D-Dalia… y-you? What are you doing…?"
Leo's voice cracked, her golden eyes trembling in shock.
At the sound of her words, Dalia stepped forward slowly, each movement deliberate, the massive axe gleaming in her grip.
"Stop! Tell me, Dalia!!" Leo screamed, fury twisting her expression.
Dalia halted, her smile fading into a cold, serious stare as she tightened her hold on the axe.
"I want you to feel the pain you once gave us, Leo."
"Leo…? You know me? You know I'm Leo?" Leo asked, her voice unsteady as she began backing away step by step.
"Oh my, of course I know." Dalia smirked, her eyes glinting. "From the very moment we bumped into each other, I already knew… you are that Leo."
"Then why…? Why do you want to kill me?!" Leo's voice rose, raw and furious. "Weren't you my head maid?! Didn't I trust you?! Then why!?"
Dalia lowered her face, shadows crawling over her features. Her eerie smile stretched wider, her aura shifting into something suffocating.
"Don't you remember… what you did to my father?" she hissed, laughter and fury mixing in her voice. Her sharp eyes burned with hatred.
Leo froze, her breath caught in her throat.
"You… your father…??"
Her voice trembled.
[Flashback]
The setting sun painted the office in hues of blood-red. Trophies lined the shelves, books filled the almiras, and the scent of aged parchment filled the air. An old man sat behind a desk, dressed in a noble black-and-white suit with a crisp white-blue tie. His hair was streaked with silver, a neat white beard framing his stern yet gentle face.
Across from him stood Leo—his original self. Short, messy brown hair. Piercing golden eyes. A black-and-gold striped coat draped over his frame, twin daggers strapped to his back.
"But… but I need this! No matter what!!" Leo shouted, fury burning in his eyes.
The old man met his gaze calmly. "Listen, Julius. That gem you're demanding—it's not just power for yourself. It could protect the entire kingdom, strengthen our people."
"So you won't give it to me, huh?" Leo's voice deepened, dark with menace.
"I'm sorry. But I can't. You must think of others before yourself."
"Shut up, old dog!!!"
Leo slammed his fist down onto the table, the wood rattling under his strength. His face twisted in disgust.
"What the hell kind of person do you think you are!? Just give me what I want!!" he screamed.
"Julius, calm down!" The old man's voice remained firm, though worry crept into his eyes. "I said this for the people. That gem may give you incredible power, but for the kingdom it could—"
He never finished.
Leo's hand shot out, seizing the old man by the collar, dragging him forward. "Say it again!!" he roared, his face inches away, eyes blazing.
The old man staggered, falling against the desk. "Julius! Enough! You've gone too far!!"
He tried to shout for the guards, but Leo's hand closed around his throat, cutting the words off.
"Agghh—!" the old man coughed, clawing at Leo's grip.
"You worthless tool!! You deserve to die! GIVE IT TO ME OR I'LL KILL YOU!!"
Leo's furious scream echoed through the office, his face contorted with rage.
Blood trickled from the old man's mouth as his strength failed.
"Julius… stop… this… ughh…"
But Leo only tightened his grip, choking the life from him.
Tears welled in the old man's eyes. His once-bright gaze dimmed, black fading into ashen gray. His limbs slackened. His body fell still.
Dead.
"Hhh… haah…"
Leo released his throat at last, chest heaving. He turned toward the window, where the last rays of sunlight painted the sky red.
"You deserved this… worthless."
The words slipped from his lips in a chilling whisper as he walked away, leaving the corpse in the crimson glow of the setting sun.
[Current Scene]
"Y… you're his daughter…?"
Leo's eyes widened, her voice trembling with shock.
"Yes. I am."
Dalia's tone was calm, but her grip on the axe tightened. "Dalia, the daughter of Jame."
Without another word, she dashed forward. The heavy axe swung down in a murderous arc.
"Huh!?"
Leo twisted to the side just in time. CRASH! The blade struck the stone road, shattering it into jagged fragments.
What the hell is this power…!? Leo thought, her heart racing. She turned to run—then froze, clenching her fists.
No… I can't! I won't be a coward again…!
Her voice broke as she tried to plead.
"Dalia, I know I've done terrible things… Please… forgive me… I—"
Her words were cut short.
SLASH!
"Aghhh!"
Blood sprayed as Dalia's axe tore into Leo's right leg. She collapsed, her face twisting with pain.
Damn it!! This body… I can't even use magic…! Leo gritted her teeth, fury mixing with desperation.
"I won't let you crawl away!" Dalia's voice cracked with rage. Her eyes burned as she raised the axe high. "If you regret, then die with it!!"
The blade descended—
BAM!
—but Leo launched forward, driving her knee straight into Dalia's torso.
"Ughhh!"
Dalia staggered back, clutching her chest, her breath ragged.
Leo stood, bloodied but smirking.
"Even useless as I am now… I still know how to fight."
"Ohh… pretty good move."
Dalia chuckled darkly. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled her axe straight at Leo.
"Tch—!" Leo dropped to the ground, the weapon grazing past her. But before she could recover—
STOMP!
"Aghh!"
Dalia's boot crushed down on Leo's hand.
Gritting her teeth, Leo thrust her palm upward at the last second. WHAM! Her fist exploded with force, slamming into Dalia's shoulder.
"You—!!" Dalia roared, stumbling back. She seized her axe again, leaping high into the air.
"Devil Destroyer!!!"
The weapon glowed with a sinister aura. A massive, sharp wave of green energy ripped through the air toward Leo.
"Oh shit—!! It's massive!!"
Leo bolted, but the attack tore up the ground around her.
"Got you."
Dalia's eerie voice echoed as she closed the gap.
