Eden hesitated, then answered,
’He’s probably just busy. The captain’s mind works differently... that’s all.’
Before Blessing could respond, they reached a massive set of golden doors.
Two guards stood watch, their armor gleaming under the radiant glow of the hall’s floating lights. The mont they saw Leon, both n straightened, then lowered their heads in deep respect.
"Lord Leon," one of them said as the doors swung open on their own, guided by invisible energy.
Even among the elite, Leon’s power was undeniable.
A Divine Stage expert, with non in the entire pandora able to stand on equal ground with him.
The chamber beyond was vast and ornate, one of the many eting halls within the Imperial Palace.
The marble floor reflected the banners of the empire that hung from the ceiling, while a round obsidian table dominated the center of the room.
Each mber of Unit 1 took their seat—Adrian to Leon’s left, Elizabeth to his right, Eden opposite him, and Blessing hovering near the table’s edge, her small wings folding neatly behind her.
Leon placed both hands on the table, his expression steady as his eyes t each of theirs in turn.
"Alright," he said finally, voice deep and clear. "Let the eting begin."
****
Leon’s gaze swept across the faces gathered around the obsidian table.
His expression was calm, but his eyes, which where sharp and cold like tempered steel—betrayed the weight of what he was about to say. With a slow motion of his hand, the air around the hall shimred faintly.
A translucent barrier rippled to life, sealing them in with an invisible hum.
It wasn’t that he distrusted the Emperor; Leon simply understood that what they were about to discuss wasn’t ant for royal ears.
"I would’ve preferred for Nikki and Racheal to be here," Leon said at last, his voice cutting through the silence, "but I’ll have to tell them separately."
That single sentence was enough to change the atmosphere.
Adrian straightened in his chair, Elizabeth’s posture stiffened, and even Eden’s calm deanor shifted slightly.
They all knew what that tone ant, whatever Leon was about to share, it wasn’t casual talk.
"You’re all aware of the details of our trial," Leon began. It wasn’t really a question, but they nodded anyway.
The mission had been clear from the start: find the source of the corruption and destroy it.
That was the directive written into their Trial.
Leon’s fingers drumd lightly against the table. "The campaign against the Hallow was ant to be a step toward that goal," he continued. "A preparation phase to give us the strength to complete the task."
So far, it was everything they already knew. But there was sothing in Leon’s tone that made the air feel heavier.
He looked at each of them in turn, his gaze settling on Elizabeth before moving to Adrian and Eden.
"But there’s sothing more," he said quietly. "A hidden aning behind our trial’s description."
Eden leaned forward slightly, his brows knitting together. Adrian exchanged a glance with Elizabeth, who now seed deep in thought, her fingers brushing absently across the table’s surface.
Leon’s next words fell like stones into still water.
"Finding the source and destroying the corruption," he said, "is just the face value of the trial itself. What we are actually ant to do... is find a way to coexist with the corruption."
The room froze.
Adrian and Eden both stared at him, disbelief written plainly across their faces. Blessing’s wings twitched midair, the faint hum of her energy faltering for a heartbeat.
Elizabeth was the first to exhale, a flicker of understanding crossing her face, like puzzle pieces falling into place.
She had sensed a deeper aning to the trial after seeing Leon and Blessing in sync with corruption. The strange harmony between corruption and creation they shared made her think:
’If we are ant to destroy corruption, what about Leon and his descendant?’
****
Leon leaned back slightly in his seat, his expression thoughtful as the flickering light from the crystalline sconces cast long shadows across the room.
The air was still thick from his earlier revelation, but he didn’t rush to fill the silence.
His gaze moved over his squad.
He finally spoke, his tone quieter this ti, almost reflective.
"I’ve been thinking about this for a long ti," he began.
"Ever since I beca what I am now—a Void Spawn."
The words hung in the air like a confession.
Leon’s eyes lowered briefly, the faint blue glow behind them dimming.
"If our mission really was to destroy corruption," he said,
"then wouldn’t that an destroying myself? That would make the entire trial aningless. Or worse, a cruel joke." he continued.
"But I realized there were things in Pandora that didn’t add up."
He raised one finger.
"First—the Mutants. Beings tainted by corruption but still alive. At first glance, they look like abominations, but I’m starting to think they were... experints. Early results of coexistence gone wrong. They’re the missing link between The trial races and the demons."
Elizabeth’s eyes widened slightly, the realization dawning. Leon caught the look and nodded faintly.
"Yes. Demons didn’t just appear, they evolved from corrupted beings. I don’t know how Pandora connects to the real world, but it’s clear now that the corruption here mirrors the demons that exist outside. The Mutants and Cluster Guardians both show that attempt at harmony between two forces."
"But harmony wasn’t achieved only domination."
He leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, fingers laced together.
"One side overwheld the other. And when corruption wins, you get demons. When purity wins, you get stagnation. Both are failures."
"The second reason is the second talent I awakened: my Overlord Talent—[Mark]." Elizabeth, Adrian, and Eden were shocked by this, not understanding what Leon ant by "Overlord Talent" or "second talent," but they still allowed him to continue.
"When I ascended to the Divine Stage, its true function beca clear. It wasn’t just a tool for battle it was an anchor. A way to maintain equilibrium between myself and the corruption that powers ."
That drew silence again.
"And the third reason... is Blessing. Her existence prove coexistence isn’t just unique to , but It’s possible for others as well."
He looked up, his tone turning firm again.
"So destroying corruption wasn’t ant literally. Our real goal isn’t to erase it, it’s to understand it, balance it."
Leon’s voice deepened as he said the final words, each one deliberate.
"Light can’t exist without darkness. There has to be balance."
A faint, knowing smile crossed his face.
"And that," he said quietly, "is what our trial truly demands."
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