Northbook Court Mall,
Northbook, Illinois,
Terra, Gaea Solar system,
Neutral Free zone,
March 27th 2019
Rosa gritted her teeth as she tried to push herself to her feet, her muscles screaming in protest. Every nerve in her body was alight with pain, her left side still seeping blood from the Batwoman's devastating sonic blast. Her chest rose and fell erratically, each breath a jagged reminder of her injuries. The battle had left her body in a precarious state, torn between purging the lingering traces of Infernal poison coursing through her veins or mending the gashes and burns riddling her skin. Her body, despite its Ascendant toughness, couldn't manage both at once. She clenched her fists, her Willpower surging to the forefront.
Focus on the wounds. The poison can wait, she told herself, forcing her mind to drown out the agony. The poison, though vicious, had lost some of its potency—her body remembered it, remembered enduring it back when she was still a mortal. Back then, it had nearly killed her. But now, as an Awakener and an Ascendant, her constitution was far more formidable, granting her just enough resistance to keep it from overwhelming her. Leaning heavily on her spear, its shaft digging into the rubble-strewn ground, she steadied herself and rose unsteadily to her feet. Her vision blurred for a moment, but the sound of shifting debris cut through her haze. She turned sharply, wincing as the movement sent a jolt of pain down her side. The source of the sound emerged—a figure standing amidst the dust and chaos, her silhouette framed by the faint glow of still-smoldering embers. Kiara.
Her once-pristine form was a wreck, the upper half of her body exposed, skin charred and cracked from the ferocity of the battle. The lower half of her armor was shredded, revealing deep burns and slashes that marred her flesh. Blood smeared her arms and streaked across her face, a grim testament to the intensity of the clash. And yet, even with her body battered and broken, her eyes blazed with unyielding fury, sharp and ferocious, like twin embers refusing to be extinguished.
"Where do you think you're going?" Kiara snarled, her voice ragged but venomous. She swiped the ash from her mouth with the back of her hand and took a step forward, her posture defiant despite the trembling in her legs.
"This battle isn't over yet," she spat, her words heavy with defiance and determination.
Rosa's grip on her spear tightened, her knuckles white against the darkened wood. She met Kiara's glare with a resolute one of her own, forcing herself upright despite the searing pain that shot through her body.
"No," Rosa said, her voice low but unwavering. "It's just getting started."
The air between them crackled with tension, the battered battlefield an echo of their indomitable wills. Both women stood on the brink of collapse, yet neither would yield—not while even a shred of strength remained. Every breath felt like a battle in itself, yet their resolve burned hotter than their injuries. Then, out of nowhere, a roaring blaze of fire surged from above, its heat intense enough to scorch the air itself. It shot downward, a fiery torrent descending on Kiara, but the Batwoman was swift. With a snap of her wings, she veered away from the attack, the inferno barely grazing her as she regained her balance. In the same fluid motion, her hand shot out, summoning her spear with a flick of her wrist. A silver arc of blade lashed out, aimed directly at her opponent's neck.
Rosa barely had time to react as Kiara's spear came for her. Her body instinctively tensed, but just as quickly, the strike was blocked—another weapon, a gleaming sword, had come between them. Kiara's eyes flashed with irritation, but she didn't hesitate. Without missing a beat, she twisted her body, sending a powerful kick toward her attacker. Callum, appearing from the chaos, braced himself with an arm to intercept the kick, but the impact still sent him crashing backward. He landed with a grunt just in front of Rosa, springing to his feet with swift precision and taking up a protective stance. The dust still hung thick in the air, but his eyes locked onto Kiara with a fierceness that matched her own. Then, without warning, Trini emerged from the shadows, her staff raised high. The crackle of arcane energy swirled around her as she began to chant, preparing the next spell. Her presence added a much-needed sense of security, though Rosa's heart still pounded in her chest—there was no telling how long they could keep up with this ferocity.
Kiara snarled, her voice dripping with contempt. "Regular Mystics," she spat, "daring to challenge me?" Her voice was laced with venom, as though the very thought of being confronted by these "lesser beings" was a personal affront.
