"WAIT!!" Mira shouted, but the angry crowd seemed not to care—or never heard her.
They charged toward the trio, appearing from all angles.
A guard rushed at Leo, following up with a downward slash, but Leo easily sidestepped and backhanded the knight on the back of his head.
Just then, a blade slashed Leo's head and broke on impact.
The stunned knight staggered back as Leo slowly turned around.
Leo used the knight like a ragdoll, slamming him into anyone charging toward him.
Meanwhile, Thomas created a firewall, keeping the attackers at bay.
The villagers and knights were shocked by what they were seeing.
Autumn stood beside Thomas, staying on guard, ready to stop anyone coming from behind.
"Please don't hurt them. They are my people," Mira begged, holding onto Autumn's hand.
"Please."
"I–I won't," Autumn hesitated.
"SURRENDER NOW, DEMONS, OR FACE THE WRATH OF MY JUDGMENT!!!"
Gladwin shouted, aiming his scepter at them.
"PLEASE, YOUR—"
"SILENCE, WOMAN!!!" Gladwin cut Mira off.
Suddenly, Autumn fell to her knees.
"I surrender."
"WHAT!?" Thomas shouted, turning toward her.
But the moment he turned, a rope was thrown around his hands and another around his neck. It was yanked tight, choking him.
Autumn, shocked, grabbed a spear to free Thomas, but she was quickly bound by ropes as well.
"LEO!!!" Autumn shouted.
Leo, caught up in his own fight, snapped back to reality when he heard his name.
He was holding a knight off the ground by their throat.
Several guards and villagers lay bloodied before him—some completely still, others barely moving.
He turned and saw his friends being tied down. Leo dashed toward them.
But before he could reach them, chains rushed in from behind, snapping around him and binding his body, restricting most of his movement.
Just then, Thomas managed to free a finger and burned a hole through the ropes.
He ripped the burning restraints apart and dashed toward Gladwin.
He cocked his arm back, his fist ignited, ready to smash Gladwin's face—an attack that would have been lethal.
But chains wrapped around Thomas completely, covering even his head. He slammed to the ground, writhing as he struggled to break free.
Gladwin sighed deeply.
The chains restraining the boys were not ordinary.
They were silver like common chains, but surrounded by a golden aura, seemingly emitted from the scepter Gladwin held.
"JUDGMENT CHAINS," Gladwin said as he slowly wrapped Autumn as well.
The trio struggled relentlessly, twisting and pulling.
"Struggle not. These chains cannot be broken by an impure soul," Gladwin said calmly.
"Lock them up. I will take them to Lenon City tomorrow."
"Where they will be executed."
"WHAT?! WAIT!" Mira ran toward Gladwin, but a knight stopped her.
"And you, ma'am, are to be taken in for questioning."
The knights and guards carried the trio toward the jail cells.
As they were dragged away, the crowd roared, shouting vile and hateful words.
"MURDERER!!" someone screamed, along with insults far worse.
Amid the chaos, Autumn's eyes locked with Frederic's.
His face twisted with emotion—distrust, confusion, betrayal.
After a moment, he slowly turned away and disappeared into the crowd.
They were led into the jail. The chains remained attached as two knights stood guard.
The cell smelled of mold, and the metal bars were rusted. The trio was thrown onto the floor in separate corners.
"Enjoy the little time you have left," one knight mocked before leaving.
Leo struggled, but the chains didn't budge. Eventually, he stopped.
"Autumn, what the hell?" Thomas asked once the knights' voices faded.
"I'm sorry, but Mira didn't want me to hurt them," she replied.
"They were trying to kill us," Thomas said.
"I'm not gonna die. Not yet," Leo growled, straining against the chains.
"Not until they pay."
"Who?" Thomas asked.
"The bastards who put us here," Leo answered. "It's all coming back to me." He chuckled darkly.
"Blackspire…"
At that name, realization hit Thomas hard. His eyes widened as memories surfaced.
"Cross…" Thomas muttered. "That explains a lot."
"Are you sure?" Autumn asked. "It makes sense, but why would they do this to us?"
"There's only one way to find out," Leo said.
The trio silently agreed.
"We have to get out of here first," Thomas said.
Leo strained again, but it was useless.
"Our best bet is to wait until they move us tomorrow," Autumn said.
They nodded. Silence followed.
A few hours later…
LEO'S DREAM
He was back in the lab, during his escape—his showdown with Boris.
Boris had just headbutted him, breaking his nose, before Leo slammed him into the trees. Leo chased him down.
When he caught up, Boris was embedded in fallen trees, stunned. Leo stood over him.
Suddenly, Boris roared and lunged, catching Leo off guard with a left hook to the face, followed by a crushing blow to the ribs.
Boris raised both fists and smashed Leo's head into the ground.
Leo tasted blood. A pounding headache and ringing ears followed.
Boris grabbed him by the hair and lifted him. Veins bulged on his bald head as yellow eyes stared into Leo's soul with a smirk.
Leo glared back, fearless.
"I see," Boris smirked, slamming his fists into Leo's gut.
Leo snapped. He caught Boris's right hook, yanked him closer, and smashed his head into the ground, forming a small crater.
He spun and hurled Boris across the field, tearing through the grass.
Leo felt no pain now—only adrenaline. He felt unstoppable.
Boris staggered back up, only a few teeth remaining.
They charged, roaring, exchanging blow for blow.
Blood flew—off fists, faces—each punch landing with a brutal thud.
For every hit Boris landed, Leo struck back tenfold.
Boris faltered. He tried another right hook—blocked instantly.
Leo smashed him in the gut, grabbed his head, and blood spilled from Boris's lips.
Leo's hand stiffened and rose.
In an instant—decapitation.
The dream shifted.
Leo was smashing the winged lion's head into the ground—again and again.
Then Boris's head rolling to Alwich, that crooked smile before he picked it up.
Then the lion again—blood splashing Leo's face.
Then Blackspire.
Strapped to a bed.
People in coats.
Cold eyes behind masks.
A bright light.
Something slammed onto his face—metallic.
Then letters bled into his mind:
CROSS
Leo gasped awake, panting.
He was still in the jail cell.
Thomas stirred slightly.
Leo leaned against the wall, heart racing.
"Fuck…" he muttered.
Minutes passed. His head began to droop.
Then—
A scream.
Not human.
Leo snapped awake.
Silence.
Then again—closer. Sharper. A howl twisted into a scream.
Leo sat upright, fully alert.
"Thomas," he whispered. "Autumn… get the fuck up."
No response.
"Shit."
He crawled toward them, chains rattling softly.
Before he reached them—
BOOM.
An explosion rocked the village.
Thomas and Autumn jolted awake as screams erupted outside.
The golden chains suddenly loosened, slithering back toward their source.
A knight was hurled into the jail bars—his face collapsing inward on impact.
Blood splattered across Autumn.
"OH FUCK!!" Thomas screamed.
Autumn screamed, eyes shut tight.
And Leo…
Leo could only stare.
END