Odin, in his colossal dragon form, faced the divine and towering Thunder Giant, a confrontation that forced him to unleash the absolute limits of his strength. There were no more probes, no more tests—this was the final, desperate gambit.
With a thunderous roar that shook the very foundations of the dimensional arena, Odin raised his massive dragon head, gathering a surging, violent mass of purple energy in the air above him. It was the same cataclysmic spell, but magnified by his true draconic power.
Throughout the annals of history, no one had ever dared to unleash the World-Destroying Thunder Calamity twice in a single battle. The toll on the caster's spirit and body was too great.
Yet now, Leon had become the first and only adversary to force Odin into such a state of pure desperation.
The gathering of energy reached its terrifying peak. Odin, with his mighty dragon claws, gripped the overwhelming sphere of destruction, using its immense mass to stabilize his own colossal body in midair.
In his dragon form, the raw destructive power of the World-Destroying Thunder Calamity far surpassed that of his humanoid state. However, the trade-off was a loss of finesse; he could no longer regulate its impact or contain its fallout with the same precise control as before.
This meant one, undeniable thing—if Leon failed to withstand this strike, he would be obliterated, suffering far more than the minor injuries he had endured earlier.
The blinding purple light crackled with annihilating intent as Odin hurled the apocalyptic sphere forward, a small sun of pure thunder aimed directly at the heart of the resolute Thunder Giant.
Leon's true body stood upon the Thunder Giant's forehead, a tiny figure commanding a titan.
He raised his right hand high above his head, and the Thunder Giant mirrored his action perfectly, its massive, mountainous arm rising slowly, deliberately, into the storm-laden sky it had itself summoned.
The giant's immense form brushed against the thick, lightning-charged clouds with even the slightest movement, stirring the tempest.
The colossal azure hand reached into the swirling vortex of the storm and slowly retrieved something.
A magnificent sword, forged of pure, condensed lightning, emerged from the chaos. Arcs of electric power wider than ancient trees crackled across its blade. The sword radiated such overwhelming magic that the residual energy alone ripped apart the fabric of space within hundreds of meters, creating transient voids that flickered in and out of existence.
Simultaneously, the intricate dragon markings on Leon's arm and chest began to glow with a fierce, deep blue light, pulsing in rhythm with the giant's power. This was the stored magic from Rossweise, now fully unleashed. The magical currents stirred the air around him into a frenzy, lifting his dark hair as his intense, unwavering gaze remained locked on the mighty dragon before him.
This was a move Leon had never before revealed—a technique that consumed the vast magical potential within his dragon markings to manifest the complete, ultimate form of the Skeleton Shadow, fused with the Dragon Extinction armor.
"The Sword of Thunder!"
Leon gripped the blade's hilt, a construct of pure force, feeling its immense, world-ending power coursing through his very soul. Lifting the sacred, lightning-forged weapon high like a god preparing to deliver divine judgment, he spoke in a voice that was cold, resolute, and carried the weight of absolute conviction:
"In this moment, I am the strongest in this world."
With a mighty, final swing, the holy sword descended, meeting Odin's purple sphere of World-Destroying Thunder Calamity in a collision that defied description.
The clash of these two terrifying magical forces erupted in a violent shockwave that radiated outward in a sphere of pure destruction. The ground beneath them shook and split open, as if entire mountains were collapsing inward. The overwhelming force of the impact sent Odin's massive dragon form skidding backward, his claws carving deep, smoking trenches into the earth.
The resounding explosion was a sound that had no equal, a crescendo that echoed across the failing dimension. It was the climactic battle of thunder magic at its very zenith—a duel that marked Leon's defining moment and the most intense, concentrated battle the Samuel continent had witnessed in a thousand years.
In the external world, the consequences of the clash began to manifest violently.
Odin's attack, combined with Leon's counter, not only shattered the dominance of the dragon's aura but critically ruptured the dimensional barrier itself. The shockwaves of their battle caused the ground in Sky City's central plaza to quake violently, stones lifting into the air as if the earth itself were trying to flee.