Rosa's gaze flicked to her allies—Callum and Trini—relief flooding her in an overwhelming wave. She hadn't expected them to show up, but now, with their support, she realized the fight wasn't over just yet. She glanced at the wounds across her body, feeling the weight of exhaustion threatening to overtake her. She couldn't take on Kiara alone, not in her current state. But with Callum and Trini by her side, they might just stand a chance. The tension thickened, and the battlefield charged with a newfound intensity. It was no longer just Kiara against Rosa—it was a fight for survival, with the odds shifting in their favor, if only slightly.
"Let me show you insects why you don't stand any chances," Kiara said as a black aura of infernal power flowed into her body, the Infernal energy healing her wounds and restoring her to her top-tier form. "Now how do you feel knowing your attacks have no chance of killing me? How does it feel to be at the jaws of despair..." Just as Kiara's aura was flaring up, a shockwave flowed through the dimension, cracks appearing all over the court, even the space itself. The Batwoman lowered her aura, the flicker of fear and anxiousness stamped all over her face.
"Your Majesty," She whispered.
****
The Beast King landed with a heavy thud, the earth trembling beneath him as the last remnants of Emily's attack flickered and died, leaving only the faintest traces of orange light in the air. His orange eyes, gleaming like twin embers, locked onto both Leon and Emily, a smirk curling across his face. He placed a hand over the jagged scar that marred his chest, his fingers tightening as the pain from Leon's power still lingered there. He had underestimated the Haravok boy before, but now he understood the true extent of that power. The reports he had gotten from the serpentine Mallus painted a picture that Leon shouldn't be able to tap into that kind of strength, not without putting his frail health at grave risk. But even as he considered this, his mind shifted to Emily.
His thoughts turned colder, his strategy shifting with a deadly precision. Originally, he had planned to savor his fun with Leon, but now, with the threat, Emily posed so glaringly obvious, his priority was clear. He would end her first before she could unleash any more power. His muscles rippled, swelling with a primal force. Steam hissed from his body as a surge of Infernal energy, channeled from the heart of the Infernal engine that powered him, coursed through him, enhancing his already formidable strength. The very air around him warped and twisted as the pressure of his aura intensified, pushing outward like a storm.
"No more games, Paladins," he bellowed, his voice a guttural roar that shook the very foundation of the battlefield. His power surged, and his form became a tempest of raw, unrefined strength.
He activated his ability factor—Incandescence_Manipulation, a terrifying ability fueled by the Infernal engine that empowered him. The atmosphere around him shimmered as he drew on this accursed technique, flashes of orange light flaring to life at the Beast King's maw. His breath came in ragged bursts as the energy concentrated, a devastating force coiling into a radiant orb of destructive power.
The air crackled with tension as the orb grew in intensity, its power palpable, like the simmering heat of a furnace. The Beast King released the attack with a roar that sent shockwaves through the battlefield.
Nemean Roar—Light of Extinguishment.
The orange orb shot forward like a comet, leaving a trail of searing light in its wake. The force of the attack sent ripples through the air, distorting the atmosphere as the radiant energy gathered into a singular, unstoppable force. Leon's instincts flared as the destructive wave raced toward them.
"Don't let it touch you!" Leon shouted, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. He didn't wait for confirmation, already leaping away from the path of the blast. Emily, her movements sharp and precise, reacted in tandem, twisting her body to dodge the incoming wave of destructive light.
But the energy itself was relentless. As the orb of light collided with the ground, it exploded in a catastrophic blast of radiant fury. The force was absolute, the heat and power of the explosion immolating anything in its path. The shockwave devastated everything within range, turning the Mid Realm abominations into nothing more than ash in an instant, their twisted forms consumed by the searing energy.
Freya, who had wisely distanced herself from the clash, watched the destruction unfold from afar, her expression unreadable. The raw power of the Beast King's attack was undeniable, a reminder of the catastrophic might he wielded. The ground of the throne room was scorched, blackened by the destructive force of the Beast King's might. The air hung thick with the remnants of his unleashed power, a lingering, oppressive heat that seemed to suffocate everything in its proximity. His body radiated intense, primal energy, and as he marched forward, his aura continued to swell, pushing outward in waves of raw, untamed power. The earth beneath him groaned under the pressure, cracks spidering across the floor as the Beast King's presence loomed larger, his physical form swelling with a strength that felt almost unnatural.
