Despite the terrifying killing intent emanating from his pupils, the current Leo felt that the 'Avenger Leo Ash' before him was far too calm emotionally.
"Stop staring."
Sensing the fledgling doubt in Newborn Leo's eyes, Avenger Leo Ash said calmly.
"Before the Sphere is fully awakened, a Leo Ash who forcibly uses the Sphere will inevitably bear the negative consequence of 'losing his judgment after being swept away by emotions.'"
"...So that's how it is."
After Avenger Leo Ash said this, Newborn Leo instantly understood why his other personality had changed the mindscape into the home that Leo, before his personality split, had desperately avoided returning to.
"Taking appropriate stimulating measures can, to an extent, allow the Sphere Holder to counteract the negative effect of 'losing judgment'... That's why you chose to stay in this place, to counteract that negative effect."
"Mm, that's right."
Confirming Newborn Leo's deduction, Avenger Leo Ash gave a twisted smile.
"After all, the original owner of this Sphere was a man who loved money. When he faced the crisis of being swept away by his emotions, the sound of a coin flip counteracted the negative effect of 'losing judgment.'"
"And unfortunately, our situation is much worse than his, so the negative effect we have to bear is naturally much stronger."
"If I didn't stay here, constantly reminding myself of the past... heh, perhaps the current me would have already lost his judgment, unable to even judge when to speak, what to say, or whether the visitor before me is an enemy."
"After all, a Sphere is a great treasure. It's not strange for a great treasure's side effects to be a bit stronger—don't you think?"
Although the other person tried his best to use a light-hearted tone, attempting to brush off these experiences casually.
But now, staring at the other's twisted expression, Newborn Leo only had to put himself in this environment for a moment to be certain of one thing.
If the one doing this wasn't the Avenger personality, but the Newborn personality, the current Newborn Leo might have already been tortured to the point of complete madness.
"Alright, don't make that face."
Sensing that Newborn Leo's emotions seemed a bit off, Avenger Leo Ash dropped the twisted expression and said no more.
Staring at the white-haired 'self' before him, Leo finally understood why he had drawn the Dominus Glyphs related to the power of the Dark Lord Dracula.
In the game *Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia*, the three Dominus Glyphs the protagonist masters are, in essence, the power of the Dark Lord Dracula.
And the reason Dark Lord Dracula became the Dark Lord who endangered the world was because the person most important to him was killed by humans.
From a certain perspective, he was also an Avenger.
No wonder... I was wondering how a righteous person like me could draw something so full of evil energy, and three times in a row at that.
But, hearing my other self talk now, I thought I had already awakened to the third stage, but in reality, he has been bearing the side effect of 'being swept away by emotions and losing judgment at any time.'
In that case, my deduction isn't wrong.
"Hah..."
Sensing the slightly awkward atmosphere, Avenger Leo Ash suddenly sighed.
"Have you thought it through? Once some things are done, there's no turning back."
"Of course I have."
Newborn Leo walked up to the 'self' before him, looking down from above at the seated Avenger Leo Ash.
"All this time, we've been using a loophole to use The Wavering Scales."
"We let you, the Avenger personality who has no intention of controlling the body to fight, bear this negative effect."
"Meanwhile, I, the Newborn personality in the outside world, could easily use the Sphere's ability to make correct judgments because someone else was paying the price for forcibly using it."
"But this is just a loophole. It's not true mastery of the Sphere. Therefore, we can only reach a false third stage, and as Sphere Holders, we cannot reach the *true* third stage."
"Ah, that's true. So..."
Avenger Leo Ash, who had already thought of the solution, grinned.
"Although we are both products of Leo Ash forcibly splitting his personality in two, after surviving independently for so long, we can be considered independent personalities."
"I don't mind giving up my self, but—I also can't guarantee that you won't be overly influenced by me, entering a state you don't want to face."
"Yeah, I've considered that."
Pulling Avenger Leo Ash up from the floor, the expression on Leo's face gradually vanished completely.
"But—so what?"
"Newborn or Avenger, in the end, both are just one side of Leo Ash."
"I am thou, thou art I—we should have been one from the beginning. So now, returning to our past state is perhaps the fate we must face."
"Ah, perhaps."
Standing up from the floor, Avenger Leo Ash suddenly seemed to sigh in relief, continuing Newborn Leo's words.
"After patching up the flaws in the personality, Leo Ash will no longer have any loopholes to avoid the Sphere's side effects."
"In other words, if Leo Ash doesn't want to be 'robbed of judgment' and 'swept away by emotions' by the Sphere, he must force himself to truly master this Sphere's power."
"Honestly, it's a big gamble—but Leo Ash has always been a gambler, so it doesn't matter."
"Come on. This day... I've waited a long time for it."
"After we merge, I will give up control. You are better suited to fight the Honkai than I am. The judgments from here on out, I'm counting on you."
"I say..."
Looking at the carefree Avenger Leo Ash, Newborn Leo suddenly asked.
"You... you've wanted to die for a long time, haven't you?"
"...As expected of me. You saw right through me."
Avenger Leo Ash, exhaling a puff of turbid air, suddenly looked up at the ceiling and muttered to himself.
