Chapter 17: The Rebirth of The Crimson King

The air was damp, and the wind was whipping violently at the ruins of what was once a city full of life. Now, that place was full of beasts and monsters that gathered around their leader's castle, expectant before the battle between two powers.

On one side was Leon, with a cold and defiant look. Her silver hair shone in the glow of the pure flames that enveloped it, while the fabric of her long white trench coat fluttered majestically to the beat of the wind. His crimson eyes, intense as blood, rested for an instant on his friends, who were protected by two gods who had descended to help them. With a subtle movement, Leon turned, placing himself with his back to them.

His stomp, delicate but firm, caused a translucent barrier to unfold in front of his companions. That barrier, smooth as water to the naked eye, radiated an unshakable power, protecting them from the brutality of the combat that was about to break out.

In front of him was Pestilence, smiling with an air of superiority, arms crossed. His figure radiated an oppressive and pestilential aura, a reddish and putrid mist that seemed to stain the air itself. His dark armor, heavy and battle-worn, shone with a sinister glow, while its wearer delighted in the boldness of the unknown human who dared to confront him.

With slow and calculated step, Pestilence ascended through the air, his imposing figure echoing with every movement. He drew his sword, an aberration made of flesh and blood that throbbed with a life of its own. The runes that adorned the blade, imbued with ancient incantations, shone with a malicious flash, announcing the corruption that their bearer brought with him.

Pestilence:"What makes you think you can defeat me? So many have passed my way, all with power... and none of them have even managed to make me bleed."

Leon did not allow himself to be intimidated. He advanced with a firm step, his countenance serious but charged with a restrained fury. His every move radiated confidence, as if the weight of the world wasn't enough to break him.

Lion:"I will do it with my own power, one that comes from my will and the faith of those around me. It is a power that even the gods possess... but that they do not know how to use."

They both advanced into the air, their gazes colliding like swords before the real weapons kicked into action. The atmosphere became heavy, the silence oppressive. Everyone present, even the darkest monsters, asked themselves the same question: Who will win this encounter?

The fight started with an explosion. Both disappeared from view for an instant, and the silence was broken by a shock wave that shook the ruins. The swords collided with a deafening crash, and the figures of Lion and Pestilence were only visible in the brief flashes of light that arose from each collision.

Leon was spinning on his axis with lethal precision, his sword tracing perfect circles in the air. His movements were fluid and elegant, each stroke charged with strength and determination. Pestilence, on the other hand, blocked the attacks with a ruthless skill, using the sturdier side of his sword to deflect Lion's cuts while unleashing gusts of his corrupted aura, which corroded the walls and the floor around him.

The clash of his powers was so violent that the castle began to crumble. Leon, with a quick twist of his wrist, attacked with cross-cuts at breakneck speed. Pestilence responded with a devastating blow, a hook straight to Leon's sword, attempting to disarm him.

But Leon reacted with amazing dexterity. He turned his body and launched a high kick, blocking Pestilence's attack and forcing him to retreat. The two separated, taking distance for an instant while they evaluated their next movements.

Pestilence let out a laugh, his putrid aura intensifying as the runes on his sword shone more brightly.

Pestilence:"You are persistent, human. But that won't be enough to beat me."

Leon did not answer. He let his flames grow around him, enveloping him like a living shield. He pushed forward again, his determination unwavering, as the ground beneath them cracked, unable to bear the weight of his combat.

The confrontation was just beginning, but it had already transformed the stage into a field of absolute chaos. And yet, neither of them seemed willing to give in.

That's how the castle started to collapse, piece by piece. The debris was falling hard, hitting the nearby ruins, while Hades and Apollo calmly watched. The barrier that Leon had erected protected them, diverting the fragments to the ground without letting them cross the sacred boundary that he had drawn.

Outside the barrier, Pestilence resumed its attack with renewed ferocity.

Pestilence:"Zarldrich Forteins."

The language of Pestilence was an enigma, impossible for humans to understand. Every word of his resonated like a forbidden echo, a language reserved for those who had divine power coursing through their veins. The attack that triggered was a poisonous cut, impregnated with a deadly disease - skin cancer in its terminal stage. If that attack touched Leon's body, the spread would be so aggressive that it could end his life instantly.

