Voracity of the Hunter

Leegna awoke, his body still aching from the battle. His vision blurred momentarily before it cleared, revealing the dark confines of the chamber where he had been resting. His mind, however, was sharper than ever. The recent encounter with the three soul remedies had pushed him to the edge, but it also left him with questions—questions that only Yuj could answer. He could feel the weight of his growing power, but the toll on his body reminded him that this path was not without its consequences.

He stood, feeling the strength return to his legs, and walked through the dim corridor, finding Yuj waiting for him. Yuj's usual sly grin faded the moment he noticed Leegna's piercing gaze.

"You're recovering well, I see," Yuj began, but Leegna cut him off sharply.

"Who are you really, Yuj? And what do you truly know about the Dark Embassy? Enough riddles, enough games," Leegna demanded, his voice cold and relentless.

Yuj hesitated for a moment, his yellow eyes narrowing. He crossed his arms, weighing how much to reveal, but Leegna's presence had grown heavier, more dangerous. It was clear Yuj couldn't stall any longer.

"The Dark Embassy," Yuj started, "is not just a realm where souls linger. It's a place where those trapped between life and death, those who can neither move on nor reincarnate, are taken. They're twisted, used as weapons, slaves to the ambitions of their rulers. Their goal is to rise above all realms, including the Celestial Realm—the Door of the Final Exit. That's where the real power lies, but they can't just waltz in. The king who rules there is beyond anything you've faced. His mere presence could obliterate you, body and soul."

Leegna listened in silence, his expression hard. The revelation was unnerving. Yuj's voice grew more urgent, sensing the shift in Leegna's focus.

"You're not ready to face that realm, Leegna," Yuj warned. "Rushing there now would be suicide. You need to be stronger, more prepared."

Before Yuj could continue, Unlec spoke up, stepping forward from the shadows. "There's a way to strengthen yourself, Leegna. A way Yuj hasn't told you yet."

Leegna's eyes snapped to Unlec, his interest piqued. Yuj tensed but didn't interrupt.

"Dark energy," Unlec said, his tone firm. "Hunt it down. Absorb it. It'll make your Lost Rapier of Dark Matter even more powerful, sharpen your senses, and lessen the toll your abilities are taking on your body. The more you consume, the stronger you become."

Yuj finally spoke up, his voice tinged with unease. "Be careful with that. You're already pushing yourself to the brink. Gathering dark energy might strengthen you, but it could also devour you if you're not careful. I'm the one who can guide you through this."

Leegna's eyes flickered with a dark gleam. He stood silently, absorbing the information, calculating. Then his gaze turned to Yuj, sharp as a blade.

"You've toyed with life—human life, my friend's life," Leegna said, his voice low but dangerous. "You created the Eyeless Creature out of Stina, out of someone who meant everything to me. How do I know you won't twist me the same way?"

Yuj shifted uncomfortably under Leegna's intense scrutiny, feeling the growing threat in Leegna's words.

"I've helped you this far, Leegna," Yuj said, his voice softening, almost pleading. "But if you can't trust me—"

"I don't," Leegna cut in coldly. "Not anymore."

The tension between them was palpable. Yuj's eyes flickered with fear for the first time, recognizing just how dangerous Leegna had become. Before anything could escalate, Yuj raised a hand, a sign of retreat. "I'll give you time. I'll go solo for a while, gather more information. I'll be back when you need me."

Leegna didn't respond, his cold gaze still locked on Yuj as he left. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Leegna's slow, controlled breaths.

That night, as Leegna rested again, the visions came. His precognitive ability flared up, dragging him into a half-waking dream. The number flashed in his mind—three. It flickered once, then dropped to two. He gasped, knowing the significance. His Time Leaps were running out.

Then, in the dream, he saw it—an image of himself, standing tall, his Lost Rapier in hand. But something was wrong. His body was hunched, weakened. He felt a sharp pain in his back. He turned, trying to see who had struck him, but the face was blurred, indistinguishable.

I'm going to be betrayed... he realized, but the scene was too unclear, too fragmented to understand fully.

Leegna jolted awake, his body drenched in cold sweat. He sat up, breathing heavily. He could still feel the phantom pain in his back, the looming threat of betrayal. His mind raced.

As the early light of dawn filtered through the window, Leegna stood, a twisted smirk spreading across his face. There was a newfound confidence in his posture, a sense of finality in his steps.

He glanced at the shadows around him, the remnants of his dream still lingering in his thoughts. His voice, low and menacing, echoed in the quiet room.

"The time is upon me, finally. This is the time to put an end to him, to them. Perhaps I will show them the dance of the shadows and darken their fate even more."

The chapter ended with that ominous declaration, leaving the future uncertain as Leegna plotted the next phase of his twisted plan, a hunger for power burning in his eyes.