Chaos. Fire, lightning, and explosions raged around the arena as Tartarus soldiers fired upon the people of Lioness. The king's knights rose to fight the invading troops, accompanied by the sounds of gunfire and clashing metal. Red smoke trailed from the town as attacks ravaged the kingdom everywhere. Amidst the turmoil, King Lioness and his queen stood in the stands, watching the mayhem unfold.

At the heart of the stadium, Toras held Hime at sword point, with Katie standing in front of him. Just as Katie tried to close the distance, Toras leaped away, catching a zipline thrown down from an airship above. She aimed at them, but then hesitated.

As much as Katie hated her, she didn't want to kill Hime on accident. It wouldn't be any fun if she wasn't awake to see it. With a quick ascent, Toras and Hime disappeared into the ship, which started flying toward the distant castle. Leon, struggling to get to his feet, clenched his sword in frustration. "Damn him..."

Katie turned to him, accompanied by Ed, Richard, and King, who had stormed over to their location from across the arena. "I was hoping our reunion would be a little happier," she said, giving him a brave smile. "You've grown so strong..."

"Are you alright?" Richard asked, his gaze scanning the chaotic surroundings. "Bad time to be sitting on the bench, don't you think?"

Struggling to stand, Leon fell to a knee. "I can barely move. I overdid it a little... We have to help her," he croaked.

Katie crouched beside him, examining his wounds. "Help Hime... even suggesting it makes me sick. That being said, you're not going anywhere in your condition."

Curious, Ed looked at Katie and asked, "Weren't you tied up? How did you break loose?"

A red bat landed beside them, transforming into Ruby. "With a little help from a friendly acquaintance of course. Nice to see your little trip in the ruins wasn't in vain. Wish we could celebrate it under better circumstances..." Ruby remarked.

A loud static filled the arena as holographic screens emitted from all sides so anyone could see it. Most paid no mind as they were either fleeing, dying, or fighting for their lives.

The only ones who could were the untouched; the king and queen, Leon and his friends. What could be seen was a dark room with Tartarus troops manned at the monitors around it. Walking into view shortly afterward was Toras with a maddening smile on his face. Hime was dragged on the cold hard floor by the arm, unconscious as her blood trailed.

"Now that I have your attention, please note that your insufferable kingdom is under siege if you weren't already aware. As much as it would please me to bring your daughter further harm, I do not wish for her to die before she watches her sacred home burnt to ashes."

King Lioness watched him with intense hatred burning in his eyes. "What do you have to gain in doing this, Toras? Is this your gift to your new master? I had my doubts about you, but even I could never have fathomed how low you had fallen."

Toras chuckled, his smile widening. "Oh, how I will miss your condescending tones, dear king. You and your little kingdom have overlooked me for far too long. This is the price of undermining talent. Your daughter and her ridiculous obsession with Diablos. All of you singing praises for a deity whose existence has been nothing more than a legend for the past several centuries, while I fought your pointless battles."

His cold blue eyes narrowed as he glanced at Leon and Katie beyond the screen. "If you wish to see your princess once more, I will await you, Leon, and the King of Lioness. Anyone else dares to interfere, and I will kill her. You have no other options. There is nowhere to run."

And with that the transmission went cold with only the sounds of screams and war echoing throughout the void.

Before any of them could react, the king's voice boomed throughout the stadium. "KNIGHTS OF LIONESS, TO ARMS! Death and his army wish to destroy our legacy! Our home! Show them no quarter! Unleash our might and give your hearts! I will find the traitorous Toras and save our beloved Hime! The Queen will take charge in my stead with my children, so follow their guidance!"

With that, King Lioness launched into the air. The Queen ripped off her dress, revealing a golden armor. She snarled, crimson claws ripping out of her wrists and her boots. Leaping into the audience, she sliced, tore, and slammed every soldier in sight.

"To me men!" she roared, continuing her onslaught.

"Guys... go and help them," Leon croaked, making them look at him incredulously.

More tremors shook the arena, distant blasts reverberating from the town. Tension filled the air as they observed the increasing smoke and cinders rising into the sky. "Are you nuts? You're like a sitting duck here! No way are we leaving you behind!" Ed shouted.

Katie shook her head. "We'll be an open target if we stay here. Leon will be safer waiting for us within the arena. If we take out the soldiers and crush that knight, then this wretched kingdom will owe us a favor. I don't like this either, but this kingdom falling will be a massive blow to everyone in stopping Death."