"Huh!?"
Before Leo could react, the axe drove deep into her chest.
"Ugghhh!!!"
Blood gushed, staining her clothes crimson. She collapsed, coughing violently, vomiting blood as the world spun.
This… this is bad… ughhh…
She rolled across the ground, desperate to create distance. A red trail smeared the road beneath her.
Dalia's shadow loomed over her, eyes cold and merciless.
"So… you think you can run in that condition, huh, Master?"
Her heel slammed into Leo's back.
"UGHHH!!!"
Leo screamed, blood pouring from her lips as her body convulsed in agony.
[Scene: The Execution Attempt]
Dalia raised her axe high, the blade gleaming under the night sky.
"Now it's time to cut off your head, Master."
A cruel smirk twisted her lips.
Damn it… I can't move…!
Leo's eyes widened in horror, her body refusing to respond. The axe descended—
SLASH!
"Egh—!?"
Dalia froze, her voice trembling. A dagger jutted from her back, blood staining her dress.
Slowly, she turned.
There stood Lucas. His body was drenched in blood, his stance weak, but his grip on the dagger unwavering.
"You…" Dalia hissed, ripping the blade out and tossing it aside. "Hah. I thought you'd be dead already."
Her smirk returned, sharp as a blade.
Lucas's eyes burned with fury. His jaw trembled as his teeth clenched, his gaze fixed on Leo's broken body. Tears threatened to spill.
"Enough!!" Lucas roared. "Stop hurting Mion! If you want blood, then kill me instead, woman!!"
Dalia tilted her head, annoyed.
"Hm? Why do you even care for her? Leave. This is between me and her."
"Of course I care!!" Lucas's fists trembled as he raised them high. "It's my responsibility—I will not fail again!!!"
He charged, fury carrying him forward.
"Then take it!"
Dalia swung her axe at him—
"Wind Blow!"
Lucas's voice thundered, and a violent gust of wind ripped through the air.
"Tch—!" Dalia's arm was thrown upward by the blast. Lucas seized the moment—
BAM!
His fist crashed into her stomach.
"Ughhh!"
Dalia staggered, coughing.
"You idiot! Get out of my way!!" Her rage boiled over. She spun with terrifying grace, her heel snapping through the air like a dragon's tail.
BOOM!
The kick slammed into Lucas's chest. Blood sprayed from his lips as his body was hurled to the ground.
"Lucas!!" Leo cried out, her voice cracking.
Dalia raised her axe again, her killing intent suffocating the air.
"Why are you stopping me, idiot!? Just die already!!"
The blade descended—
"NO!!"
With bloodied determination, Leo hurled herself onto Dalia, dragging her down.
"What the—Mion!!" Lucas shouted, horrified.
"I… I won't let her kill you, Lucas!!!" Leo screamed, her trembling body clinging to Dalia with the last of her strength.
Dalia's eyes widened in disbelief.
"How… how can you still move!?"
At that moment—
"Waterfall of Hell!!"
Lucas's voice tore through the night.
From the sky, a colossal torrent of water came crashing down.
"What—!?" Dalia's eyes shot upward. She tried to leap away—but it was too late.
CRASHHH!!!
The roaring waterfall swallowed her whole.
Lucas didn't waste a second. He scooped Leo into his arms, sprinting away from the impact zone.
"I think it worked…" Lucas muttered, his voice trembling. He laid Leo down, placing a glowing hand over her wounds. Green light spread across her battered body.
"Let me heal you, Mion."
"Lucas…" Leo's eyes blurred with tears. "Why… why would you risk your life for me?"
"Because… I have a responsibility." His voice broke as tears finally fell. "I can't lose again. Never!!!"
"Lucas… what happened? Did—"
CRASH!!!
"Aaaghhhhhhh!!!!"
Dalia's furious scream erupted from the collapsing water.
"Shit… she stood up so fast!" Lucas hissed, sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Lucas, don't—don't risk yourself like that! I'll fight too—"
Leo tried to rise, but Lucas cut her off, lifting her into his arms again.
"Lucas!?" she gasped.
"Run. Leave with the postillion. I'll handle her." His voice was calm, but his eyes held the weight of unshakable resolve.
"No, Lucas!! It's too dangerous!!" Leo screamed.
But he ignored her, shouting instead:
"Kaizer!! Take her and get out of here!!"
"Yes, sir!!" the postillion roared back.
"No… I won't let Leo escape!!"
Dalia burst free, her aura trembling with rage.
Lucas set Leo down, sprinting straight toward Dalia.
"Lucas, nooo!!!" Leo's voice cracked.
Kaizer seized her, lifting her into the carriage. With a sharp tug of the reins, the horses bolted into the night.
"LEO!!!" Dalia shrieked, her face twisted with fury. She slashed through Lucas's right arm, blood spraying into the air.
Still—Lucas endured. With his remaining strength, he hurled a dagger.
THUNK!
It buried itself in Dalia's leg. She collapsed to the ground, screaming.
"Damn you!!!"
The carriage disappeared into the darkness.
"LUUCAAASSS!!!"
Leo screamed, tears streaming down her face.
"Stop the carriage!! We have to save Lucas!!"
But Kaizer's hands shook as he held the reins. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"We can't!! Sir Lucas gave his order! He… he sacrificed himself for us! I… I can't disobey!!"
His voice cracked under the weight of sorrow.
Leo's screams echoed into the night.
The carriage vanished into the distance, wheels rattling against the stone road.
Lucas staggered where he stood, his body drenched in blood, his legs trembling. Each breath scraped his lungs like broken glass.
And yet—he smiled.
"…I finally… fulfilled my responsibility."
His voice was a whisper, carried by the cold night wind.