Greyhorn club
Bel-Yor city, Exterior ward
Spring Court, Hidden World
Terra, Gaea solar system
Milky way Galaxy
Neutral Free zone
March 8th 2019
Leon felt an unbridled surge of anger as his golden aura flared, shielding Sam from harm. The spiritual pressure wreaked havoc on the ground, though Leon had already noticed that the attack had deliberately spared her. It didn't matter to him. He grabbed Sam and shot upward, landing moments later on the club's roof. Above them hovered a massive, white-cloaked figure.
"Samantha Sinclair, the Asha'yee. It is a pleasure to meet you," the figure said, lowering the oppressive spiritual pressure. "I have come to escort you home."
"Who the hell are you?" Sam asked, her voice unsteady. She was still shaken by the weight of the pressure, even if it hadn't harmed her physically. The toll it had taken on her mind was undeniable. Despite this, she steadied herself—stronger now than she'd ever been before.
"I am a servant, charged with bringing you home," the figure replied. "Your mother awaits your arrival."
"My… my mother?" Sam's voice wavered with disbelief. Her father had always told her her mother died giving birth to her. She knew nothing of her except that she'd been adopted by the McCoy family and raised with Aunt Stella in Cedar Lake. Her father and aunt never spoke of her mother, leaving Sam to wonder about the mystery of her parents—one from another world and one a Terran.
"Maybe you should try showing your face if you're sincere," Leon interjected coldly. His hand rested on Solus, the crystalline blade gleaming within its golden and white scabbard. Leon's senses sharpened as he assessed the figure's strength. This was no ordinary opponent. The peak of Master Realm power radiated from him.
The figure pulled back his hood, revealing a face that made Leon's heart skip a beat. "Titus the Warbringer," he muttered. A Pleiadian legend, known for singlehandedly subjugating an entire colony planet. Though that world was weaker than present-day Terra, his reputation was undeniable.
"Leonard Haravok," Titus said, his voice deep and calm. "A pleasure to meet you, son of the Hero, Jonathan Haravok. If you wish to accompany the Asha'yee, you are welcome. If not, I suggest you stay out of this family business."
Leon's eyes narrowed. "Sorry, but I don't take well to threats."
"It's not a threat," Titus replied smoothly. He waved his arm, and black rods burst from the ground, forcing Leon to leap away from Sam as the sharp edges threatened to impale him. The rods formed a cage around her.
Leon used Rapid Steps, materializing behind Titus with a mana-charged palm strike, but Titus twisted with unnatural speed, blocking the strike with his fist. The impact sent a jarring force up Leon's arm, and he was flung backward, crashing through a nearby office building. Desks and chairs shattered beneath him as he tumbled to a halt.
Titus appeared instantly, his fist slamming into Leon's scabbard as Leon desperately blocked the assault. Each blow felt like a mountain bearing down on him. The sheer force of Titus's strikes left Leon breathless, even as he struggled to counterattack. The name of Titus's combat art echoed in his mind: Adamantium Fist Style. A technique Sam had only begun to learn, but this master's execution was on an entirely different level. He bore a wild glint in his eyes as his kick broke through Leon's block with his scabbard, the blow sending him away from the building, in the opposite direction, back again on the roof of Greyhorn building.
"He's mastered the third form," Leon realized grimly.
The unyielding defense of Adamantius Validus made Titus's body practically invulnerable. Coupled with his control over carbon-based elements, Titus was a nightmare opponent. Black rods darted toward Leon, who retaliated with a wave of intense heat, incinerating the projectiles. With a growl, Leon drew Solus and unleashed a flurry of heat blades, but Titus weaved through them effortlessly, his footwork impeccable.
The first form of the Adamantium Fist Style emphasized footwork, refining the user's agility and precision in battle. The second form served as a utility and support technique, adaptable for either setting up a solid defense or launching a calculated offensive. The third form, however, was purely defensive—an unyielding shield for the user. Known as Adamantius Validus, this technique embodied the Art of Unyielding.
Adamantius Validus worked by oscillating the user's molecules at such a high frequency that it hardened their muscles, skeletal structure, and outer body. This oscillation, combined with a foundational reinforcement technique called Validus, formed a nearly indestructible defense. Validus reinforces the thin field of mana—often referred to as "mana skin"—wrapped around the user's body. The high-frequency vibrations synergized with this mana layer, exponentially enhancing its durability. The result was an impenetrable body that not only defended against attacks but also augmented the force behind the user's strikes.
Titus's mastery of this technique was further amplified by his elemental attribute: carbon manipulation. The black rods he conjured were forged from pure carbon—a variant of the Earth element. Carbon, like metals and other mineral-based materials, fell under the domain of Earth Deviants, individuals who specialized in manipulating these advanced Earth variations.
