"I… I can't lose!!"
Leo's mind screamed as she forced her trembling body to stand. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and blood smeared across her face as she wiped it with the back of her hand.
Across from her, Leo[Pride] stood unshaken, one hand stuffed casually in his pocket. His cold smirk cut through the battlefield.
"Is that all you've got?"
"Hah… shut up!!" Leo roared, surging forward. Her right sword slashed at him with desperate speed.
Leo[Pride] slipped left with ease, his movements effortless, and his hand shot out—clamping onto her wrist.
"Got you!"
Leo's eyes lit up. Perfect! She swung her left sword toward his exposed back—
But Pride's knee snapped up first. BAM! His strike crushed her left arm, knocking the blade from her grip.
Before she could recover, his fist slammed into her chest like a cannonball.
BAM!!!
The earth quaked beneath the blow.
"GHHAAHH!!" Blood spewed from Leo's mouth as she staggered—yet, instead of collapsing, she gripped Pride's wrist with both hands, locking him in place.
"Huh?" For the first time, Pride's eyes widened in shock.
"Heh… you think you've already won?" Leo smirked through the blood, her body trembling but her grip iron-tight.
The crowd erupted in gasps.
"Amazing…" Battler muttered, sharp eyes gleaming.
"Impossible…" Elizabeth whispered, red eyes wide, disbelief twisting her face.
Pride tried to wrench his arm free, but Leo twisted, dragging both of them down to the dirt. Dust exploded around them as they hit the ground.
Before he could recover, Leo scooped a handful of grit and flung it straight into his face.
"Wha—?!" Pride's eyes burned, vision clouded by the sting of sand.
Leo didn't waste the moment. She drove her heel down on his head with all her strength.
"AGHH, you idiot!!" Pride roared, rage boiling through the arena.
Leo scrambled to her feet, reaching desperately for her fallen sword—
But a shadow loomed over her.
Too fast!
BAM!!
Pride's knee drove into her torso like a hawk's dive, crushing the air from her lungs. She crumpled, blood and even a tooth flying free as she hit the ground hard.
"U-ughh…" Leo gagged, clutching her stomach. Blood dripped from her mouth and nose. Her vision blurred.
I… I can't breathe… Panic screamed through her chest as her lungs refused to fill.
Pride loomed above her, his boot pressing down cruelly on her chest. His eyes gleamed with predatory light.
"You fought well," he said coldly. "But now… I'll show you my real power."
"Damn you…!!" Leo bit down on her teeth, fury boiling, her trembling hands clutching his leg.
But Pride only sneered. His boot shifted—and cracked against her face.
"—!!" Leo's head snapped back, blood spraying.
Then his hand clamped around her throat like a vice. He raised his other fist and began slamming it into her face, over and over.
BAM! BAM!
The crowd went wild, their chant shaking the air.
"BOSS LEO!! BOSS LEO!!"
Their voices were deafening, drowning the arena in savage celebration.
Battler's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. His usual smirk had faded, replaced with something darker, colder. He watched in silence, expression pale but thoughtful, every blow carving tension deeper into his face.
Leo's breaths came ragged, each gasp tearing at her chest.
"Shit… I can't even move anymore…" she thought, panic twisting her face crimson as blood trickled from her lips.
Leo[Pride] didn't stop. His fists hammered into her like iron, each strike crunching against her face.
But in the middle of that brutal onslaught, Leo slammed her forehead forward—
BOOM!
Her headbutt cracked against him, the sudden impact forcing Leo[Pride] back for an instant.
That chance was all she needed.
Her fist shot upward, crashing into his jaw.
BAM!
Leo[Pride] staggered, but only for a moment. He straightened, wiping the smear of blood from his nose with the back of his hand. His golden eyes narrowed, his lips twisting into a smirk.
"You think you can defea—"
Before the words left his mouth, Leo's boot slammed into his side with a thundering kick, the pressure splitting the air. Dust scattered in waves.
Leo's eyes lit up with hope—only to watch it shatter instantly.
He was still standing. Like a statue. Unshaken.
"What… that's insane!!" Her voice broke with both rage and fear.
Blood dripped from Leo[Pride]'s nose, but the smirk never left his face.
"End," he declared coldly.
He moved. Faster than her eyes could follow.
Before she could even react, his fist crashed into her throat.
"Ghh—!!" Leo choked, her body convulsing from the impact. She collapsed, but his hand caught her cape, and with terrifying strength he hurled her upward.
The world spun violently. The ground blurred below her. She couldn't control her body—she was just a ragdoll in the air.
"What is happening!?" Leo screamed in her mind, panic clawing at her heart.
The battlefield cracked apart as Leo[Pride] launched himself skyward. His jump alone shattered the earth.
In a blink, he was beside her again. His hand clamped her cape, and with monstrous strength he spun her 360°.
"Now see your grave!!" His roar thundered through the sky.
He released her.
Leo plummeted like a comet.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The ground split open on impact, dust and debris blasting into the air. The shockwave rocked the battlefield.
"Gahh… ugh…" Leo coughed, dirt and blood filling her mouth. Her armor was cracked, her body shredded and trembling. Every breath burned. Her vision blurred in and out, the cloudy sky above warping.
Across the field, Battler's face twisted in horror.
"Don't tell me… Boss will actually—"
Leo[Pride] descended, landing with quiet, terrifying grace. His golden eyes burned brighter than ever, four glowing blue dots orbiting each iris like stars.
Leo tried to move, but her body refused her. Every muscle screamed.
"Did… I lose? Why… here…?"
Her trembling gaze lifted to the sky.
"Am I… going to die?"
