing downward punch. The blow sent rocks flying in every direction, a storm of debris exploding around them. Even so, when the dust cleared, Leon stood, his body battered but far from broken. His glowing aura seemed to shield him from the worst of the damage, though blood now streaked his face.

But the Beast wasn't done.

It turned, its eyes locking onto Sam with a predatory focus. The overwhelming darkness that radiated from it made her breath hitch. She felt the weight of its malice pressing against her chest, suffocating and inescapable. Rosa stepped in front of her, her face a mask of determination even as sweat dripped from her brow. The green barrier shimmered, cracks spidering across its surface as the Beast approached. It raised its massive fist and struck the barrier with all its might. The dome shuddered under the force, the air vibrating with the sheer power of the blow. Callum and Trini, straining to hold the spell, both coughed up blood, their bodies trembling from the exertion. Trini collapsed to her knees, gasping, but Rosa held firm, her hands glowing as she poured more energy into the barrier.

"Stay back!" Rosa shouted, her voice strained but unwavering.

The Beast roared again, preparing to strike the barrier once more. Sam's heart pounded as the darkness pressed closer, and she realized that no one—not even Rosa—could hold the monster back forever.

"Must bring you." The creature's voice was a guttural, inhuman shriek that echoed through the ruins. "Must bring you. But can't touch Asha'yee. His…ss Ma…jeeessty ordered… to bring the Star scorched… he requests your presence—"

Before it could finish, a flash of golden light cut through the air, and Leon appeared, sword in hand. His golden blade sliced through the Beast's arm, severing it cleanly, the black blood spurting from the stump. Without waiting a second, Leon kicked the massive Ape across the street, sending it crashing into the stonework with a deafening boom.

"Time to finish this." His voice was light, almost playful, but his eyes gleamed with a feral hunger. Even though no blood or bruises marred his form—despite the lack of visible injury from the Ape's savage blows—Sam could see the strain in his posture. He was pale, beads of sweat tracing the sharp lines of his face, dripping down to his jaw. But beneath the exhaustion, there was something more, a twisted glint of madness in his eyes. In that moment, Sam felt a strange twinge in her heart. A kind of envious longing. She couldn't help but feel drawn to him, to that unnerving, enigmatic aura that surrounded him. His grin stretched wider, a maniacal curve of pleasure that matched the insanity she could sense in the air. The battle was no longer about survival—it was about entertainment, about seeing how much more the Beast could give him.

More! More! Leon's mind raced with excitement. Make it more entertaining!

He summoned two more golden blades, the air crackling with raw energy as they materialized in his hands. His movements were fluid, almost elegant, as he twirled them in the air, the golden light flashing with each motion. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he moved toward the Abomination, his swords gleaming brighter, lighting the entire street in their glow. The Beast shrieked in fury, the sound almost unbearable, as it raised its remaining arm to strike. "Paladin won't let me do my job!" it howled, its voice filled with venom. "Was asked not to harm the girl...but you... I'll make an exception. I'll feed upon your carcass!"

"Entertain me more, Great Ape," Leon taunted, his voice filled with manic joy. "Give me more of your misery." The air grew oppressive as the golden swords shone with even more intensity, blinding like the sun itself. Sparks danced from Leon's body, his golden aura a beacon of power. To Sam, it was clear that he was embracing this moment—this battle—as the ultimate high. It was intoxicating. The Abomination, too, began to glow—its dark aura pulsing with unnatural energy, the blackness now coating its body like armor. The air around it vibrated, thick with a malevolent presence that made Sam's skin crawl. It was as though bugs were crawling just beneath her flesh. The Beast's aura was suffocating.

Leon attacked first, a flash of motion as his blade moved to strike at the creature's neck. The Beast reacted instantly, ducking under the strike and sending a devastating jab toward Leon's chest. The boy parried the blow with his second blade, the clash of metal ringing through the air like a bell. Then the Beast came at him with a barrage of punches, each strike like the battering of a storm. Leon moved with fluid precision, his blades a blur as he parried and countered. Horizontal slashes, both reverse and forward, redirected the momentum of each blow, sending the Beast's attacks slicing through the air instead of connecting. With each passing moment, Leon's speed and strength seemed to rise, his mana flowing more freely from his core. His movements became more aggressive, more relentless. He began to break through. His swords moved like lightning, cutting past the Beast's defenses, each strike rendering deep gashes across its blackened hide. Leon's final attack—a vertical slash with a curved arc—cut clean through the Beast's right arm. Black blood poured from the wound as the Abomination howled in agony, its scream rattling the very ground beneath them.

But the fight was far from over.

Everything blurred.

The two combatants moved so fast that Sam could hardly keep track of them. The air seemed to warp around their speed, the fight unfolding in flashes of golden light and dark, writhing shadows. And amidst it all, Leon's laughter rang out—wild and unrestrained, echoing across the battlefield like a madman's cry.

Where is he? Sam thought, her eyes darting around, struggling to follow the insane speed of the boy. Then she saw him—no, he wasn't in the hall anymore. He was standing horizontally in the air, suspended between dimensions as though the laws of physics had no hold on him.

