The police station was quieter than expected.
Leo stood near the entrance.
Hands in his pockets.
Waiting.
"Ha."
A voice called out.
Derek walked over.
Grinning.
"A sealed operation already?"
He shook his head.
"It hasn't even been a week since school started…"
"What did you do?"
Leo shrugged.
"…Could've been worse."
Derek raised an eyebrow.
"Was it really that bad?"
Leo didn't answer.
Instead—
"…You here to see me off?"
Derek smirked.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"…Try not to die."
Leo looked at him.
"…You're joking, right?"
Derek's smile didn't change.
"…I hope I am."
Silence.
Leo turned.
"…I'll be back."
And walked out.
⬛ Deployment Site
The dungeon entrance stood like a tear in reality.
Distorted.
Unnatural.
Leo's team was already there.
A tank.
An all-rounder.
A swordsman.
A healer.
Balanced.
Efficient.
Temporary.
"You're the late one," the tank said.
Leo glanced at them.
"…Let's just get this over with."
No introductions.
No bonding.
They entered.
⬛ Inside the Dungeon
Dark.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
They moved carefully.
One step.
Two.
Then—
Everything went wrong.
A pressure.
Heavy.
Sudden.
Before anyone could react—
THUD.
One by one—
They collapsed.
Unconscious.
All of them.
Except—
Leo.
He stood there.
Still.
"…Wow."
A faint smile formed.
"I didn't think they'd actually send one of us."
Silence.
Then—
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
Calm.
Composed.
"…Don't compare me to them."
Leo's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Oh?"
The figure stopped.
"My name is Orion."
A pause.
"And I'm not like the rest."
Leo tilted his head.
"Alright, Orion."
A small grin.
"Let me guess…"
"Speed?"
A brief silence.
"…Correct."
"I am the conceptual holder of speed."
Leo nodded slowly.
"…Wow."
"Such a powerful concept."
A pause.
"Let me guess…"
"You can run as fast as a chicken?"
Silence.
Then—
"…Mock me all you want."
Orion's voice didn't change.
"As long as you keep your word…"
"…and don't use your true conceptual power…"
"I won't kill you."
Leo smiled.
"Are you sure about that?"
A small step forward.
"Because right now…"
"It feels like you're here to test yourself."
"…not fight me."
Orion's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And what makes you think that?"
Leo shrugged.
"Just a feeling."
A pause.
"Don't worry though."
He stretched slightly.
"To make this fun…"
"I won't beat you."
Silence.
"I'll just tell you what you're doing wrong."
A faint grin.
"Aren't I nice?"
Orion stared at him.
"…You do realize…"
"I'm older than you."
"I have more experience."
Leo didn't react.
"…Really?"
A small pause.
"I thought I was the one who threw the North Star out of balance."
Silence.
For the first time—
Orion hesitated.
Just slightly.
"…Enough."
His presence shifted.
Sharp.
Fast.
"If you won't use your true ability…"
"…you won't win."
"You can't seriously believe you can beat me."
Leo's smile widened slightly.
"I think I can."
A pause.
"…easily."
Silence.
Then—
Orion vanished.