Leon
Sewer tunnel
Loop Nexus, Lakefront Metropolis
UCA (United Continent of America)
Terra, Gaea, Solar system
Neutral Free Zone
January 14th 2019
Leon gazed up at the midnight sky, millions of stars trailing across the heavens as he lay back on the grasslands of Xiargos Mountain. The stars made the night come alive, each speck adorning the vast expanse like an intricate painting. Yet, despite their brilliance, a pang of loneliness struck his heart as he stared at them. The surrounding landscape was breathtaking: towering trees stretched below the mountain's edge, a network of rivers winding their way to a nearby lake. The cool breeze carried the untainted freshness of the wild—a stark contrast to the polluted air of Terran cities. But none of it compared to the beauty of the girl leaning over him. She was in her early twenties, her brown skin glowing softly under the starlight. Honey-colored hair brushed against his ear as she whispered his name, her voice a melody that made his chest ache. Leon drew her closer, pressing his lips gently against hers. Her scent—lemons and junipers—filled his senses, soothing him, making his body relax as his eyes fluttered closed.
The exhilaration was too overwhelming. He couldn't keep his eyes shut. When he opened them again, she was gone. The serene surroundings shifted into chaos. Smoke blackened the sky as a raging fire tore through the giant forest below. Leon tried to move, to rush toward the inferno, but shadows began rising from the ground around him, surrounding him. They morphed into humanoid figures, their presence oppressive, the stench of Infernal energy suffocating. Someone screamed his name. Before he could react, one of the shadowy forms drove a blade into him.
Pain coursed through his body as he tumbled to the ground. The shadows parted, revealing a figure running toward him. It was her—the girl from before—but she had changed. Her Terran features were gone, replaced by otherworldly beauty. Her green hair shimmered in the light of the inferno, and her emerald eyes, fierce yet sorrowful, locked onto his. She knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face as she called his name, her cries piercing through the haze of pain. Leon wanted to reach out, to wipe away her tears. He had made a promise that she would never have to cry for him. But something held him back. His body refused to move. All he could do was watch as the darkness engulfed her, pulling her away from him, dragging him toward a blinding light at...
"Leon! Leon! Wake the fuck up already."
Emily's sharp voice cut through the haze, followed by the sting of her hand slapping him back to reality. Leon Haravok blinked rapidly, shaking off the fog clouding his mind. He was no longer in Xiargos Mountain or the dreamscape that had consumed him. He was back in the stinking sewage tunnels of Lakefront. The air was thick with the nauseating stench of waste, the sound of flowing water echoing ominously in the dark. Leon groaned as Emily grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet.
"That was close," he muttered, managing a wry smile as he inspected his armor. The energy blast from the Erlking had sent him hurtling across the sewer, slamming him into the slimy walls. He must have been out for a while—long enough to slip back into his subconscious, where those vivid dreams awaited him. Dreams he wished he had the time to decode, to understand why they haunted him so relentlessly. But time wasn't on his side, and patience was an even rarer commodity. He was so close...
"You're lucky that blast didn't tear a hole through your chest," Emily said, her tone as sharp as her words. "Good thing your defenses held up." Leon glanced at her, noting the state she was in. Sweat glistened on her dark brown skin, her midnight-black hair clinging to her face. The pink highlights in her hair were dulled with dirt, and her black combat gear was torn, revealing a gash across her leg. The wound still bled sluggishly but was already beginning to heal—a testament to her enhanced physiology.
She looked battered, but otherwise okay. Leon, on the other hand, felt like he'd been trampled by a stampede. His ribs screamed in protest with every breath, the lingering pain a harsh reminder of how close he'd come to death. If he hadn't activated his defensive skill at the exact moment of impact, that blast would've done more than knock him out. It would've killed him outright. His body shuddered at the thought. This hunting trip was spiraling out of control, far from the clean execution he'd envisioned.
"I doubt luck had anything to do with it," Leon muttered. He told himself that often, especially when faced with life-or-death situations. It had been two months since Congress had exiled him and Emily from the Divine Federation's collective planets. Forced to wander the galaxy, they had relocated to Terra—a backwater world in the Neutral Free Zone, millions of light-years away from the Federation.