Leon, keeping his composure, dodged the attack with an accurate turn, moving like a burst in the middle of the chaos. Without stopping, he launched his counterattack with a searing fury.

Lion:"Hellfire Slashes."

After reciting the skill, he drew his sword. An aura of divine energy enveloped the blade, and in a single movement unleashed a shower of fiery cuts. Each one was like a wave of compressed air, charged with an infernal fire that crossed space with violence, heading directly towards Pestilence.

But Pestilence was not intimidated. He blocked and countered the cuts with his corrupted sword, advancing with relentless speed. In an unexpected move, he took a leap, propelling himself towards Leon with outsized strength. It spun in the air like a spinning top, unleashing a series of spinning, fast and devastating cuts.

Leon blocked the attacks with skill, but each shock weakened his posture. Finally, taking advantage of an opening, Pestilence dealt a surprise blow. His sword, a calculated distraction, was deliberately deflected to the side, and with one neat movement, Pestilence appeared behind Leon. The direct impact on his face forced him to take a step forward, staggering.

Lion:"Interesting... I didn't see that coming."

Pestilence outlined a dark smile under his mask.

Pestilence:"You are a worthy opponent. But we both know that the time to play is over."

Lion:"Yes. It's time to end this."

Both adjusted the position of their weapons, as if preparing for a duel between two knights. They walked slowly, taking distance between them, their stares fixed, charged with defiance and respect. Pestilence, with a solemn gesture, stopped the combat and began to speak.

Pestilence:"Since you've been the first one to take a hit from me, dodge me and give me so much trouble... and you are still standing, I will grant you an honor. You will see my real face."

Leon did not respond with words. He knew that the gods, as a rule, had faces of an imposing beauty, almost divine. It was likely that Pestilence wanted to show him his greatness before the final blow.

But what Leon saw was not what he expected.

When he took off his helmet, he could see Pestilence's face, without his helmet, it was the vivid representation of a dark and sinister presence. Her black hair, long and untidy, fell like a chaotic shadow around her pale and deathly cold face, giving her a supernatural appearance. His eyes burned with an intense crimson glow, almost inhuman, as if the hatred and corruption of the world were reflected in his gaze. The features of his face were sharp and gloomy, but his expression was serene, expressionless, as if he was in complete control of the chaos that surrounded him.

The grayish tone of his skin seemed to be the result of incessant corruption, while the darkness that surrounded him seemed to seep out of his figure, as if it were part of him. Around him floated small black particles, subtle and ethereal, like remnants of rot blown by a non-existent wind. A menacing presence, as elegant as it is terrifying.

Pestilence, stripped of his helmet, revealed a human face, grim and marked by the weight of centuries of regrets and regrets. At the sight of him, Leon's anger intensified; his eyes lit up with a pent-up fury as he tightly gripped the hilt of his sword.

Leon: - Are you a human like us... and yet you decide to be part of the apocalypse that is devouring the world?

The question rumbled in the air like a sentence. Pestilence did not answer at once. Instead, he thrust his sword into the earth with a solemn gesture. Then, he folded his hands behind his back, his posture emanating an eerie mixture of superiority and serenity. Finally, he lowered his gaze and spoke in a cold voice, charged with deep and ancient emotions.

Pestilence: - An undead cannot be considered human, Leon. I died millennia ago, but in my last breaths I begged to survive. Someone, shrouded in darkness, answered my plea and saved me. I serve that person and no one else. This... (his voice trembled for an instant) - it is my payment for the life that was granted to me.

His words, though icy, sprang from the roots of unfathomable grief. Leon felt the weight of that confession, but his gaze did not soften. Doubts, however, began to nestle in his mind: could I really defeat him? The pressure emanating from Pestilence became more intense, an almost palpable presence that seemed to bend the air around him. Still, Leon knew that if he faltered, if he backed down, his friends would be doomed.

Sighing with a heaviness that seemed to extract the last trace of hesitation, Leon raised his sword. His gaze, serious and determined, met the gloomy eyes of his enemy. Without exchanging any more words, the two started walking, slowly but inexorably, towards each other. The echo of his footsteps echoed like the prelude to an inevitable catastrophe.