His orange fur, once soft and smooth, had now hardened into a thick, almost armored layer, glowing with a faint, eerie light. Every step he took seemed to fuel his power, pushing him closer to an ungodly level of strength. He wasn't simply a beast—he was a force of nature, an apex predator whose presence filled the room like a storm waiting to break. Emily felt the shift in the atmosphere before she even saw him. She could sense the Beast King coming for her, the weight of his intent like a dark shadow creeping closer with each passing second. Her heart raced, but her focus sharpened, every instinct in her body screaming for her to act. She braced herself, knowing that there was no room for hesitation.
And then, like a living nightmare, the Beast King shot out of the smoke, a blur of orange fury, his claws outstretched and ready to tear her apart. The speed and ferocity of his movement were beyond anything she had ever encountered. It was like trying to track the path of a lightning bolt—his body moving faster than her eyes could fully process. But Emily had prepared. With a fluid grace born of countless battles, she pivoted, narrowly evading the swipe of his claws, the air crackling with the force of his missed strike. Her shortsword sang through the air, a glint of silver flashing toward him as she aimed for a vulnerable spot. Yet the Beast King's reflexes were just as sharp as his speed, and he was already a blur of motion, dodging with an agility that defied his imposing size. Her attack barely grazed the fur on his side, but Emily didn't falter. She knew what kind of Beast she was facing now. In the split second after the Beast King's first strike, as the shockwave of his power rippled through the air, Emily had recognized the signature traits of a predator far more dangerous than she had initially anticipated.
The race of Beastmen was vast and varied, with numerous clans and tribes scattered across the cosmos. Unlike other races, which tended to have a maximum of five subspecies, the Beastmen were diverse—endless variations of strength, speed, and size, often born of mystical creatures and beastly transformations. It was a race that constantly evolved, with new subspecies being discovered with every passing age. For Emily, each encounter had been an education in their unpredictability, but the one thing that remained constant was the hierarchy—the food chain.
At the top of that chain stood the Nemeanians.
The Beast King was no mere Beastman—he was a Nemeanian, a descendant of the Celestial Beasts known as the World Lions, revered across the universe as the apex of all Beastkind. Nemeanians were more than just powerful—they were legendary, born with the blood of gods running through their veins. The World Lions were creatures of unparalleled might, capable of shaping worlds with their roars, their very presence said to shift the balance of life and death in various sectors of the cosmos.
Sirius, the Beast King, was one of their descendants.
His muscles rippled under his fur as he turned, his eyes blazing with the unrestrained fury of a creature at the peak of evolution. Emily's heart pounded, the knowledge of who—and what—he truly was only fueling her determination. She had to survive, to hold on, to keep moving, for the truth was undeniable: a Nemeanian was not just a threat to her life; it was a challenge to everything the Federation stood for. The Nemeanians—a name that once inspired awe and fear—were believed to be extinct, or at the very least teetering on the brink of extinction. Centuries ago, during the height of the Federation's colonization campaigns, the Nemeanians had been one of the greatest obstacles to the Federation's ambitions of expanding their dominion. These apex predators of the Beastmen race had ruled their homeworld, Sirius, with unmatched power and pride. The planet was a testament to their might, its wild, untamed beauty mirroring the fierce strength of its rulers.
But the Federation, relentless in its pursuit of control, had waged war against the Nemeanians and their planet. The battle was as brutal as it was tragic, a clash of technology and politics against primal might and sovereignty. Sirius was ravaged by the conflict, its once-pristine landscapes reduced to scorched battlegrounds. The Nemeanians, led by their royal family, fought with a ferocity befitting their legendary status. Yet even their unmatched strength could not overcome the overwhelming force of the Federation's military. The war ended in devastation, with the royal family of the Nemeanians wiped out in what many believed was a calculated strike—a message from the Federation that no opposition, no matter how strong, would stand against them. With their leaders gone and their people scattered, Sirius fell. The planet was renamed Romulus, a symbol of the Federation's victory, and placed under the control of a new family loyal to the Federation.
