'Help!' Leon's thoughts screamed as his skin was peeled one layer after another by Malphas's light intensity.
No matter how much Leon tried to move, he couldn't. The light surged and brightened the platform so intensely that the entire audience covered their eyes.
"Say your last words before you die!"
Malphas's voice echoed around Leon, but no matter how Leon tilted his head, he couldn't find him.
When he finally did, a huge palm slammed him to the ground, pressing him into it so hard it looked as if Malphas wanted to use his skin as a mat.
Leon screamed as he felt his skull cracking. Yet Malphas didn't stop. For a while, Leon's vision changed and turned blurry red.
Slowly, it changed into still blackness, but his ears still caught Malphas's footsteps walking away from him.
For a while, the sound faded, followed by cold air that struck him so hard it caused his body to stiffen.
"Leon!" A loud voice echoed around him. "Wake up! Don't just lie on the ground."
As the voice faded, Leon's pinky finger rose and fell, followed by the rest of his fingers. Then, slowly, his other fingers drummed the ground countless times as if they were plucking an invisible string.
His eyes cracked open instantly allowing him to see the golden light snaking around his hands. The moment he rose and straightened himself, he coughed countless times.
"I'm really sure you're fed up with life," Malphas's voice struck Leon, followed by laughter.
'What are you waiting for? Move!' Leon's thoughts screamed. But before he realized it, his trembling legs began to move, one step after another.
Leon's vision changed turning into a golden blaze that flew outside his eye socket like fire. The blaze transformed everything he saw: objects, faces, and the ground into an energy field.
In that very moment, a voice echoed around Leon so loudly he clutched his ears, trying to block it from bursting his eardrums.
"Die!" Malphas's voice boomed as he surged against Leon.
Before Leon realized it, he raised his hand, blocked Malphas's punch, and struck him with a clenched fist.
Air buzzed around Malphas so violently it stripped the light from him, clearing it from existence.
Leon bent over and gasped for air. When he saw the proctor's words floating above them, his eyes widened.
'Already!' His thoughts screamed so loudly he could feel his mind buzzing with shock.
[Time Out]
[Victory: Malphas]
"I won't go easy on you in our subsequent matches," Malphas said as he walked off the platform, smiling.
Leon didn't move at first; he just stood there sweating and breathing heavily.
Noise rose from the crowd as Leon began walking toward the exit of the platform. But because of how much his body trembled, he couldn't hear a word, though he could see their lips moving.
As soon as he finally exited, Mr. Lee approached him. "You've really done well." He placed a hand on Leon's shoulder and walked beside him.
"You've proven me wrong. I thought you would die the moment Malphas took his first step."
At the mention of Malphas's name, Leon turned to Mr. Lee with wild eyes.
'What I faced was worse than death. It's just that I'm still alive.' Leon's thoughts screamed as he stared at Mr. Lee. He saw a glimpse of hope in Mr. Lee's eyes before he tore his gaze away.
"But you're still not done for the day—you have two more opponents to face," Mr. Lee stated. He grabbed the handle of the door they stood before and opened it.
Then, he gestured to the open door, alerting Leon to walk in first.
Once they were inside, Mr. Lee pulled out a different data-pad. "Here's the list with the names of the other two opponents."
He scrolled through the screen. "Luckily, both are under Tier 1 evolution." He stopped and held up the pad.
"Look—here are their names. I'm sure you won't struggle with them like you did with your first two opponents," Mr. Lee whispered with a smile.
But as Leon scanned the names, he saw the name of his first opponent among them.
'What's Tier 1 evolution? I'm sure it'll be just as hard as it was with Yung.' He kept the thought to himself, not wanting to alert Mr. Lee.
As they reached the restroom, Tiger entered. He glanced grimly at both Leon and Mr. Lee before heading toward the platform door.
When Leon looked back at Mr. Lee, he saw the same grimness on his face.
"What level of evolution is Kang, T?" Leon asked, confused.
"He's a Tier 2 who has already undergone his third awakening," Mr. Lee replied, clenching his fist.
'Does that mean Tiger and Malphas are at the same evolution level? Leon wondered, waiting for more answers.'
"Sir, what evolution level—or awakening level—am I at?" Leon asked, gazing down at his arms.
Mr. Lee only shook his head. Rising from his seat, he walked toward the exit.
"Make sure you align yourself with your inner spirit. With that, you can undergo your first awakening under Tier 1 evolution."
He opened the door and walked out, leaving Leon behind.
"Tier 1, first awakening, and aligning myself with my inner spirit?" Leon stood, hands on his waist, staring at the ceiling.
"What do I need to do to achieve all that?" His voice boomed across the room, so loud his eardrums vibrated.
For a while, he stood there thinking.
'What about the golden light that snaked around my arms in the Shattered Land, after I regained consciousness?'
His thoughts cried out as he whirled around.
He raised his arms and examined them carefully. Seeing nothing, he leaned against the wall and exhaled deeply.
As he inhaled again, the platform door burst open, flooding the room with noise.
"Did you see how he dried the girl up?"
"I'm sure this guy wasn't supposed to be here. He's fucking deadly!"
"For me, I just pray for the souls of all the opponents he's faced—and will face."
"Why say souls?" "Because they're already dead, just by having their names attached to his."
Then, slowly, one foot stepped into the room, followed by another.
Fully revealed, Tiger walked in, blood covering his chest.