Leo[Pride] stopped just short of her broken form. His shadow loomed over her. His voice was sharp, merciless:
"In that ass body, you can't defeat me, bitch."
Tears spilled from her eyes as her trembling hand reached toward him.
"I know… I can't even move. But that's why…"
Her voice broke into sobs. Her body shook.
"I came here… to meet you. To end this curse. I just wanted help…!"
Her tears streamed endlessly down her battered cheeks. She could barely speak, barely breathe, but her words carried her soul.
Leo[Pride] stared down at her, silent. Then, with an exasperated sigh, he rubbed his hair, his expression twisting into something almost annoyed.
"…I thought I was the unluckiest one. Guess I was wrong."
The gang watching froze, shock in their eyes. Battler and Elizabeth exchanged tense glances, unable to comprehend the shift.
"Huh…?" Leo muttered weakly, confusion breaking through her pain. One of her eyes was swollen shut, the other still trembling as it tried to focus on him.
Leo[Pride] extended his hand toward Leo, his expression twisted with irritation.
Leo blinked, confusion clouding her eyes.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're shy to hold hands or something!?"
Leo[Pride] scoffed, voice sharp with annoyance.
"Uh…"
Leo hesitated, then slowly placed her trembling hand into his.
The moment their palms touched, light surged through her body. Wounds sealed, broken bones snapped back into place, blood vanished. Even the eye she thought she had lost—restored.
Leo gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.
The gangs fell into chaos, murmurs echoing like wildfire.
"Boss, what are you doing!?" Elizabeth stammered, her face pale.
Battler froze, jaw slack. "
Did the Boss… have some plan I don't know about?"
he thought, cold sweat trickling down his temple.
Leo[Pride] pushed Leo back. She staggered, stunned, her body completely healed.
"You…" she muttered in confusion.
"You think I didn't figure it out? That you're another me from a different timeline?"
Leo[Pride] smirked.
"Eh?! That means you knew!?" Leo shouted, eyes trembling in shock.
"Of course. The moment I saw you, I felt it—the same soul, the same curse gnawing at your body like mine." Leo[Pride] turned away casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Leo's stomach dropped. "Th-that means all that torture you ordered me to endure…?!"
"Hmph." Leo[Pride] closed his eyes, calm and cruel. "My pride was wounded, seeing another version of me so weak. That's why."
"Whaaat!? Man, you're a beast!!" Leo screamed in outrage, veins popping on her forehead.
"Hahaha! Call me whatever you like." Leo[Pride] laughed. Then his golden gaze slid to Battler.
Battler froze, heart stopping.
"You thought I didn't know, huh? That night you were whispering with Leo—I saw, I heard everything."
Leo[Pride] narrowed his eyes.
"U-um… y-you heard it all…?" Battler's voice cracked, his legs trembling as he instinctively backed away.
Elizabeth's face drained of color. Her lips quivered, words stuck in her throat. That girl I tortured… was really a version of the Boss…?
The gang broke into frantic whispers.
Leo turned to Leo[Pride], confused. "So you knew. Then… did Battler have some hidden goal with me?"
"Of course he did." Leo[Pride] chuckled darkly. "If I ever tried to kill you, he planned to take you and run. Isn't that right, my right hand—Thales Battler?"
All eyes snapped to Battler. His head lowered, his face pale like ash.
"…Yes, Boss. You're right." His voice cracked with guilt, sorrow dripping from every syllable.
"Huh!? But why, Battler!?" Leo shouted, disbelief twisting her face.
"Tch…" Battler clicked his tongue, eyes burning with frustration. "Because I wanted to use you. You… you can travel through timelines. That power—I wanted it."
"So all this time, that's why you treated me like this…" Leo whispered, disappointment heavy in her voice.
Elizabeth's jaw dropped. "That means—you knew this truth too, Battler!?"
The crowd erupted louder, questions flying.
"But how, Boss!? How did you know all of this!?" Battler cried in anguish.
"You are my right hand for a reason," Leo[Pride] replied coldly. "I know the desires of every member. And you… acted different. That was enough for me to be suspicious."
"N-no way… I can't be…" Battler's voice broke. He collapsed, knees hitting the dirt. His hope shattered, his head hung low.
Leo[Pride] glanced at Leo. "Leo Julius Eros. I'll speak with you later. For now, I need rest." He turned sharply. "Elizabeth. Come with me."
"Y-yes, my Boss!" Elizabeth stumbled after him, still pale with nerves.
Leo stared at their retreating figures, then turned her gaze back to Battler.
So he knew it all… and Battler… now it all makes sense.
She stepped closer, crouching to Battler's level, and gently touched his shoulder.
"Hey… why did you want me for that?"
"…Aren't you mad?" Battler muttered, shame thick in his trembling voice.
"I should be." Leo smirked faintly. "But I know pain. Now, I understand these feelings." Her golden eyes sharpened with conviction. "That's why I'm chasing my goal. To bring myself back. So tell me—what's your true goal?"
Battler slowly lifted his head, eyes meeting hers. "I… I don't think you'd help me."
"Hey, listen." Leo grinned, confidence radiating from her battered figure, soft smile on her face. "Now I am sure useless, but if I can get myself back—maybe I can help. So stand up. You're strong."
Her eyes glittered like gold under the cloudy sky. A confident smile on her face.
Battler's breath hitched, his eyes widening in shock. "…You really… haah—" He stopped himself, then exhaled and pushed to his feet.
"Fine. I'll tell you." Battler's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"Yes! Now you look perfect!!" Leo winked playfully, pointing a finger at him with a smug grin.