The wind had changed.
Not in direction.
Not in speed.
But in meaning.
It carried something ancient now.
Something older than the world Leo stood in.
Leo remained still after Kael's disappearance.
His hand slowly lowered.
But the feeling inside him…
Did not fade.
It deepened.
Luna stepped closer.
"…What is it?"
Leo didn't answer immediately.
His eyes were fixed on the sky.
"…Something moved."
Ryu frowned.
"…You mean Kael?"
Leo shook his head.
"…No."
A pause.
"…Something far beyond him."
Silence followed.
Because the way he said it—
Was different.
Milan adjusted his glasses.
"…That doesn't sound good."
Kai forced a laugh.
"…At this point, nothing sounds good."
Leo closed his eyes.
For a moment—
Everything went quiet.
Not outside.
Inside.
Then—
A pulse.
His heart beat once.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
Then again.
BOOM.
Leo's eyes snapped open.
Golden light flickered—
Then changed.
For a split second—
It turned crimson.
Luna stepped back slightly.
"…Leo?"
His aura began to rise.
Not violently.
But uncontrollably.
Like something buried deep inside him—
Had just awakened.
The voice inside him spoke.
But this time—
It wasn't calm.
"…So it begins."
Leo clenched his head slightly.
"…What… is this…?"
Pain surged through his body.
Not physical.
Deeper.
Like his existence itself was being rewritten.
Memories—
Not his own—
Flashed before his eyes.
A battlefield.
Endless.
Covered in blood.
Gods falling.
Worlds collapsing.
A figure standing alone.
Surrounded by destruction.
Unmatched.
Unstoppable.
Eyes glowing—
Not gold.
Not red.
But something beyond both.
Leo gasped.
"…Who… is that…?"
The voice answered.
Quietly.
"…You."
Everything froze.
"No…" Leo whispered.
But the memories didn't stop.
Chains.
Massive.
Ancient.
Binding something beyond comprehension.
A prison.
Not made of matter.
Not made of energy.
But of laws.
And inside it—
That same presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…Ancient God…" Leo murmured unconsciously.
The name echoed.
And something…
Responded.
Far beyond the universe—
The chains trembled again.
Cracks formed.
A single eye opened.
Ancient.
Endless.
Aware.
"…Finally…"
Back in the city—
Leo dropped to one knee.
His aura surged violently.
Golden and crimson energy clashed around him.
The ground beneath him shattered.
"LEO!" Kai shouted.
Ryu stepped forward.
"…Something's wrong!"
Milan's voice turned sharp.
"…No…"
"…Something has awakened."
Luna moved closer despite the pressure.
"…Leo, control it!"
Leo's body trembled.
"…I… can't…"
The energy around him exploded outward.
A shockwave pushed everyone back.
Buildings cracked again.
The sky darkened instantly.
But this time—
Not because of an enemy.
Because of him.
His veins glowed faintly.
Crimson lines spreading across his skin.
His eyes flickered again.
Gold.
Crimson.
Then—
Both at once.
"…This power…" he whispered.
The voice inside him spoke again.
"…Your blood has awakened."
Leo's breathing slowed.
"…Blood…?"
"…You are not just human."
Silence.
"…Not just awakened."
A pause.
"…You carry the blood of an Ancient God."
Everything stopped.
Even the chaos around him seemed to pause.
"No…" Leo whispered.
But deep inside—
He already knew.
The memories.
The power.
The presence.
It all pointed to one truth.
"…Then that thing…"
"…Is me?"
The voice answered.
"…A part of you."
"…Sealed."
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
"…Sealed… where?"
For a moment—
The voice didn't respond.
Then—
"…Beyond the multiverse."
A chill ran through everyone.
Even without understanding—
They felt it.
Something far too big.
Far too dangerous.
Luna looked at Leo, her voice shaking slightly.
"…What are you?"
Leo didn't answer.
Because he didn't know anymore.
Human.
Awakened.
Or something else entirely.
His aura slowly stabilized.
Not because he controlled it—
But because it chose to calm down.
That alone—
Was terrifying.
Leo stood up slowly.
His eyes now carried something new.
Not just determination.
Something older.
Deeper.
"…I need answers."
Ryu nodded.
"…Then we find them."
Kai sighed.
"…Yeah… before something else tries to kill us."
Milan looked serious.
"…This changes everything."
Luna didn't speak.
Her eyes remained on Leo.
Because she understood one thing clearly now.
The path ahead—
Was no longer about survival.
It was about truth.
And that truth—
Was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Far beyond reality—
The Ancient God moved slightly within its chains.
A faint smile formed.
"…Wake up…"
"…My vessel…"
Back in the world—
Leo looked at the sky one last time.
His fist clenched slowly.
"…I'm not your vessel."
But deep inside—
Something answered.
"…We'll see."