The transition to a new planet hadn't been easy. Most of Leon's free time had been consumed by chasing down leads to find the Fallen Stars. Yet, each one so far had been a dead end. This was his twelfth attempt. The intel he'd gathered had led him to one of Terra's many foul-smelling sewers, where he and Emily had encountered the Beast that had been transformed into an Abomination.
Initially, Leon had thought this lead would be easier to handle like all the others. But reality, as always, proved crueler than he anticipated. The Erlking was far stronger than his initial analysis had suggested, making him underestimate it. The throbbing pain in his head was a sharp reminder of his miscalculation.
He pushed away the memory of the vision that had surfaced earlier; there was no time to dwell on it. The stakes were too high. Emily stood beside him, her eyes closed in concentration. She was tracking the creature's movements with her Internal senses. Leon was grateful it was her and not him—Emily was a far better Sensor, and the pounding in his skull made it impossible for him to extend his senses over any significant distance.
"It's injured but still moving," Emily said, opening her eyes. "This way."
Without hesitation, she sprinted forward, and Leon followed close behind. They moved like wind through the sewer, their inhuman speed carrying them swiftly through the labyrinthine tunnels. Leon kept his pace slightly slower than hers, allowing her to lead while she tracked the creature.
The oppressive darkness of the sewer didn't hinder them. Their enhanced vision, coupled with their Internal senses, allowed them to navigate with ease. Even in the pitch black, Leon could detect the ambush waiting ahead. He summoned his Seriphium blade as the Striges emerged from the shadows. These bat-like creatures had humanoid faces with grotesque beak-like mouths and long, whip-like tails ending in razor-sharp blades. Mana surged through Leon's sword, illuminating the tunnel as he activated its power. He slashed through the creatures effortlessly, their numbers failing to overwhelm him. Behind him, Emily fought with precision, her silver daggers flashing as she cut them down, her face stoic and unyielding.
Fucking Erlking.
Striges weren't native to Terra. So how in the Nine Hells had the Erlking summoned them here? Heat coursed through Leon's veins as his blade burned brighter. He didn't want to waste his Mana on these weaklings, but they needed to be dealt with quickly so he and Emily could reach the real threat. With a growl, he activated an elemental technique, releasing rays of golden light that streaked through the tunnel like bullets, obliterating the remaining Striges in a brilliant flash.
"This way."
Emily's voice cut through the sewer's silence as she followed the fading trail.
They moved deeper into the tunnel. Their footsteps splashed through shallow water while the air thickened with the sour stink of rot and stagnant runoff. The darkness pressed close around them until, at the end of the passage, a faint orange glow began to pulse against the stone.
The tunnel ended abruptly.
Emily stopped.
Leon stopped beside her.
The Erlking waited.
It leaned against the far wall like a butcher resting between cuts. One arm was missing—ripped clean off earlier by Leon's blade. The stump had stopped bleeding, but Leon could already see flesh knitting slowly along the edges.
Regeneration.
Shame.
The creature was enormous. Matted black fur bristled across its shoulders while jagged antlers, glossy and black as obsidian, twisted through its tangled hair. Bloodshot eyes burned with feral hatred beneath the glow of strange symbols carved into the stone wall.
Its claw dragged lazily across the runes. Orange light flared. Stone cracked. A thin seam of shimmering space peeled open where the markings met. A portal.
Leon rolled his wrist, the Seriphium blade spinning once between his fingers.
"Running already, mongrel?" he said lightly. "I didn't say you could leave."
Emily didn't even look at him.
"Could you just kill it?"
Her voice was quiet, but Leon noticed the shift in her stance. Shoulders squared. Weight forward.
Ready.
Leon exhaled slowly through his nose. That was the problem with working with Emily. She had no appreciation for entertainment. Still… Earlier today, he'd gotten sloppy. He rubbed the back of his neck.
Fine.
No games.