Leon: - Just as you have a will and a goal to fulfill... I have mine. But our paths collide, Pestilence. Only one can advance. Will it be you... or will it be me?

Pestilence— - We'll see about that, human.

The ground began to shake as they both unleashed their powers. The earth was creaking under their feet, unable to withstand the magnitude of the energy they were accumulating. Pestilence, standing tall like a prophet of ruin, stretched out his arms towards the sky as the vitality of every beast and monster for miles around flowed towards him. Their murmurs grew in intensity, transforming into an ancestral enchantment that made the air vibrate and the firmament blacken.

"In the void between the stars, where not even light dares to tread, I am the architect of cosmic power. I contemplate the sphere of creation, cradle of infinite potential. At my reach, worlds are born; at my step, they fall apart. Here, in this eternal night, there is no salvation. Only the unlimited extension of my will."

"Celestial Forge: Hand of the Astral Titan"

The figure of Pestilence is an amalgam of chaos and majesty, a physical manifestation of a power that defies the human and the divine. His colossal body is composed of a matter that seems to crystallize the darkness itself, a blue and black structure that twists as if it were alive, at once solid and liquid. Each fiber of its shape seems polished and cutting, like fragments of obsidian with irregular edges, as if the crystal had been forged with violence and by the will of a cosmic entity.

His torso is huge, broad and robust, like that of a titan, with lines of luminous and bluish energy that furrow its surface in organic and arcane patterns. These lines resemble incandescent veins, pulsating with an ethereal glow, as if the light itself were trapped under their skin. The glow is most intense in the center of his chest, where a luminous core pulsates like the heart of a dead star, radiating cold beams of light that cut through the air around him.

The face of Pestilence, barely visible among the amalgam of shadows and crystals, is crowned by pointed extensions that resemble horns or beaks, extending like a torn helmet that makes it even more intimidating. The contours of his face are sharp and sharp, almost impossible to define, but they suggest the reminiscence of a humanoid skull, empty and eternal. His eyes - if he has them at all — are hidden in the gloom of his countenance, but points of faint light are perceived, like distant flashes of dying stars, suggesting an ancient and ruthless consciousness.

From his back emerge colossal and torn wings, made of the same crystalline and dark matter. The wings are not at all solid: they curve and distort as if in constant flux, bordered by swirls of spectral energy. As they spread out, they cover the horizon like an eclipse, blocking any hint of light and enveloping the environment in a heavy and ominous gloom.

Their arms are disproportionately large, long and muscular, with sharp claws instead of fingers, so long that they seem capable of tearing the earth itself apart. Every movement of his limbs leaves behind trails of energy, as if the atmosphere is fractured by contact with his form. The texture of their hands and arms is denser, with marked stretch marks that seem to absorb light around them.

The lower part of his body vanishes into a whirlwind of shadows and crystals, merging with the surroundings as if his very existence is rooted in reality. In this way, Pestilence does not have a static presence: his body seems to expand and contract, altering the space and perspective around him, as if he could not be contained by the laws of the physical world.

The complete image of Pestilence is a paradox of beauty and horror, a figure that combines heavenly splendor with the grotesque and the abominable. Every detail of his appearance evokes a feeling of smallness and insignificance in those who observe him, as if they were looking at a primordial and immutable force, born in the depths of the cosmos to bring the end of the whole

It was then that Leon noticed that he really could no longer contain his power without a word he began to absorb and put in a single point the energy that he had in his body but this simply instead of dissipating and condensing merged into his body taking his will and his desires to give him more power temporarily a power that could rival that colossal form 

It was then that Leon noticed that he really could no longer contain his power without a word he began to absorb and put in a single point the energy that he had in his body but this simply instead of dissipating and condensing merged into his body...

Leon has now become the pure manifestation of chaos and unshakable will. Your body is an amalgam of divine power and overflowing energy, with every fiber of your being vibrating and bursting into flashes of crimson and blue light.

Her electric blue hair, ethereal in appearance, seems to flame up as if it were on fire in incorporeal flames, oscillating with every movement and overflowing with an uncontrollable and living energy. Small bursts of light break off from each strand, creating a glowing and ominous halo around it. In contrast, her eyes are the most terrifying and magnificent element of her face: two crimson spotlights, intense and bright as the sun at dusk, that seem to pierce reality itself. Leon's gaze is cold, focused and filled with a relentless determination, as if he is beyond fear or pain.

