Leon's Dream

"Leon, I hope you'll be fine."

"Let's go, brat. We don't have time to waste. What is it about that human that made you go out of your way just to have me protect him?"

"Isn't he special?"

"He's just one of many sages who've awakened with a Godly bloodline. Only time will tell if he's truly special or not."

"He will be!"

"…Let's go."

"Alright."

The bulky figure smirked slightly, tilting his neck, and the two vanished without a trace.

Alex and Zara moved silently through the dense forest, their shadows blending into the trees as they whizzed past.

Suddenly, the sharp whistle of arrows sliced through the air. Chaos erupted around them as deadly projectiles rained down, splintering branches and piercing the earth.

Zara stepped forward. "Leave this to me," she said calmly, ten gleaming needles appearing between her fingers.

"Strings are the unseen artists of the world, weaving wonders from nothing."

With a flick of her wrist, invisible threads sprang forth, intertwining into a shimmering web.

"One thread, two threads... with enough care, even the weakest web can ensnare the mightiest prey."

The oncoming arrows froze mid-flight, suspended in the web's delicate trap. To the eyes of an ordinary man, the web was completely invisible.

Zara's expression was icy and cold as she walked. With each wave of her hand, the air trembled, and blood splattered to the ground in crimson arcs.

She was like a grim reaper, reaping lives.

Then she started to walk forward, her fingers moving ever so slightly. One by one, trees toppled like dominoes, crashing to the ground and exposing the battlefield.

What lay beyond was a chilling scene of devastation. Hundreds of soldiers lay lifeless, their eyes wide with terror and confusion.

Clap! Clap!

"As expected of the Princess of Blood."

Zara paused and tilted her head to the left. 

"Who are you? Show yourself."

With a wave of her hand, the strings moved. A shadow flickered past them and revealed itself—a man with long red hair, bulky and muscular.

"It's my honor to meet the Princess of Blood," he said, bowing with a polite, gentlemanly smile.

"Norman, what are you doing here?" Alex spoke first, a frown on his face.

"Brother, haha, I have been waiting for this moment for so long. To see you injured—and fleeing the kingdom, no less. It means I can finally kill you." A crazed sneer gradually spread across Norman's face as he looked up at the sky. 

"Do you know how long I have waited for this opportunity?" 

He spread his hands wide. "Even though I was stronger than you, just because you were born into the Finn family and learned that ridiculous *Limitless Tyranny*, your position was exalted while I was nothing more than a mere general under the king, always on the frontlines." 

Alex stepped forward, his expression unreadable. 

"Good brother, since you've challenged me, I will accept your challenge wholeheartedly." 

He drew his greatsword, raising it high into the sky, ready to strike. 

"Come."

*Bang!* 

The ground heaved violently, and their figures vanished into thin air as they clashed in a furious battle. 

Zara wanted to help, but Alex's voice rang in her ears, stopping her. She clenched her fists, trembling, before reluctantly stepping back. Tears streamed down her face as she tightly embraced Leon. 

"Please protect yourself, Alex," she whispered. Her shadow disappeared into the bright light of the day as she retreated. 

Even as she moved forward, the terrifying sound of blades clashing was deafening.

Zara looked at Leon's unconscious form, her eyes brimming with tears. 

"I must protect my child." 

She tore a strip of cloth and bound Leon to herself, securing him tightly against her. With her hands now free, she drew out ten gleaming needles, determination hardening her features. 

Threads unraveled from the needles, coiling tightly around the nearby trees in an intricate, shimmering web. 

"The Art of Needles: Coiled Launch." 

Zara stepped back, pulling the threads taut. The immense tension built up, exerting an almost unbearable force on the trees. 

In one decisive motion, she released the threads. The stored kinetic energy exploded outward, launching her and Leon into the sky at an incredible speed. Their figures became a blur, nearly imperceptible to the naked eye. 

Alex glanced at the fleeting figure from the corner of his eye with some worry and then looked at him with a cold expression:

"Since you've chosen to betray my trust, Norman, don't expect any mercy from me." 

His breathing steadied, and a sharp glint flickered in his pupils as he prepared for the next move. 

***

Leon dreamt of a grand throne room. 

Luxurious and filled with gold—everywhere he looked, there was nothing but gold. The floor gleamed with brilliance, the throne and chairs radiated opulence, all crafted from gold.

A long red carpet stretched across the floor, cascading down to the ground and leading up to the magnificent throne. The morning sun streamed through a window, casting golden rays over the room. 

Suddenly, the sun dipped below the horizon, and the moon rose swiftly from the west, streaking across the sky before vanishing in the east. This cycle repeated endlessly, the passage of time blurring.

Snowflakes began to swirl on the ground as the sun disappeared once more. After a while, pink leaves drifted gently through the window. 

With every change in the room, the throne seemed to grow weary and old. Its brilliance dulled, and cracks began to form on its surface. Then, without warning, blood began to pool on the golden floor.

Leon watched in silence as he realized this was the cycle of the four seasons. 

The blood gradually rose, reaching his knees, showing no sign of stopping. 

At that moment, a faint shadow lingered on the throne, making Leon squint his eyes. 

Behind the shadow, a plate radiated seven colors, forming a luminous circle. At its center, a faint, indistinct color flickered. 

"This feels familiar," he murmured. 

As Leon stared at the vision, his heart began to pound violently. With every heartbeat, a profound sensation surged within him, growing stronger and more overwhelming. 

"I gave everything to the Gods to live a peaceful life," a voice resounded, laced with pain and bitterness. "A life filled with colors and beauty—but what did I get in return?" 

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing!" 

A guttural roar echoed throughout the throne room, shaking its foundations. The river of blood splashed violently, its crimson waves crashing against the walls.

"Now I shall show my Tyranny to the Gods." 

In an instant, everything shattered. It was but a split second, yet the room broke apart. 

Countless shadows filled the sky, the ground, the seas—everywhere you looked, they were there. 

"I shall rule again." 

Bang! 

It was a simple yet deafening sound as dimensions tore apart, and an army of Giant Demons and Ghosts appeared, towering as tall as the height of the Earth. 

Leon's white hair fluttered in the wind. 

As he gazed at the shadow, the shadow gazed back at him.