Ssshhhh~

Leo, with trembling eyes, watched Fallen Pride slowly dissolve into particles. The world felt silent in this moment, as if even time itself refused to move forward.

Her body flickered between fading and solid, the outline of her form struggling to remain in this reality.

Crimson eyes, wide with shock and something deeper—... regret? longing? locked onto her chest, where her own sword stood embedded, black blood seeping around the sword.

She looked up, saw Leo shaking, pale, torn between mercy and grief, and slowly pulled the sword free from her chest.

Chucckk!

Thud!

Fallen Pride's body crumpled, but Leo caught her in his arms. His hands trembled as he let the sword fall, the sound echoing as metal struck stone before shattering into shimmering dust particles, scattering like the fragments of a broken dream.

Leo looked at her, tears gathering in his eyes, holding her as gently as he could—as if she were glass, as if even a breath might break her.

His hands slid through her platinum hair, soft and light, tracing the strands with reverence. "Caelindra…" he whispered, "I never wanted this… I never wanted to hurt you."

He stared into her crimson eyes.

Fallen Pride didn't react... her face was blank, lost, yet still hauntingly beautiful. She just stared at him, silent, as he softly cradled her in his embrace and sank to his knees.

Seeing her broken body, Leo's heart twisted. He couldn't help but cry, helpless in the face of what had been lost.

How much she had fallen…!

The world was really cruel…

He looked into her eyes, he muttered, lips shaking, "Am… Am I still worthy? Even after everything I did?" His breath trembled against her cheek.

Fallen Pride stared blankly at him, her face flickering between existence and absence, as if she struggled on the unknown threshold.

Before she could understand what she felt, Leo leaned in, and—

Kissed her?

Fallen Pride's crimson eyes flew wide, a green flicker shimmering and vanishing in their depths. For an instant, a memory, a fragment of her old self.

Her lips, stained with red blood... Leo pulled away slowly, his lips painted red.

"Goodbye… and… Thank you for everything," he whispered, "You taught me how to fight. How to hope. How to lose… and still stand." Tears fell onto her cheeks, warm and silent.

He closed his eyes, clutching her a moment longer, feeling her warmth fade. Fallen Pride's body shimmered into particles before…

Ssshhhhh~

Dispersed into reddish-black, flickering dust as the gentle breeze carried the last of her away.

Leo could only watch.

Leo kneeled there for a few more seconds. He shook his head, struggling to collect himself. Finally, he stood and looked up at…

Essa, who was also flickering between solid and fading form!

His face twisted in horror.

"E-Essa? Are you alright?!"

He stumbled towards her without thinking. Essa sat on the ground, her body covered in bruises, pain carved into every movement. Her fingers shook as the twin curved sword in her hand dissolved into particles, falling from her grasp.

Essa looked up at him, her eyes glazed with exhaustion, but she managed a faint smile.

"I am fine… It's just… I need rest," she said, her voice a soft rasp. "I used every bit of mana, Leo. There's nothing left."

Leo let out a shaky laugh in relief. He knelt beside her, reaching out to steady her shoulder. "Thank goodness…" He closed his eyes for a moment, unable to believe she was still here.

"I thought… I thought I'd lose you, too."

Leo stared at her face... her beauty still radiant even through bruises and fatigue.

He wanted to ask so many things... but right now, he understood: they both needed to breathe.

Just breathe!

"She is finally gone?" Essa asked.

Leo looked up at the stars, the sky vast. He nodded slowly, "Yeah…" he muttered.

Essa stared at his expression.

"Anyway… Three more to go, then?" Leo murmured in a weak voice.

Fuck, this is going to be a really hard one then.

And also, he realised with a chill, he hadn't seen any of his family members yet, which gnawed at him, a deeper worry twisting in his gut.

Where were they? Were they alive?

Just as they were resting, breathing in the aftermath of that brutal fight,

Sssscccllll~

Yellow flames suddenly caught the edges of the ruined building, flickering to life in the darkness. The fire crept, licking up shattered stone and steel, the world turning to ash wherever those flames touched.

Everything burned instantly, as if the fire were something far more sinister—a living, devouring entity.

"We gotta move," Leo said as he staggered upright, his body heavy and sore. He glanced at Essa.

Essa shook her head, her whole frame slumping, "I cannot move my body, Leo… I used everything. I can't even speak properly."

Leo stared at her.... He turned his gaze to the encroaching flames.

He sighed, then stooped and swept her up into his arms, holding her close—a princess carry, careful and protective.

"H-Hey, what are you doing—" she gasped, voice suddenly shy and startled.

"We came this far together… We'll go together, then," he said. He shifted her gently, making sure she was comfortable against his chest, then grabbed his sword and started forward.

Essa blankly stared at him. Then, a faint blush bloomed on her cheeks as she realised how tightly his arms held her, how close she was to his heart.

As they moved toward the bright blue beam shooting into the night sky—a pillar of hope or doom, he didn't know—Leo kept his senses sharp, praying nothing monstrous would leap out at them from the dark.

Essa, silent for a while, leaned her head softly on his chest.

"So you did love her?"

Leo blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"I mean…" Her cheeks deepened to crimson, and she struggled to meet his eyes. "The k-kiss?"

Leo managed an awkward smile, eyes flicking away, but he didn't answer. Instead, he changed the subject, "I'm more surprised by your looks, honestly… You said your name is…?"