Colossal dark red horns protrude from its head, curving upward and outward like infernal stalagmites. These seem to have grown directly from his skull, as an extension of his power fused with his being. Each horn is marked with luminous incandescent red cracks, as if the heat of their energy is about to burst them at any moment.

His armor, which is now part of his own body, is made of black and red crystal fragments, sharp and twisted, as if they were molded from the very matter of chaos. This armor is organic and changeable, with blue and red lines that furrow its surface in vibrant patterns, similar to veins of liquid light that beat to the rhythm of its vital energy. The armor plates protrude in peaks and edges, especially on the shoulders and forearms, where two huge and jagged extensions resemble draconic jaws. These ornaments seem to have a life of their own, as if they are ready to tear up whatever Leon decides.

On his back, two gigantic wings have materialized, formed of fragments of light and crystal. Each feather of these wings looks like a sharp knife, composed of an ethereal material that fluctuates between the solid and the intangible. The wings spread out like an explosion of crimson fire, covering the horizon and casting distorted shadows that twist with a chaotic and disturbing beauty.

Her chest is the epicenter of her transformation: right in the center, an incandescent core shines with such intensity that it looks like a heart of compressed energy. From him emanate thin rays of red and blue light that expand and retract, as if he were breathing with the strength of a god in combat. The glow illuminates his armor and his face, giving him a divine and terrifying appearance.

Leon's arms and hands are now bigger and more muscular, covered by the same armor that merges with his body. The claws protruding from its fingers are sharp as swords, spreading out with jagged edges and emanating small particles of light. Every movement he makes leaves a vibrant and luminous trail in the air, as if he himself is tearing reality apart.

Finally, the environment around Leon has begun to change: fragments of energy float in the air, like pieces of an exploded crystal. The atmosphere vibrates and rumbles with his mere presence, and the ground under his feet cracks and levitates into small unstable platforms. Leon is no longer just a man: he is an avatar of absolute power, a being born out of chaos itself, capable of challenging the most colossal and dark entities in the universe.

At that moment, after they had both reached that point, they looked at each other for the last time. Pestilence closed his eyes for a moment, thinking about all the regressions he had lived through. Throughout all those lives, I had only experienced a deep and eternal boredom. However, now, in front of Leonardo, he finally found someone who would give him the eternal rest he had longed for so much. A faint smile appeared on his face as he suddenly opened his eyes, launching his gigantic attack: a punch loaded with a dark and devastating power that was aimed directly at Leonardo.

Leonardo looked back at what was left of that destroyed and ruined place. He realized that if he dodged the attack, the barrier protecting his friends would be broken, and they would be eliminated instantly. In a desperate move, he grabbed his sword, quickly charging it with divine energy as he sheathed it again. He adopted a posture similar to that of a samurai, assessing his situation. His mind flooded with images of a skill he could execute; an attack he should launch without hesitation.

With determination, Leonardo looked up at the colossal punch full of dark energy that was inches away from impacting him. With a shout charged with energy and will, he drew his sword, releasing a crucial attack.

Leonardo: Double Cross Blade!

In an instant, he threw eight cuts that formed into two "X"-shaped crosses. The cuts impacted at the same time against the attack of Pestilence, generating a clash of powers so immense that the luminous explosion was visible throughout the province. He even reached Leonardo's home and the bridge where the others were waiting for their companions.

Jamal: So he finally woke up... it's about time, don't you think?

Meanwhile, at Leonardo's home, the reactions were different. Everyone wished with their heart that he was well. From the top of the walls, Santiago crossed his arms, watching the light on the horizon. He took a step forward and took off his mask, revealing his face as he mumbled:

Santiago: Win... and this time he comes back safely to celebrate the victory properly, leader.

Leonardo could not hear those words, but he was still fighting with all his strength to repel the attack of Pestilence, who, although he wished to be defeated and rest at last, could not afford to be defeated so easily. Pestilence absorbed dark and vital energy from the nearby monsters and beasts, increasing its strength exponentially. This forced Leonardo to retreat, crawling in pain, as the clash of powers pushed him against the barrier. He knew that if he deactivated the barrier he could redirect all his energy to combat, but he feared for the safety of his friends, who had not yet recovered.

