Steel screamed.
The clash of their blades no longer sounded like mere impact—
It sounded like something being torn apart.
Leon slid back half a step, his arms vibrating from the force of the last strike. His breathing had deepened, steady but heavier now.
Across from him—
The armored man stood firm.
Unmoved.
But not unaffected.
Leon noticed it.
The slight shift in his stance.
The deeper imprint of his boots in the cracked stone.
The way his grip tightened just a fraction more than before.
"…You're feeling it too," Leon said, a faint grin forming.
The man's gaze remained cold.
"…Of course."
A pause.
"…You're not weak."
Leon chuckled.
"Appreciate it."
He rolled his shoulders once, loosening the tension.
"…But I'm not done yet."
The man raised his blade.
"…Neither am I."
And then—
They moved.
At the same time.
BOOM.
The ground beneath them shattered as both surged forward, their blades meeting in a violent explosion of force.
This time—
There was no testing.
No hesitation.
Only intent.
Leon twisted his body mid-clash, redirecting the man's strike and slipping past his guard.
He struck—
The man turned.
Blocked.
Countered.
Leon ducked under the swing, feeling the sheer weight of the blade tear through the air above him.
"…Too slow," Leon muttered—
But the man's knee came up instantly.
THUD.
It slammed into Leon's side.
"…Ghk—!"
Leon was thrown back, skidding across the broken stone before catching himself.
He exhaled sharply, one hand pressing briefly against his ribs.
"…Okay."
"That one hurt."
The armored man stepped forward again.
No pause.
No mercy.
"…You talk too much."
Leon smirked despite the pain.
"…And you don't talk enough."
The man's eyes narrowed.
"…Talking won't save you."
Leon straightened.
"…Good thing I'm not planning on it."
His grip tightened around his sword.
Something within him sharpened.
Not louder.
Not stronger in the obvious sense.
But deeper.
More focused.
The world slowed again—
But this time—
Leon didn't just see.
He anticipated.
The man moved.
Leon moved first.
He stepped in—
Inside the man's range.
A dangerous choice.
A decisive one.
CLANG.
Their blades met—
But Leon didn't stop there.
He shifted his weight—
Then struck again.
And again.
Not giving space.
Not giving time.
The rhythm changed.
This was no longer a battle of heavy blows—
It became a storm.
Fast.
Relentless.
Unforgiving.
The armored man reacted.
But for the first time—
He was on the defensive.
His blade moved to intercept.
To block.
To endure.
Leon's strikes came faster.
Sharper.
Each one aimed with purpose.
Each one building pressure.
"…You're changing," the man said, his voice lower now.
Leon grinned.
"…You're noticing a lot today."
He struck again—
Harder.
The man's footing shifted.
Just slightly.
But Leon saw it.
"…There."
He stepped forward—
And drove his blade down with everything he had.
BOOM.
The impact sent a shockwave through the corridor.
Stone shattered.
Dust exploded into the air.
And for a moment—
Everything stilled.
Then—
Crack.
The armored man's guard broke.
Not completely—
But enough.
His stance faltered.
Leon's eyes sharpened.
"…Got you."
He moved.
No hesitation.
No second thought.
He closed the distance—
And struck.
The man twisted, trying to recover—
But he was too late.
Leon's blade cut across his armor—
SHRRRK.
A shallow strike—
But a real one.
The first.
The man staggered back a step.
Silence filled the corridor.
Leon exhaled slowly.
"…First blood."
The armored man looked down at the mark across his armor.
Then—
He laughed.
Low.
Quiet.
But unmistakable.
"…Good."
Leon blinked.
"…You're enjoying this?"
The man raised his blade again.
"…It's been a while."
His presence surged.
Stronger than before.
Heavier.
More dangerous.
"…Since someone pushed me this far."
Leon's grin widened.
"…Yeah?"
He raised his sword.
"Same here."
The air between them tightened.
The pressure built.
Both of them—
At their limit.
And beyond.
High above—
Caelus Aurelion watched silently.
"…Now."
His voice was quiet.
"…They break."
Below—
Leon stepped forward.
Not waiting.
Not holding back.
Because this—
This was the moment.
The breaking point.
The armored man moved.
Leon moved.
And the final clash began.