Fortress of Shadows

The Dual Core Revelation

A week had passed, and the dim, suffocating confines of Leo's prison cell had grown both familiar and intolerable. Days were spent in agonizing effort to purge the venomous poison that had invaded his body.

 Each breath felt like inhaling fire, each pulse of his heart a reminder of his pathetic physical state. Yet, inch by inch, he pushed through, channeling all his determination into ridding himself of the vile substance.

The poison wasn't just a hindrance; it was an assassination attempt, a slow and insidious method meant to kill him without arousing suspicion. The discovery itself had been a mix of horror and revelation. During meditation,

 Leo had visualized the poison—a dark, sludgy mass coiling through his veins—and he'd used a technique from Alex Benjamin's past life to systematically burn it away.

By the end of the week, the poison was gone. And in the process, Leo stumbled upon something that left him speechless: a second core.

The Dual Core Discovery

Leo sat cross-legged, staring at his palms as if the answer to the universe lay within them. A normal person was born with a single core, capable of channeling either mana or aura. But Leo had both—a phenomenon thought impossible.

 Aura enhanced physical abilities, the hallmark of warriors. Mana, on the other hand, governed the mystical forces of magic. With dual cores, he theoretically had access to both worlds.

Except there was a problem. He had no idea how to use mana.

Leo groaned, running a hand through his messy hair. "Great. I have the potential to be amazing, but no clue how to actually do it. Typical."

The Emperor's Army

Miles away, under the veil of night, the emperor's elite forces prepared for an assault. The operation was led by Commander Halbrecht, a seasoned warrior with scars that mapped a lifetime of battles. His armor, gilded yet practical,

 reflected the flickering torchlight as he addressed the assembled troops.

"Prince Leorion's location has been confirmed," Halbrecht announced, his voice carrying over the gathered soldiers. "Our mission is simple: infiltrate the fortress, neutralize resistance, and extract him alive. Failure is not an option."

The army consisted of fifty elite soldiers, each handpicked for their skill and loyalty. Scouts had provided detailed intelligence on the fortress, highlighting weak points and patrol schedules.

 The plan was simple yet dangerous: split into three teams to create diversions, breach the main gate, and secure the prince.

The Assault Begins

The fortress loomed in the distance, a menacing silhouette against the predawn sky. At Halbrecht's signal, the soldiers moved with precision honed through years of training. The first team approached from the east,

 setting off explosives near a guard tower. The deafening boom shattered the stillness, drawing the attention of the mercenaries inside.

"Team One, engage!" Halbrecht ordered, his voice calm yet commanding.

Arrows rained down as the mercenaries retaliated, but the soldiers' shields held firm. Meanwhile, the second team advanced from the west, scaling the walls under the cover of darkness. Grappling hooks latched onto stone,

 and silent figures ascended, their movements swift and deliberate.

Halbrecht himself led the main assault, charging through the front gates with his team. The clash of steel echoed as the elite soldiers met the fortress guards head-on. Halbrecht's blade flashed, cutting down enemies with brutal

 efficiency. Beside him, his second-in-command barked orders, ensuring the formation remained unbroken.

"Hold the line!" Halbrecht shouted, parrying a spear thrust and countering with a devastating slash that sent his opponent crumpling to the ground.

Inside the fortress, chaos reigned. The mercenaries, though numerous, were ill-prepared for such a coordinated attack. Blood painted the stone floors as the soldiers pressed forward, their discipline and skill overwhelming the

 disorganized defenders.

Leo's Escape

Unaware of the approaching rescue, Leo had spent the week not only detoxifying his body but also planning his escape. The cell's rusty hinges and the guards' predictable patrol patterns had given him enough information to act.

 Today, he was ready.

Leo stood, stretching his newly revitalized limbs. His body still bore the scars of neglect, but for the first time, he felt a spark of vitality. He took a deep breath and slammed his foot into the cell door. The weakened metal

 creaked, then gave way with a deafening crash.

"Time to go," he muttered.

The noise immediately alerted the guards. As two rushed toward him, Leo dropped into a combat stance. Drawing from Alex Benjamin's memories, he executed a series of moves from the Iron Fang Martial Style—a brutal, close-quarters 

fighting technique focused on overwhelming opponents with raw strength and precision.

The first guard lunged with a spear. Leo sidestepped, grabbed the shaft, and wrenched it free, driving the butt of the weapon into the man's solar plexus. The second guard swung a sword, but Leo ducked, swept his leg, and

 followed up with a bone-crushing elbow strike to the jaw. Both men fell, unconscious.

Leo smirked, twirling the stolen spear. "Still got it."

Chaos and Bloodshed

As Leo navigated the fortress, the sound of battle reached his ears. Outside, the emperor's army had begun their assault. The clash of steel, the shouts of soldiers, and the roar of flames created a symphony of chaos.

 Leo glanced out a narrow window and saw Halbrecht leading the charge, his sword cleaving through enemy ranks with brutal efficiency.

Within the fortress, Silent Dawn operatives mobilized to counter both Leo and the attacking forces. These were no ordinary guards. Clad in dark armor and moving with eerie precision, they intercepted Leo's path.

One operative stepped forward, twin daggers gleaming in the dim light. "You're not leaving here alive, Prince."

Leo's grip on the spear tightened. "You'll have to try harder than that."

The fight was brutal. The Silent Dawn operative attacked with blinding speed, forcing Leo to rely on the Iron Fang techniques to block and counter. The spear became an extension of his body, deflecting strikes and delivering

 punishing blows. Blood splattered the walls as Leo drove the spear through the man's chest.

More enemies appeared, and the violence escalated. Leo fought like a cornered beast, his movements a blend of desperation and deadly skill. He used whatever he could find—broken chains, jagged metal shards—to even the odds.

 The corridors became a slaughterhouse, bodies piling up as he carved his way toward freedom.

The Final Battle

As Leo neared the exit, a figure cloaked in shadow blocked his path. The air grew heavy with tension as the figure stepped forward, revealing a chilling aura.

"You've caused quite the mess, little prince," the figure said, drawing a massive blade. "But this is the end."

Leo braced himself, gripping his spear tightly. The figure's attacks were relentless, each strike shaking Leo to his core. His Iron Fang techniques seemed useless against this opponent's overwhelming strength and speed.

Desperation coursed through Leo. With a surge of adrenaline, he activated a move from Alex Benjamin's arsenal: the Soul Destroying Spear Art, Second Form: Death of Hercules. Channeling all his aura into the spear,

 he lunged forward with a ferocious cry. The spearhead glowed with an otherworldly light as it pierced through the enemy's defenses, shattering their blade and body in a single, devastating strike.

The figure crumpled to the ground, lifeless. But the victory came at a cost. Leo's vision blurred, and his legs gave out beneath him. Exhausted and barely conscious, he collapsed amidst the carnage.

Aftermath

Commander Halbrecht found Leo moments later. The sight that greeted him was both awe-inspiring and horrifying: a corridor littered with bodies, blood pooling on the stone floor, and Leo lying unconscious at the center of it all.

Halbrecht knelt beside the prince, his expression a mixture of shock and respect. "What in the name of the gods happened here?" he muttered.

The soldiers carefully carried Leo out of the fortress and back to the royal palace. For two days, Leo remained unconscious, his body recovering from the ordeal.

The Awakening

When Leo finally opened his eyes, he found himself in his room at the palace. Sunlight streamed through the ornate windows, and the familiar scent of his childhood surroundings filled the air.

He groaned, sitting up slowly. His body ached, but he was alive. A small, wry smile played on his lips. "Well, that was one hell of a week."