"Tower Master... their fight won't destroy the independent space, will it?!" an aide cried out.
"Don't be absurd! If we allowed that level of combat to spill entirely into the real world, even ten Holy Sanctuaries wouldn't be enough to withstand the devastation!" another shouted over the roaring winds.
"This is insane... even for the greatest saints, this is beyond excessive."
"Look! What is that in the plaza?!"
The crowd turned their terrified gaze toward the center of the Twilight Tower's plaza.
In the once-empty space, a deep purple rift had torn open in reality, glowing with an ominous, hungry light as waves of raw, destructive power spilled through it into the real world.
The intense wind pressure swept through the plaza, forcing onlookers to shield their faces and bodies as they struggled to even draw breath.
Even the Dragon Kings within the tower's secure observation room felt the overwhelming magical waves and turned from the recording stone to watch the real chaos unfolding just outside their window.
The Tower Master's face darkened considerably. Without a word, he swiftly began casting powerful spatial magic, his hands moving in a complex pattern to reinforce the crumbling dimensional walls and seal the rift.
Meanwhile, back within the disintegrating independent dimension, the battle between Leon and Odin reached its absolute, irrevocable climax.
"Your World-Destroying Thunder Calamity is truly formidable," Leon stated, his voice carrying clearly over the din of collapsing space.
"Young one, never claim to be the strongest so casually," Odin replied, his draconic voice strained but firm. "Remember, there is always a sky beyond the sky."
Leon's smirk was visible even from the distance. "Apologies, elder. But I am the unreachable sky."
With that declaration, Leon raised his other hand.
The Thunder Giant, responding instantly to his will, reached into the storm clouds once more—
And drew forth a second, identical holy sword of crackling lightning!
Odin stared, his massive draconic eyes widening in stunned, disbelieving silence.
For the first time in centuries, the venerable Thunder Dragon King felt the cold, unfamiliar grip of true despair.
Wielding the twin blades of divine judgment, Leon brought them down in a devastating, perfect cross-slash. The immense purple sphere of the World-Destroying Thunder Calamity was sliced cleanly into four dissolving segments, as though it were nothing but fragile glass.
The unleashed force of the strike finished what the clash had started, utterly tearing apart the dimensional space. A massive, gaping rift ripped open, exposing the real world of Sky City to the aftermath of the duel.
A blinding, silent light exploded from the rift, followed by a shockwave of pure force that hurled everyone in the central plaza into the air. Even the dragons circling high above were caught in the blast, forced to transform into their true, massive forms just to stabilize themselves against the torrent.
When the light finally subsided and the deafening silence broke, the plaza was left eerily quiet and devastated. Only a single recording stone, protected by the Tower Master's last-minute intervention, remained intact, hovering amidst the ruins.
The image it displayed was the one that would be etched into history: the Thunder Giant standing tall, one hand gripping the lightning holy sword while the other held the now-shattered remains of the second blade, its energy dissipating. Above the giant's head, on its forehead, Leon stood, his form outlined against the clearing energy, his presence commanding and absolute.
"I told you," Leon said, his voice calm yet echoing with finality. "I am the strongest in this world."
Below him, Odin's dragon form began to shrink, reverting to his humanoid shape. He landed unsteadily on the broken ground, his robes tattered, his body weary. He looked up at Leon, and after a long moment, he bowed his head.
"Yes..." Odin replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion, respect, and defeat. "You win."
.
.
.
Leon slowly opened his eyes, greeted by the familiar sight of a hotel ceiling.
Blinking a few times, he tried to sit up, only to realize his body was too weak to move.
"Leon, you're awake."
A gentle voice pulled his attention. Turning his head, he saw a cascade of radiant silver hair that immediately put his mind at ease.
"Rossweise..."
"Thirsty?"
Leon nodded weakly.
Rossweise smiled softly. "I'll get you some water."
As she stood to leave, Leon reached out and grasped her wrist.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't want water from outside."
