Leon freezes for a brief moment, his expression tightening as he watches someone who has already lost consciousness continue to move, accompanied by an invisible aura that surges outward with terrifying intensity.
Without even realizing it, Leon's body trembles. Fear slowly spreads across his face.
GLUK!
He swallows hard.
Yet he immediately grits his teeth, forcing down the fear. His right arm swings back, preparing to strike forward, but—
In an instant—
Jiza is already before him, his arm bent and drawn back before thrusting forward at tremendous speed—
Leon raises his brows. His pupil-less eyes widen as they lock onto the attack. He cannot evade it, nor is he confident he can withstand it.
Then—
"ARGKHT—" Jiza hisses in a strained, agonized voice.
At the last moment, Jiza diverts his attack downward toward the ground.
PRTKHAAAAHMNHNN!
The earth shatters instantly. Dust erupts everywhere.
Leon immediately leaps backward, escaping the cloud, but—
A thrust of fingers appears before him.
Leon freezes in shock.
The distance is impossibly close—
SCKWRLAAAAAAHSHH!
A slash coils through Leon's entire body like a tightening whip.
Both of them are blasted out of the dust cloud.
Leon spins briefly through the air while Jiza lands firmly on both feet.
BRAK—BRUK!
Leon crashes onto his back and lies there, breathing heavily. Sweat soaks his body as fear continues to dominate his expression.
"Huh—hah—huh!"
Jiza's ragged breathing echoes loudly. His jaw rises and falls without pause, as does his abdomen.
His body hunches forward, supported by both elbows resting on his thighs.
"W-What..." he mutters in a low, strained voice, forcing himself to lift his head.
His vision begins to blur. His consciousness has returned, but not completely.
"...is this?!"
He continues speaking while staring through the fading dust at Leon.
DUK—DAK—DUK!
"EHEMPH?!"
Jiza suddenly inhales sharply.
Footsteps echo clearly from within the dust, steadily approaching.
BRAK!
"HMM?!"
The footsteps stop.
Another heavy impact against the ground follows.
Though his body trembles, Leon continues forcing himself to stand and face his own fear. He repeatedly calms his ragged breathing. One foot remains planted while a hand rests upon his knee. He pours every last ounce of strength into rising, though even standing has become extraordinarily difficult.
Jiza attempts to stand as well.
"EEEKHH!"
He groans, enduring the pain surging throughout his body as he forces himself upright—
CRAK—WRAK—KRAAKKK!
"AAHKHGG!"
BRAKKKK!
One knee slams into the ground while the other leg remains bent.
"Damn it..." he hisses, gritting his teeth against the agony.
DAK DUK DAK!
The approaching footsteps resume.
Slowly, Jiza lifts his head and looks forward as the dust continues to dissipate.
Leon stares at him with blazing fury and anger, though fear still lingers beneath the expression, forcibly concealed.
"Hmph?!"
Jiza murmurs in confusion.
He continues watching Leon's trembling body stagger forward. Both fists are clenched tightly.
Yet—
"Huh?!"
Jiza murmurs again.
The fearful expression gradually disappears.
The furrowed face relaxes, becoming completely blank.
KRRKKK!
Jiza clenches both fists tightly.
This is the perfect moment to attack. Leon has changed drastically, adapting to the atmosphere.
Jiza assumes that, in this state, Leon will no longer be as wild and extreme as before—
CTHAMM—KTAAHMNH!
Both feet drive against the ground.
His body launches forward.
"Whatever this is—"
He charges instantly.
And during that charge—
"—I triggered your Limbo, didn't I?"
A voice suddenly speaks.
Clear.
Close.
All around him.
"EHMP?!"
Jiza freezes in shock.
BRAK—KHAM—SKAAASHHSHH!
His charge halts abruptly.
Both feet drag across the ground before stopping.
"What the—WHO?!"
His head turns rapidly, searching for the source of the voice.
Jiza briefly checks Leon, yet Leon remains motionless. Only his gaze follows Jiza's movements.
"Huh?!"
Jiza's vision begins to change.
A vivid scene unfolds before him.
He sees himself facing his master, the mad warrior Raze.
The two are training together in a grassy field far from any town or village, during his teenage years—a day remembered for both confusion and answers.
Their martial arts training has ended, and both are resting beneath a tree.
Jiza moves slightly.
WRAK—KRAK—CRAK!
"EEKHHHHH!"
He grits his teeth as agonizing pain surges through him.
Cracking and shifting bones echo clearly from within his body.
Raze furrows his brows.
"Stay still for a moment, Jiza. We will need a long break after this training session so your body can recover."
"W-What happened?!" Jiza asks.
Raze lowers his gaze and falls silent briefly.
"Huft."
"I'll explain briefly what just happened to you."
"What... did I experience?" Jiza asks again.
Raze looks up toward the blue sky beyond the thick canopy overhead.
"Well, you could say you've been blessed with something similar to what I possess."
His eyes follow a cluster of white clouds and a flock of birds crossing the sky.
"Though yours is a higher stage than mine."
"Hmm?"
Jiza remains confused.
Raze lowers his head and looks back at him.
"I call it Limbo. Forgive me for triggering it."
Jiza raises his brows.
"Limbo?!"
"It can be described as a waiting room between life and death. Between consciousness and unconsciousness."
"I... don't understand."
Raze furrows his brows.
"At first, I was confused. Even after your body had suffered enough pain, you kept going. Do you remember that?"
"Ehmph?!"
Jiza recalls it immediately.
He nods.
Raze rubs his forehead.
"I understand now. Your body is forcibly restored in preparation for the death of your conscious mind, allowing a wild subconscious self to take over."
"Really?!" Jiza asks, still bewildered.
"I only wish to ask one thing of you for the sake of your future."
"What is it?!"
"Limbo can be described as the stage where the soul surrenders itself to death. The price is your consciousness, which is taken over by your subconscious mind so it can eliminate any remaining threats."
"And then?"
"My request is simple."
Raze looks at him seriously.
"Never do anything that triggers your blessing—Limbo—and leads you to a meaningless death."
"I see."
A sincere smile appears on Raze's face.
"I believe in you."
His voice gradually fades away.
Jiza opens his eyes once more and stares sharply at Leon.
STCKHWAAAAHMNHH!
He charges instantly.
This time, Jiza has made his decision completely.
"My turn, Leon."
He abandons all restraint and presses forward with reckless determination.
No matter the cost.
Even if his life itself becomes the wager.
"Limbo..."
He bends his arm and draws it slightly back, preparing a straight thrust.
"...I will use it—"
His muscles tense.
"—to bury the body of my brother, whose soul departed long ago."