For generations, this history was taught as a testament to the Federation's dominance—a carefully curated tale of how the "barbaric" Nemeanians were subdued and their chaotic rule replaced with order. In classrooms across the galaxy, children learned of the Federation's "heroic" conquest, the eradication of the Nemeanian royal family framed as a necessary step toward universal peace. To those on Federation-aligned worlds, it was more than just a history lesson; it was a stark warning, a grim reminder of the cost of defiance. It painted a chilling picture of what happened to those who dared resist the Federation's doctrine of unity and their dogmatic pursuit of peace through control.
But for those who dug deeper, the truth was more complex. The Nemeanian population, though reduced to a fraction of its former numbers, had not vanished entirely. Scattered remnants of their kind still survived, hidden in the shadows of the galaxy, clinging to the hope of resurgence. Yet their numbers were dwindling, their bloodlines diluted, and their legacy fading. From what Emily had learned, the Nemeanians had reached a point of no return. Without the leadership of their royal lineage and with the pressures of Federation control, their extinction seemed inevitable.
And yet here he was—Sirius, the Beast King.
The realization hit Emily like a cold wave. The creature before her, whose overwhelming strength and ferocity had already proven to be beyond anything she had encountered, was no ordinary Beastman. He was a living relic of a lost era, a descendant of the royal bloodline of Nemeanians—perhaps one of the last of his kind. His very existence was an affront to history, a defiance of the Federation's narrative that the Nemeanians had been defeated and erased. For Emily, like so many others, these stories had been ingrained in her from a young age. The fall of Sirius was presented as an inevitability, the extinction of the Nemeanians was justified as the natural conclusion of progress. The Nemeanians were portrayed as relics of an untamed past—too proud, too wild, and ultimately too dangerous to exist in a galaxy governed by reason and order. Over time, the narrative solidified into fact, and their extinction became little more than a footnote in the Federation's grand story of enlightenment and expansion.
Yet, as Emily now faced Sirius—the Beast King, living proof of a truth buried under centuries of propaganda—she couldn't help but feel the weight of those old lessons pressing down on her. The Federation had framed the Nemeanians as the architects of their downfall, but standing here, confronted by the sheer primal power and defiance of the Beast King, Emily wondered if the Federation's so-called "progress" had come at a cost far greater than they were willing to admit. This knowledge did little to ease the weight of the battle. If anything, it made Sirius even more dangerous. He was not just fighting for dominance—he was fighting as the last echo of a proud and ancient lineage, a king without a kingdom, wielding the strength of a dying species.
Emily tightened her grip on her weapon, her heart pounding as her mind raced. The odds were stacked against her, but she refused to falter. The sheer presence of Sirius—the Beast King, a living juggernaut of power and rage—pressed down on her like an unrelenting storm. Yet, she held her ground, knowing that hesitation would mean death.
Above them, Leon descended like a flash of lightning, Solus gleaming with brilliant white light as it was drawn from its scabbard. His movements were precise, and focused, the weight of his training evident in the fluidity of his strike. With a sharp cry, he unleashed the first form of the Io combat art, the blade moving faster than the eye could follow.
[Io Style: First Form: Swift Bolt]
A blinding beam of light surged from Solus, tearing through the air toward Sirius. The force of the attack seemed unstoppable, but as the radiant energy struck the Beast King's massive frame, it dissipated against his hardened body. The attack didn't even slow him down. Sirius let out a guttural growl, his orange eyes blazing with contempt as he barely acknowledged the blow. His sleeveless garment was torn to pieces, his muscles rippled, his aura flaring with renewed intensity, as though mocking the effort of the Paladin.
"Pathetic," Sirius snarled, his voice deep and resonant, laced with both fury and amusement. He raised a clawed hand, dark energy swirling at his fingertips, before slashing outward with incredible force. From his claws erupted a series of slashing energy constructs, their shape mirroring his razor-sharp claws but imbued with lethal Infernal power.
Leon reacted swiftly, his instincts honed by years of battle. He leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the energy constructs as they tore through the air with devastating speed. The ground where he had been standing moments before erupted in a cascade of shattered stone and dust. Emily, however, had no room to dodge. Her sharp eyes caught the incoming assault, and she braced herself, crossing her twin shortswords in front of her. The first slash struck with tremendous force, sending a jarring vibration through her arms. The second and third came in rapid succession, each blow testing the limits of her strength and technique. Sparks flew as she deflected the attacks, her muscles straining under the sheer power of the Beast King's assault.
