The halberd's blade cracked the pavement, a smirking Leon using the missed swing to close in, dual blades ripping through the holy armour with ease.

With no mana and a dwindling supply of food, Leon felt bound.

Riskier strategies- like stabbing himself or using a layered circuit- remained off the table.

Skill, steel and savagery would have to do.

Beneath the sheared plate mail lay a set of silver chain and while Leon doubted his blades would struggle there, he faced a new threat in the form of a shield thrust aiming to crush his throat.

With a parting slash, Leon leapt back, the enemy's shield tearing through empty air.

Morphing his armour into the Lord's Regalia, Leon smirked as he watched the warrior rush him, rage guiding every step.

His bloodline assured Leon- this enemy could not scratch him.

Instead of dodging, he took the thrust to his chest, his armour screeching in protest yet holding strong.

The force rocked him where he stood but his enemy's shock gave Leon an opening.

Yanking the polearm from his foe's shaking hands, Leon tossed it over his shoulder, his smirk taking on a cruel edge.

"How disappointing. All that big talk and you're just another weakling."

The clattering of metal against the tarmac rang out as Leon released his foe.

"Go on. Pick it up and fuck off. You're not worth the effort."

The punch launched in desperation barely shifted Leon's head but sealed the fool's fate.

"Wrong answer."

Sheathing Silent and Scream, Leon's hands closed on Wavecutter, the shining blue sword ripping deep into the enemy, leaving his legs and torso separated.

Sheathing his blade with a flourish, Leon made his way back to the house, fingers just grazing the doorknob as he heard a choked cry come from the dying warrior.

"Oh, Krona, Arbiter of Souls, Merciful Mistress of Rejuvenating Light. Grant this servant strength. To smite the wicked wherever they are found."

A halo of sickly green light descended on the broken body of the warrior, stitching his severed legs back on as his armour reformed.

Pulling his hand back, Leon allowed his adversary to retrieve the stolen halberd. Cocking an eyebrow, the Swordfiend watched the halo remain active as the Chosen of Krona squared up again.

"Second verse is gonna be same as the first. Tell your goddess to stop holding back the good shit- you need more power."

The boon the holy warrior had been granted barely moved the needle for his strength. Leon couldn't even feel the difference.

Once more the halberd descended, this time glowing with that same green light.

As it grew closer Leon felt a blade at his throat, a threatening aura exuded by that light.

Beating back the slash with one of his own, Leon re-evaluated his opponent.

If the bastard could keep coming back from near death, getting stronger each time then perhaps he could give Leon a good fight?

Closing the gap, Leon used his superior speed to weave around the warrior's guard, his sword rocketing out of its scabbard once he entered the enemy's blind spot.

Two cuts, one taking each arm. For all the size of his shield, the man seemed unused to using it against a human, offering Leon ample opportunities to maim him.

Fountains of blood stained the road red, the warrior's screams bringing every civilian to their windows, abject horror clear to see on their pale faces.

Plucking an arm from a growing pool of gore, Leon slapped it across the warrior's helmet, the blood flows slowing as the man burned energy to heal his wounds.

"C'mon stumpy- ask your sugar mommy for what you need! More power! Better do it fast, got plenty of other bodies to cut if you wanna throw in the towel here and now. Oh, look stumpy!"

A small boy peered out a window to their left.

The child couldn't have been older than four or five, his parents pulling the curious boy away as Leon pointed to their house.

Leon saw a way to antagonise his foe and took it.

"They're so soft, so easy to cut through. Children I mean. Their screams are annoying though, so high pitched, hurts my ears. Now get up and fight me or I'll kill every single one of these kids. I'll rip them apart, limb from screaming limb and I'll make you watch."

Leon heard the tears and felt the rage pouring off the armless wonder.

"Fuck you. I mark you for death in the name of Krona! The Goddess' faithful will never stop hunting you. I will never stop. Until you are dead and buried."

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Fresh arms burst from empty sockets, clean armour alongside them and the fight promised to begin anew.

Leon half-heartedly retreated waiting to see what new tricks the warrior had for him.

Slamming the butt of his halberd into the blood-soaked road, a circle of mana burst open around the warrior, the man murmuring an incantation, while Leon threw his hands behind his head, interested to see where this would go.

"Oh, Krona, Arbiter of Souls, Merciful Mistress of Rejuvenating Light. This servant beseeches you; guide those I survived the Proving Grounds with to my side- let them aid in evil's eradication, let their blades serve your will."

Four flashes of light followed the spell, alongside an explosion of mana that stripped the area of the little ambient mana it had.

Leon's bloodline picked up four more presences, each one middling in strength. Still, his hands went to Wavecutter once more, preparing to strike.

"Boring. You're boring me. C'mon stumpy, I thought this would be fun! You were talking all that good shit, now you're calling for help? Pathetic."

The first of the new foes emerged from the light, a woman dressed in a plain martial artist's robe, her fists glowing with ominous dark light.

Leon got a much closer look than he'd wanted as her fist came flying at his face.

For all the power behind the strike it looked slow, Leon jerking his neck back to dodge the punch and follow-up jab.

A flurry of blows followed, each one aiming to crush Leon's bones, each one evaded with ease.

He irritated her- Leon saw it in her face, the way her scowl intensified with each failed strike.

Grabbing her wrist and driving his fist into her liver, Leon left the martial artist keeling over and gasping while calling out his challenge.

"Next! You coming to me or will I come to you?"

