(Time Stilled World, Isolated Training Arena, Leo’s POV)
Leo stared at the glowing words for a long time without blinking, the faint red hue of the manual reflecting in his eyes as if trying to test his patience.
"The fuck is wrong with this family? Who the fuck makes a meditation manual this way?"
Leo cursed, as he resisted the urge to just tear the manual in his hands to bits and pieces.
"No wonder Kaelith turned out to be as twisted as he is.
If I had the Timeless Assassin for a father, maybe I’d have killed him too!!"
Leo vented, as he slammed the manual shut with a thud, and put it back inside his storage ring.
"Kill TWO BILLION people? And that too indiscriminately? What’s fucking wrong with you?
While I don’t mind killing soldiers, enemies or people who have wronged me.... Killing old women, children and innocent citizens is not my style.
I’m not interested in killing infants and cripples...."
Leo plained , for while the idea of killing two billion people did not exactly repulse him, doing so indiscriminately—without reason, without line or measure, somehow felt fundamentally wrong.
He already knew that his killing intent was weaker than it should have been. Moltherak had told him as much once, explaining that a person’s karma shaped the very texture of their aura, and that to cultivate a killing intent as dense Moltherak’s, one would have to drown entire galaxies in blood.
However, at the time, Leo had dismissed those words as a distant inevitability, something that might someday be required of him far in the future... and not something he would need to fulfill before even being a mere Monarch.
"FUCK THE TIMELESS ASSASSIN, THAT FUCKING PRICK!"
Leo cursed, all his frustrations bubbling out at this moment, as he couldn’t believe that after defeating a million opponents in a row, he still failed to meet the requirements to bee a Monarch.
"If only that old geezer was in front of me right now.... I’d show him how to hide a fucking apple!"
He cursed, as he ran both his hands through his hair in frustration, gripping the strands so tightly that his knuckles turned white, before dragging them down his face with a groan that echoed through the empty arena.
His shoulders heaved, every breath sharp and uneven, as if the very air mocked him for trying so hard.
The veins on his neck stood out, his pulse beating visibly beneath his skin as he paced back and forth across the cracked floor, muttering curses under his breath.
"Wanker!"
"Milk Dad!"
"Can’t grow a proper beard!"
"Half-Nut!"
"Geezer!"
"Womanizer!"
He said, as at one point, he kicked a loose stone so hard it ricocheted against the far wall and shattered into dust.
*CRACK*
"One million wins," he hissed, his voice trembling between fury and disbelief. "And it’s still not enough. It’s never enough." He clenched his fists until they bled slightly, his jaw locking as he forced himself to stop shaking, staring blankly into the dark, as he laughed bitterly at his own helplessness.
—-------------
(Meanwhile, Inside Skyshard City)
News of his millionth win travelled fast inside Skyshard City, with both Amanda and Chaosbringer being informed about the milestone only a few minutes after Leo achieved it.
"Sir, there’s an urgent report.... The official tending to Lord Skyshard’s isolated mansion has just called to inform us that the Lord has pleted his mission of securing a million wins in a row!
And that he’s finally free of his grueling training!"
An assistant informed Chaosbringer, who beamed from ear to ear at the news.
"That’s great news, and undoubtedly a monumental achievement.
The Lord has worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone, and if I know him well, then he would wish to celebrate this achievement with close friends and family....."
Chaosbringer mused, as he stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Prepare a surprise banquet for the Lord, inform the Cult Monarchs, and the Lord’s family members to be in attendance.
I think the Lord will appreciate an evening off after all the hard work he’s been putting in...."
Chaosbringer instructed, as the assistant nodded in understanding.
—-------
Similarly, in another part of the city, Amanda too received the news of Leo’s millionth win.
For a long moment, she simply stood still, her hands frozen mid-motion as the message repeated through the crystal municator in her palm.
"Ma’am, the Shadow Dragon has pleted his training regiment and finally secured his millionth win."
The Cult messenger on the other side repeated, as for a while the words refused to register in her head, her lover’s brain refusing to believe them, as if afraid this too was some hopeful illusion that would vanish if she breathed too loudly.
"He did?"
She repeated, doubtfully, before letting out a hearty chuckle, as long suppressed emotions finally began to surface.
"He... He did it!"
She whispered faintly, her voice trembling with a mixture of joy and exhaustion, as her knees gave way before she realized it, causing her to crash onto the couch under her.
"Of-course he did! He’s my husband!"
She said with pride, as the first tear streaked down her chin.
It wasn’t a sob of sorrow, but of overwhelming relief— one that carried with it the weight of years spent worrying, waiting, and pretending to be stronger than she really was.
A shaky smile formed on her face as she pressed the back of her hand to her lips. "Finally... it’s over," she murmured, her voice breaking as another tear fell. "You can finally rest, Leo... you can finally e home."
She tilted her head up slightly, gazing out through the glass wall of the Skyshard Mansion, from where the backyard garden was visible.
Her reflection shimmered faintly against the window—tired, tear-streaked, but smiling, as for the first time in years, the silence around her didn’t feel suffocating. It felt light. Hopeful.
"Thank-you Lord...."
She whispered as she ran her fingers over the small painting Leo had made for her ages ago, its frame dust free and smooth, as she stroked it lovingly.
"I told you you’d make it," she said softly, chuckling through the tears. "Now please... no more fighting. Just e home.... Your kids and wife are waiting for you."
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