"You're the ones who are going to die, Paladins!" the Erlking roared, crouching low as muscle bunched beneath its fur.
Leon tilted his head. Even now, a small part of him was curious. How had something like this ended up on Terra? The planet barely had enough spiritual density to sustain basic monsters, let alone an Abomination.
The Erlking lunged.
Leon vanished.
Mana formed beneath his feet, an invisible step appearing in midair as he vaulted upward. The creature's claws tore through space just as Leon passed overhead.
His blade flashed. Steel kissed bone. The slash opened the beast's ribs like a butcher's cut, dark blood splattering the tunnel wall. The Erlking snarled and turned.
Toward Emily. A ring of pale light unfolded beneath her feet. Her orange eyes glowed coldly in the darkness. She raised a hand. The air compressed. The Erlking slammed into the wall as if struck by a falling mountain.
Ice exploded outward from the moisture in the air, spreading across its limbs and torso. Frost climbed over its fur as the creature's movements slowed to a grinding halt.
Leon landed in front of it. The Seriphium blade hummed in his hand. The Erlking's teeth bared. Infernal energy burst from its body. The Ice shattered. Claws tore forward toward Leon's throat.
Leon smiled.
His blade drove straight through the creature's palm. Golden light erupted along the weapon as Leon twisted his wrist and dragged the impaled limb downward.
The Erlking hit the ground hard enough to crack the stone while Leon stood over it. Burning flesh filled the air. The creature howled as radiant energy scorched through bone and tendon.
Then, with a wet, tearing sound—
It ripped its own hand free. Leon watched it stumble back. He glanced down at the creature's wounds. The ribs were already knitting. The missing arm wasn't. The other hand… useless.
He clicked his tongue.
"Already broken."
The fun drained out of his face. He disappeared again. The Erlking barely had time to look up before Leon's boot crushed into its face. Bone snapped. The creature's body flew backward and slammed into the wall hard enough to split the stone.
Leon was already moving.
His fists blurred. Each strike landed faster than sound—rib, jaw, throat, temple—over and over until the creature's balance collapsed under the assault.
The Erlking staggered.
Leon lifted his hand.
Golden blades bloomed above the creature like a constellation. Then they fell. The weapons drove through its body one after another, pinning the massive form to the floor in a forest of radiant steel.
Blood spread across the ground.
The Erlking still breathed.
Leon raised an eyebrow.
Persistent.
"So," Leon said, stifling a yawn. "What are you doing down here?"
"I'll tell you… nothing," the beast rasped.
Leon stepped closer. He grabbed the creature's jaw and forced its head upward. The smell hit him immediately.
Fear.
Urine.
Rot.
He frowned. Then punched it across the mouth. Teeth shattered. The Erlking screamed. Leon punched it again. And again. Fangs cracked under his knuckles until blood poured down the creature's muzzle. He grabbed its hair and pulled its head forward.
"You don't have to talk," Leon murmured.
Emily stepped forward without hesitation.
Her hand rested against the creature's temple.
"You think this female can get anything from me?" the Erlking spat weakly.
Leon smiled.
"She doesn't need your cooperation."
His blade flashed. The creature's tongue hit the floor. The Erlking gurgled, choking on blood. Emily pressed her hand against its head.
"This will hurt."
The scream that followed was inhuman. The creature convulsed violently as Emily tore through its mind. Leon leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Watching. Listening.
He remembered that pain. The Truth Seeker. The Stellar Councils. That cold, surgical presence digging through every hidden corner of his mind. He hated it. But the memory didn't stop him from enjoying the sound now.
Eventually, the screaming stopped. Emily stepped back. Leon dismissed the blades, pinning the creature. It collapsed, barely conscious.
"Well?" Leon asked.
Emily frowned slightly.
"It's fragmented… but I caught a name."
"Vashin Priyham."
The Erlking began laughing. Wet. Broken.
"Fools…"
It pushed itself up with its remaining arm. Its tongue had already grown back.
"You have no idea what's coming."
Leon walked over slowly.
"What's that?"
His fist drove into the creature's stomach. The impact blasted the Erlking through the wall behind it. Stone exploded outward.
