Chapter 5: Leon Descends

The streets were burning.

Smoke twisted through the air as terrified civilians ran in every direction. Hover-cars lay overturned. Storefronts shattered. Drones buzzed through the chaos, projecting warnings:

“SUBJECT K-01, SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY.”

Kian landed on the hood of a wrecked vehicle, eyes blazing with fury.

This wasn’t an attack.

This was bait.

A little boy cried beside a collapsed wall, pinned by debris. Kian rushed forward, lifting the rubble with one arm as if it weighed nothing.

“You’re okay,” he said, pulling the boy free.

But before he could move him to safety—

A metallic thud echoed behind him.

Kian turned.

A KAGE enforcer—towering, armored, wielding a pulse hammer—charged straight at them.

Kian’s expression sharpened.

Not this time.

Energy surged up his arm as he thrust his hand forward.

WHOOM—!!

A crimson wave blasted the enforcer backward, smashing it through a wall. The stabilizer on Kian’s arm glowed bright white, keeping the surge controlled.

He lifted the boy gently.

“Run to the evacuation line,” Kian said softly. “I’ll keep you safe.”

The boy stared at him with wide, shaking eyes.

“Thank you, mister!”

Kian forced a smile.

But the moment the boy left—

Kian’s entire expression turned cold.

KAGE crossed the line.

He stepped into the street again, hands cracking with energy.

“Come on, then,” he growled. “Show yourselves!”

A shadow passed overhead.

The air pressure dropped.

Kian looked up.

High above the burning district, standing on the rooftop of a collapsed skyscraper—

was Leon.

A long coat flowing in the smoky wind.

Blue eyes glowing like frozen fire.

Expression empty.

He spoke, voice amplified without emotion.

“Kian Arashi. Your presence disrupts public order. Surrender.”

Kian scoffed.

“You’re the one destroying half the district! What happened to your ‘public order’ now?”

Leon tilted his head slightly.

“These casualties are acceptable. You are not.”

The words stabbed deeper than any blade.

Kian clenched his fists.

“You’re a monster.”

“If I am,” Leon replied calmly, “you are the reason I was created.”

The rooftop cracked beneath Leon’s feet.

In a single instant—

Leon vanished.

FWSSH—!

Kian’s eyes widened.

“Wha—!?”

A shadow crashed down behind him—

BOOM!

The impact shook the entire street, blowing debris everywhere.

Kian spun around.

Leon stood in the crater, unharmed, unbothered.

And then…

Leon raised his hand.

“Engaging target.”

A blue flash erupted from his palm—

ZWWWWM—!!

A blast of condensed energy shot toward Kian like a railgun.

Kian barely jumped aside—

KA-THOOM!

The beam carved a long trench through the city block behind him.

“Are you TRYING to vaporize me?!” Kian yelled.

Leon didn’t blink.

“Yes.”

Kian gritted his teeth.

Fine.

If Leon wasn’t holding back…

“Then I won’t either.”

Crimson energy crackled around him as he sprinted forward. The stabilizer hummed, struggling to keep up.

Kian launched a devastating punch—

But Leon caught his fist effortlessly.

Kian’s eyes widened.

“No way—!”

Leon squeezed.

Pain shot up Kian’s arm.

“You are unstable,” Leon said, voice cold. “Return with me. Or be terminated.”

Kian snarled.

“I’m done being a project!”

He surged more power through his fist—

CRACK—!

Leon’s hand finally slipped an inch.

Just an inch.

But it was enough.

Kian twisted, driving a kick into Leon’s ribs—

THUD—!

Leon slid back half a step.

His eyes narrowed faintly, the closest thing he showed to surprise.

“You have improved.”

“Yeah?” Kian smirked despite the pain. “And I’m just getting started.”

Leon raised his hand again.

“I will adjust accordingly.”

Blue lightning arced around him.

Kian’s smirk vanished.

“Aw… hell.”

Leon moved.

Not fast—

Not teleportation—

But inevitable, like a blade already placed at your throat before you even realized he’d drawn it.

He appeared in front of Kian—

and slammed his palm into Kian’s chest.

BAAAAAM—!!!

Kian was launched backward through a parked truck, concrete wall, and finally into the side of a building.

His vision blurred. His lungs screamed.

Dust filled the air.

“Kian!!”

Amara’s voice.

She raced toward him, skidding beside the crater where he landed.

“Kian—look at me! Stay awake!”

Kian coughed, wincing.

“H-How is he… this strong…?”

Amara grabbed his face.

“He’s not stronger. He’s complete. You’re still locked. You cannot fight him head-on!”

Kian clenched his teeth.

“Then unlock me.”

Amara froze.

“Kian. No. You don’t understand. If I remove that limiter—”

“Do it.”

“Kian, your body will tear itself apart!”

“Then I’ll die fighting,” he rasped. “Not running.”

Tears flickered in Amara’s eyes—

but she didn’t argue further.

She lifted her hand over the stabilizer.

“This isn’t a full unlock. Just a partial release. It will give you thirty seconds of enhanced output.”

Kian nodded weakly.

“Thirty seconds is enough.”

She pressed her palm down.

The stabilizer beeped.

And the limiter—

split.

CRACK—!

Energy exploded outward, shaking the ground and blasting a shockwave through the burning street.

Kian rose to his feet, crimson aura swirling violently around him like a storm.

Leon watched calmly from afar, blue energy gathering around him.

“Kian,” Leon said, voice louder now.

“I will not hold back.”

Kian smirked, eyes glowing bright red.

“Good.”

He dashed forward—

And the city trembled as the two Awakened Weapons collided.