Chapter 33: A Blood Battle Between Siblings on the Snow

In the midst of snow-covered Draugwyn, Leonix, Shion, Natalia, and Danny followed Florence on a tour of the city, admiring the unique Elven and Dwarven architecture. Meanwhile, Seraphine and Layla were busy in the shops, searching for new weapons and armor.

"Lord Leon and the others," Florence greeted them, a warm smile on her face. "Would you be willing to visit our temple? Not many humans are allowed inside; only the chosen ones."

The four of them agreed. It was a rare opportunity, Leonix thought. When they arrived at the magnificent temple, Leonix and Shion's eyes widened in shock. Standing before them was a statue of the First Hero from their world, named Arthur Nelson. Immediately, Leonix felt a stabbing headache, as if a forbidden memory was trying to break through his consciousness, tying him to the figure in the statue. Shion, who already knew Arthur was Leonix's father, could only remain silent, remembering her promise to keep it a secret. However, she intended to tell him one day.

"Leon, are you okay?" Shion asked with a worried tone, immediately rushing to his side with Danny.

Natalia narrowed her eyes, looking at Florence. "Then why did you bring us here? There must be something else going on, right?"

"I've been sensing a bad aura ever since we entered this temple," Danny growled softly, his golden eyes scanning the surroundings. "What's really going on?"

Suddenly, Lady Benimaru appeared from behind a pillar, her soft but commanding voice filling the room. "Actually, it was I who summoned you here," she said. "And there's something important we must discuss, because only you can understand. Especially since it concerns the fate of your world, Lord Leon."

Leonix held his throbbing head. "What do you mean? How do you know I'm not from this world?"

Lady Benimaru looked at him with an expression of understanding. "I am here to tell you about the prophecy I gave you earlier. Soon, it will come to pass, where you will go berserk, destroy this city, and kill those closest to you."

"That's impossible!" Shion cried out, defending Leonix. "Leon has never lost control without a reason, like that time before!"

"You are gravely mistaken, little girl. I already warned him to leave, but he insisted on continuing. Therefore, your deaths are inevitable," Benimaru retorted sternly. Her gaze shifted to Arthur's statue. "Even Lord Arthur predicted thousands of years ago that your arrival in this land would destroy all of us."

Amidst the tension, Eirael Lunaris appeared, her crystal bow Moonfang held tight. Her heterochromatic eyes stared at Leonix with hostility, ready to finish him while he was still in pain.

Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the temple. A powerful attack from outside surprised everyone. An Elf guard ran in, out of breath, his face pale.

"Lady Benimaru, it's dangerous! A figure who looks like Lord Leon is attacking the city!"

Everyone in the room was shocked. They couldn't believe it, because the figure in question was supposed to be right in front of them, in pain. So, who was outside? A deep frown appeared on Lady Benimaru's face. "No... this can't be. How could this happen?" she muttered. Her prophecies were never wrong.

And sure enough, outside, a figure who looked exactly like Leonix was attacking the Elf and Dwarf guards without mercy. Blood began to stain Draugwyn's white snow. Shion and Natalia exchanged glances. "Danny, guard Leon!" Shion commanded. Both of them immediately flew outside to confront the figure.

"Damn it! Who are you?! How dare you take the form of our friend!" Shion yelled, delivering a swift kick that the attacker dodged.

"Shion, don't be fooled!" Natalia warned, firing a wave of magic. "He is the second Demon General, Belial! Be careful, he's very strong, maybe even stronger than Leon!"

The figure laughed cruelly, his voice echoing in the cold air. "So that's it? My brother Leon is here? Then this is the perfect moment to kill that bastard!"

The words froze Shion and Natalia. "What?! Impossible! You're Leon's sibling?" They were stunned. Benimaru, who heard this from inside the temple, was also shocked. All this time she had thought Leonix was the prophesied threat, but it was the opposite.

The figure then revealed his real name. "My name is Lux," he said, his eyes burning with fury. "And I am Leonix's younger brother, from the same mother, but a different father!"

