After knocking Supergiant unconscious, Leon quietly met up with Tony—who had likewise rendered his own companion unconscious.
The two brothers moved in perfect coordination.
Leon distorted light completely, rendering them invisible.
Tony regulated surrounding temperature and electromagnetic fluctuations, blending them seamlessly into the environment.
Layered atop that was Leon's dual Bio-Field concealment.
By the time dawn broke—
Without a single soul noticing—
Sakaar had effectively fallen.
Nearly every electrically powered system on the planet had been activated through the AllSpark.
Vehicles. Drones. Infrastructure. Arena mechanisms.
All converted into Leon's Cybertronian forces.
To Tony, even after repeated exposure, the AllSpark remained absurdly overpowered.
He could only be grateful it was in Leon's hands.
The Next Morning
After an entire night of covert planetary takeover, Leon returned to his room—
And promptly woke Supergiant for a second round of "interrogation."
She very nearly collapsed.
Leon, however, had no intention of being gentle.
She had longed for death.
He was merely… accommodating her wish.
The Luncheon Invitation
Later, Leon, Tony, Thor, and Loki were invited to dine with the Grandmaster.
"I sat there for an entire day and night!" Loki exploded at Thor, who had only just regained his freedom.
Thor shrugged.
"And?"
Loki lunged.
Thor casually held him back with one hand—until two streaks of silver flashed for vulnerable targets.
Thor instantly pivoted, hands moving to guard himself.
The twin blades—Lion's Fangs—returned to Loki's grip.
"Have you lost your mind?" Thor snapped.
Loki merely smirked and sheathed the weapons back into his magic storage.
As he passed Thor, he muttered coolly:
"And?"
Thor exhaled sharply.
Leon and Tony exchanged amused looks and followed them to the dining hall.
The Proposal
After lunch, the Grandmaster leaned forward eagerly.
"You are in luck. Today is my birthday~"
"There will be a grand race. Why not participate?"
Leon did not waste time.
"What are we wagering?"
The Grandmaster's smile widened.
"The ultimate winner shall receive any wish within my power to grant."
"And the losers?" Leon pressed.
The Grandmaster's eyes opened slightly.
"The losers… remain as my gladiators."
Silence fell over the table.
"You all have the potential to earn statues in the Tower of Champions," the Grandmaster continued—then pointed at Loki. "Except him."
"What?" Loki snapped.
Before he could stand—
The armrests and legs of his chair reshaped into heavy restraints, locking him in place.
Simultaneously—
Leon, Tony, and Thor experienced the same.
The restraints carried suppressive properties—dampening their power signatures.
No wonder the Grandmaster dared to show his hand.
"This," Leon said calmly, "is your idea of hospitality?"
"Insurance," the Grandmaster replied lightly. "Your power is… disruptive."
He took the disintegration staff from Topaz and approached Leon directly.
"Especially you. My idol."
"Have you decided?"
"If you refuse… I will have to pardon you."
He stepped close enough that the staff's golden sphere hovered inches from Leon's chest.
"One touch," the Grandmaster said softly.
Leon met his gaze.
"If I win… you grant any wish? Including that staff—and rule over Sakaar?"
"Yes," the Grandmaster said eagerly. "Anything."
Leon lowered his head as though contemplating.
The Grandmaster's eyes sparkled in anticipation.
Then—
Leon looked up.
"I refuse."
The smile fell.
"You would die over this?" the Grandmaster demanded. "There are countless beautiful women in the universe—"
Leon cut him off.
"One of my favorite things in life," he said evenly, "is telling someone who believes they've already won… 'No.'"
Silence.
The Grandmaster's expression flattened.
"Very well."
He raised the staff.
"I pardon your life."
With theatrical force, he drove the golden orb against Leon's chest.
CLANG.
Nothing happened.
The Grandmaster blinked.
In his imagination, Leon had already melted into slurry.
Reality disagreed.
Leon remained seated. Calm. Intact.
The staff's golden sphere emitted a confused hum.
The Grandmaster tilted his head slowly.
"…?"
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