Leon flexed his fingers. The stiffness in his knuckles eased as he opened and closed his hand, bone and muscle settling back into place. The dull pressure in his chest—the irritation that had been gnawing at him since the fight began—had quieted somewhat.
Better.
Emily stepped toward the Erlking's crumpled body, boots scraping lightly against broken stone.
"We should take it in. The Golden Dawn might be able to—"
Leon's head snapped up. Something moved in the darkness above. A ripple in the air. A faint rush of wings cutting through the stale sewer air.
"Emily."
His hand clamped around her shoulder and yanked her backward. A black storm crashed into the tunnel.
Striges.
Dozens of them dropped from the darkness in a violent swarm, their shrill cries echoing through the narrow passage. Hooked claws tore into the Erlking's body before it could even lift its head.
Flesh ripped.
Bone cracked.
The beast's mangled form vanished beneath a frenzy of wings and snapping jaws.
Leon reappeared several meters away, the air distorting faintly where he had moved. Emily stood beside him now, her coat settling as both of them watched the swarm descend upon the fallen beast. Leon had assumed the creatures had come to aid it.
He was wrong. The striges devoured it. Greedily. Chunks of flesh disappeared between needle-like teeth. Blood splattered across the stone as the creatures fought each other for scraps, their leathery wings beating violently against the tunnel walls.
The Erlking never even screamed.
Minutes passed.
Eventually, the frenzy slowed.
There was nothing left. No flesh. No bone. Only dark smears of blood stained the ground. The striges lifted their heads in unison. Their humanoid faces turned toward Leon and Emily.
The air grew colder.
Leon felt it then—a presence pressing faintly against his senses, as if something deep within the creatures was staring through them. Watching. Measuring.
The striges remained perfectly still for a moment longer. Then their bodies unraveled. Black feathers dissolved into drifting smoke, the shapes collapsing inward before vanishing completely.
Silence returned to the tunnel.
Only a few feathers remained, slowly settling onto the blood-streaked stone.
"Well, that was a waste of time," Emily remarked, her tone flat but edged with irritation.
"Doesn't matter. As long as the information you got out of it is useful," Leon said.
Emily frowned slightly.
"It would still be nice to know how a Beastman became an Abomination. This planet doesn't have the Odic energy to sustain their kind." Emily said.
Leon shrugged and retrieved a flask from his jacket, taking a long swig. The burn of alcohol did little to lift his mood, but it was better than nothing. Finishing his drink, he went over to the wall where the Erlking had summoned a portal.
"I do wonder where the Beast was planning to go," Leon mused, glancing at the now-inert portal etched into the wall.
"Probably somewhere in the Hidden World," Emily said, stepping closer to examine the symbols surrounding it. The runes were ancient and intricate, glowing faintly as if still holding residual energy.
Leon joined her, narrowing his eyes at the markings. "You recognize these?"
Emily shook her head, her brow furrowed. "Not exactly. They share some similarities with the runes we use, but they're... different. I've never seen anything quite like them."
Leon ran his fingers across the symbols, their texture faintly warm and alive. They reminded him of the Celestial runes used by the Clerics of the Starlight Temples, but there was something distinctly off about them—like a corrupted echo of the originals.
"Probably an offshoot rune," he muttered. The moment his fingers lingered too long on one of the etchings, a spark of energy lashed out, making him jerk his hand back. "Damn it," he hissed, sucking his stinging finger. Emily, unfazed, pulled out her Zodiak—a sleek, arcane device—and captured detailed images of the runes. After inspecting her work, she straightened up. "I'll send this to Ginny and see what she makes of it."
Stowing the device, she retrieved a silver disk from her pocket and placed it on the ground. "Ready to leave?"
"Yeah," Leon said, taking another swig from his flask.
Emily pressed the red button at the center of the Exodus disk. A radiant blue light flared outward, engulfing them both. In the blink of an eye, they were no longer in the damp, foul-smelling sewers of Lakefront metropolis.