She gritted her teeth, the searing heat of the constructs cutting dangerously close. A fourth slash slipped past her guard, grazing her left arm and tearing through her sleeve. Blood trickled down her skin, but Emily didn't let the pain slow her. Her eyes narrowed, and she pushed forward, refusing to give Sirius the satisfaction of seeing her falter. Leon landed near her, his expression grim but resolute.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. Emily nodded, wiping a streak of blood from her cheek.
"Still in one piece," she said through gritted teeth. Her eyes remained locked on Sirius, who stood unscathed amidst the destruction, his towering form wreathed in an ominous orange glow.
"Good," Leon replied, raising Solus once more. "We're going to need every ounce of strength to take him down."
The Beast King chuckled darkly, his gaze shifting between the two Paladins. "Is that all you've got? Come then, show me what makes you worthy of standing against a king!"
The air grew heavy as Sirius's aura surged again, the sheer force of his presence threatening to crush them. Emily and Leon exchanged a glance, understanding passing silently between them. This was no ordinary fight—they were facing the full fury of a dying legacy, a beast determined to burn his name into the annals of history, no matter the cost.
"You remember how the Nemeanians' Ability Factor works, right?" Leon said, his voice sharp and measured as he and Emily rushed toward the Beast King.
"Of course," Emily replied, her movements fluid as she kept pace. Her orange eyes locked on the towering figure of Sirius. "The Nemeanians' Ability Factor, Incandescence, has two stages. The first is the External State. They absorb massive amounts of Fire and Light elemental mana and release it in devastating thermonuclear blasts."
"Correct," Leon said with a smirk.
Before they could say more, Sirius bellowed, his voice reverberating through the throne room like thunder. "What good does knowing my abilities do for you, Paladins?" His massive claws swept through the air, aiming to tear them apart. Leon darted forward, Solus moving so swiftly it seemed to blur. The radiant white light of the blade carved a shining arc toward Sirius, but the Beast King swiped it aside with his bare hand as though it were nothing but an annoyance.
"It means we know your weaknesses, cat," Leon taunted, his grin widening as he pivoted to dodge a retaliatory slash. "You must be dumber than I thought, daring to attack your master like this." Sirius snarled, his claws ripping through the space Leon had just occupied, but the Pleiadian reappeared behind him with blinding speed. Solus gleamed with an otherworldly golden light as Leon activated his elemental attribute, channeling Light energy into his blade.
Sirius's eyes narrowed as he realized what was happening. He turned to evade, but Emily was already there to cut off his escape, her twin shortswords glowing with an orange, fiery brilliance.
[Dancing Twilight: Rising Sunrise]
The energy radiating from Emily's blades surged, painting the battlefield in vibrant hues of amber and gold. Sirius, expecting her infamous Soul Flames, made a calculated decision. He snarled and charged directly toward Leon, prioritizing breaking through the imminent Light-elemental attack.
"If I have to tear through your Pleiadian flesh, so be it!" Sirius roared, his powerful legs launching him forward with terrifying speed.
Leon, unfazed, stood his ground. Solus erupted in a flurry of motion, the golden energy amplifying the already deadly speed of his strikes.
[Io Style: Second Form: Perpetual Slashes]
A storm of radiant slashes surrounded Sirius, encircling him in a glowing whirlwind of Light-elemental attacks. Sirius skidded to a halt, his furious expression hardening into an ugly frown. Realizing he couldn't simply power through, the Beast King let out a deafening roar, undoing the Internal technique that bolstered his defenses.
With an animalistic snarl, Sirius activated the first Stage of his Incandescence.
[Nemea Roar]
The Beast King's body absorbed the Light energy around him, his orange fur darkening as he became a living blackbody, devouring the radiant mana that would have otherwise been his undoing. His aura became a vortex of darkness, the absorbed energy making his body emit a terrifying heat. He turned his gaze to Leon, a murderous fury burning in his glowing orange eyes.
"You're no Immortal Blade Goddess, nor are you the Sword God! That pathetic combat art is nothing more than a child's trick to me!" Sirius roared, energy swirling in his maw, readying for an earth-shattering blast.
But Leon didn't flinch. His lips curled into a smirk as he uttered, "Seems like you've forgotten someone."
