Observing the sudden transformation of his humble campsite into a royal banquet, Leon didn't flinch. He recognized the signature of the magic immediately; it was the ripple of a world being rewritten by a singular will. The Primordial Skill user, Phyx Rainstorm, the Reality Manipulator, Leon thought, his eyes remaining fixed on the shadowed depths of his hood. I suppose someone must have said far too much.
"Don't be so uptight; there's enough for everyone," Phyx remarked with a disarming, aristocratic charm. As he spoke, two plates manifested before Leon and Draken, each holding a perfectly seasoned, steaming fish. Phyx reached for a bottle of wine that materialized out of thin air, a crystal glass forming in his hand to catch the vintage pour.
Leon didn't reach for the food. Instead, he simply snapped his fingers.
The distortion vanished instantly. The silver platters, the fine wine, and the velvet chairs dissolved like mist in the sun. Reality snapped back to its original state: a modest fire, a half-eaten boar, and Phyx Rainstorm now found himself sitting awkwardly on a jagged, fallen tree trunk instead of a golden throne.
Wait—what? Phyx thought, a bolt of genuine shock lancing through his composure. He can... he can negate my edit? No, he rewrote it. He manipulated reality itself.
Phyx instinctively launched himself backward, creating a wide berth between himself and the man in white. The playful arrogance in his eyes was replaced by a sharp, predatory focus. "What are you? And why are you here?" Phyx demanded, the air around him beginning to vibrate with the sheer pressure of his mana.
"I should be the one asking such questions," Leon responded, his voice echoing with a calm that felt more threatening than any scream. "Seeing as you intentionally ruined my breakfast."
Beside him, Draken sat motionless. The Dragon King appeared entirely unbothered by the presence of a Legendary Rank. He was a coiled spring of obsidian power, but he wouldn't dare interfere or even growl unless his Master granted him the permission to act.
Phyx's gaze flickered to the "lizard." Even in its suppressed form, he could tell something was fundamentally wrong. It wasn't just an ordinary Black Dragon; the weight of its presence was heavy, ancient, and terrifying. Whatever that is, it is far above any beast in this world, Phyx thought, a cold sweat forming at his temples. Who the hell are they?
In that moment of realization, Phyx concluded that he could not afford to take chances. He was at a disadvantage—it was two against one, and at least one of them could warp reality as easily as breathing. He decided to end the encounter before it could escalate. He began to stretch his hands forward, his lips parting to utter the chant for his Soul Palace, the ultimate domain of the Reality Manipulator.
Before he could even draw the breath for the first syllable, the world blurred.
Draken's claws were suddenly millimeters from Phyx's throat, the displacement of air alone nearly slicing the Legend's skin. However, the strike was stopped midway. Leon's hand was firmly on Draken's shoulder, holding the Dragon King back.
Phyx stood frozen, his heart hammering against his ribs. He was a man who had reacted to the speed of sound and, on rare occasions, the speed of light—but the two he currently faced moved with a velocity that defied the physical laws of the universe. They were massively faster than light.
"I never said you could attack, Draken," Leon said, his voice laced with a subtle, biting annoyance.
Draken immediately retracted his claws and dropped to his knees, bowing his head in the dirt. "Forgive me, Master. I could not let him lay a finger on you," the dragon pleaded.
Before Leon could offer a reply, Phyx seized the momentary distraction. He bent the fabric of space, drifting himself far away from the anomalies in a desperate, spatial leap. He realized with absolute certainty that this was not a battle he could win alone. He retreated to the highest spire of a building at the very edge of the capital, staring back at the woods with a mixture of fear and newfound obsession.
"When the time is right," Phyx whispered to the wind, "I will get my prize."
Back in the clearing, Leon sighed, the sound echoing with a profound sense of weariness. "He's gone... how disappointing."
"Should I go after him, Master?" Draken asked, standing up and dusting off his knees.
"No, that won't be necessary," Leon replied, taking a brief pause as he looked toward the palace. "But I wonder... who told him?"
Yudris appeared behind him, her form shimmering into existence as she offered a graceful bow. "That would be your sister and her party, Young Lord. However, they have already departed the kingdom."
"Hmm... Argh," Leon groaned, rubbing his temples. "And I actually liked this place. It was quiet."
"Well then, it's time for another fresh start," Leon decided, looking at the map of the continent in his mind. "I wonder where would be best. Somewhere I can keep a low profile, get a job, and live without constantly running away."
"If I may," Yudris began, her eyes twinkling with a hidden agenda. "I would suggest the Diamond Kingdom. It is far removed from your hometown and possesses no Legendary Primordial Skill users to sniff out your aura. Furthermore, it is considered the safest kingdom in the world currently; their culture revolves almost entirely around hunting beasts and gathering rewards. It is simple, prosperous, and quiet."
Leon thought for a short moment, the prospect of a simple life as a hunter appealing to his exhausted spirit. "Well, that seems like a better option. A new beginning... again!"
Deep within the shadows of an abandoned cave, Lace Freeman screamed in a fit of manic excitement. He had finally rediscovered the ancient method to bridge the gap between worlds, just as he had over a century ago. Leon had stripped him of his powers and stunted his growth, but now, Lace was on the verge of reuniting with the entity that had once offered him a taste of godhood. He was going to be powerful once again.
In the center of the damp cavern stood a gigantic, ornate mirror. Lace chanted the forbidden incantations, hoping to tear open a portal as he had in the past. But this time, the glass didn't crack into a gateway; instead, a terrifying silhouette manifested on the other side.
The energy radiating from the glass was suffocating—a concentrated wave of dark intent. While the mirror was meant to be a doorway to the Dark Dimension, Lace's current stats were too pitifully low to cross the threshold physically.
"You have returned, young warlock," a dreadful, hollow voice echoed through the cave. Lace immediately collapsed to his knees, his forehead pressing against the cold stone as he bowed to the being in the mirror.
"Oh, Great One! I have come once again to ask a favor! Please, bestow upon me your infinite power so that I may bring ruin to those who dare to challenge you!" Lace cried out, his voice desperate.
"You are too weak," the voice rumbled, unimpressed. "You no longer have any use to me. This is a waste of time."
Panic seized Lace's heart. "No! You can't do this! There must be a way—there is always a way! There is nothing too great for you! Great One, please... do not abandon me!" He pleaded, feeling the last of his hope begin to crack.
The voice fell silent for a brief, agonizing moment before responding. "Unless a path is made, this meeting shall remain futile."
"I agree to whatever path you decide!" Lace shouted, his eyes wide with greed. "I just need all my abilities back, and a fraction of yours! Just enough to show that brat who is truly in charge!"
"You shall be my host," the voice declared, the mirror beginning to vibrate. "I will grant you my powers—more than enough to destroy all life on your little world. But take note: should you die, I will take complete control of your body, and your soul shall vanish from existence forever. Do you agree to this path?"
"Powers that can destroy everyone in this world...?" Lace whispered, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "I would be a fool to reject it! Grant me your power, and I will bend this world in your name!"
"Very well. The path is made. You and I shall become one."
Suddenly, a torrent of dark, viscous energy erupted from the mirror, slamming into Lace's chest. His body contorted as the alien power fused with his veins. His eyes began to glow with an intense, sickly purple light as he erupted into a fit of maniacal laughter that shook the very foundations of the cave.
"This world and everything in it will soon be mine!"