****
Golden Dawn Tower
Bel'Yor City, Exterior Ward
Spring Court, Hidden World
Terra, Gaea, solar system
Milky Way galaxy
Leon and Emily appeared in front of a colossal structure, a building that exuded an overwhelming grand aura, its polished obsidian exterior reflecting the pale glow of the moon. The Golden Dawn Tower soared into the heavens, its gilded spires piercing the night sky like celestial spears. The engraved golden inlays on the tower's sleek surface pulsed faintly, resonating with the city's magical energy grid. Runic inscriptions wrapped around the arched entrance like an eternal incantation, subtly shifting as if whispering secrets to those who could decipher them.
At its base, a grand marble plaza stretched outward, its surface embedded with arcane sigils that shimmered under the moonlight. A steady flow of officials, aristocrats, and power brokers moved in and out of the entrance, their figures illuminated by the ethereal glow of the golden sconces lining the perimeter. Heavily armored guards, clad in obsidian-black battle gear, stood at every key point—silent sentinels, their crimson visors scanning for threats. These were not ordinary soldiers, but Gilded Sentinels, the elite security force of the Golden Dawn, each one enhanced by arcane augmentations.
Among the crowd, individuals in sleek, dark suits strode with calculated purpose, their metallic briefcases reflecting the neon city lights. These were the Corporate Alchemists, power players in the unseen war of economics and mysticism that governed Bel-Yor. Some of them exchanged encrypted sigils before stepping through a massive ornate gateway, an intricate construct of gold and reinforced adamantine, humming with barrier magic.
Leon and Emily bypassed the main security checkpoint, moving instead toward a private entrance, accessible only via a special pass. Leon flashed a sleek obsidian-black card, embossed with a radiant golden sigil—the insignia of a high-ranking Golden Dawn associate. As the gateway's mechanical and magical locks disengaged with a soft chime, the two stepped forward, past an unseen barrier that sent a brief tingle across their skin.
Inside, a soft melodic hum filled the air, the sound of the magical wards woven into the very architecture of the tower. These enchantments weren't merely for security—they filtered out malevolent magic, ensured environmental stabilization, and even adjusted gravity in certain restricted sectors. The scent of freshly polished marble and enchanted incense drifted through the halls, calming yet subtly invigorating.
As they proceeded through the grand entrance hall, the sheer scale of the interior became apparent. Ivory pillars, wrapped in threads of glowing gold filigree, rose toward a vaulted ceiling etched with celestial constellations that shimmered and shifted in real time. A massive crystal chandelier, suspended by nothing but magic, bathed the space in a warm, ethereal glow. The gold-and-silver mosaic flooring reflected distorted images of those who walked upon it, an intentional design meant to remind visitors that, in the Golden Dawn Tower, secrets were always laid bare.
From the far end of the hall, a receptionist approached them. She was a demi-human, a fox-eared woman with a sharp, professional attire adorned with the Golden Dawn insignia—a radiant sun crest encircled by arcane glyphs. Her amber eyes gleamed with intelligence, and her bushy tail swayed with excitement, betraying her otherwise composed demeanor. In her hands, she carried a silver tray, its contents veiled beneath an elegant foil covering. She practically beamed as she presented it to Leon, her fox ears twitching in anticipation.
"Leon... Mister Haravok, here's the dish I promised," the receptionist said, her voice soft as she pressed the tray into his hands. Leon recognized her immediately—Alicia, the demi-human he'd met two nights ago at the hotel bar. They'd struck up a casual conversation about the Hidden World delicacies he wanted to try while on Terra. Later that night, he'd walked her home, and their encounter had taken a more... intimate turn.
"Thanks, Alicia," Leon said, offering her a warm smile as he accepted the tray. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, and she quickly looked away, her fox tail flicking nervously behind her. "Oh! And do me a favor and request a clean-up crew. Emily and I left a mess back in the Mundane world. We had a little bit of a tussle and might have left some evidence. I'll send you details of the location later, alright? Appreciate the help, darling," He winked at Alicia as he and Emily headed to the elevator.
"I'll get right on it, Master Leon," She squeaked before hurrying back to the reception desk.
