Bellarion didn't wait any longer.
His axes spun, charging at Raiden with speed unexpected for a body his size. The wind howled, the surrounding ruins trembling.
"Thunder Impact!"
Raiden struck back with his hammer. Blue lightning and giant axes collided, creating a shockwave that sent dust flying. The ground beneath them cracked.
Bellarion growled. "You're strong, Raiden. But you're tired. Your wounds are still fresh from your previous fight."
Raiden laughed, though blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. "Tired? I'm just warming up."
He pushed his hammer forward, forcing Bellarion back a step. But the Angel didn't waver. His axes spun again, this time from the side—Raiden blocked, but the impact numbed his arm.
In the distance, Shalara stood atop the ruins. Her golden wings were folded behind her back, her unblinking eyes observing the battle. She didn't move. Didn't intervene. Just... watched.
Leon bit his lip. Raiden was already wounded. The injuries from his fight against the two Leviathan Princes were still fresh, and Bellarion was no ordinary opponent.
"My Lord." Forsaken's voice beside him, flat, emotionless. "Your body is wounded. Allow me to heal you."
Leon turned. Forsaken stood beside him, hand raised, greenish light beginning to gather in his palm.
"Do it."
The light touched Leon's chest. Warm. Like water flowing over his skin. His wounds slowly closed. Cracked bones began to mend. His ragged breathing steadied.
Sylvaine gripped his hand tightly. "Leon..."
Leon smiled. "I'm fine."
He stood. His body felt light now. Fresh. For the first time since arriving at these ruins, he felt he could move freely.
But before them, Raiden was beginning to be pushed back.
Bellarion swung his axes ferociously. One slash—Raiden still blocked, but his foot slid back. A second slash—he dodged again, but the axe struck his hammer, nearly knocking it from his grip.
"You're formidable, Raiden," Bellarion said, his voice echoing. "But you can't defeat me in this state."
Raiden gritted his teeth. "We'll see."
He raised his hammer high. Lightning began gathering at its tip—but Bellarion had already moved. His axe struck Raiden's stomach before the lightning could strike.
"GRAAAH!"
Raiden was hurled back, crashing into a pile of debris. His hammer fell beside him, vibrating softly.
Leon moved without thinking.
"Valker! Fenrith! Help Brother Raiden!"
Fenrith shot forward first, pouncing from the side. Bellarion easily blocked with his left axe, but Fenrith had already spun, dodged, and pounced again.
Valker came from the opposite direction. His greatsword slashed toward Bellarion's wings. The Angel blocked with his right axe, but Valker's strike forced him back a step.
Leon didn't join the attack. He stood beside Sylvaine, his eyes never leaving Bellarion.
"Boy," Satan whispered. "You won't defeat him with ordinary power."
Leon gripped his sword. "I know."
"There is another way. But the risk is great."
"What?"
Silence. Then,
"Remember when you released that wave of darkness earlier? That wasn't a skill I taught you. That was... something raw. Powerful but unrefined."
Leon looked at his hands. At his fingertips, darkness still flowed slowly.
"There's a form you can attempt. But you've never done it before. And if you fail..."
Leon cut in. "Teach me."
Satan was silent. Then chuckled softly.
"You're... truly a reckless demon."
Before them, Bellarion began to dominate. His axes spun, striking Valker and Fenrith simultaneously. They were thrown back, crashing among the ruins.
Raiden rose again, reaching for his hammer. But his body was too exhausted.
Bellarion stepped closer. "This is the end, Raiden Belphegor."
Leon took a breath.
"Empty your mind. Don't think of fear. Don't think of doubt. Only... darkness."
Leon closed his eyes.
"Feel the blood flowing in your veins. Feel that power—it's a part of you."
He felt it. Not Satan's voice. Not a skill he had learned. But something deeper. Older. Like an underground river that had flowed since before he was born.
"Now... awaken it."
Leon opened his eyes.
Darkness poured from his body. Not like before—wild, uncontrolled explosion. This time, he controlled it. The darkness wrapped around his skin like new armor. Formed strange symbols on his arms, his chest, his neck.
His hair changed color. From black to white.
And his eyes—his eyes blazed red.
Bellarion stopped. His axes halted mid-swing.
"What..."
Atop the ruins, for the first time, Shalara moved. Her eyes narrowed.
Raiden turned, stunned. "Leon..."
Leon stepped forward. Each step left black marks on the cracked ground. In his hand, his cracked sword began to glow—darkness filling the gaps, repairing it, making it stronger than before.
He stood beside Raiden.
"Brother Raiden. Rest a moment. I'll take over."
Raiden stared at him. Then laughed. "You're... truly a strange demon."
But he stepped back. Handing the fight to Leon.
Bellarion raised his axes. "You think you can defeat me just by changing your appearance?"
Leon didn't answer. He vanished.
Bellarion's eyes widened. Before he could react, Leon was behind him. His sword slashed—Bellarion still blocked with his left axe, but the force of the strike sent him stumbling back.
"WHAT?!" Bellarion was shocked. Leon's speed had increased drastically. His strength too.
Leon gave no time. A second slash, third, fourth came in rapid succession. Bellarion kept defending, but each strike forced him further back.
"Eternal Darkness, First Form," Satan whispered. His eyes didn't blink. "So this immense power was truly inside him all along."
Bellarion growled. His axes spun, creating a whirlwind that forced Leon back. "You... dare—"
Leon didn't hear. He had vanished again.
This time, he appeared before Bellarion. His sword didn't slash—he thrust. Straight. Fast. Deadly.
Bellarion blocked with his right axe. But the force of the thrust cracked his axe.
Cracked. Bellarion's axe, cracked.
"What—" Bellarion couldn't finish.
Leon was beside him. A kick—hard, fast, straight into Bellarion's chest.
Bellarion was thrown back, crashing into the ruins. His axes fell beside him, one cracked, one knocked loose.
Leon stood before him, sword raised. His white hair billowed in the wind. His eyes blazed red.
In the distance, Shalara sighed.
"Enough."
Bellarion turned. "Shalara—"
"I said enough of your games, Bellarion."
From atop the ruins, Shalara's golden wings spread wide. Light began gathering around her.
Leon didn't retreat. His eyes remained on Bellarion.
"Strong," he said. But not insulting. As if... acknowledging. "But this isn't my true power."
Bellarion raised his hand. Light enveloped Bellarion, and in an instant, the massive Angel rose again.
Shalara still stood atop the ruins, watching their battle.
"You're interesting, little demon. I'll remember your face."
Light fully enveloped her.
Silence.
Leon still stood in his place, sword raised. His body trembled, sensing the aura of power Bellarion radiated growing stronger.
Behind them, Raiden stood, hammer on his shoulder. He looked at the sky where Bellarion stood, then turned to Leon.
"You... look like you're about to face something much stronger, Leon," he whispered.
Raiden smiled. For the first time, his smile wasn't full of challenge.
In the distance, Valker and Fenrith rose from the ruins. Forsaken appeared beside Raiden, silent, healing him.
=== CHAPTER 15 END ===