"Why does he look big?" Essa asked her, confusion edged with a fierce alertness. Her grip tightened on the hilt of her curved sword as she eyed the monstrous figure.

Leo, standing beside her with his katana drawn, coughed awkwardly, casting a sideways glance at the looming enemy. "Well, your master told us to provoke him, right?"

Essa nodded slowly.

"And yeah, this is his provoked form," Leo added.

"…"

Essa's lips parted in shock, her breath catching. Her master had never spoken of anything like this—never warned them the enemy could become something more than a demon.

Fallen Nergal's cold, inhuman eyes locked onto Leo and Leo alone, ignoring everything else as if the world had narrowed to a single target.

Fallen Nergal let out a guttural snarl, yanking his spiked flail weapon with a violent twist. The iron chains screeched, and the deadly spiked sphere whipped through the air with terrifying speed, hurtling toward them.

Leo's chest tightened. He sucked in a sharp breath. Just as the spiked ball screamed down upon them, both he and Essa slammed their feet down and dove aside, dodging by a hair's breadth.

BOOMM!!

The spiked flail crashed against the asphalt, sending up a spray of shattered stone and dust. The weapon skidded in a wild arc, gouging the ground. Fallen Nergal's lips curled in frustration as his eyes darted, searching for his prey. Out of the corner of his vision, he caught a glimpse—Leo, sprinting toward him, katana raised.

A cruel smirk flickered across Nergal's face. He yanked his flail back with a brutal snap, the spiked head lashing out in a savage arc toward Leo.

Leo's jaw clenched, every muscle coiled. He pushed his energy to his legs, launching himself backwards in a tight somersault, the world spinning for a split second. The spiked sphere whistled past, grazing the tips of his hair, and he landed.

Fallen Nergal gripped his chains tighter. "Grrrll!" he growled, then tore his weapon back for another strike.

But suddenly—

"You should focus on me as well!" Essa's voice rang out, sharp as lightning. In a blur, she appeared before Nergal's monstrous face, her curved sword slashing down.

The blade caught his eyes, black fluid spurting as he staggered and snarling.

"ARHH!!"

Fallen Nergal stumbled, nearly losing his balance, black tears leaking from the ruined socket. His grip on the chains faltered, and the weapon fell slack.

Essa flipped backwards, landing beside Leo with a controlled grace. Leo's gaze snapped to her sword—now slick with pus and shreds of tissue. Without hesitation, Essa flicked the blade clean.

"He is big," Leo muttered.

"So he is slow!" Essa shot back.

Both nodded in grim agreement. Leo's jaw tensed, a hiss escaping through clenched teeth as he drew in a breath, energy swirling in his chest. Essa summoned a second curved blade to her hand, the twin swords singing as she clashed them. She sprinted forward, shadows trailing behind her.

They moved as one—Essa and Leo leaping from shattered ground to shattered limb, their weapons crashing down against Nergal's flesh.

"ARHHH!!" Fallen Nergal howled in agony, blood cascading from his ruined eye. He lashed out blindly, his enormous hand smashing down with crushing force, but Leo and Essa twisted and rolled, their movements a blur of coordination. Blade after blade bit into monstrous skin.

They slid along his shoulder, momentum carrying them toward his chest.

Together, they struck—steel plunging deep.

"ARHH!!"

"It's not enough!" Leo shouted, yanking his katana free from the deep wound he'd carved into Fallen Nergal's chest.

Unable to bear the agony coursing through him, Fallen Nergal thrashed wildly, shaking his immense body with a ferocity like a beast trying to rid itself of water after a storm. Leo and Essa were hurled away, flung from his side, tumbling and skidding across the torn ground. Gritting their teeth, they forced themselves to scramble back toward the hulking figure.

Fallen Nergal surged upright, his lone, burning eye glowering at his enemies with murderous intent. He clenched his massive fist, then slammed it down, pummeling the ground with relentless fury. Each blow sent tremors racing through the earth.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Both Essa and Leo stumbled, feet slipping as the ground shuddered beneath them.

It was all the opening Fallen Nergal needed. In a blur of monstrous motion, his enormous hand lashed out, landing a brutal punch that sent Essa hurtling through the windows of a nearby building. His other hand swung low, snatching Leo up as if he weighed nothing, closing around him like a vice.