Leon chuckled softly and stepped into the elevator with Emily, balancing the tray in one hand. As the elevator ascended, he lifted the foil, letting the warm steam waft up. The dish revealed itself to be a brownish pudding-like meat. It smelled unfamiliar but enticing. Taking a fork, he carved out a chunk and popped it into his mouth. The texture was soft and warm, sizzling slightly as he swallowed.
"Not bad," Leon said, tilting the dish toward Emily. "Want some?"
She gave him a cold, flat look that spoke volumes without words.
"It's really good," he insisted.
"No thanks," Emily replied, her tone dry. "I'm not interested in fried slime pudding."
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a sleek, modern office high within the Golden Dawn Tower. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the sprawling skyline of Bel-Yor City, the golden glow of arcane-powered streetlights stretching into the distance. The space was designed with both function and status in mind—polished onyx flooring, elegant gold-trimmed furniture, and a holographic display table at the room's center. A faint hum from magical wards reinforced the security measures woven into the walls, ensuring privacy.
Leon stepped inside, casually discarding the empty silver tray into the kitchenette sink, while Emily made her way toward the private restroom, peeling off her jacket as she went.
"I need to process the memories I pulled from the Beastman before we move forward," Emily said. There was a subtle frustration in her voice—Terra grated on her. The air, the food, even the color of the sky felt wrong. But she kept her complaints to herself, knowing the sooner they made progress, the sooner they could leave for Luna.
"Go for it," Leon replied, pulling a slim silver tablet from his jacket.
As Emily disappeared into the restroom, Leon sank into one of the ergonomic office chairs, tapping the tablet's surface. Sigils and glyphs illuminated the screen, forming a secure connection to the Starlight Network—the classified intelligence hub of the Paladins of the Starlight Order. It was a direct link to mission logs, classified intel, and encrypted communications between operatives.
Leon scrolled through the latest updates, unsurprised to find little new information on the Fallen Stars—a group of renegade Paladins who had turned against the Divine Federation two decades ago. Though most had been hunted down, remnants still lurked in the shadows. Their trail was cold, and rumors placed them in the Neutral Free Zones, well beyond the Federation's reach. Making it difficult to find them. But Leon hoped that his stay in Terra would lead him to them.
Exiting the Starlight Network, he switched to the Golden Dawn database. Though not a member, his family's influence granted him limited access. He searched for Abomination activity in Bel-Yor. Nothing.
Leon frowned. The creature they had encountered in the sewers had been active for weeks, hunting, killing—yet no records, no reports. That was impossible. Someone had deliberately erased its presence from Golden Dawn's surveillance.
And whoever Vashin Priyham was, they were at the center of it.
The sound of footsteps drew his attention. Emily emerged, her damp hair tied back, her outfit—a pink t-shirt, black skirt, leggings, and her usual combat boots—a stark contrast to the grime of earlier.
"So, what's it like out there?" she asked, nodding at his tablet.
"Too quiet." Leon tossed the device onto the table. "The Abomination somehow stayed off Golden Dawn's radar. Doesn't add up."
"Any updates on the Fallen Stars?"
"Nothing. Same dead ends." He exhaled sharply, frustration creeping in. "I'll need to hit the streets and find out who Vashin Priyham really is."
Emily crossed her arms. "Once I finish sorting through the Beastman's memories, I'll let you know. But promise me, Leon—if this doesn't lead anywhere, can we just wait out the banishment? The Federation will lift it eventually."
Leon met her gaze. She kept her tone even, but the weariness was there, buried beneath that familiar calm. She was tired of Terra, ready to disappear into exile on Luna until it all blew over.
His mind drifted to the broker who had sold him the intel on the Erlking's trail. The price had been steep, but maybe it was time to pay her another visit. He wasn't ready to give up just yet.
"You and I both know the Federation isn't that forgiving," he said, rising from his seat.
Emily watched him, arms still folded. "Where are you going now?"
Leon smirked, already heading toward the private quarters attached to the office.
"I'm going to freshen up—and then get some answers," Leon said.