The moment their hands met—
Something shifted.
Not in the arena.
Not in the crowd.
But between them.
Leon felt it instantly.
Not trust.
Not loyalty.
Something sharper.
Understanding.
Vael released his grip first, stepping back with that same easy smile resting on his lips. But now, Leon could see through it.
That smile wasn't casual.
It was calculated.
"…So," Leon said, rolling his shoulders lightly, "what's your plan?"
Vael tilted his head slightly.
"…Straight to business."
Leon shrugged.
"I don't strike you as the type to form alliances just to chat."
Vael chuckled softly.
"…Fair."
Around them, the arena was already changing.
The remaining contenders were moving.
Grouping.
Watching each other with new intent.
Where there had once been individual battles—
Now there was tension.
Positioning.
Strategy.
And danger.
Vael glanced across the battlefield.
"…There are seven of us left."
Leon followed his gaze.
Counting quickly.
"…Seven, including us."
Vael nodded.
"…Which means three alliances."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"…And one unlucky person."
Vael smiled faintly.
"…Exactly."
Leon exhaled.
"…So who's the odd one out?"
Vael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Not who."
"…What."
Leon frowned.
"…That doesn't sound reassuring."
Vael didn't elaborate immediately.
Instead, he gestured subtly across the arena.
Leon looked.
And saw them.
Two figures standing together.
A tall man clad in dark armor, his presence heavy and suffocating, like a storm waiting to break.
Beside him—
A woman with crimson eyes, her expression calm but her aura sharp, like a blade drawn but not yet swung.
Leon's instincts flared.
"…They're strong."
Vael nodded.
"…Very."
Leon glanced at him.
"…Stronger than us?"
Vael's smile didn't fade.
"…Individually?"
A pause.
"…Maybe."
Leon let out a low whistle.
"…Great."
Vael continued.
"…The third pair hasn't formed yet."
Leon scanned the arena again.
And found the last contender.
A lone figure.
Standing still.
Watching everything.
Not moving.
Not approaching anyone.
Waiting.
Leon's eyes narrowed.
"…That one feels worse."
Vael's smile sharpened slightly.
"…That's because he is."
Leon exhaled slowly.
"…So we've got two strong pairs…"
"And one wild card."
Vael nodded.
"…Which means we decide the pace."
Leon glanced at him.
"…How?"
Vael's eyes gleamed.
"…We move first."
Leon smirked.
"…I like that."
But before they could act—
The arena trembled again.
BOOOOOOM.
The Emperor's presence descended once more.
All movement stopped.
All voices silenced.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Leon felt it again.
That overwhelming weight.
That absolute authority.
But this time—
He didn't resist.
He observed.
He learned.
High above—
The Emperor spoke.
"Alliances have been formed."
A pause.
"Now—"
"…prove their worth."
The runes across the arena flared violently.
Then—
They changed.
The entire battlefield shifted.
Sections of the arena rose and fell, reshaping into uneven terrain—pillars of stone emerging, walls forming, pathways splitting.
The battlefield—
Had become a maze.
Leon blinked.
"…Okay."
"That's new."
Vael chuckled.
"…It's better."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"…How is this better?"
Vael's smile widened.
"…Because now—"
"…strategy matters."
Before Leon could respond—
Movement.
The armored man and the crimson-eyed woman advanced.
Together.
Fast.
"…They're not wasting time," Leon muttered.
Vael's expression sharpened.
"…Good."
He stepped forward.
"Neither are we."
Leon grinned.
"…Now we're talking."
They moved.
Not toward the enemy—
But sideways.
Using the shifting terrain.
Using the maze.
Leon followed Vael instinctively, weaving through rising stone pillars and narrow pathways.
"…You're avoiding them?"
Vael glanced back briefly.
"…I'm positioning."
Leon smirked.
"…Same thing."
Vael didn't argue.
Because Leon wasn't entirely wrong.
Behind them—
The opposing pair advanced.
Relentless.
Their presence pressed forward like an unstoppable force.
"…They're tracking us," Leon said.
Vael nodded.
"…Of course they are."
Leon exhaled.
"…So what's the plan?"
Vael stopped.
Suddenly.
Leon nearly ran into him.
"…You're going to love this."
Leon sighed.
"…That doesn't sound promising."
Vael turned slightly.
"…We split."
Leon stared at him.
"…You're joking."
Vael shook his head.
"No."
Leon crossed his arms.
"…You just said alliances matter."
Vael's eyes gleamed.
"They do."
A pause.
"…Which is why we break theirs."
Leon blinked.
"…You want to separate them."
Vael smiled.
"Exactly."
Leon let out a slow breath.
"…That's risky."
Vael tilted his head.
"…So is fighting them together."
Leon considered it.
Then—
He smiled.
"…Alright."
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"…Let's do it."
Vael nodded once.
"…Good."
And then—
They split.
Leon moved left.
Vael moved right.
The maze swallowed them both.
Behind them—
The opposing pair slowed.
Just slightly.
Their formation shifted.
Hesitation.
Just for a moment.
But that moment—
Was enough.
High above—
Caelus Aurelion watched silently.
"…A simple tactic."
His gaze sharpened.
"…But effective."
Below—
Leon ran.
Not blindly.
Not recklessly.
But with purpose.
He could feel it.
That presence.
Closing in.
"…Here we go."
He slowed.
Then stopped.
Turning.
The armored man emerged from behind a pillar.
Alone.
His heavy steps echoed across the stone.
His gaze locked onto Leon.
"…So you're the one."
Leon smirked.
"Yeah."
He raised his sword.
"You got a problem with that?"
The man said nothing.
He simply drew his blade.
And stepped forward.
The air grew heavy.
The ground trembled slightly beneath his weight.
Leon's eyes sharpened.
"…He's strong."
Stronger than most.
But—
Leon smiled.
"…Good."
Because now—
There were no distractions.
No interference.
No holding back.
Just a fight.
A real one.
The man moved.
Fast.
Faster than his size suggested.
His blade came down with crushing force.
Leon met it.
CLANG.
The impact shook his entire body.
"…Damn."
He slid back slightly.
"…That's heavy."
The man didn't stop.
He attacked again.
Relentless.
Each strike carried immense weight.
Each movement precise despite his size.
Leon's world slowed.
He saw it.
The rhythm.
The power.
The intent.
And this time—
He didn't just react.
He responded.
CLANG.
He blocked.
Then countered.
The battle ignited.
Elsewhere—
Vael faced the crimson-eyed woman.
A different fight.
A different rhythm.
A different kind of danger.
High above—
Caelus Aurelion watched both battles unfold.
"…Two paths."
His voice was quiet.
"…Two outcomes."
Below—
Leon stepped forward.
Because now—
The alliance had served its purpose.
And what remained—
Was strength.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
And unforgiving.