The low ambient mana burned him with every breath, his entire body felt leaden and that seemed to be the least of his worries.

Leon knew today would forever be remembered as the no-good very bad awful day.

He'd known it as soon as the fanboy started grinning and uttered a truly cursed sentence.

"Aria! This guy must be our uncle! Holy shit dude that is so sick! The guys at school are gonna freak! Hell, mom's gonna freak!"

The girl- who on further examination bore a resemblance to his older sister- spoke up.

"Julian. Please don't antagonise the man who looked ready to kill us ten seconds ago."

The boy leapt to his feet, Leon's blade reflexively responding to the sudden movement.

Sword at his throat the young boy swallowed.

"Careful there fanboy. I'm a little jumpy."

Slowly withdrawing the blade, the teen pointed to his sister.

"Ask her what her name is. Her full name."

Before he could ask, she answered.

"Aria Leona Hayes. My middle name must be an unfortunate coincidence. Julian, our uncle probably died in that tutorial or whatever, let this nice man go about his business while we leave."

"Tutorial. Stress the 't', capitalise it. People always do. Bugged the shit out of me at the start, but when in Rome eh?"

A ringing phone cut off Leon's reprimand and Julian scrambled to answer.

"Hey mom what's up? Oh, yeah lemme check."

Offering his phone to Leon, the boy whispered.

"It's for you."

Placing the phone to his ear felt strange after being away from technology for a month, a woman's voice coming down the line.

"Leon? Is it really you?"

He hadn't realised how greatly he'd feared for his family until he heard Elizabeth's voice.

"It's me, Liz. Kept you waiting huh?"

Choked sobs came from his sister, words forced out after her tears ran dry.

"Have my son lead you home."

The line dropped and Leon flicked the phone back to the boy.

"Well? Let's hit the road kids. I haven't had a shower in weeks."

The boy fell into line behind Leon, the girl and her boyfriend or gay best friend- Leon hadn't checked yet, though he leaned towards boyfriend- stayed still.

"I'm gonna give you two the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you're not sure whether you should follow the guy who teleported into the living room- I get it, it's pretty crazy."

Leon's aura exploded out, sending each teen to their knees.

"I am beyond fucking tired and I will not deal with a petulant pair of terrified teens. You will follow on your own two feet or I will drag you behind me. Now walk."

Kicking open the door, Leon walked right into the ambush.

Armoured personnel carriers, a pair of helicopters and even a tank all lined up, aimed square at him.

A man with a megaphone spoke, a squad of men with mounted machine guns lining his sides.

"Mr Leon Knox I presume?"

Turning back to see the kid's fearful faces, Leon winked at them.

"New plan. You guys hang back while I deal with this little shitshow."

Rubbing the back of his head, Leon willed his armour back into its inky black state, the transformation causing the soldiers to ready their weapons.

"I am. I'd ask who you are, but we both know I don't really give a fuck. So instead I'll ask- are you sure about this?"

The spokesman, to his credit, didn't falter.

"We are Mr Knox. The Federation can't permit a threat like you to operate freely. Two options Mr. Knox. Turn yourself in and work for us or we'll gun you down."

Leon's laughter unnerved more than a few of the soldiers.

"Seriously? The Federation? Who the fuck did you guys elect while we were gone?! Simmer down jarheads, just joking. Gun me down eh? As amusing as that would be to watch, let's skip the part where I pretend it would work. Instead, let's see how prepared you really are. Did you bring a nuke?"

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Silence followed.

"No, I'm serious. Did you bring one? Let's have a little fun here, someone toss me a pistol. You all know I could cross this gap in seconds and start cutting you down- scout's honour I won't shoot you guys. Hell, I'm not exactly a good shot, doubt I could kill one of you before you trigger-happy assholes light me up."

One of the soldiers tossed his sidearm to Leon, after a brief debate among them over who would give the enemy a weapon.

"Thanks! Now. Watch very closely."

Jamming the gun in his mouth, Leon emptied the mag.

Each bullet deformed against the skin of his throat, reduced to a round metal disc.

No pain blossomed, only a vague irritation at having his time wasted.

Tossing the empty gun aside, Leon spat the wasted bullets onto the ground.

"See? No mana in the metal. Your little toys can't even scratch my insides. They aren't [H] Grade. I am. World of difference fellas. Now a nuke might have a chance. Operative word being 'might'. So go cry to your boss and pray he gives you one for when we do this little song and dance again."

A bullet plinked into Leon's helmet, bouncing off harmlessly, the enemy megaphone wielder barking orders as soon as he confirmed Leon remained unharmed.

"Cease fire! Alright, Mr Knox. You've made your point. We can't offer you a good fight. Will you allow us to retreat?"

Pretending to consider the question, Leon grinned at the spokesman.

"You boys really did your homework on me! Will I allow you though, that is a quandary. On one hand, I'm trying to be less of an asshole. It's very, very difficult because of people like you, oh you ruin me for everyone! You make such compelling arguments for why I should stop trying and start killing everyone who fucks with me."

One of the men pointedly lowered his gun, raising his hands above his head.