Sirius blinked, his instinct screaming at him too late. From the corner of his vision, Emily appeared like a shadow, her twin shortswords cutting through the air. The blades shimmered with a dark, ominous energy—the very antithesis of the light he had just absorbed.
[Dancing Twilight: Lightless Slashes]
A wave of pure darkness burst from Emily's weapons, the energy slicing through Sirius's ribs like a scythe through wheat. Black blood sprayed into the air, staining the throne room as the Beast King stumbled. The attack forced him to lose control of the accumulated energy in his maw. The unstable power detonated in a violent explosion, blasting Sirius backward. His massive body crashed into the far wall with a deafening impact, leaving cracks in the stone as blood gushed from his mouth and his torn side.
Emily landed gracefully, her swords still gleaming with residual dark energy, her sharp gaze never leaving the wounded Beast King.
"As Emily was saying," Leon began, casually brushing some dust from his coat as he strode forward. Solus gleamed in his hand, a symbol of both elegance and lethality. "The First Stage of Incandescence allows you to absorb Fire and Light elements, turning them into that thermonuclear blast you love so much." He rested the flat of Solus against his shoulder, his tone dripping with arrogance. "But while you're busy accumulating all that energy, your body loses its defenses. You're wide open."
Emily chimed in, her voice cold and steady, "And while your Second Stage—the Internal State—grants you immunity to all physical attacks by hardening your body, it leaves you weak to Light-elemental attacks."
Sirius staggered to his feet, bloodied but unbroken, his aura flaring again as his fury reignited. "You think this knowledge is enough to defeat me?" he roared, his voice shaking the room. Leon's eyes glinted as he took a step closer, Emily at his side.
"No," he said. "But it's enough to send you crawling back to whatever pit you came from, Beast King."
"I am not leaving until this planet falls under my domain!" Sirius yelled, his voice shaking the throne room like a rumbling storm.
"You really are as dumb as I thought you were," Leon said, Solus gleaming in his hand as his lips curved into a smirk. "You should know better than to go against your master, cat."
"Enough!" Sirius roared, Infernal energy bursting forth from his Infernal Engine, flooding the room in a violent surge of power. The blackened aura radiating from him twisted and churned, enveloping his body as his wounds began to close, healed by the monstrous power of his engine. His strength skyrocketed, the sheer weight of his spiritual power causing the very ground beneath them to quake. The walls of the Alpha Court groaned under the pressure, and cracks spread across the stone floor like a spider's web. Yet, Leon and Emily stood firm, the oppressive force of Sirius's energy failing to make them falter.
Leon's expression hardened. He knew now that there was no holding back against the Beast King. He drew deeply from the mana stored within his pocket band, channeling it into his body as the familiar sensation of raw, blazing energy coursed through his veins.
[Sol Fusion: Hyperion State – Nova Combustion]
A powerful aura of heat burst from Leon's body, flames licking at the edges of his armor as his Hyperion State activated. The air around him rippled and shimmered with the intense heat, the ground beneath his feet glowing faintly from the rising temperature. His physical prowess surged, his body now capable of keeping up with the Beast King's overwhelming power. Emily glanced at Leon, the heat from his aura washing over her. She recognized the transformation immediately, Nova Combustion—an advanced state that Leon had painstakingly developed himself. A smile broke across her face, her confidence unwavering despite the odds stacked against them.
Without hesitation, Emily activated the enchantments on her twin shortswords, their intricate runes blazing to life. The mythical blades hummed with power, resonating with her mana and synchronizing with her energy. Her physical might climbed, not to the level of Leon or Sirius, but enough for her to hold her ground and fight alongside Leon. She stepped forward, her grip tightening on the hilts of her weapons, her eyes locked on Sirius.
"Let's see if you can handle the two of us," she muttered, her voice low but steady.
The Beast King's growl deepened as his claws flexed, glowing faintly with the dark power of his Infernal Engine. His orange fur bristled as he stared down the two Paladins, his lips curling into a feral snarl.
"Shouldn't you be on your knees before me, cat?" Leon taunted, his tone dripping with mockery as Solus glimmered in his hand. His smirk widened as he added, "After all, your ancestors were nothing more than servants and pets to my ancestor, Regulus Sol."
