Kathmandu felt different after sunset.
Not peaceful.
Not noisy.
Just… tense.
The hotel building stood tall under the darkening sky, surrounded by security barriers. Drones hovered far above, monitoring the area. The world tournament had not officially begun yet, but everyone could feel it—something was coming.
Inside the hotel gym, lights were still on.
Leo stood barefoot on the cold floor.
His upper body was wrapped in light bandages, some already stained faintly red. His breathing was slow, controlled. Golden and crimson aura flickered weakly around his body, unstable but alive.
Across from him stood Chen Wei.
Arms relaxed. Eyes sharp.
"Five days," Chen Wei said.
"That's all we have."
Leo nodded.
"I know."
---
Controlled Violence
They moved.
No countdown. No warning.
Chen Wei stepped in first—water aura flowing around his arms like coiled dragons. His fist shot forward, precise and fast.
Leo blocked.
The impact sent a shockwave through the room. The floor cracked slightly beneath their feet.
Neither smiled.
This wasn't sparring.
This was survival training.
Leo countered with a low kick, followed by a palm strike infused with Lion force. Chen Wei twisted his body mid-air, water wrapping around his waist to redirect the impact.
"You're holding back," Chen Wei said.
Leo's eyes hardened.
"No," he replied.
"I'm controlling it."
Phoenix fire flickered briefly along Leo's spine, then vanished.
The temperature in the room spiked for a second.
Chen Wei stepped back.
"…Good," he said. "If you lose control now, Kaito Jin will tear you apart."
Leo clenched his jaw.
Kaito Jin.
That name still burned.
---
The Weight of Silence
They stopped.
Both breathing heavily.
Chen Wei leaned against the wall, wiping sweat from his neck.
"You haven't slept," he said.
Leo didn't deny it.
"When I close my eyes," Leo replied, "I see the stadium." "I see her falling."
Silence followed.
Chen Wei looked down.
"Yuna hasn't said much either," he said quietly. "She's acting strong… but she's scared."
Leo nodded slowly.
"I know."
A pause.
Then Leo spoke again.
"After this tournament," he said, "nothing will go back to normal."
Chen Wei smirked faintly.
"It stopped being normal the moment multiverse monsters started dropping from the sky."
Leo almost smiled—but it didn't reach his eyes.
---
A Promise Without Words
Leo walked to the window.
The city lights reflected in his eyes.
Somewhere far away—across oceans, across countries—Lily lay unconscious, carrying their child, protected only by fading beast power and fragile hope.
Leo pressed his fist against the glass.
"I won't die here," he said quietly. "I can't."
Chen Wei stepped beside him.
"Then don't," he said. "And don't fight like a king yet."
Leo looked at him.
"Fight like a man who still has something to lose."
Leo closed his eyes.
For the first time since the battle—
His aura stabilized.
Not stronger.
But calmer.
Outside, the sky darkened completely.
Night was coming.
And with it—
The chapter ended.
---
End of Chapter 47