Richard kicked up sand, scowling. "Wasn't the whole point of this to save you? Why the hell do we care what happens to this place?"

"It won't stop here even if we run away!" Katie retorted, turning toward him. "This will be what the entire planet looks like unless we stop them every chance we get." Her eyes turned to Leon. "We live for this. I have every reason to hate this place, but we won't survive if we don't work together."

Mindless bloodshed and violence wasn't a stranger to Leon. Even as the sounds of the battle rang everywhere, he felt an increasing chill at how calm he felt about it. "You guys have the right to choose what you want. No one can force you to fight," he said, looking at Richard and Ed. "But I would prefer if Katie didn't go out there alone. I'll recover here as best I can and join you. Can you do that for me?"

Richard scoffed. "She's a freakin' beast, you think she needs us?"

"As much as I love the flattery, even I can sense the change in you two. It would be easier to keep everyone safe with your help," Katie said, her wings extending. "Make your decision now. Even as we speak, people are dying."

Her eyes flickered to King desperately trying to dig into the ground, grabbing him by the tail. "Don't even think about disappearing or no din-dins for a week," she said coldly, making the raptor gasp.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Mum, I've been survivin' off the kindness of strangers for a month, you can't possibly believe that would scare-"

"I'll make your favorites for a month."

He shifted into a tiny raptor and climbed onto her shoulder faster than they could blink. "Wha' are we waitin' for? Let's kick some Tartarus ass!"

Ed and Richard exchanged glances and then at Katie. "So are we supposed to grab your wings or something? How does this work?"

"Just grab my arm and hold on tight. I promise not to let you go until the time is right," she explained, extending her hand. Her eyes turned to Ruby who was eyeing Leon hungrily. "Ruby!"

"Wha- yes?" Ruby snapped to attention, brushing the sands off of her dress.

"Take Ed. It'll be less troublesome to carry one," Katie said.

"I was just thinking our dear friend here could use some protection," she said, but immediately stopped touching Leon's hair at the daggers Katie glared at her.

Katie sighed. "I already know what you're planning. If you want our blood so badly, wait until this is over and we'll both give you a taste. After we recover though, deal?"

Leon flinched at the way Ruby's eyes gleamed to those words. A violet mist swarmed her body as she levitated, grabbing Ed by the scruff of his neck. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"

"Wait, this isn't quite how I imagined- OH MY GOD, GET ME DOWN! LEON!" Ed screamed, dangling helplessly as they launched into the sky above.

Richard was roaring with excitement as Katie flew them after her and out of sight. Watching them go without him made Leon hang his head in shame. Damn it... if only I could move.

Stay safe Leon... Don't do anything rash. I promise I'll be back for you soon, Katie's voice echoed in his head.

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It wasn't long when Leon's vision began to spin. Seconds felt like minutes. Minutes felt like hours. Just reaching the edge of the stadium took all of his energy. Collapsing to the ground once again, Leon gasped for breath, his chest heaving.

An empty hall filled with chests and boxes full of weapons along with pillars lead to the outside awaited ahead of him. It was then that a sudden shattering of glass startled him.

He barely had time to register the lantern hurtling towards him before it crashed against his back, engulfing him in a fiery inferno. The searing heat licked at his skin, but something was different. He could move again.

What? How? Questions raced through his mind, but before he could voice them, he froze. Death, a haunting figure draped in darkness, stood directly behind him, her palm outstretched. His heart pounded in his chest as he braced himself for what was to come.

"Too late," Death said, and Leon felt a shock run rampant through his body.

He kneeled, expecting pain. Instead, he felt a sickening silence throughout his mind. It was as if the world itself had disconnected from him. Diablos? What happened to you? Diablos! Leon called for him desperately, but there was no sign of him.

Death chuckled. "Do not worry. I merely helped him take the nap he so desperately needs. I'd rather our conversation goes uninterrupted, and that is one pest I could live without," she said, taking a few steps back.

Leon's eyes blazed with fury as he directed his gaze towards Death. "He isn't dead if that's what you're imagining. I'd love to kill the rabid dog now of course, but for now even he has his uses in your development."

Taking a step closer, Leon lost the ability to breathe. The air became thick and suffocating, as if Death's very presence drained him of life. Yet, amidst his struggles, a strange sensation overcame him. His wounds began to heal, and his weariness dissipated.

It was as if he was being restored, rejuvenated by the flames. "You mean all I had to do was step into fire? Wish I would've known that before they went without me... but, what the hell do you want? I hope you don't expect a thank you," he snapped.

