The world had gone black.

Or atleast... for Davey.

While his consciousness had become dormant, a storm raged within his body...

His flesh tore apart and rebuilt itself in rapid succession.

Muscles stretched, fibers shredded, and veins ruptured only to mend moments later.

Blood coursed through his body with such ferocity that it found its way to every crack and crevice, seeping out in rivulets from his nose, ears, and even his pores.

In any other circumstance, this much damage would've certainly become the invitation to death.

But for Davey, this wasn't the end.

It was only the beginning.

His soul... unconscious... was untouched by the torment his body had endured.

It was still... Covered in an otherworldly warmth.

A golden, radiant and divine energy enveloped his very essence, swirling protectively around his soul like a guardian angel.

Soon, the energy began to shift.

The golden mist started to condense.

It grew larger, more defined, until it finally settled into a shape which was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

A lion.

Not just any lion... but a colossal, otherworldly beast.

Its eyes burned cerulean, so vibrant that they seemed to pierce through reality itself.

Its golden mane shimmered like liquid sunlight while flowing with a grace that spoke of divinity.

Its body exuded an aura of unmatched strength and authority.

'The King of Beasts, the embodiment of courage, pride, and power.'

The lion lowered itself to the ground as it's massive paws rested protectively around the unconscious soul of Davey.

The beast sat silently in a regal posture...

It's eyes remained serene as it watched the transformation of Davey's body with an almost parental vigilance.

But this wasn't a parent's love.

It was a duty...

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

A responsibility that it was 'supposed' to carry out, whether willingly or unwillingly...

In the Reality, Davey's body convulsed violently as his limbs twisted and trembled while a black, tar-like substances seeped out from his pores.

This dark, viscous liquid carried the impurities and blockages that had plagued his body for years.

Sweat mixed with blood and pooled beneath him.

His frame swelled unnaturally while his bones cracked and the muscles tore under the strain of the transformation.

Every piece of him was broken down, destroyed, and reshaped... till perfection.

The lion remained still while it's gaze did not wander off anywhere else even once, waiting for the right moment.

When it finally came, the beast lifted its head toward the endless void above...

...and Roared.

The sound wasn't just a simple roar... Rather, it was a proclamation... a declaration of power that echoed across every plane of existence.

It shattered the silence of reality by sending a soul-piercing shockwave rippling outward.

The shockwave slammed into Davey's body, forcing his chest upward as if yanked by invisible strings.

His lifeless frame shot into the air, hovering as the golden energy engulfed him entirely.

The energy... soon, solidified.

Forming a dense, glowing barrier around his floating body.

The barrier pulsed rhythmically as each pulse sent waves of warmth and vitality into Davey's broken body.

Inside the barrier, his body began to reconstruct itself at an astonishing speed.

Shattered bones reassembled and aligned themselves perfectly.

Torn up muscles stitched themselves together, growing stronger and more defined with each passing second.

The impurities were purged out completely, leaving behind a body free of defects or any weakness.

His physical form wasn't the only thing that was changing.

His appearance transformed as well.

His once frail and undernourished frame became a muscular, well-toned build.

His short black hairs, grew long and wild as they adopted a mane-like fluffiness.

The color shifted dramatically, becoming a royal blonde that shimmered in the golden light.

When the golden barrier finally began to dissipate, crumbling away like fragile glass while revealing a new Davey... unrecognizable from the boy he had been.

His cerulean eyes fluttered open while glowing faintly as they replaced the dull black irises he'd known his whole life.

For the first time, his body looked like it belonged to someone destined for greatness.

But Davey wasn't awake.

His soul still lay unconscious, protected by the lion.

Yet his body moved.

The lion had taken control.

Davey, or the Lion that had taken control of his body, snapped his fingers, letting the time resume.

The World regained the colours and the things that were forcibly stopped, continued.

The tentacle that was frozen mid-air, slammed into the ground with a sickening thud... mere inches from where Davey's head had been.

"What… how?" the creature stammered as its eyes darted between Davey's glowing form and the spot where his body should've been.

Before it could react further, a voice sliced through the air...

A Voice layered with immense and unmatched authority, cold and regal.

"So… you are James Lionheart."

The creature whirled around as its grotesque face twisted with fear and rage.

It saw the boy... no, the figure... floating before its eyes.

Blonde hair like a lion's mane.

Eyes that burned cerulean, piercing through its very soul.

A golden aura that radiated raw, authoritative power.

"No… no, no, no!" James began muttering as he unconsciously stumbled backwards.

"This can't be. It's impossible!"

His muttering turned to a panicked scream.

"You're a bastard! You're nothing! How... how could someone like you awaken the blood of royalty?!"

Davey... or rather, the lion controlling him... narrowed his glowing eyes in disgust.

"How dare you..." the voice snarled as each word represented the most potent venom.

{A/N:- Just like those Asian Relatives that come around every now and then to say, "oh my! Did u know my son topped his class!" -_- so fuggin annoying...}

"How dare you, a Lionheart... stoop so low as to harm your own blood...your own son!"

An immense pressure erupted from Davey's body, slamming into the ground with the force of a meteor.

The very earth beneath them cracked and splintered, leveling the area completely.

The Creature fell to the ground, forced down by the sheer weight of the aura surrounding Davey.

"No! I am the rightful heir! Me!" James screamed in a desperate voice.

Davey's lips curled into a snarl.

"Vile. Ignorant. You don't even have the decency to beg for forgiveness."

The golden light around him intensified as he raised a hand.

"You do not deserve to live."

With a snap of his fingers, the creature exploded.

Blood, flesh, and viscera rained down... the remains of James splattered against the broken ground.

For a brief moment, everything was silent.

The lion... still in control, glanced upward as its cerulean eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"I've fulfilled my promise..." the beast growled softly in a weary tone.

"The boy is yours now. Leave me in peace."

The golden energy around Davey dissipated as the lion began to fade.

For a fleeting moment, the lion's gaze softened as it looked at the unconscious soul.

"You're nothing but trouble..." it muttered.

"But at least… I can finally leave this embarrassment behind."

With that, the lion disappeared entirely, leaving Davey's body to collapse to the ground.

Although, The golden energy didn't vanish completely.

It concentrated itself in Davey's right hand, glowing faintly before embedding itself into his flesh.

A screen emerged above his unconscious body.

---

[The Goddess of Light, Aria, has forcibly chosen you as her Saint.]

[Due to Davey's condition, the baptism will commence immediately.]

[Stigmata is forming.]

[The System will now cease to exist.]

---

And so, in the silence of the aftermath, Davey lay still... unconscious and unaware that his life had been irreversibly thrusted into more chaos.