Leon had picked a fight with an opponent as tough as the very earth itself. He drew Solus from her scabbard, dismissing the sheath in one swift motion. Channeling his mana into the double-edged crystal blade, Leon unleashed a series of searing heat slashes aimed directly at Titus. The massive figure moved with startling precision, employing the first form of his combat art to sense the slashes' trajectories and weave through them effortlessly. For the few he couldn't avoid, Titus used the second form to deflect and shift their paths.
Leon gritted his teeth as Titus closed the distance in a blur, his massive frame moving with unnatural speed. Before Leon could react, the man was beside him, delivering a devastating lariat. Leon barely had time to activate Validus, reinforcing his mana skin to absorb the brunt of the attack. Even so, the force was overwhelming. The impact sent Leon hurtling through multiple buildings, each collision leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Shocked by the violence of the encounter, onlookers scattered, screaming, as chunks of debris rained down onto the streets below.
Leon's body finally came to a halt in the restroom of a nearby building. Smashed sinks gushed water onto the cracked tiles, and Leon found himself upside down in one of the shattered cubicles. Anger and humiliation surged through him. How had he been hit by such an obvious move? Speed was his forte, his key advantage—yet he had been caught off guard, overwhelmed by Titus's raw power and agility.
He spat blood onto the broken tiles, his frustration boiling over. If he didn't take this fight seriously, he knew he wouldn't make it out alive.
Get a grip, Leon. Anything can happen in battle.
Leon pushed himself upright, steadying his breath as he began generating intense heat and fire within his body. He compressed the energy into his core, refining it into concentrated thermal energy. Mixing it seamlessly with the mana flowing through his pathways, he augmented his physical capabilities to their peak.
[Sol Fusion: Hyperion State - Nova Combustion]
Activating a technique he had painstakingly developed on his own, one that bore no ties to his family's teachings, Leon triggered a dramatic shift in the atmosphere. A powerful aura of blistering heat, invisible to most ordinary eyes, radiated from him. The restroom grew unbearably hot, the water from broken sinks hissing into steam that blanketed the space in a dense, suffocating mist.
The Fallen stepped into the room, unfazed by the heat or the obscuring steam. But Leon wasted no time. Drawing a short sword alongside Solus, he unleashed a condensed blade of heat and light from the dual weapons. The golden slash ripped through the air, forcing Titus out of the restroom.
Seizing the opening, Leon launched himself forward, driving his knee directly into Titus's face. The impact was devastating, producing a sonic boom that echoed through the air and should have sent Titus flying. Instead, the massive warrior caught Leon's knee mid-strike. With a fierce, calculated motion, Titus slung Leon out of the building with immense force.
Leon's body tore through several structures, each collision jarring him further. The sharp taste of iron filled his mouth as blood trickled down his chin, a visceral reminder of the stakes. His survival instincts kicked in, sharpening his focus as he staggered to his feet.
The Fallen Star descended onto a rooftop nearby, the pale light of the moon casting long shadows over both combatants. Titus stood tall and unyielding, his imposing figure a stark contrast to Leon's battered form.
That technique of his is dangerous, Titus thought as he discarded his scorched white cloak, now reduced to smoldering remnants. That light attack nearly tore through my Adamantius Validus.
"That technique of yours," Titus began, his tone calm but edged with curiosity, "at first glance, resembles the standard mana application techniques. But that aura around you... it's like the mana skin technique—only far more advanced. I don't believe I've ever seen Jonathan Haravok use anything like it." His gaze narrowed, studying Leon closely. The energy emanating from him carried traits that aligned with both the Hyperion ability factor and the Heavenly Radiance combat art, leaving Titus to wonder if it belonged to either or something entirely new.
"You're right," Leon replied, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "It's not part of the Haravok lineage or their battle style. This? It's something I cooked up on my own—for desperate times like these." He wiped the blood dripping from the side of his head, the sting ignored in favor of the thrill of battle. With his second sword lost in the chaos, his grip on Solus tightened, vowing not to let her slip from his hand.
"You're a disappointment, Leonard," Titus declared coldly. "Is it the lack of the Sun that's hindering you?"
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly as Titus continued.
"I know the weakness of the House of Leos," Titus said, his voice like a blade. "Unlike other houses, your family lacks household gods from whom they receive divine blessings. Your strength comes solely from the Sun and other stars, which constantly grant your house Gratia. That's how the House of Leo rose to power. But without sunlight—"
"We're weaker," Leon interrupted with a smirk. "Is that what you think?" He threw his head back, letting out a deep, resonating laugh. The adrenaline surged through him like a tide, filling his body with exhilaration. His muscles quivered with anticipation, relishing the battle and the strength of his opponent. This feeling… this excitement… the chance that my opponent might actually kill me… A wave of euphoria swept over him, a sensation unlike anything else. It was raw, intoxicating, and consuming.
"You're right," Leon admitted, his voice dropping to a measured calm. "Most members of the House of Leo rely heavily on the power of the Sun. By day, they're at their peak. By night, they're at their weakest. But let me tell you a secret…" He adjusted his stance, adopting the unmistakable form of the Heavenly Radiance combat art. "That doesn't apply to me."