"From the moment Leo Ash split himself in two, I, as the Herrscher personality, have been hearing the whispers of the Honkai."
"I, who sought revenge, have been resisting the Honkai's corruption. At the same time, I must rely on the hatred in my heart to reduce the Sphere's influence on us."
"The reason I can speak to you so calmly is because you are also Leo Ash."
"If someone like me were to gain control of the body... I'd probably start taking action instantly, killing everything related to the Honkai."
"They have feelings for you, but to 'Avenger Leo Ash,' who has had no direct contact with them, they aren't even 'tools to be used.' They would just be killed by 'Avenger Leo Ash' without a second word."
"And this group of people includes not only Chen Tianwu, whom you roped in, Su, who helped you many times, Welt, who gifted you a Divine Key care package, and Siegfried, who saved you in a sense... but also Kiana as the Herrscher of the Void, Mei as the Herrscher of Thunder, Yuna as the Herrscher of Death, Anna as the Herrscher of Rimestar, and Hua, who holds the identity of the Herrscher of Sentience and Honkai Beast factors..."
"No, even Isla Ash, who carries Herrscher genes, would become my target."
"I've long since gone mad. Someone like me... should have died long ago."
Facing the muttering Avenger Leo Ash, Leo was silent for a few seconds before asking the 'brother' before him a question.
"Do you have any wishes you want fulfilled?"
"Haha, don't you already know?"
Avenger Leo Ash suddenly held out his right fist.
"Promise me—"
Before he could finish, Newborn Leo also extended his own fist, lightly bumping it against Avenger Leo Ash's.
"No matter what, I will defeat the Honkai."
"Good. Then, I can rest easy."
As their fists lightly touched, Avenger Leo Ash dissolved into motes of starlight, flowing into Newborn Leo's body.
Before he vanished, he said to the 'brother' he had met for the first time.
"Farewell, Leo Ash."
"Yeah. I'll do my best... Leo Ash."
At that moment, the two personalities that had been split from one recombined into one.
After merging with the 'self-terminated' Avenger personality, Leo found that his spiritual power had indeed surged.
But at the same time, he realized something.
Even if the Avenger personality gave up control, even gave up its self, the Leo who merged with this personality still had to face that undeniable, lingering obsession.
Honkai Zombies must be killed, Honkai Beasts must be killed, Herrschers... must be killed even more!
Otto must be killed, Kevin must be killed... anyone who stands in my way, all must be killed!
Revenge... Revenge... REVENGE!!!!!
Honkai, must be KILLED!!!!!!!!!
As the boundless hatred entered his mind, Leo felt as if his body and soul were almost consumed by it.
Only now did he finally realize what the real Leo Ash...
—was supposed to feel this level of hatred.
The Newborn personality also hated the Honkai, hated Otto for letting it run rampant, and hated Cocolia for ignoring casualties to create Herrschers. But compared to the hatred of the Avenger personality, the Newborn personality's hatred was far too light.
And now, his mind almost swallowed by hatred, Leo realized just how... naive... the 'Newborn' personality had been in the past.
"But... that's all in the past now."
Leo, his personality now whole, clutched his splitting head and looked at the room, which was now beginning to show signs of annihilation.
The 'home' that the Avenger personality had used to ground himself was, along with the merging of the two personalities, gradually turning to nothingness.
Stepping out of the house, Leo looked back at the rapidly disappearing building and suddenly punched himself hard in the cheek.
"Pathetic. My past self... I was so busy running away that I never went back to the place I should have."
"Perhaps, I should go back for a visit."
"Back to... the place I was supposed to go."
As Leo spoke his last words, the Herrscher of Binding, who had now reclaimed his entire self, finally allowed this mindscape to shatter completely.
In the next instant, Leo returned to the world of the Elysian Realm. Looking at the Flame-Chasers scattered and fallen around him, he could only think...
Ah, just as I expected. In the end, I still did something terrible.
"Leo... Ash..."
Sensing the change in Leo's aura, Elysia gave a miserable smile and said helplessly to Leo.
"If you hadn't woken up, this would have become a serious problem."
"Sorry—let me ask, how long was I out of control?"
"Five seconds."
Kevin spat out the words coldly. He pushed himself up from the ground and immediately helped Su up.
"Is this your true strength?"
*After merging my personalities, I don't even know what my true strength is.*
But now...
Feeling the hatred in his mind not only *not* dissipating, but actually intensifying, Leo apologized to the group and immediately rushed towards the entrance of the Elysian Realm.
He really wanted to get things in order before leaving, but right now...
—*I don't want to delay this any longer.*
*I have to go to that place.*
*I have to go there RIGHT NOW!!!!*
"I say..."
Su, finally having the strength to speak, looked at Kevin and Elysia and asked his two comrades.
"Just now, what did Mr. Leo Ash feel like to you?"
"The moment I released my mental energy, I felt like I had encountered the most terrifying vengeful ghost imaginable."
"If he hadn't woken up in time, I probably wouldn't have lasted more than a few seconds before being 'devoured' by that terrifying aura."
......