'Maybe it's just a decoration? Something to scare away intruders?' Nyx suggested, nudging a bone thicker than her own head.

  Leo snorted. Yeah… we ain't that lucky. The one who killed this thing is out there—I can feel it.

  'And he's back,' Nyx grumbled. 'I knew I shouldn't get used to your optimism.'

  He rolled his eyes and motioned for her to follow. As interesting as the bones were, they still had to find the owner of this Divine Realm. He just hoped it wasn't as large as the skeleton above them. Getting squashed sounded like a sad way to go out.

  Not that he wanted to die at all, but still…

  Oh well…

  They progressed deeper into the realm, slowly leaving the massive dragon skeleton behind. The mist remained their constant companion, but at this point, it was no more than a small annoyance—or so they thought.

  "This seems familiar…" Leo muttered, reaching out to touch a wall of condensed fog that stretched up toward the sky. His fingers ghosted over the soft, gray surface, slightly sinking into it.

  "Looks like the only way forward," Nyx pointed out as she stopped next to him.

  He nodded while looking left and right. Sure, they could go back or try to reach the end of the wall, but he doubted that would achieve anything. Besides, this barrier wasn't a straight line. It was hard to notice, but it curved a bit inward, most likely creating some sort of a protection dome.

  Either this is some sort of a test, or the one we are looking for is inside.

  Leo grinned at Nyx. "Well then… Want to go first?" The feline shot him a blank stare. "That's what I thought… Follow me then and prepare for a fight."

  Before even taking the first step, he nudged his bloodlust, pulling it out of its slumber. With that done, Bloodmail activated next—for now, just at half power. He also thought of activating Manifestation but decided not to overdo it.

  There we go.

  He took a deep breath and walked into the mist. The wall didn't resist at all, and with another step, he ended up on the other side, his eyes widening at the sight in front of him.

  Well shit…

  All the way to the horizon stretchered a scorched land covered in magma. No life breathed air here aside from a single massive creature resting quite some distance away from him.

  Curled on a bed of molten rock, its enormous red wing concealed most of its body—all but its head and a stump where one of its legs should be. There was no mistaking its identity—that of a dragon. A western-style one that easily matched the size of the skeleton beyond the mist wall. Its chest rose like a mountain with each breath, while the magma beneath it pulsed with each exhale.

  'Oh wow…' Nyx mumbled through their link as she hid behind him.

  Took the words out of my mouth. He grimaced. This might be much harder than we thought.

  'What gave it away? The fact that it could probably swallow us in one bite?'

  Yeah, partially, Leo answered, not taking the obvious bait. Any suggestions?

  'Hit it with everything we got before it wakes up?'

  He shrugged. Sounds good. Let me know when you're ready.

  In the meantime, Leo fired off a skill he should have used the moment he stepped through the mist. He just hoped it would work.

  Identify.

  Trace of Divine detected. Strength cannot be measured. Proceed at your own risk.

  He stared at the notification, his jaw tightening. Great. Just the kind of encouragement we needed.

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  Nyx's voice slithered back into his mind. 'So… the System is no help.'

  Pretty much, he answered, his eyes never leaving the enormous figure in the distance. No help is coming this time around. Let's make it count.

  'On your signal then.'

  Leo nodded and opened the floodgates inside his soul. His Shadow's Veil transformed back into a vest while shadows slithered up his body, forming the Manifestation armor. The floaters on his back also sparked with lightning before working on enveloping his entire form.

  "Now's your turn," he mumbled, reaching for the power that remained mostly dormant for the past weeks.

  Ruination didn't need another invitation and rushed out in waves, culminating in his hands. Bloodmail activated to its current limit as more and more energy gathered, putting more strain on his body with each second.

  Nonetheless, Leo held it still, ignoring the burning in his veins and the cracks forming on his scales. This right here required perfection, and he wouldn't stop until he achieved it.

  Come on!

  The crimson and black of Ruination soon joined in with the shadows, the two different affinities barely held together by his sheer will. And yet, he wasn't done—far from that.

  Ever so slowly, the lightning dancing around his body changed direction, going right for the amalgamation in his hands. At first, it refused the addition, but Leo didn't give up, and with his entire Mind attribute in use, he pushed the affinities together.

  A silent scream left his mouth as the scales on his hands evaporated, spilling blood all over the gathered energy. For a moment, he thought this was it, that maybe he failed before he could even begin, but then, all his affinities settled, merging into a singular orb hanging above his bloodied palm.

  For the most part, it consisted of Ruination—red swirling within the black. However, on the outside, shadows and lightning found a place for themselves, sparkling and racing over the surface.

  System? Leo decided to call out, thinking that maybe the entity could tell him just what he had just created. Nothing? Very well, then. My turn.

  With his free hand, he summoned a vial of Bellatoure, downing it in one swift motion. The potion worked quickly, halting the bleeding and dulling the pain, though the wounds remained. This was the price he had to pay for a chance at victory.

  'Leo? Are you okay?'

  He looked into Nyx's concerned eyes and nodded. Nothing I can't handle. Let's begin.

  The feline glanced at the orb floating above his palm. 'So how does that work? Can you throw it, or…'

  Leo probed around the combined technique, trying to come up with a way to use it correctly, but quite frankly, there was nothing to find there. It was just a mass of power waiting to explode.

  We might have to get a bit closer. I'm keeping it stable for the time being, but it won't remain whole for too long once I throw it.

  Nyx grimaced. 'That's what I feared.'

  Leo shot her a grin. Come on, we have a dragon to kill.

  Just like that, he launched forward, using the occasional rocks to get across the sea of magma. Nyx followed close behind on her wings, dragging a growing wave of shadows with her tail.

  The distance to the dragon's head grew closer with each second. Leo put his hand with the elemental technique behind him, readying to throw it. Even Limit Break came online, boosting his speed.

  And yet, the surprise didn't work out—at least not like they wanted.

  A single, massive amber eye snapped open, its gaze locking onto Leo as the magma across the field erupted in towering, fiery geysers. He twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding a blazing pillar of liquid fire.

  Nyx! Retreat and go up. Hit it from there. Let it focus on me.

  'On it.'

  Thank you. Leo smiled and forced Limit Break to its absolute limit. Blink!

  Even as the ground trembled, even as an ear-shattering roar filled the area, he kept on pushing forward. Not even the pulsing technique in his palm, thrashing like a wild beast, could stop him.

  It would earn its freedom—soon.

  With a final burst of speed, Leo appeared directly beneath the now-standing dragon. With a flick of his arm, he hurled the orb of seething elemental energy straight into the beast's chest.

  "Boom," he muttered, disappearing in another Blink.

  And an explosion indeed came, splitting the air and shaking the entire realm like an earthquake beyond the Richter scale. The elements of the technique erupted outward, consuming most of the dragon in a chaotic storm of energy.

  Black shadows twisted, mingling with the blue lightning that ignited all over the dragon's body. Ruination took most of the space, the black expanding like a massive black hole while the crimson struck at the dragon's scales, carving through them like molten blades.

  A shockwave came next, hurling debris and pieces of scales in all directions. Not even Leo—despite Blink—could escape the heat that washed over him. He barely remained afloat, his wings of lightning helping to stabilize him.

  Yet, among it all, the dragon remained standing—hurt but standing.

  Blood poured out of its numerous wounds, blending with the red of its scales. Its tattered wings spread wide, riddled with holes, and its chest—a mangled mess of flesh and shattered scales—still rose and fell with each heavy breath. Yet, the dragon didn't seem to care.

  It simply looked up, right toward Leo, and roared, an ancient, rumbling voice following.

  "A commendable attempt, youngling."

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