Mockery danced in Death's eyes as she grasped Leon's face, her smile a sickening display of delight. His body trembled beneath her touch, repulsed by her presence.

"Not at all. I'm rather used to ungrateful children. You can't very well answer Toras's challenge when you're stuck on your knees. This whole game is for my own entertainment after all... He claims to hold greater potential than you. I wish to see for myself, and for that you must meet him," she taunted.

Images of carnage flooded Leon's mind, a macabre slideshow of death and destruction. The streets were littered with lifeless bodies, the once-proud kingdom now a canvas of bloodstains. His friends fought for survival while he stood here, facing the very orchestrator of this madness.

With a snarl, he broke free of the vision, smacking Death's hand away as defiance burned in his eyes. "You mean you did this just so I could fight Toras? All of this mindless death and pain, just for some twisted game?"

Death giggled, and the way it mixed with his sister's voice, sent flames roaring all over Leon's body. "You could say that. This kingdom, this world, will fall one way or the other. Those who perish will be reborn in my new world. I am in no hurry to witness its demise. Either Toras will succeed and grant me victory, or you will come out triumphant, growing in the way I see fit. Show me your anger. Show me your fear. Your hatred. All of it serves its purpose, my dear boy. Go and face him and show me your potential. I expect great things from you this day."

It took all of Leon's willpower not to attack. All of his fury, all of his suffering. It was as if Death's very presence inspired all of his worst emotions. His entire body trembled and the embers surrounding him raged, yet he felt cold.

Freezing as if he were standing in a blizzard. No matter what he did, he knew Death would be entertained regardless. Leon turned his back on her, sprinting through the desolate halls, out of the arena. I will save you one day, Iris. For now, I'll play his game.

As he ran, a black void materialized before him, an abyss of darkness beckoning him to step forward. Moving too swiftly to halt his momentum, Leon charged through the void, feeling its suffocating grip close behind him. The void sealed shut as Death lowered her arm, a chilling cackle escaping her lips.

"Yes, boy, play. In the end it doesn't matter how hard you struggle. Every second you draw breath, every day you grow stronger, you fulfill my ambitions with your very existence." With a snap of her fingers, another black void opened at her feet. Death sank into it like quick sand, her maddening gaze and smile never wavering from where Leon had disappeared.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shadows danced and whispered around Leon, blending with the howling winds that tore through the air. In an instant, he was violently thrust forward, his body stumbling to a halt.

As the shock subsided, he realized he stood at the doors of the throne room, transported there by Death's powers. The castle quaked beneath his feet, the echoes of fierce battle reverberating through the corridors.

Blood stained the once pristine halls, lifeless forms of knights and servants scattered in gruesome disarray. Averting his gaze from the mangled corpses, Leon pushed through the partially open doors.

A cry of anguish pierced the air as King Lioness fell to the floor in defeat. Towering above him, surrounded by hovering blades, stood Toras. Chains bound Hime to the throne, her gut oozing blood from her wound with every agonizing movement.

"Father!" Hime cried, struggling with all her might against her binds in vain. "Get up, please! Toras, stop this!"

Her pleas for her father to rise were met with indifference, Toras' attention fixed on Leon as a smug grin adorned his face. "Ah, the man of the hour has arrived. Come, join us," Toras beckoned, his voice dripping with malicious satisfaction.

Leon had hardly walked inside when the giant doors slammed abruptly behind him. The carpet ahead was littered with more lifeless bodies, each bearing the marks of brutal carnage. Toras callously kicked the fallen king aside, resting his sword on his shoulder. "Well, don't be shy. Get over here."

Chills prickled along Leon's spine, warning him of imminent danger. Instinctively, he twisted and swerved, evading blades that sliced through the air. He sprinted forward, rolling and sliding to avoid the onslaught.

Toras laughed, relishing in the clash of their swords. In a swift motion, Toras spun and delivered a bone-jarring kick to Leon's hip, sending him hurtling through the air until he crashed painfully into a nearby pillar.

"Aw, I'm sorry. Were you just warming up? Don't worry, I'll wait awhile you catch your breath," Toras taunted, standing proudly at the center of the room.

Frustration surged through Leon as he clutched his fractured rib, his mind racing. Damn it... he wasn't moving this quickly when we were fighting in the fields. Of all the times for Diablos to be knocked out of commission... I can't afford to hesitate here. Leon clutched his sword tighter and solidified his resolve. He charged forward.