The words struck Sirius like a dagger. The Beast King froze for a brief moment, his orange eyes narrowing, his claws trembling with barely contained fury. Then came the roar—a deafening, primal sound that shook the very air in the throne room. It was the roar of a creature whose pride had been attacked, whose very essence had been insulted.
"Silence!" Sirius bellowed, his Infernal aura flaring violently. The ground beneath him cracked under the weight of his spiritual pressure, flames and light flickering dangerously around his form. "You dare to mock the Nemeanians? To mock me, Sirius, King of Beasts?"
But Leon's smirk didn't falter. In fact, it grew wider. "Oh, I'm not mocking you, Beast King. I'm simply stating the truth," Leon said, his voice calm but sharp, each word calculated to wound. "Regulus Sol, the Celestial who founded the House of Leo, was part of a Celestial tribe that tamed the World Lions—your precious ancestors. They were nothing more than mounts and beasts of burden, used to travel from one star to another in the ancient days."
Sirius's rage boiled over, his entire form shaking with unbridled fury. The truth of Leon's words only added fuel to the fire. He couldn't deny the history—however much he wanted to. Regulus Sol and the Solaris tribe had indeed domesticated the mighty World Lions, reducing the proud ancestors of the Nemeanians to mere tools for their purposes. It was a history Sirius despised, a scar on the pride of his race that he had spent his life trying to overcome.
"You dare speak of ancient chains as if they still bind us?" Sirius growled, his voice guttural and laced with venom. "The Nemeanians are no one's pets. We are kings! And I will show you what happens to those who dare insult the pride of a king!"
Leon twirled Solus in his hand, the radiant blade catching the dim light of the throne room. "Kings?" he said, his voice laced with mock amusement. "Last I checked, kings don't grovel and rage like children. Face it, Sirius, no matter how much you roar, you'll always be chasing the shadow of your ancestors' chains." That was the last straw. With a furious roar, Sirius launched himself at Leon, his claws extended, his Infernal energy burning brighter than ever before. The battle was reignited, but the Beast King's anger was his weakness. Leon knew this, and he had every intention of exploiting it.
"I said, enough!" Sirius roared, his voice echoing with unrestrained fury, his Infernal energy swelling around him. "I am no longer bound to your kind nor Asha's lies!" The throne room trembled under the weight of his spiritual pressure, cracks spidering across the walls as the Beast King charged forward, his claws slashing with feral speed. Leon sidestepped the attack with a calculated leap into the air, Emily following close behind, her dual blades shimmering ominously.
"So, you were a follower of Asha," Leon muttered, filing the revelation away. His sharp eyes glimmered with interest as if fitting a piece into a larger puzzle.
"A Beastman following the Patron God of Humanity?" Emily scoffed, her tone incredulous. Her swords ignited with trails of darkness, black energy rippling outward as she unleashed an arc of darkness-element slashes. "And does it have anything to do with why you fell into depravity?" Sirius dodged the attack with feline precision, zigzagging across the room in a blur of motion, his predatory grace intact despite the blinding haze of rage clouding his mind.
"Why don't you ask Samantha McCoy?" he hissed, his lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth.
Emily's brow furrowed, the mention of Sam catching her off guard for a moment. But Sirius was already moving again, his claws slicing through the air like streaks of lightning.
"It matters not what happened to me," the Beast King growled, his deep voice vibrating with raw hatred. "The past has no hold over me. Once I rip the heart from the Asha'yee and stake my Will upon this planet, I will tear the Federation apart." His orange eyes locked onto Leon with venom. "Including your family, Haravok."
Emily stiffened at the threat, but her resolve hardened in an instant. "You can try, Beast King," she snapped, her voice cold and defiant. Darkness swirled around her blades as she readied herself to counter.
Leon landed beside her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Threatening my bloodline? Now you're just asking for trouble." His hands gripped Solus tighter, the blade shimmering with radiant energy as he prepared his next move.
"Your Will might be strong, Sirius," Leon added, his voice sharp and unwavering. "But you're not the only one here with something to fight for. And you're certainly not the only one ready to destroy anyone who stands in their way." Using the techniques of the Io style, Leon moved in a flash.