"That's cute. Do you think I care that you've surrendered? I don't. Let's see. On the other hand, you come to my house with tanks and guns and missiles- mere minutes after I get home. Minutes! You threatened me, so I'm sorry. But this demands retribution."

A pregnant pause descended as Leon allowed their imaginations to torture them.

"One life. Just one. That's all I'll take because we humans of Earth have bigger fish to fry come tomorrow and it feels so good to be home that even this little altercation can't ruin my mood. I won't even take that life today. You, megaphone. When the dust settles, when I'm done protecting our planet? I'll be knocking on your door. Now, I'm going home. But so help me God, I will kill you all, here and now, if one of you shoots me again."

Sticking his head in the door, Leon called the teens out.

"Time to go kids! Make sure you all thank the soldiers for sparing me the hassle of a slaughter!"

Dutifully all three, followed him out, the soldiers beginning to pack up, their vehicles retreating down the wide suburban streets.

A mountain in the distant skyline drew Leon's eye.

"That sure as shit wasn't there when I left, they weren't kidding about terraforming huh? You, frowny face. You gay?"

The boy stumbled over his feet and words.

"No sir, no I'm not."

Leon watched as the fanboy approached megaphone.

"So you're her boyfriend then. Good to know. Fanboy! The hell are you doing!"

The boy ran back over, a confused look on his face.

"Thanking them for sparing you the hassle of a slaughter? You asked me to yo?"

Clapping a hand on the boy's shoulder, Leon brought him to his side.

"I like you fanboy. Let's hustle people, I would literally kill for a shower. Lead on- hell's your name fanboy?"

"Julian. Julian Antonius Hayes."

"Lead on fanboy."

Chortling to himself, Leon praised his own restraint.

He'd been such a good little boy, sparing all those soldiers, defending his sister's kids.

No one would get mad at him for one little threat.

"You promised to kill a Federation Commander! Of course, I'm mad you idiot!"

His cheek stung.

An older Liz had slapped him.

Seeing her, older and happily married, with two kids and a white picket fence stirred a feeling of loss in Leon.

He hadn't been around for half her life at this point.

Her arms wrapped around him.

"I grieved for you. You know that right Leon? We all thought you were dead."

"C'mon Liz. I'm too stubborn to die."

He let her hold him, his armour unyielding even in this moment of peace. Gently pushing her back, he looked his sister in the eye.

"I won't be staying long. You'll be protected when I go. I struck a deal. Twenty-four-hour bodyguards. I don't know how much you've seen of the fighting so far, but Liz? All this has been a warmup act, a prelude for what's bearing down on us. On me. I won't drag you into it. Take your family and run Liz. Please."

Leon had only seen her glare that way when he'd interrupted her on the phone or embarrassed her in front of her friends. Similar cold blue eyes, a reflection of Leon's cowed him as she spoke.

"Leon. I work for the Federation. We know what's coming. I know you have to go, but you need to promise me. Promise you'll stay for one day."

Standing in that driveway, hands on his sister's shoulders, Leon called on every bit of guile, of trickery in his bones.

This lie had to be believed.

"I promise. Please tell me you have a shower here?"

It unsettled him to hear her break into quiet laughter, a familiar stranger using his sister's laugh.

"We do- come on in, my husband can't wait to meet you."

One more step would have taken Leon across the threshold, a bellow from the street stopping him short.

"Evil Swordsman! Come and face justice for your crimes against the divine!"

In the middle of the street, wielding a gleaming halberd in one hand and a blocky tower shield in the other, clad in armour of pearlescent white, with golden filigree adorning the metal and a crimson cape on his back stood a warrior.

Slamming the door before anyone could yank him inside, Leon's hands went to his blades- pointing one at the challenger he roared his response.

"One day! One goddamned day off and a shower! That's all I wanted, but you fucking pricks keep getting in my way!"

The enemy had the good grace to look ashamed, posture slumping, his voice warped by the thick helmet that obscured his face.

"I can come back tomorrow- when works best for you? We would not want to rush divine retribution would we?"

Even through a sheet of metal, Leon heard the smug undertone. Both swords came into a fighting stance, Leon ready to spring on the enemy the second he lowered his guard.

"You really wanna fuck with me? You sure that's what you want?"

"Sorry heretic- I do not swing that way."

"I'm going to rip your tongue out and choke you with it."

"You are going make me eat my own tongue? Apologies, I know you barbarous heathens have trouble using your words correctly, how insensitive of me. Strangle. You meant you wanted to strangle me with my own tongue."

"I've reconsidered. I'm just gonna cut your fucking head off. No need to get fancy for a no-name little bitch like you."

Unleashing his bloodline, Leon watched the holy warrior's stance tighten.

"You feel that? That knot of fear forming in your stomach? That's all me baby."

The warrior failed to respond as Leon deigned to view his Class.

"Level Thirty Chosen Of Krona- Legendary Class

Aggregate Level- Thirty."

Flexing his arms and cracking his neck, Leon watched as the man drew closer to choosing.

Fight or flight.

Perhaps a little encouragement.

"Krona chose poorly it seems."