After the few months I haven't seen Leon, I found that it was harder to recognize her.
"...You've changed quite a bit." [Solace]
She ditched the good ol' skirt and daggers. Instead she wore skin tight clothes with a few pieces of heavy armor here and there.
("It looks like a min-max build.") [Solace]
With a black cloth sticking close to her skin, there was armor on her shoulders, her shins, her forearms, and her abdomen. It was like she was trying to increase her defense without losing agility.
("She doesn't even have chest armor. Does she not care about protecting her heart?") [Solace]
The most noticeable change was the tattoos streaking across her body. From what I could see, it covered her left side ranging from her face to her thigh.
("Is she not going to reply?") [Solace]
Trying to break the silence I just kept on rambling.
"I see you've picked up Jukhan's taste in tattoos." [Solace]
More awkward silence. If there were anything other than that, it Leon staring at me intently.
"...You're alive." [Leon]
("Thank the gods- oh wait, no. Fuck them.") [Solace]
My relief that Leon was responding was interrupted by my feeling of disgust to the ones that cursed me.
"...I am." [Solace]
"We were sure you would die." [Leon]
"I got lucky." [Solace]
"So you're cured?" [Leon]
"Is that a problem?" [Solace]
"Yes." [Leon]
Well, that was rude.
"How is that a problem?" [Solace]
"Master tasked me with collecting your body." [Leon]
As expected of Leon, it was something stupid.
"For what reason?" [Solace]
"He wished to deliver it to your master." [Leon]
That… was somewhat unexpected of him. Maybe Jukhan's softer than I thought?
"Sorry for having you come out for no reason then. Want to come inside and chat?" [Solace]
To my surprise, Leon refused.
"You know I have cookies, right?" [Solace]
Leon faltered.
"I… I…! I refuse…" [Leon]
That looked like it took a lot of effort.
"What do you have to do that is so important?" [Solace]
Leon locked eyes with me, eyes resolute.
"If I cannot complete Master's command, then I must carry out the first task given." [Leon]
"The first task given?" [Solace]
She lunged at me with great speed, causing me to dodge reflexively.
"It is to have your head." [Leon]
I had almost forgotten that Leon's entire purpose was to kill me. By the order of Jukhan of course.
("I take back what I said about him being soft!") [Solace]
Oddly enough, Leon was able to keep up with me. We exchanged a few blows, testing each other out without the use of skills.
("She's gotten stronger.") [Solace]
Speed, strength, and durability. Each of these had improved significantly compared to the last time we met.
("Not enough though.") [Solace]
With a heavy strike, I forced Leon to retreat a few meters.
"Leon, we don't have to do this." [Solace]
"I must carry out Master's command." [Leon]
She reengaged in close combat, leading with a finger strike to my eyes.
("She won't stop until she's won or… I can just defeat her like before.") [Solace]
I narrowly evaded by leaning down and countered with a strike aimed at her chest.
"|Guard Counter|." [Leon]
Shifting her center balance, Leon blocked with her armored shoulder.
("Oh, I see why that's there now-") [Solace]
My thoughts were interrupted as I felt a repelling force blow me away. I didn't let that kill my momentum though.
"|Flame Cannon|." [Solace]
I fired off a ball of flame as I flew backwards, thinking that I'd use it as cover to close distance. However, Leon had other plans.
"|Devour|." [Leon]
I watched as my |Flame Cannon| swirled at the center, growing smaller as it was consumed by Leon.
"...I knew you were a glutton, but never expected it to be this much." [Solace]
Once fully consumed, flames began to emerge from Leon's skin.
"I can't say I'm surprised." [Solace]
If I had a spear skill that allowed me to steal elements, I was certain that there were other skills with the same properties. I just didn't expect Leon to possess one of them. Plus, an eating skill seemed like it would do that.
"Deliver unto my victims divine retribution, Scika." [Leon]
Leon's spirit revealed itself, that purple humanoid figure arriving through a bolt of lightning.
("Damn this aura farmer.") [Solace]
I seriously need to learn how to make an entrance.
"|Invoke Exto|." [Leon]
The purple spirit formed itself into a greatsword for Leon's use, in which she transferred the flames enveloping her onto the blade.
"...Huh. I could've sworn your element was lightning." [Solace]
"|Kaygrin Embodiment|." [Leon]
The tattoos on her body lit up and a horn sprouted from her forehead.
"|Heaven's Wrath|." [Leon]
Dark clouds formed overhead, unleashing red lightning onto Leon to reinforce her.
"Isn't that…" [Solace]
If I recall correctly, that was Jukhan's signature move. With immense speed, she closed the distance and swung.
"Woah!" [Solace]
I leaned sideways, nearly getting struck by the diagonal slash. The force behind it tore the ground near and behind me, almost taking my cabin as collateral.
("I need to take this somewhere else!") [Solace]
As I thought that, Misa and Tyrnius opened the door.
"Master, what's-" [Tyrnius]
"Don't come outside! |Earthen Shield|!" [Solace]
I closed off the entrance before taking a kick to the stomach.
"Urgh!" [Solace]
I tumbled to the ground, rolling to evade another destructive slash.
"Leon! There's children in the cabin! We don't need to fight!" [Solace]
"It's okay. I won't aim for them." [Leon]
She gave chase, swinging wildly while giving me heart attacks as I watched the area around my house get demolished.
("She's being ridiculous!") [Solace]
Knowing her, Leon would probably hit the cabin on accident.
"Fine, I'll take us somewhere else!" [Solace]
I ducked under one of her slashes, countering with a fist to her abdomen. I felt the hard metal plating bring my punch to a stop, but damaging her wasn't my goal.
"|Explosion Arts|!" [Solace]
With a fiery burst, I sent Leon into the air.
"|Roaming Undisturbed|!" [Solace]
Activating my flight, I tackled Leon.
"You're making yourself open." [Leon]
Raising her sword as I pushed us both through the air, I summoned Doppel to catch her blade.
"What?!" [Leon]
"Knock her down, Doppel!" [Solace]
Hearing this, Leon raised her sword as defense.
"|Piercing Blow|." [Doppel]
With a mighty punch, Doppel struck Leon out of my arms and into the depths of the Misty Forest.
("The distance from here should be enough.") [Solace]
Between here and the cabin, I could finally take this seriously.
"Let's cool her down, Doppel." [Solace]