Immediately Leo caught a trace of the chaos energy he activated his most recently gained ability.
The path.
Though it sounded simple it was anything but that .
Even he hadn't grasped its true power .
His eyes turned a deep blue with a violet grid in his pupils .
Immediately he could see it . Thin violet lines of energy connecting everything.
A single thread appeared as he focused , this one was a deep crimson, even the energy around it seemed to recoil from its presence .
Blood spilled from his left eye as his head snapped towards the source among the still awed crowd .
Leaping forward with a bang he appeared in front of a frightened elf student with his blade flashing towards his neck .
Immediately Prince Aelion, Evangeline,Sol and all the powerful elves around shot towards Leo to stop him.
"What are you doing Leo?" Evangeline shouted while moving like a steak of light .
"I knew he couldn't be trusted "Sol spat while rushing forward .
Aelion said nothing yet his cold expression said it all .
Leo heard them all but he didn't have the time to respond , he knew this was his best chance to end all of this .
As his blade flashed towards the students neck , his frightened façade broke like glass , dissolving into a wide, unnerving grin .
"You really are something boy " the voice that left the elf's mouth wasn't the one his friends remembered but one that stuck fear into their hearts.
With a speed and martial skill that surpassed reason his palm blocked Leo's blade leaving only a shallow cut .
Immediately Leo backed away surrounded by the elves now looking at student in shock .
With a surge of a pitch black aura the elf's form dissolved into something else .
Long black hair cascaded down his frame stopping at his waist , a black coat covered his body while a demon mask covered his face , on the back of his coat was the number 3 written boldly in blood .
The only visible part of his face were his deep crimson eyes filled with insane bloodlust.
The most terrifying thing about him was not his appearance but his aura . It distorted space around him corrupting it like a virus .
Chaos energy.
It clung to him like a second skin .
Not mutating him like Roland's beasts .
Not raw corruption .
But a deeper connection.
He wasn't a slave to chaos but a weilder of it .
Worse still he hovered a few meters above the ground .
It was imparitive to note Aether was a planet that could withstand the battles of sovereigns beings that could reshape reality yet still stay intact .
The laws of reality here weren't just strong they where overwhelming .
Just to defile gravity was a task impossible for most cultivators except those who surpassed the world saint rank .
World kings.
Mystical entities that ruled over sky and those beneath.
And one of these entities was staring at them with bloodlust .
With the ease of which he stood in the air placed him in the middle world saint at the very least .
Immediately the royal guards crowded around the royal elves .
Teachers gathered the students, creating a wall with the stronger students.
Leo stood alone in front staring at the world king with an unreadable expression.
"The boss was right .. You really are something else Leo chambers ." the world king said on a raspy voice .
"Do you think its right you know my name yet I don't know yours " Leo replied maintaining a calm expression while hiding all other emotions.
In truth he was buying time , he already knew a fight was imminent and he was ready to put in everything he had .
"Hmm thats true Leo ... You can call me number 6 "the world king replied while motioning to the number on the back of his coat .
Immediately the gaurds noticed the number visible fear stuck them .
"He's from the Zodiac " one whispered in a shacking voice .
The word spread like a virus , all those who knew of the organization that was taking over the underworld in the most brutal fashion recoiled in shock and fear .
Even Leo's calm expression broke for a second .
He had heard litte about the Zodiac from his brother Michael and from what he heard it they where eliminate on sight .
Worse still this was a numbered member , and a high ranking one at that .
'Today's really not my day is it....
Well I've been looking for someone to test my strength against ..
I'll have to go all out '
Leo's face shone with battle intent at the conclusion of his taughts .
The world king let out a small chuckle seeing Leo's change in expression.
"Don't you think 1 vs 1000 is a bit unfair Leo..
Rise up "
At those words his shadow stretched unnaturally long covering half of the arena , from it creatures corrppted by chaos sprang forth numbering in the tens of thousands now outnumbering the elves and Leo 10 to 1.
"Now that's more even ...
So now shall we begin ". The world king said while breaking a spherical artifact sealing Elavein from the rest of the empire .
Before despair could cloud the hearts of the students, Aelion's voice boomed out .
"Do not despair elves if Elavein, we may be out numbered but we are the proud elves of Amazon , we are not cowards , we will fight even till the bitter end..
All you must do is take out 10 each . I your crowned prince will deal with the rest ."
Under Aelion speech the moral of the students srged and battle intent sparked in their eyes .
They were cultivators, proud elves , not cowards . They would fight and win.
This was the battle that would discern Elavein's future .
Would corruption preveil or fall .
Would a rough alliance of students and a human prevail against a sea of corruption .
*************************
Far away from the battle about to erupt in Elavein under the bright lights of Emerald city .
