Chapter 554 - Just Had To (1/2)

Leonel's gaze pierced through the skies, Bronze Runes flickering across his body. A tan sheen swept across his skin as though he had suddenly become a polished metal.

'Puppet Master, huh…?'

Leonel flipped his palm, a black spear with countless dangling chains appeared in his hand.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Leonel looked down from the skies, a swath of patrol units converging onto his location. At first, they all showed some level of resistance, but very soon, their gazes became vacant, their eyes glazing over as their movements became more coordinated.

Soon, they moved as though they were a single army.

The possibility that Aina could be turned against him didn't escape Leonel, but he didn't put up any guards against her. This wasn't because he was a fool, but rather because he trusted her.

Though there were few details about Aina that he understood, what he did grasp was her character. She was a woman he would be proud to have by his side. There wasn't a single selfish bone in her body.

Since she opened her mouth to speak of wanting to see him take down the Puppet Master, it was because she was certain that she wouldn't be a burden. And in that… Leonel could trust.

'Watch carefully, then. This back of mine, these shoulders, these hands…'

Leonel felt his body flex, vitality pumping through him without end.

'… They'll always be here to protect you.'

These were the ideals of a man.

Leonel shot forward, a field of gravity erupting around his body. His gaze steeled, his heart freezing over.

He no longer saw the patrolling units as humans. He saw them as numbers and figures, puppets that were standing in his way.

Leonel's feet shifted, illusory wings appearing to his back as he shot forward with blinding speed.

He appeared before the frontline of patrol units, raising his spear into the skies.

His back flexed, his arms bulged, a fury-laced aura skyrocketed around him, suffocating all those in his presence.

With a single cleave, a patrol guard was completely bisected.

Blood splashed along the ground, but there wasn't a single scream or shout. A deadpan expression covered the face of the deceased guard as though he hadn't felt any remorse even about his own death. Or maybe… the moment he lost his mind to the Puppet Master… He was already dead.

A steamy breath left Leonel's lips, his gaze cold. He stood amidst hundreds of guards, his presence malevolent.

His fists gripped around his spear's shaft, the flowing of his blood growing even faster.

With another swing, Leonel reaped another life. His strike was so ferocious that his spear bowed beneath his strength, smashing the patrolling guard into the ground with mere wind pressure before his blade even reached his neck.

Leonel's footwork accelerated, his movements becoming like flowing water. He danced through the organized army of puppets as though he didn't know fatigue, as though he didn't know pain. Every blow was just as powerful as the last, if not more powerful. His body fed off a seemingly endless supply of energy, powering through without end.

…

The citizens of White City had no idea what was happening. They didn't understand why a civil war had suddenly erupted between the people of Earth and many weren't entirely sure how to react to such a change.

Should they be running? Escaping? Which side should they be fighting alongside? Was this maybe a trap?

Within the dungeon, the obese merchant looked up and through the bars. He noticed the odd actions of the guards all the way up until they left their stations entirely. At first, he thought they might have been changing shifts, but it seemed that things weren't so simple.

The lip of the obese merchant curled. 'So this is the trump card Terrain mentioned? Quite a trump card indeed.'