"ArrH!" Leo screamed, every nerve alight with pain as Fallen Nergal's grip tightened, holding him aloft like a doll trapped in the grasp of a giant.

His lungs squeezed tight, forced to gasp for air as the world spun, Fallen Nergal drawing him close—so close Leo could see every crack and scale in the monster's face.

"Grrrlll!!" Fallen Nergal's growl was guttural, monstrous, hot breath billowing over Leo, eyes blazing with hatred. Black smoke oozed from the pores, swirling and twisting around his monstrous features.

Leo's nose wrinkled, disgust flickering across his face. "Yuck… Did you even brush your teeth?" as he twisted in the crushing grip, trying to cover his nose but unable to move his arms.

The stench pouring from Fallen Nergal's gaping maw was overwhelming, almost enough to make him faint.

Fallen Nergal's glare sharpened with outrage... humiliated by this fragile creature, even in such a helpless position.

GRIP!

"ARHHH!!" Leo cried out, blood flecking his lips as the crushing force ground against his ribs, pain screaming through every inch of his body.

Fallen Nergal's mouth twisted into a vicious grin—a twisted satisfaction blooming as he watched Leo struggle.

Leo's lips curled, "Oh? So all this was just revenge for my words? Oh boy… could you be any more patheti—ARRHHH!!" His taunt was cut short by a new surge of force, the giant's grip squeezing harder, bones threatening to shatter.

Leo's world narrowed to pain. 'M-Maybe I should shut my mouth,' he thought desperately, trying to hold back another retort. Above, Fallen Nergal's jaw split wide, shadowy smoke rolling out as he leaned in—about to devour him.

Panic flared in Leo's eyes, "ESSA!" he shouted.

'Shit… Shit… Shit!!'

Just as he was about to be swallowed, something strange flickered in Fallen Nergal's eyes. Without warning, the nearby building began to twist and contort. The structure warped as if bending reality itself, but none of the glass windows broke; every pane remained unshattered, the entire building curling as if it were made of liquid, and collapsing toward him.

Fallen Nergal jerked his arm up to shield himself, roaring in outrage. Leo, who had been on the brink of being devoured, stared in disbelief as the building's windows rushed at his face-

Thud!

Leo hit the ground hard.

Leo blinked rapidly, then doubled over coughing, blood splattering from his lips. Every attempt to move sent a jolt of agony through his bones; his insides felt bruised and broken. Groaning, he fumbled for the white rune-inscribed stone and crushed it in his fist. A shimmer of white particles danced and swirled around him, knitting his bones and flesh together with a rush of healing magic.

"Ha... Ha… Ha…"

He panted heavily, lungs burning, as if he'd held his breath for hours. His vision cleared. Slowly, he pushed himself upright and realised... he now stood before a cityscape lit by blinding neon lights, buildings glowing and stretching into the night.

Where was he?

But now… his eyes widened in shock. Before him, the buildings twisted and collapsed in on themselves, folding and shifting like paper in the wind, yet none of them shattered. Not a single pane of glass broke.

"What the heck is going on here?" Leo muttered, staring at the impossibility before him. The whole city seemed to be warping, reality transforming, yet nothing was destroyed.

Something flickered in the edge of his vision... a colossal blue beam of light lanced up into the sky.

That had to be it.... The relic.

He clenched his weapon and started to sprint toward the pillar of light… but suddenly—

"Where are you going, dear~?"

Leo dropped instantly, instincts screaming. A whip of blinding light sliced past, so close it nearly sheared him in two. Only his reflexes saved him, ducking low just in time. He rolled away, landing hard and looked back to see...

Fallen Camazotz stood there... humanoid now, his form sleek and dangerous, a sly, mocking smile curling his lips.

"Tsk, tsk… Pitiful, isn't it?" Fallen Camazotz taunted, voice smooth as silk, eyes glinting with malice. He approached slowly, boots tapping on the warped ground. Leo gripped his weapon even tighter.