"Medusa," she finished for him, her lips curling into a slight pout. She knew he was dodging the question, and it stung, but she let it go for now.

Leo raised his eyebrows, "Medusa… Ah… That's a cute name," he said, a bright smile flickering across his face.

The compliment made her feel weirdly exposed; she turned her gaze away.

He hesitated before asking, "Why do you wear a blindfold? Are you… blind?"

Medusa's mouth tightened, "I have my own problems."

Leo didn't take it to heart. Except… well, curiosity flickered inside him.

If she weren't blind, why the blindfold? And if she truly was blind, how was she seeing everything so clearly—moving with confidence, reading the world in ways he couldn't?

Two questions, circling in his mind.

Oh well, Leo kept moving, pushing the thoughts aside for now. The flames behind them weren't fast, but still steadily approached, devouring the world in their relentless crawl. He was already far ahead of them, and, pressing on, he soon reached the base of the blue beam of light.

At the crossroads, the relic hovered—levitating in the air, right in the centre of the four-corner junction in the middle of the ruined road.

Four petals out of five had already unfurled. The last petal, though, remained tightly closed.

Blue energy shimmered around the artifact, mesmerising, swirling. For a moment, Leo could almost forget the nightmares that had led them here. The relic's beauty was hypnotic, nearly sacred, and yet everyone knew what terror it had caused.

Leo, holding Medusa close, stepped onto the path that led to the relic.

At the same moment, on the left side, Azrael appeared, having Valra behind her.

On the right, Raphael strode forward, carrying an unconscious Ophis in one arm, her other hand tightly gripping a gun, worry etched across her face.

The three groups arrived at the crossroads at the exact same time.

Their eyes locked!

"AH!" A collective gasp of relief echoed through the night.

"Leo!" Raphael, Azrael, and Valra all called out together, their voices tangled in joy and disbelief as they hurried toward him.

Leo managed a weak, grateful smile. "Raphael, Azrael, Valra… everyone…" he breathed, his voice trembling with relief and exhaustion.

He let his gaze sweep over their bodies, frantic for any sign of injury—but they seemed fine.

Valra slid carefully off Azrael's back, finding her footing.

Essa managed to stand as well, though her legs still shook beneath her. But she forced herself upright—she'd rather be trembling on her own two feet than be carried by Leo in front of everyone.

The embarrassment burned brighter than her exhaustion.

It's so embarrassing, you know!

Azrael rushed forward, arms trembling, and wrapped Leo in a fierce, desperate hug. "Y-You alright, baby?" she whispered, her voice cracking as tears filled her eyes.

Leo's face ended up pressed against her chest, nearly smothering him. He coughed, blushing, and Azrael laughed through her tears, then kissed his forehead.

Leo smiled up at her, soft and honest. "Of course I'm fine. What about you? Are you hurt?"

Azrael groaned, rolling her eyes. "I am hurt, Leo… I fucking hurt everywhere. But—" She gave a wicked, tired grin.

"We killed Nergal."

Leo and Essa both stared at her in shock.... They killed Nergal?

Valra moved in next, slipping into Leo's arms and hugging him tight, her breath shaky against his ear. She whispered, "You made me worry too…" Then, with a playful edge, she kissed his cheek and pinched his hip, her eyes narrowed in annoyance and jealousy.

"Ouch," Leo yelped, jumping slightly. He caught the glare in her eyes—half scolding, half relieved.

Valra's eyes finally landed on Essa, and she did a double take, a flicker of shock passing over her face. The realisation struck her— Gorgo was actually the champion here.

Azrael, too, stared in surprise at the beautiful woman standing beside Leo. "I honestly thought you were a man under that hoodie… haha!" she blurted, grinning in genuine amusement, unable to hide her delight at being wrong.

Essa's lips twitched. Then she noticed Valra's expression—serious, intense, eyes locked onto hers.

"We have a lot to talk about," Valra said.

Essa blinked and wondered just what Valra was getting at.

Raphael hugged him, her shoulders trembling, her grip desperate as if she feared he might disappear if she let go. She handed Ophis gently into Azrael's waiting arms, then clung to Leo, burying her face in his chest.

"Leo… Leo… Leo…" she whispered, the name a lifeline in a storm, her words rambling and laced with the terror she was trying to hide.

Leo blinked, wrapping his arms around her, holding her steady. He felt the quiver in her body, "Are you alright?" he asked softly.

Raphael nodded, tears streaking her face, her lips trembling as she tried to gather herself.

"I… I am fine… it's just that we faced… Camazotz and then… then there was blood—so much blood in m-my stomach and… I fainted…" Her words tumbled out, "When I woke up, Camazotz was not there and Ophis was unconscious—"

"Oh? So even Camazotz is dead? Haha… He fucking deserved it."

Everyone flinched as a haughty, arrogant voice echoed across the crossroads. They all turned, and saw—

A grey-haired man, elegant and predatory, stepping from behind the Relic. His posture was languid, almost playful, but the malice in his eyes was unmistakable. He tilted his head, fangs glinting in the blue glow, a smirk curling on his lips.

"Dracula," Leo muttered, his tone dropping to icy steel.

Dracula's smirk widened, a dangerous light flickering in his gaze as the night seemed to grow even darker around him.

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