Hades and Apollo watched from a distance, aware that they had barely any divine energy left, unable to intervene. But then, a voice boomed loudly.

Rosario: Don't you trust us?

Leonardo, confused, looked back. Rosario continued, with harshness in her words:

Rosario: We were alone and we managed to protect ourselves without you.

Brenda: We have the strength to stay on our feet.

Rosario: Who do you think you are to doubt whether we will be able to resist or not? Think more about yourself, you idiot!

Ibarra: That was hard... but he's right. Remove the barrier, leader.

Everyone: We'll be fine, even if the pressure is too much.

The words of his companions hit Leonardo hard, making him understand that he had to trust them. They had survived on their own, facing adversity even in his absence. He smiled, acknowledging that it was not he who should protect them; it was they who had shown their strength.

With renewed resolve, he absorbed the barrier into his fist, compressing all that energy to the maximum. His companions felt the immense pressure of the combat, barely staying on their feet, but they did not look away. They wanted to witness the victory of their leader.

Leonardo: Thank you all for showing me your strength. Now, I'll show you mine.

His entire body tensed violently, his muscles and veins scarring as he gathered his energy. He took a leap forward, fusing the energy of his fist with that of his cross attack. His form began to transform into a majestic crimson phoenix that pierced through the dark energy of the Pestilence fist.

With a war cry, Leonardo pounced on his enemy. Pestilence, with his last strength, created a barrier in front of himself, using every ounce of remaining power to resist. However, when he saw Leonardo's eyes, full of fury and determination, he understood that he would not be able to stop him. The image of a crimson phoenix shone brightly in Leonardo's gaze as the barrier crumbled.

With one last, devastating scream, Leonardo broke through the barrier and struck Pestilence's face with outsized force. The massive shockwave resonated in every corner of the continent, leaving a profound silence after the impact.

Leonardo's companions, who had witnessed the battle, were surprised. The sky, previously covered by dark energy, cleared, revealing the brilliant blue they had missed so much. In front of the shattered throne, Pestilence lay dying. Leonardo knelt down in front of him, watching his enemy's body and soul begin to fade away.

Pestilence: ... Gr... Thank you...

With those words, Pestilence disappeared, becoming part of the vital essence of the planet. Leonardo looked up at the sky, and for the first time in a long time, he breathed a sigh of relief.

When he was about to return to his friends, time stopped. Everything on the planet remained motionless, except for the most powerful. Leonardo turned to where the throne of Pestilence had been, and to his horror, a hand appeared between dimensions, shattering reality.

The planet trembled in the presence of an unknown entity, forcing everyone, even Leonardo, to his knees.

The Crimson King: Interesting Mortals... It's been fun watching them, but I don't like them touching what belongs to me. Especially that being you set free... I, the Crimson King, am very upset about it.

The Crimson King, had appeared, a terrifying entity and of an imposing presence, is a figure that seems to emerge directly from the darkest core of an abyss. His body is composed of a black organic armor, with sharp protrusions that emulate demonic spikes and glow with a faint crimson emanating from inside. His eyes are not simple orbs, but cracks that flash an infernal brightness, as if they were windows to the eternal fire that consumes him from within.

His silhouette is hazy, with a billowing layer of shadows extending from his body, giving the impression that he is both physical and ethereal. The golden chains that surround him, although they seem to be made to contain him, radiate an energy that reinforces his power. These chains twist and snake like living snakes, reinforcing the idea that they are part of his essence.

The Crimson King intimidates not only by his physical form, but also by the feeling of pure malice emanating from him. His skin seems to be woven with the darkness itself, while his chest and limbs are decorated with multiple red eyes that observe everything, as if his consciousness is distributed throughout his entire being.

When he moves, he does so with an unearthly elegance, but every step seems to leave a trace of desolation, as if the ground itself withered under his presence. His crooked smile, barely perceptible among the shadows that envelop his face, promises devastating power and inescapable judgment. Undoubtedly, this being is the epitome of chaos and destruction, a king born from fire and gloom to claim his throne in a doomed world.