A bolt formed of pure mana crashed into his chest, the sting successfully irritating him and deciding his course.

"Guess I'm coming to you."

The dust kicked up by the teleportation had dispersed, a single sorcerer in a swirling black robe the only foe left standing where the summoning had taken place.

This one felt weaker than the others, the hail of insignificant magical attacks splashing against Leon's chest only confirmed his suspicions.

Shrugging off the assault Leon wrenched the gnarled wooden staff from the man's hands and snapped it over his knee.

The pitiful mage tried to run.

Leon planted his feet on the man's robe tripping him.

Down on the tarmac, the mage pleaded, his voice thin and reedy.

"You don't have to do this."

Leon smiled.

"I don't. But I really want to."

Then the beating started.

Punch after punch until the man's face had been thoroughly tenderised.

Dismounting his prey, Leon caught the arrow aimed at his head, his air sense picking up the projectile.

Twirling it in hand, he licked the tip and crushed the toxin before it could take root in his body, his thoughts wild and his fury stoked.

All these tricks, all this bullshit- they were killing the vibe.

Leon had swung from his initial incandescent rage to anticipatory glee- at least momentarily. He'd thought there might have been a good fight to be had here, but no.

Of course not.

The one day he just wanted to come home and take a fucking shower these insects, these vermin had to interrupt him.

Piping hot rage came flowing back, his indignation righteous and all the more potent for it.

They wanted evil?

He'd give them evil.

Calling out to the direction the archer had fired from, Leon continued spinning the arrow in his hand as he spoke.

"Tasty little poison you got there, what's it do? Oh, nothing! It's weak just like all of you. You show up to my family's house and you have the nerve, the sheer fucking nerve, to call me evil? You sanctimonious weaklings really think you're walking away from this?! Let's find out just how evil I can get. Starting with the magic man here."

They rushed him too late as he pulled the mage to his feet.

Leon didn't see the crying man or hear the pleading.

He saw meat.

Rotting meat, festering meat.

Meat that needed to be cut.

So he did, a fountain of blood baptising Leon as Wavecutter parted the neck and shoulders like a hot knife through butter.

His first kill on Earth.

He'd tried.

He'd really tried to hold back.

Leon looked to the windows of his sister's house and saw the shock on their faces.

The fear.

The revulsion.

He knew he would be leaving when the fighting ended.

His path led to ever more bloodshed- exposing them to it would only have them come to fear Leon more.

Then the four survivors mobbed him.

The other two he hadn't seen before their attacks, an archer and a spear wielder. Both launched attacks at range, another arrow plinking harmlessly off his chest and a magical javelin forcing Leon a few steps back, his ribs cracking.

Pain tickled him, but all he truly felt were the droplets and rivulets of blood running down his face.

The severed head in Leon's hand fell to the side as a halberd and pair of fists sent him skidding along the road, armour kicking up sparks as he allowed himself to be flung aside.

They stopped, at the side of their dead friend while Leon pulled himself to his feet.

Wiping the blood from his eyes, he spoke to their leader. More to reassure himself than anyone else.

"The Pygmalion Effect stumpy. Expectations inform your actions toward me, your actions inform my reactions. Treat me like I'm evil and that's what you'll get. This can go easy for you. Stay still and I'll make it painless. You can fight, of course. I won't fight back, I'm bored of you. You could run. That's the smartest idea. I'll find you eventually, of course- no one fucks with Leon Knox and gets away with it. Then you'll die. What's it gonna be?"

The others crowded their dead companion, the martial artist desperately firing healing spells off as the holy warrior removed his helmet to gaze upon his companion's lifeless eyes and broke Leon's heart.

"Rest now Alexander. Let the rejuvenating waters of Her realm cradle your spirit. We will honour your sacrifice with the blood of this demon. Let us follow the Goddess' will, to purge evil from these blessed lands- surrender and cast off the guise of my oldest friend, fiend. You sully his name with your taint."

Leon felt his mind fracture as he witnessed the only man he'd ever called friend prepare to face him down.

He could have apologised.

Could have tried to salvage the situation.

Ending a life made such efforts futile.

Leon knew that their friendship now lay dead, irrevocably slain alongside the mage.

Only one option remained open.

To spare the man he'd thought of as his brother Leon chose a harder path.

He smiled as he spoke and twisted the knife deeper.

"The hell? You're alive Jin? Weakling like you, I thought you'd have died on the first day! Figures you'd depend on some false god for power, not like me. No, I earned this. Through blood and sweat, I am greater than the man I used to be. You got me feeling all nostalgic over here man!"

Leon dropped the upbeat tone, returning to the one he'd used to threaten Jin's group earlier.

"I'll let you live Jin Amano. Just this once. On account of our old friendship. When next we meet? No guarantees. Now entertain me. Or I'll kill you and all your little friends."

Jin met Leon's gaze, felt the baleful aura he exuded and made his decision.

His voice came out flat. Repressed.

"In Krona's light, you will burn. Her will is supreme, let my meagre body serve her glory. Beneficent life guarder, grant me the strength to dispel this illusion."

Their spear wielder began channelling some sort of magic, encasing the dregs in a barrier, though it failed to cover Jin, whose armour shone with a pale green shimmer, his halberd and shield ready to skewer and pulverise Leon.

Motioning Jin forward with a nod, Leon smirked, fingers curled around Wavecutter.

"I can feel you getting stronger Jin. Let's see if you can't give me a good fight."