The battle began. Shion and Natalia, though strong, were no match for Lux. With terrifying speed, Lux immediately went after Leonix. But Benimaru, in her Pegasus armor, appeared, soaring like a flash of light. She struck Lux with full force and sent him flying.

"Damn it! Your filthy feet have no right to tread on this sacred land! Only the chosen ones are allowed!" Benimaru shouted, her armor shimmering, as she hovered gracefully beside Shion and Natalia.

Leonix and Danny, who had just come out, were shocked to see a figure that looked exactly like him. Leonix flew to their side.

"I don't know who you are," Leonix said angrily, "why do you dare use my face?"

Lux smirked cruelly. "Use your face? I wouldn't even deign to have a face like yours, bastard!" a red flash emanated from his eyes. "I will finish you after what you did to our mother, causing her to disappear and never return."

Those words hit Leonix like a slap. The pain in his head intensified, and vague memories flashed. He realized the figure in front of him was his younger brother. "So that's it... what Uncle told me was true," Leonix muttered, his voice choked. "About me having a sibling in another world. So it's you..."

The battle between siblings began. Down below, Eirael Lunaris could only watch. She never expected that the person she thought would destroy the Elf race, Leonix, was not the real threat. Instead, it was his younger brother, Lux. The irony stung her heart.

The brutal fight continued. Leonix, in his desperation, drew the Orb Calibur Magnificient. Shion had warned him that using the sword would drain all of his mana and magic, but Leonix didn't listen. He attacked Lux with a deadly Hurricane Slash, but it had no effect. Lux countered with a devastating Iron Fist Punch, sending Leonix flying into the frozen lake. Shion quickly ran to his side.

"Don't tell me you're going to use that Black Dragon's power again!" Shion cried. "I already warned you about that, didn't I?"

"Tch, I wouldn't deign to have my body controlled by that stupid dragon again!" Leonix replied, getting up with difficulty, coughing up blood. "Besides, who wants to live with so much hatred?" He braced himself to face his brother.

The battle resumed. This time, Lux drew a sword that was exactly the same as Leonix's, the Orb Calibur Magnificient. What was even more shocking was that the power didn't drain his energy at all. With one swift Orb Slash, Lux managed to wound Leonix's right cheek. Fresh red blood stained the white snow.

"If this battle is between you and me, then don't involve anyone else! FACE ME!" Leonix yelled, his eyes blazing with anger, as he charged at Lux with full speed.

A powerful shockwave erupted, shattering the ice on the frozen lake. The two of them continued to fight, attacking each other at a speed that surpassed normal sight. In the middle of the fierce battle, Lux continued to blame his brother for their mother's disappearance and refused to have a lying brother like Leonix.

"If you had never been born, our mother wouldn't have suffered like she did!" Lux yelled, attacking relentlessly.

"I don't even know what my father and mother were like!" Leonix retorted, trying to explain that he was just found on the beach by one of the demon generals in his world, alone and abandoned.

The battle reached its climax. They both charged forward, their swords clashing in a deafening flash of light. Shion, Natalia, Benimaru, and Eirael Lunaris, who had arrived late, could only watch in horror.

SREEEEK!

Lux's sword pierced Leonix's heart. A gaping hole appeared in his chest. Seraphine, Layla, and Danny, who had just arrived, were shocked at the sight. All they could do was watch their party leader, Leonix, get stabbed by the exact same sword he used, the Orb Calibur Magnificient.

Lux, feeling satisfied, burst into a horrible, triumphant laugh. He then retreated, slowly disappearing from sight.

Leonix collapsed, his blood flowing and staining the snow. Everyone rushed to his side. Even Lady Benimaru's strongest healing magic couldn't do anything. His heart had been pierced. Seraphine immediately hugged Leonix, begging him to hold on.

"Please, Leon! Don't go!" Seraphine sobbed.

But in Seraphine's arms, Leonix looked at them all with an expression of acceptance. A faint smile of relief formed on his lips. Seraphine, seeing his expression, understood.

"It's okay, Leon," Seraphine whispered, tears streaming down her face. "You can rest now. Let go of all your burdens."

With that, Leonix closed his eyes, and took his last breath.