"To think your life was always meant for me. How amusing, the shape of fate, isn't it?" Camazotz's grin widened. "Your precious Envy sacrificed himself for you… and yet, here you are, squandering that gift. How tragic. So, so pitiable~" His voice dripped mockery.

Leo bared his teeth in a fearless smile. "Do you really think I'd ever fear you? I don't care what you are—a bat or a human—fear is the last thing you'll ever see in me!" he shouted, pride and adrenaline fusing in his veins.

Fallen Camazotz arched a brow, amused. "Oh? You truly feel no fear?" He leaned closer, his tone musical, almost poetic. "That's a lie, Leo… I can smell your fear from here~"

Leo's hands tightened on his weapon. He knew Camazotz was bluffing, trying to get into his head-

"Look~"

But Camazotz's gaze was hypnotic, the green irises glowing,

"I can feel it, human… Look into my eyes. You can sense it, can't you?"

For a split second, Leo's will faltered—he felt himself falling into those unnatural eyes, drowning in a flood of emotions: terror, isolation, the creeping dread of oblivion.

"I can feel your fear of loneliness… your terror of becoming nothing…" Camazotz's voice grew darker,

"I. Can. Feel. Every. One~"

He stomped, the ground quivering, and in a blink appeared before Leo—so close Leo could see his own reflection in those gleaming, hungry eyes.

Leo flinched, snapping out of the hypnotic daze. It took him a heartbeat to react—but in that instant, Fallen Camazotz's hands warped into lethal claws. With a blur of motion, the claws slashed across Leo's chest, ripping through flesh.

Leo gasped, pain exploding in his body as he tumbled backwards, rolling from the savage force, landing hard and shuddering against the ground.

For a second, Leo didn't move. Fallen Camazotz stood above him, smirking with wicked delight, savouring the game as if he relished every moment of his prey's suffering.

"Every being has its fear. No matter how hard you try to hold it down or hide it… Everyone carries that terror inside," Camazotz said, voice chillingly calm as he cracked his neck with a slow, deliberate twist.

"Your fear is your enemy."

He grinned, bending lower. "Come on… wake up, bastard. Otherwise, this will get boring!"

After a tense pause, Leo's battered body slowly pushed upright. "Arrh!" he groaned, teeth clenched. He looked down... three deep gashes raked through his chest, blood gushing, flesh and bone exposed beneath torn skin.

Leo coughed violently, spitting blood. He cursed himself. He should never have underestimated Fallen Camazotz, nor let his guard drop after fighting Fallen Nergal.

It wasn't that he didn't know their strengths and weaknesses. He did. But he'd been so focused on confronting Fallen Pride... just as they plan. That he'd barely prepared for the others. Their strategy was always one target each.

Leo gritted his teeth harder. He shouldn't have relied so blindly on Essa's Master's guidance… Should've forged his own path, trusted his instincts, not someone he'd never even seen.

This... this was his mistake, his negligence!

But it was too late for regrets.

He steadied his breath, fingers wrapping tight around his katana, glaring up at Fallen Camazotz through a haze of pain.

"Fuck you,"

"Yeah, I like this more~ Haha~" Fallen Camazotz's grin widened.

He leapt forward, claws glinting. Leo braced himself, his gaze sharpened, energy flooding into his eyes. His perception stretched, the world slowing to a crawl as every movement became crystal clear.

He saw it... the claws arcing toward his face. With a wild smirk, Leo pushed energy into his arms. In an instant—

TANG!

Steel rang as Leo's blade caught the claws. Fallen Camazotz reeled, surprised by the sudden defence. Before Camazotz could recover, Leo twisted, spinning his body and driving a powerful kick into the Fallen's chest.

BOOM!

Fallen Camazotz was launched backward, but his wings snapped open, halting his flight. Hovering midair, he sneered with wild laughter,

"That's good, but not the best! HahaHah!!"

His laughter echoed as he dove at Leo again, fury and amusement mixing in his voice.

Leo readied himself for the next attack—when suddenly:

Clang… Clang…

A chain rattled, the sound cutting through the chaos.

BOOOMMMMMMM!!!

Leo's eyes widened in shock. Fallen Camazotz, in the midst of his attack, was slammed out of the air and into the ground, flattened by a massive spiked sphere!

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