"Then what do you want to drink?"
A faint, playful smile appeared on Leon's lips.
Rossweise immediately understood. Rolling her eyes, she leaned down and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"Better now?"
"Much better. Now I can drink the outside water."
Rossweise chuckled, gently nudging his shoulder, only for Leon to yelp dramatically.
"Ow, ow! That hurts!"
Shaking her head, Rossweise apologized and explained, "Your magic circuits are still recovering after using such an overwhelming level of thunder magic. It's normal for the pain to linger."
"Thank you for the explanation, Professor Melkvey," Leon said, gazing into her silver eyes. "But, Professor, I still feel weak... care to help me recover some magic?"
"Not even a broken body can shut that mouth of yours."
"Shh."
Rossweise helped Leon sit up and handed him a glass of water.
As he took a sip, the dryness in his throat eased, and he let out a relieved sigh.
"What about Odin?" he asked.
"He admitted defeat but seems to be in better condition than you. He's discussing matters with the Tower Master right now."
Leon nodded slowly. "I see..."
Looking at the calm surface of the water in his glass, he murmured, "But did I really win?"
Rossweise placed her hand gently over his. "Everyone agrees it was your victory, Leon. You defeated Odin."
Feeling reassured, Leon smiled faintly and laced his fingers with hers, finding solace in her warmth.
"It's a good thing you managed to stop yourself in time," Rossweise said. "If that strike had gone through, the dragon clans would've descended into chaos."
Leon chuckled faintly. "Don't worry. Your husband's aim is impeccable. Nothing unexpected ever happens."
"Queen-level boasting now? Are you serious?"
"Of course! That precision comes from years of targeting your dragon wings during training!"
"Get lost, you idiot!"
Knock, knock, knock!
The sound interrupted their banter, and before either could answer, the door swung open.
"Ah, finally awake, brother-in-law."
It was Ishabella, accompanied by Noah and little Muse.
"Daddy's finally up!"
"Daddy... functioning!"
"Wait, wait," Isha said, holding her hand up. "Don't forget why we're here!"
Noah stopped mid-step. "Right! What were we here for again?"
"To investigate!"
"Oh, right."
With that, Noah marched over to Leon's bedside, her face suddenly stern and serious.
"To anyone watching, this might look like a family visit," Leon thought nervously, swallowing hard. "But why do I feel like this little rascal is plotting something? That expression... those eyes... they don't seem right."
"Ahem!"
Isha cleared her throat, placing one hand on her hip and dramatically pointing the other at Leon.
"Noah really does mimic you well, doesn't she?" Leon muttered, watching the child copy Isha's every move.
"Sigh. This rascal's been corrupted by her aunt. What kind of absurd wolf-like habits has big sis taught her now?"
"Dad!"
"Huh?"
"Now it's my turn to say it. I'm the strongest in this world~!"
Oh no.
Leon felt his toes curl in secondhand embarrassment.
Without a word, he yanked the blanket over his head.
But Isha wasn't having it. "Come on, strongest brother-in-law! A little blanket won't hide your radiance!"
"Spare me, Sis! I promise I'll never act cool again!"
"No way, Dad! No escape!"
"What are you even doing here, little rascal? Stop adding to the chaos!"
Rossweise sat quietly nearby, holding back her laughter as she watched the chaotic scene unfold.
After some time, Isha and Noah finally decided to leave Leon alone and let him rest.
Once the room quieted down, Rossweise turned to Leon. "By the way, Claudia's here too."
Leon's eyes lit up with energy he didn't seem to have earlier. "Perfect timing. I wanted to ask her about that super sense technique. Is it really just a specialized body art like she claimed? Where is she now?"
"She said she had to pick someone up. She'll be back soon."
"Pick someone up? Helena?"
"Nope," Noah chimed in. "Helena's still at school."
Leon scratched his head. "Then who else could Claudia know in Sky City?"
Everyone exchanged confused glances, none of them able to guess.
