Leon stood there, frozen, the void pressing in from all sides. In that stillness, understanding finally settled in.
'So this was the reason.'
He had tried to bring Valeria back more times than he could count. He had pushed his authority, bent laws, forced reality to comply and failed every single time. Now he knew why. Her soul had never been free to answer his call. It had been in its grasp from the very beginning.
Leon's gaze lifted to the Demon God.
"So everything was planned."
The Demon God smiled, amused, almost indulgent.
"You humans are the easiest race to manipulate. Pry open a little jealousy, give anger a direction, and suddenly you have loyal puppets."
Leon's jaw tightened. Even now, that insignificant parasite called Gordon hadn't stopped being a problem, not in life, not in death. The thought tasted bitter.
'What kind of sick joke is this?'