[Io Style: Third Form - Void Leap]
Space distorted momentarily as Leon bypassed the distance between himself and Sirius, reappearing behind the Beast King with Solus poised for another strike.
[Io Style: First Form - Swift Bolt]
The radiant golden blade surged forward with a concussive force, its light cutting through the throne room like a sunbeam. But Sirius was quick, faster than even his earlier movements betrayed. With both hands, he caught the blade mid-swing, halting it inches from his body. Sparks danced between Solus and the Beast King's claws as he held the weapon at bay.
Sirius opened his mouth wide, preparing to unleash his Nemean Roar directly at Leon.
"You should look up," Leon said calmly, his fingers snapping together.
[Hyperion: Chaotic Field - Crimson Pressure]
A sphere of crimson light appeared above them, shimmering with raw spatial distortion. The moment it activated, the gravity in the throne room twisted violently, pressing down with immense force. The crushing gravitational field immobilized both Sirius and Leon, anchoring them to the ground. Sirius growled as he struggled against the weight. The unstable energy in his mouth began to fizzle, unable to stabilize under the oppressive force. Realizing his vulnerable state, Sirius activated the second stage of his ability, enveloping himself in the protective barrier of Nemean Skin. Emily appeared just outside the crimson field, her blades burning with opposing forces—one wreathed in Soul Flames, the other cloaked in dense darkness elemental energy.
"I don't care if those flames can harm my soul!" Sirius roared defiantly. "I'll protect it with my Infernal energy!" He began weaving his power to shield his spirit, his pride blinding him to his surroundings.
"She's not aiming for your soul, dumbass," Leon smirked.
Emily combined the opposing forces on her blades, the dark and light energies spiraling together in chaotic harmony. The air vibrated with an unnatural hum, the sheer tension of the fusion sending shockwaves through the room.
[Dancing Twilight: Devouring End]
The dark purplish energy exploded forth from Emily's blades, wild and uncontrollable. The blades themselves cracked under the strain, their mystical composition disintegrating as the energy consumed them to fuel itself. The purplish light twisted and churned, devouring everything it touched. Emily struggled, her Odic Force flaring violently as if to warn her of the danger she wielded. The ambient Infernal Energy in the room was drawn to the chaotic power, amplifying it further. The force overwhelmed her, and her consciousness faded.
Yet, her body did not collapse.
Her movements became unnatural, almost puppet-like, as if controlled by a presence beyond her. The energy coalesced into a massive fiery lance of annihilation, held effortlessly in her hand. Her face was calm, but her expression was alien, unrecognizable to Leon. With a single motion, the lance was hurled toward Sirius's throne.
In the void where Emily's mind should have been, a thought surfaced—a voice that was not hers and yet was: "To think I've been living under my own delusions… At least this will be enough to deal with that damned cat."
The lance flew through the air, a force of pure destruction. Space itself warped and fractured in its path, unable to contain the anarchic energy.
"No!" Sirius bellowed, his voice laced with panic.
The lance struck the throne, unleashing a cataclysmic explosion. The purplish light consumed everything, erasing the throne and the power it radiated. The cracks in the surrounding space deepened, destabilizing the entire dimension.
Sirius staggered, his connection to his Infernal Engine severed. His body faltered as his power output diminished, his abilities destabilizing rapidly. But before Leon could capitalize, a brilliant streak of lightning flashed across the room. From her vantage point high above, Freya finally made her move. Her fists crackled with pure mana force, her body radiating with unyielding strength.
[Spear of Lugus: Lew of the Long Hand]
She conjured a colossal lightning spear, its blue energy humming with devastating power. With practiced precision, Freya hurled the spear at Sirius, its length growing mid-flight, sharpening to a deadly point. Leon, anticipating the attack, activated Void Leap again, appearing beside Emily. He scooped her unconscious form into his arms and moved out of harm's way. The lightning spear struck Sirius directly in the gut, piercing through his Nemean Skin and embedding itself deep. The attack was devastating, imbued with Mana Force Variation, a mystical energy of a higher realm capable of bypassing regeneration and resisting even the most resilient defenses.
Sirius roared in agony, his rage and pride shattered. He realized too late the error of his fury. In his blind focus on Leon and Emily, he had underestimated Freya—the one adversary who had been biding her time.