The golden aura around him pulsed brighter than ever. Then, like a storm unleashed, he launched himself from the invisible platform, spinning with the force of a tornado. His body twisted in the air, releasing a wave of golden light that tore through the crystal ground like a knife through silk. The Ape was engulfed in the light. Its scream was drowned out by the explosion of energy that followed, a shockwave that tore through the temple. Sam could feel the heat on her face, the very ground shaking beneath her feet. Even as the Beast staggered to its feet, broken armor and black blood dripping from its wounds, it was clear it had survived the worst of the assault. But its rage had only grown. The Ape's body pulsed with dark energy, a violent crackle of black lightning coursing through it as it tore through the rubble, moving with incredible speed. It grabbed Leon in one massive hand, slamming him into the stone walls with brutal force.

Once. Twice.

Each impact echoed through the air like a thunderclap. Leon's laughter had stopped, replaced by a manic grin, but his body was feeling the strain. And then the Beast focused, its hands crackling with dark energy. It began to form a ball of swirling black lightning, growing larger and more unstable by the second. The very air seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the power it was gathering. Sam's heart raced. She knew this was the final move. The finishing blow. The hall quaked under the weight of the Fallen Beast's screech, its inhuman roar rippling like waves of malice across the broken landscape of the pocket dimension.

"D...i...i...ee!" it howled, lunging toward Leon with unrelenting ferocity, its black aura compressing into a chaotic sphere of dark energy, crackling with an almost tangible malevolence. The ground beneath it cracked and splintered under the immense weight of its fury, sending out shockwaves as it charged. Leon stood his ground, unfazed by the apocalyptic energy aimed his way. A wry smirk curved his lips, and his golden eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. His voice, calm yet resonant, carried over the chaos:

"No. You die."

He whispered the incantation: [Hyperion: Chaotic Field – Crimson Pressure].

The world seemed to pause as if holding its breath for a single, eternal moment. Then, with a deafening explosion of light and force, a crimson beam erupted from Leon, tearing through the space like a star unbound. The raw, overwhelming pressure of the energy swallowed everything in its wake. The air burned with intensity; the sheer heat scorched the walls, while debris rained down as the hall crumbled under the weight of the unleashed power. Sam instinctively shielded her eyes, the blinding radiance forcing her to turn away. Even with her hands over her face, the pressure bore down on her, making her knees buckle. It was suffocating, heavy with the promise of obliteration. The hall was a storm of destruction, the Fallen Beast's enraged cries drowned out by the searing roar of Leon's attack.

When the light finally receded, an eerie silence fell. Sam hesitated, her heart pounding as she lowered her trembling hands. The once-mighty creature was gone. Not even a husk remained. Specks of ash floated listlessly through the air, disintegrating into nothingness as they drifted. The battlefield, littered with the remnants of Leon's wrath, was now a haunting void. Rosa dismissed the barrier she had erected, her spear humming as its protective energy faded. She pulled it from the ground, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the aftermath. Sam's gaze locked onto Leon, who stood amidst the destruction. He appeared almost serene, smoothing his golden hair back as though the battle had been a mere inconvenience. There was no blood, no injury to mar his perfect form, yet his pallor and the faint sheen of sweat betrayed his exhaustion. Despite this, his presence radiated dominance—a predator basking in the glory of its hunt. Leon's focus shifted, his sharp eyes scanning the ruined hall. His gaze lingered briefly on the crumpled forms of the collateral victims—humans reduced to collateral in his fight. Without a hint of remorse, he pulled a flask from his storage band, taking a slow sip before turning his attention to the deity's statue that loomed above him. Its aura, sacred and untouched, still pulsed faintly.

"Leon!" Rosa called out, rushing toward him. Behind her, Callum staggered to his feet, while Henry helped Trini up, both battered but alive.

"I see you're all still breathing," Leon remarked, his tone carrying an air of detached amusement.

Trini, still catching her breath, looked at him warily. "You're a Pleiadian," she stated, his voice tinged with awe and suspicion. "What's a Pleiadian doing in this part of the galaxy?"

Sam's eyes widened at the revelation. Pleiadian. That explained his unearthly appearance. His golden hair, symmetrical features, and predatory aura—all far too perfect to belong to any human she'd ever seen. He wasn't just handsome; he was something else entirely.

"Leon's a friend of the Golden Dawn," Rosa interjected before Leon could answer. "If he's here, I'm guessing he knows a way out," Leon smirked, his lips curving as a silver sword appeared in his hand. With a smooth motion, he sliced the air itself, and a shimmering rift materialized, its edges glowing faintly.

"You can leave through here," he said casually, gesturing to the portal. But Sam didn't move. The pull she'd felt earlier was stronger now, a force she couldn't explain or resist. Her legs moved on their own, carrying her toward the table with the tablet. The intensity of the pull drowned out the world around her. Rosa tried to stop her, but Leon intercepted, his hand snapping out to grip Rosa's arm.

"You know what this place is, don't you?" Leon asked, his tone sharp. Rosa's eyes widened as the realization struck her.

"An Echo Field," she murmured.

"An Echo Field of an Awakening Temple," Leon clarified, his voice heavy with significance.

Sam barely heard them. The glowing symbol on her arm pulsed in tandem with the tablet, its light growing brighter as she approached. Her hand reached out instinctively, and the moment her palm touched the tablet, a surge of green light erupted, engulfing her. Her body gave out almost immediately. The weight of the energy was too much to bear, her strength draining like water slipping through her fingers. She collapsed, unable to hold herself upright. Darkness crept into her vision, heavy and all-consuming. The last thing she saw before unconsciousness claimed her was Leon's face as he knelt beside her, his golden eyes studying her with an unreadable expression. His arms wrapped around her, lifting her effortlessly from the cold ground. The world faded as the pull of darkness claimed her, and she surrendered to its embrace.