As they pondered, footsteps echoed from outside the room.
The sound was heavy, and clearly, there was more than one person approaching.
Leon turned toward the door, curious.
The first figure to step in was a strikingly elegant woman with flowing blue hair—Claudia.
"Awake, are we? Perfect."
Claudia leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed. "I brought a couple of familiar faces to see you."
"Familiar faces?"
Leon was baffled. Apart from those already in the room, who else could he possibly know among the dragons?
"Come in, you two," Claudia called.
At her words, two more figures entered the room.
A man and a woman.
The man was older, with white hair and a long beard. Despite his age, his steps were steady, and his sharp eyes exuded the aura of a seasoned warrior.
The woman was graceful and reserved, standing quietly behind the older man.
Leon froze.
"Master?! Mistress?!"
The woman, Charlotte, gave Leon a shy wave. "Long time no see, Leon."
Despite her many years, Charlotte still had a youthful air, thanks to the dragons' longevity. Her timid demeanor mirrored Leon's own, making them oddly alike.
"What are you two doing here?" Leon asked, glancing nervously at his daughters.
Muse, being too young to understand much, wasn't a concern. But Noah...
Aside from Muse, Noah was the only one in the family who didn't know about his human origins. She was sharp, observant, and far too clever for her own good.
Leon's mind raced, desperately concocting potential explanations.
Meanwhile, Noah, holding Muse in her arms, simply stood quietly, her gaze briefly scanning the newcomers. Her sharp eyes noted one thing immediately—neither of the two had tails.
Yet, she said nothing, maintaining her polite and reserved posture.
"After hearing you were going to duel Odin, I decided to come to Sky City," Claudia explained. "My little sister wanted to join me, so we came together. It's been ages since we've seen you."
As she spoke, Claudia leaned in close to Leon, whispering, "But I didn't expect Noah to be here. I thought only the Dragon Kings were invited."
"The Tower Master also gave Saint Heath Academy two slots," Leon whispered back. "But seriously, Claudia... did you plan this on purpose? What if Noah figures it out?"
"She won't. My sister is a pure sea dragon. Even someone as sharp as Noah wouldn't suspect a human-dragon partnership."
"Are you sure? Because I'm not convinced."
"Dad."
Leon nearly jumped. "Y-yes, Noah?"
"Who are these two?"
"Uh... They're..."
Leon glanced helplessly at Charlotte and his master.
Though Charlotte openly embraced her role as Leon's mistress, her appearance was far from typical for a dragon elder. With her youthful looks and the subtle glow of her transformed features, she seemed more human than draconic.
His master, meanwhile, had aged like a fine wine. Despite his old age, he looked like a man in his thirties—a trait that didn't help Leon's case.
In dragon society, this wasn't particularly unusual. Still, Leon couldn't suppress his panic. His master's expression practically screamed, "Figure it out yourself, my dear apprentice. Just don't blow it."
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Leon stammered, "This... this old man is... my cousin's..."
His brain scrambled to piece together a plausible explanation.
"My cousin's... uh... mother's..."
"Mother's what?"
"Mother's what?!"
Under the combined pressure of Noah's piercing gaze and the amused silence of everyone else, Leon blurted out, "Mother's brother!"
"Master and Mistress: ...?"
Rossweise: ...
Isha: ...
Claudia: ...
"Leon, my dear husband," Rossweise said dryly. "Is that the best your carbon-based brain could come up with?"
"I had my guesses about what you might say, brother-in-law, but 'cousin's mother's brother'? Really? Just say it's your mom and dad!" Isha added.
"Not bad for the strongest in the world," Claudia teased. "Even your vocabulary is unmatched."
Noah blinked her wide, curious eyes. "Cousin's mother's brother? So that makes him my..."
All eyes turned to Noah, waiting for her verdict.
After a moment of thought, the princess broke into a radiant smile.
"Grand-uncle!"
Rossweise almost fainted.
In the end, Leon's eldest daughter had truly inherited his unique ability to embrace the abstract.