The temperature in the air spiked dramatically as bright, golden threads of light began flowing toward Leon, drawn as if by command. They wove around him in intricate patterns, coalescing into a radiant shroud of energy. His body glowed as he harnessed his Odic Force, manipulating the flow of energy with effortless precision.
Encased in his golden aura, Leon felt the raw power pulsing through his veins. He had tapped into the hidden reserves within his cells, unleashing just a fraction of the energy stored within. The light surrounding him shimmered like a sun reborn in human form, radiating an aura of both awe and overwhelming danger.
[Sol Fusion: Hyperion State - Nova Force]
"I see," Titus said, his tone steady but edged with interest. "A limiter—something that restricts the full usage of one's power. You signed a contract with the Odyllic, didn't you, boy?"
Leon responded with a smirk, the golden light of his aura reflecting in his eyes.
"There must be conditions—mandates you have to fulfill to remove those limiters. I'm guessing you've met them."
Before Titus could say more, Leon vanished from his sight. Time seemed to slow, each moment stretching into a fragile stillness as Leon moved with incredible speed, blurring out of his field of vision. A heartbeat later, time resumed its natural flow, and Leon reappeared behind Titus. His kick connected with Titus's ribs, sending him hurtling through the air and crashing into the side of the building across the street. Leon didn't pause. Activating Rapid, he followed up immediately, closing the distance between them in an instant. Titus stood, unyielding, even after taking the full force of Leon's strike.
Tough bastard.
Black rods flew at Leon, their speed deadly, but Leon's was greater. In one swift motion, he caught three rods in his left hand and bit down on the fourth, holding it firmly in his mouth. The rods, forged from hardened carbon and renowned for their durability, felt like brittle sticks in Leon's current state. He snapped them apart with ease, the fragments scattering as he charged forward again. Titus countered with a barrage of devastating punches, each strike heavy enough to shatter stone. Yet, Leon parried each blow with effortless precision, his movements fluid and unyielding. The sheer force of their clash cracked the ground beneath them, the building groaning as its structure gave way. Floors collapsed beneath their feet, debris raining around them as their battle plunged downward through multiple levels.
The scene was chaos incarnate—wild and destructive. The once-proud building began to crumble, its foundations unable to withstand the ferocity of their exchange. But Leon didn't care. He wasn't thinking about the consequences of their fight. He didn't wonder if innocent lives were at stake or if the building was empty. None of it mattered to him. What mattered was the thrill. The rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins, the euphoria that heightened his senses, and the raw intensity of fighting an opponent who pushed him to his limits. It was addictive, intoxicating.
But something began to feel off.
The tide of the battle was shifting—tipping decisively in Leon's favor. His strength and speed, bolstered by Nova Force, were overwhelming Titus. What had once seemed like an impenetrable defense now began to fracture under Leon's relentless strikes. Each blow broke apart Titus's guard further. Even Leon's defenses had far surpassed Titus's. The Nova Force technique created a field of intense energy around Leon, neutralizing the attacks Titus threw at him. His body burned with an intense, white-hot energy, the defensive field radiating a power that placed Leon on a level above his opponent for the first time. For Titus, the battle was slipping away. For Leon, it was just beginning.
[Flying Nova Slash]
A beam of golden light erupted from Solus, blazing toward Titus with incredible force. But Titus reacted swiftly, activating an elemental defense spell.
[Earth Creation: Rock Boulder]
A massive barrier of rock materialized in the space between them, absorbing the brunt of the sword strike. The clash triggered an explosion, the shockwave obliterating the remnants of the building and hurling both combatants through the air. They crashed into the road below, the impact leaving deep craters and cracks in the asphalt. Leon groaned as pain surged through his body. His energy reserves were rapidly depleting, and he could no longer sustain his Hyperion State. The once-powerful heat forcefield that had surrounded him shrank, its range diminishing as the radiant shroud of light faded, becoming thin and fragile.
[Adamantius Fist Style: Shattering Star]
Leon had barely staggered to his feet when Titus emerged from the smoke, his fist glowing with an intense white and green light. The energy radiating from his attack formed a distinct, cross-shaped pattern, pulsing with destructive power.
The strike connected before Leon could react, cutting through his weakened defenses as though they were nonexistent. The sheer force of the blow sent Leon hurtling through the air, crashing through the front of the towering Greyhorn building. Blood spattered the air in crimson arcs as his battered body slammed into the ground, coming to a stop near the rods that formed the makeshift cage imprisoning Sam. Titus landed with a heavy thud on the roof, his imposing form framed by the dissipating smoke and debris. His fists glowed faintly, trails of green mana coursing over them as he strode toward Leon with calm, calculated menace. Leon lay motionless, unconscious and broken, his body limp against the cold concrete floor. Titus reached down, gripping the collar of Leon's black jacket and hoisting him into the air like a ragdoll. His other fist, now radiating a concentrated, ominous light, drew back, poised for a fatal strike.