Two figures stood in a broken down building staring at a cloaked figure wearing a demon mask .
"You both have been causing alot of trouble lately " the cloaked figure said in a mildly annoyed and amused voice "
The duo the masked figure was speaking to were actually Arthur and Seth who had been sent here for their mission .
Their original task was to find the cause of a string of missing persons yet it quickly evolved into something much darker eventually leading them to the situation they were in now .
In front of them was a numbered Zodiac member , specifically number 5 .
"What's your goal here ? " Arthur said in his usual cold voice .
"Do you feel it ? " instead of answering the zodiac member asked a question of his own .
"Feel what ?" this time Seth spoke up .
"The suppression,
The cage..
This world is cage made to contain those he deems dangerous...."
"He ?" Arthur asked noticing the shift in the Zodiac's demeanor.
"Don't worry you will understand soon "
Without wasting another second they clash starting another intense battle against Leos group and the Zodiac .
*************************
Back at Elavein .
The air smelled of iron and blood as the students clashed with a sea of what seemed unending corrupted beasts .
Each gave everything they had flooding the ground with bodies of both beasts and elves . The bloodshed was so much that even the sky seemed to turn red .
Like in any large scale battle figures of excellence with powers above their pears appeared .
The prodigies of Elavein shone forth yet even they where outshone by the royal elves .
Evangeline was like a radiant sun burning everything in her path with righteous fury .
Sol was the opposite , he moved like a phantom slashing through the enemy lines like a blade of justice.
Both where engaged with a peak primordial beast , while fending of the weaker beasts around them , this was the same beast that blocked Leos path when he was in the forest .
Yet as amazing as their battle was another still eclipsed even that .
Aelion and Leo fought relentlessly against the world king .
Aelion's body was clad in darkness while Leos in blue and purple flames .
Wounds marred thief bodies as they stared at the figure in front of them.
His only injuries where the shallow cut on his palm from Leos initial strike and a burn man on his left side from a joint attack by Leo and Aelion .
As both stared each other down before another round of battle .
Leo felt it again.
Deep within his soul.
Like invisible claws scraping against the sealed darkness inside him.
A voice echoed in his head .
Louder this time.
"…Kill…"
Leo's breathing faltered slightly.
The world king noticed immediately.
And smiled wider beneath his mask.
"…Ah,"
He whispered.
"So it really is there."
Aelion looked at Leo instantly. "Leo?"
He didn't answer.
Because inside his mind—
Something was moving.
Darkness.
Destruction.
A massive presence sitting silently within endless black space.
Ancient eyes slowly opened.
Purple.
Monstrous.
Amused.
"…Soon"
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
The voice was clearer now it was the flames talking to him again .
Not distant anymore.
Direct.
" Give In to the darkness Leo ."
"Leo!"
Evangeline's shout snapped him back into focus.
Everyone was staring at him.
Concerned.
Confused.
The Zodiac member looked almost entertained.
"…So the seal is weakening earlier than expected."
Aelion stepped forward instantly. "What are you talking about?"
The figure ignored him completely.
His eyes stayed locked on Leo.
"You know," he said casually, "I was expecting something more impressive , it seems your still in control for now ."
"I see why he's I interested in you "
"…Who?" Leo asked now in full control of his mind
A pause.
Then world king grinned beneath the mask.
"The one who wants to see whether you become a king…"
The pressure exploded.
"…or a monster."
BOOOOM..
Dark energy erupted across the sky as the corrupted beasts rushed forward simultaneously ingnoring thief fights and rushing towards Leo.
Aelion moved instantly.
Darkness exploded outward.
Leo's flames roared to life.
Evangeline's aura climbed again
The batttlefied descended into chaos.
But Leo stood still for a moment.
Because the voice inside him apoered again .
Cold.
Ancient.
Dangerously amused.
"They smell weak."
Leo clenched his fists tightly while dodging an attack and striking back.
"…Shut up."
The voice laughed harder.
"Oh?"
A pause.
"You think you control this?"
—
The Zodiac member watched Leo carefully through the battle.
Every reaction.
Every fluctuation.
Every crack in his persona.
Then quietly he murmured.
"He's definitely the one."
Behind him a presence stirred .
"Oh you finally here ..
Let's start phase two".
*************************
A.N: Hello all this is the author ,Elvis Winston.
I'm thankful to those who have read this far , and I promise to make this book worth the time .
Though this is my first serious book I plan to make it part of a long lasting series so please join me for this adventure.
I will try to update as much as possible but I'm currently writing an external exam , I will be done by the next 2 months and continue with regular updates.
For now i will update at least 2 to 3 times a week.
Thank you for understanding.
Please add it yo your library and comment .
Thank you 😁