The silence was absolute. No one dared to answer, aware that they were facing an external god from the dark dimension, an entity completely out of their reach.

Apollo: This breaks the truce and the contract stipulated in the Divine Palace, Crimson.

Hades: You know that even if you're upset, the rules are the rules. You can't break them. What have you come for, Crimson?

The Crimson King stared at them, evaluating his options. He knew that if he attacked directly, he would unleash an endless war. Then, with a malicious smile, he declared:

The Crimson King: I came to announce an exclusive event for mortals. They have nine years to achieve total control of the continent. If they succeed, I will forgive this offense. If not... I will send a horde to exterminate them.

His gaze turned to Leonardo.

The Crimson King: We'll see each other again, kid... and when we do, I'll kill you.

With those words, he disappeared along with Apollo and Hades. The boys approached Leonardo, helping him to get up. As they walked outside, they beheld the destroyed streets and the city in ruins, but free of monsters. For the first time in a long time, they felt hope.

Elsewhere, under a sky covered in darkness and blood, Benjamin watched from the shadows.

Benjamin: So you managed to take the province, huh? I'm waiting for you... Come to me, Leon.

Benjamin, now a figure that seems to have been sculpted by the war itself, stands in the center of a field of utter devastation. His body is an amalgam of hardened flesh and hellish-looking bone structure. Every crack in his skin reveals a reddish glow, as if fury and chaos itself were flowing through his veins. Their eyes, shining with an intense crimson, pierce the gloom as if seeking brutal justice in the midst of the massacre. His face is partially covered by bony plates that give him the appearance of an ancestral predator, a beast that knows no mercy

The now an abomination of strength and ferocity, he is a muscular colossus whose anatomy seems to have been absorbed by brutality itself. His body is a terrifying sight, completely covered by a layer of bones emerging from his flesh as if his own biology had evolved to turn him into a living war machine. Every muscle fiber under this bony armor is strained as if it were charged with supernatural strength, showing a perfectly sculpted, albeit grotesquely altered musculature.

The bones that cover it form irregular and sharp plates, fitted together with a chaotic but functional design, giving it the appearance of a monster covered by an armor made of its own being. Spikes and sharp edges protrude from their shoulders, ribs and limbs, as if they were ready to tear apart anyone who gets too close. His chest, wide and prominent, is covered by a bony breastplate that beats faintly, showing red cracks that seem to pulse with burning energy. The structure seems alive, almost as if it were breathing with him, amplifying his presence like a real monster out of a nightmare.

His arms, thick and powerful, are wrapped in a series of expanded ribs that form a kind of natural gauntlet. Their hands are armed with bony claws that lengthen like sharp blades, capable of splitting steel with ease. His legs, equally muscular, are reinforced by tibias and femurs that stand out as protectors, while his feet are sharpened in natural claws, ensuring a perfect balance even on the most unstable terrain.

On his back, an exposed and grotesquely enlarged spine protrudes like a dragon's spine, extending up to his shoulder blades, where additional plates of bone open up as if they were broken wings or appendages meant to intimidate. His head, partially covered by a bony mask that merges with his face, reinforces his beastly appearance. The teeth protruding from the right side of his face are not human teeth, but sharp bone fragments that resemble a secondary jaw, further deforming his appearance.

With every movement of his body, the bones crackle slightly, as if they were alive, readjusting and growing to adapt to combat. The blood of his enemies still stains some sections of his "armor", slowly dripping from the edges of his spines and plates, further accentuating the image of a warrior who is not human, but a nightmare incarnate.

Every aspect of Benjamin, from his reinforced bones to his overwhelming musculature, reflects the horror of a being who has transcended the limits of the human, becoming a living monster designed to destroy in a world that desperately demands his power.

Meanwhile, in a luxurious room, illuminated by a dim light, a woman was watching images on a screen while receiving the report of her spies.

Spy 2: This is the information from the southern continent. It was difficult to get it, but we did it.

Spy 1: It's something unprecedented, my Lady Rocío.

She raised a hand, indicating for them to withdraw. When she was left alone, she smiled and murmured to herself:

Rocío: So you're alive, huh, kid? A long time ago... Maybe I should visit the southern continent.

 Maybe I should visit the southern continent