There was a storm.
A violent, roaring storm that wasn't born of the sky, but of essence.
A storm that tore the ground apart, lifted rubble into the air, crushed stone into dust, and drowned the prison in a terrifying swirl of pressure.
The after-essence hung so thick in the air it felt like breathing liquid metal and at the center of that nightmare.
Two monsters fought.
Leon Lighthart, wielder of Light Essence.
Edward Rean, the Reaper, wielder of Moon Essence.
Two True essence users two beings who could command the world essence and reshape it into elemental forces of their own authority.
Every time their weapons clashed a huge explosive noise came. A violent shockwave split the storm wide open, rattling the entire prison like a drum.
Cronux's twin scythes lashed out, the chains weaving through the air like serpents with a mind of their own. Every strike was death incarnate.
Leon blocked all of them but the stone beneath his feet cracked each time he did. Half of Leon's squadron finally reached the scene and froze. A young female knight felt her knees buckle.
"What… what in the hell is that…?" she whispered. One of the other knights muttered, "The reports… were understating it…"
Leon parried two simultaneous scythe strikes. Sparks burst out like exploding stars. "That thing is truly… persistent," Leon said through gritted teeth. "It follows me everywhere."
He was right though the chains of Cronux bent unnaturally, twisting midair to pursue him even after being knocked aside. Edward smirked.
"Persistent? Call it what it is but Cronux has eyes where I have none."
He then swung both arms outward and the chains shot forward with a shrill, metallic screech. Leon parried again, Arondight glowing with blinding light.
"Tch. Your sword is the real nuisance here," the Reaper muttered, irritation creeping into his tone. "What a ridiculous defense…" He narrowed his eyes.
"You Leon Lighthart… I've met fortresses that crumble faster than you."
Leon didn't answer. He simply lifted Avondight. Its radiance intensified and the storm around them warped. A flash of blue moon essence and a flash of white light essence collided. The prison shuddered again.
"What is your intention?" Leon demanded in the middle of the clash. "Why did you let the boy go?"
The Reaper didn't answer.
Instead Cronux's twin blades struck twice, and then split, cloning themselves again mid-air. Leon's eyes narrowed. Ridiculous. Every clone held weight, impact and substance. As if they were real weapons.
"Hahaha! No time for chit-chat!" the Reaper cackled, dragging the blades back only to hurl them again in a storm of death.
But none of them reached Leon. Arondight sang with each perfect deflection, its holy glow slicing the falling moonlight apart. Leon pushed forward through the barrage, eyes cold. "Then answer the question. Why let the boy go when a moment ago you were itching to kill him?"
The Reaper's smile slowly vanished. His voice dropped.
"I haven't changed my mind," he said. "I will find him. And I will tear out his throat." Then he glared at Leon. "But you shouldn't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
Leon exhaled, almost disappointed. Talking was pointless. The storm grew even more violent. Essence clashed, twisting the courtyard into a battlefield capable of vaporizing anyone too close
Harian risked a glance back while sprinting across the wreckage.
"What kind of monsters…" he muttered, watching two beings tear reality apart behind him.
Muliad, George, the prisoners eery single one of them remembered clearly: This same boy beside them destroyed most of the prison in one strike. They looked at him like he was the monster. Harian felt a shiver run down his spine from the stares.
He ignored it.
[TROUBLE INCOMING,] Vex warned.
[LEON'S SQUAD IS APPROACHING FAST.]
Harian saw them instantly. Knights charging from the opposite direction, trying to cut off their escape. He skidded to a stop.
"Split up!" he shouted. "They won't let all of us through if we stay together!"
"What?" The old man exclaimed
"No time! Muliad you're with me! The rest of you circle around, find an exit!" Before George or anyone else could question it, Harian roared:
"GO!"
Muliad huffed a laugh but still stepped forward, amused.
"Very well, boy. Lead on."
George hesitated for a heartbeat his expression twisted in worry but Harian gave him a grin.
"Trust me."
George jabbed a finger at him while backing away.
"You better not die or I'll kill you myself!"
"I won't," Harian answered with a smirk.
Then...
[ESSENCE AUTHORITY: 4.1%] Vex reported.
[YOU HAVE BEEN ABSORBING WORLD ESSENCE THE ENTIRE TIME.]
Harian felt it too. The flow. The rush. He inhaled sharply and poured the converted essence into his limbs, strengthening his body. The ground cracked beneath his feet from the sudden enhancement.
Muliad's eyes widened. The kid… was getting stronger by the second.
The sound of armored boots rang sharply against the broken stone.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
A male knight stepped through the smoke blue hair flowing, plate armor shining even under the dust-filled sky. Harian's eyes narrowed the moment he saw that face.
Josen.
One of the knights he personally killed in his previous life. And he died screaming too, Harian remembered with a grin that flickered across his lips.
Josen stopped in front of him, expression hard.
"You know me?" he asked.
Harian froze internally. His tongue slipped yet again
Oh boy. Shit. Think, Harian. THINK.
"Uh well who doesn't know a knight of the Royal Guard?" Harian said, voice too quick. "You're very famous."
Behind him, Muliad exhaled sharply through his nose.
The old knight saw straight through the lie immediately.
Behind Josen, three more knights emerged from the shadows of the ruined corridor. Their expressions were sharp, disciplined, unwavering. Their armor gleamed with that unmistakable polish only the royal guard carried.
These weren't ordinary knights.
These were the Royal Guard the elite force stationed at the royal capital, protectors of the royal family, and the blade of the kingdom of Rezia. A force so feared that even foreign nations hesitated to speak their names lightly. And at the very top of that force…Leon Lighthart. This was his squad. Josen himself was a Master Knight, the realm above Divine Knight second only to Leon in this squad.
He possessed no materialistic essence, but his mastery of world essence was immaculate. Sword Song Art refined beyond perfection. His swordsmanship alone could rival lower-ranked essence users.
In Harian's past life, Josen died by his blade.
And yet here he was… alive. Breathing. Standing right in front of him. Eyes sharp. Strength unmistakable.
Harian felt the thrill rise in his chest like fire.
It seems… he had to fight for his life again.
He smiled.