The man did not hesitate.
From the moment their blades first collided, it was clear—this was not a battle of finesse.
This was a battle of force.
Leon slid back across the stone, boots grinding against the arena floor as he absorbed the impact of the armored man's strike. The vibration ran through his arms and into his chest, rattling his bones.
"…Yeah," Leon muttered under his breath, tightening his grip. "You hit hard."
The armored man said nothing.
He simply stepped forward again.
Each step felt heavy.
Measured.
Deliberate.
Not slow.
Never slow.
His presence filled the narrow corridor of the maze, pressing against Leon like a wall closing in.
Leon exhaled slowly.
"…Not the talkative type, huh?"
No response.
Only movement.
The man swung again.
A wide, crushing arc aimed to cleave through Leon's guard entirely.
Leon's eyes sharpened.
The world slowed.
He saw the path.
The weight behind the strike.
The intention.
He stepped in.
Not back.
Forward.
CLANG.
Their blades collided at close range.
This time—
Leon didn't give ground.
The shockwave rippled outward, cracking the stone beneath their feet.
The armored man paused.
Just for a fraction of a second.
"…You're strong," Leon said with a grin. "I like that."
The man's gaze hardened.
"…You talk too much."
Leon blinked.
"…Oh."
Then he laughed.
"Finally."
He pushed forward.
Twisting his wrist, redirecting the force of the man's blade just enough to break the deadlock.
Then—
He struck.
Fast.
The man reacted instantly.
CLANG.
Blocked.
Leon didn't stop.
Another strike.
Then another.
Then another.
His movements flowed.
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
Each attack carried precision—
And pressure.
But the armored man didn't yield.
He absorbed every strike.
Deflected every angle.
Held his ground like an unbreakable wall.
"…You're not bad," the man said flatly.
Leon smirked.
"Yeah."
"I get that a lot."
The man's grip tightened.
"…But you're not enough."
Leon's eyes gleamed.
"…We'll see."
The man moved.
Faster than before.
His blade came down with crushing force.
Leon blocked—
BOOM.
The impact shattered the stone beneath his feet.
Leon was forced down slightly, one knee bending as he absorbed the weight.
"…Tch—!"
The pressure was immense.
Not just strength—
But something else.
Something layered beneath it.
Leon's eyes narrowed.
"…You've got will too."
The man didn't deny it.
"…Of course."
He pressed harder.
The air trembled.
Leon's arms strained.
"…Damn."
This wasn't like the princess.
Her pressure had been sharp.
Precise.
Refined.
This—
Was raw.
Heavy.
Like a mountain pressing down on him.
Leon exhaled.
"…Alright."
His grip tightened.
"Let's match that."
Something within him shifted.
Not explosively.
Not violently.
But steadily.
His presence rose.
Firm.
Unyielding.
The pressure pushing down on him—
Met resistance.
Then—
Stopped.
The man's eyes narrowed.
"…You're adapting."
Leon smirked.
"…You're starting to notice."
With a sharp twist, Leon broke the deadlock.
He stepped back—
Then forward again.
This time—
He attacked differently.
Not just fast.
Not just precise.
But heavy.
Each strike carried weight.
Not borrowed.
Not forced.
His own.
CLANG.
The armored man blocked.
But his arm shifted slightly under the impact.
Leon saw it.
"…There."
He pressed forward.
Relentless.
Strike after strike after strike.
Each one heavier than the last.
The corridor echoed with the sound of steel clashing like thunder.
The maze walls trembled.
Dust fell from above.
And slowly—
Very slowly—
The armored man began to move.
Back.
Just a step.
But enough.
"…You're pushing me," the man said.
Leon grinned.
"Yeah."
"That's the plan."
The man exhaled.
Then—
His presence surged.
Violently.
The air grew heavier.
The ground cracked further.
"…Then I'll push back."
He stepped forward.
And everything changed.
His speed increased.
His strikes became sharper.
More precise.
More dangerous.
Leon's eyes widened slightly.
"…You've been holding back too."
The man didn't answer.
He attacked.
CLANG.
Leon blocked—
But this time—
He was pushed back.
Hard.
"…Tch."
He skidded across the stone.
"…Okay."
"This is getting good."
The man advanced again.
Relentless.
Unstoppable.
Leon steadied himself.
His breathing slowed.
His mind cleared.
The world shifted.
Again.
But this time—
He didn't rely on it.
He used it.
He stepped forward.
Meeting the attack head-on.
CLANG.
Their blades collided again.
But now—
Neither gave ground.
Two forces.
Equal.
Opposing.
Unyielding.
High above—
Caelus Aurelion watched in silence.
"…Weight."
His gaze sharpened.
"…Against will."
Below—
Leon smiled.
Because now—
He understood.
This wasn't about speed.
This wasn't about technique.
This was about—
Who stood.
And who fell.
The man struck again.
Leon met it.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each clash shook the arena.
Each impact pushed them closer to their limits.
But neither stopped.
Neither yielded.
And as the battle intensified—
Something became clear.
Only one of them—
Would walk away.