Leo spent the entire day resting, as Tatiana had advised. His body had mostly healed from the brutal training session with Elda, but his mind wasn't at ease.
The lingering question gnawed at him: Who was the Off-worlder he would have to fight?
Tatiana hadn't told him, which only added to his frustration. Knowing her, if she wanted him to know, she would have told him already. Still, he couldn't shake the curiosity—and the anxiety.
The day passed uneventfully. Ves, Miguel, and Mia were out training and leveling again, and Fiona had taken the wolves to continue hunting and leveling. The base felt empty. The silence left Leo alone with his thoughts.
Ves had told him the day before that all three of them—herself, Miguel, and Mia—had reached level 20. He was genuinely happy for them, but when Ves shared her evolution requirents, Leo had sighed heavily.
Her requirents were just as difficult as his. Though she had three requirents—the standard amount according to Tatiana—it didn't make things easier. The challenges they all faced were monstrous, and ti was running out.
Just a day and half left until the tournant.
The rest of the day went by uneventfully and it was finally D-day.
Leo woke up the next morning, stretching with a groan as he opened his eyes—only to find Tatiana standing beside his bed with her usual infuriating smile.
He sighed deeply, dragging a hand down his face. "Tatiana… seriously?"
"Good morning to you too," she said, her voice dripping with amusent. "I figured I'd drop by early. Today's a big day, after all."
Leo sat up slowly, his body still stiff from the previous days of brutal training.
"So, are you ready for your first fight against an Off-worlder?" Tatiana asked, her crimson eyes gleaming with excitent.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "You know, you still haven't told who I'm fighting."
Tatiana's smile widened. She stepped closer to him, bending down until her lips were near his ear.
"My stepsister," she whispered.
Leo's eyes widened in shock. His entire body went still.
"...What?" His voice cracked slightly.
Tatiana stepped back, grinning from ear to ear.
"You heard . My stepsister."
Fear crept into Leo's expression. "Your stepsister?! Are you trying to get killed?! You want to fight your stepsister?"
Tatiana nodded, her grin never faltering.
"Why?! I an… there are other Off-worlders, right? Must it be her?"
"Yes," Tatiana said firmly, crossing her arms.
"Why?!" Leo almost yelled.
Tatiana sighed as if explaining sothing obvious to a child.
"Look, Leo. You can't just waltz up to any Off-worlder and expect them to fight you. Even if they agree, they'll send their minions first. The natives they gathered, the ones they use as shields. You wouldn't get a chance to fight them directly."
Leo opened his mouth but said nothing.
Tatiana continued. "But if you challenge my stepsister, Lilliana, will have no choice but to step in. She hates . Despises , actually. If she thinks you're my chosen fighter, she'll co after you without hesitation. Her pride won't allow her to step back."
Leo stared at her, realization dawning.
"For the first ti, you're actually telling sothing about yourself," he said, studying her carefully. "You don't have a good relationship with your stepsister, do you?"
Tatiana's smile dimd, but only for a second. "Let's just say… family is complicated."
Leo sighed. "So, what's the plan? Are we just going to show up and challenge her? Just like that?"
Tatiana grinned. "Exactly like that."
Leo groaned. "I was afraid you'd say that."
"Trust , Leo. If you challenge her, she won't give you ti to prepare. She'll want to crush you imdiately, in front of everyone. For her, it's about saving face. You'll have one shot."
Leo shivered. He could tell from Tatiana's tone that Lilliana wasn't the type to hold back.
"Get ready," Tatiana said, her grin sharp. "We're leaving now."
Before Leo could object, Tatiana grabbed him by the arm.
"Wait—"
But Tatiana didn't wait.
With a surge of power, she launched them both into the sky.
The wind roared in Leo's ears as they soared above the ruined city. He looked down, taking in the cityscape stretched beneath them—ruined buildings, crumbling streets, and distant figures scavenging through what remained.
The entire city was a graveyard, a stark reminder of the apocalypse that had brought the world to its knees.
As they flew, Leo caught glimpses of other survivors, struggling to stay alive. So groups huddled together, others hunted alone.
The world had beco cruel.
But none of that mattered now.
Tatiana's grip tightened.
"There," she said, pointing ahead.
Leo looked.
A large building complex ca into view—tall, sleek, untouched by the decay that surrounded it. Unlike the ruined city, this place seed… pristine. Powerful.
And Leo could feel it.
A pressure. A presence.
This was Lilliana's base.
Tatiana landed gracefully at the edge of the complex, dropping Leo onto his feet.
"Welco," she said, "to Lilliana's playground."
Leo barely had ti to take in the sight when movent caught his eye.
Several figures erged from the building.
Lilliana's group.
They looked strong—too strong. Each one radiated power, their gazes cold and dismissive. But that was only on the surface, as Tatiana could feel how scared they all are.
The mont they saw Tatiana, their expressions twisted into sneers.
"You're not welco here," one of them said, stepping forward.
Leo instinctively reached for Nightshade, but Tatiana raised a hand.
"Don't bother," she said.
And then—
With a flick of her wrist, a burst of crimson energy exploded from her hand.
The shockwave sent the group flying backward, crashing into the walls of the building with bone-shattering force.
Leo stared in shock.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked.
Tatiana smirked. "Of course."
The ground trembled.
A door slamd open.
And she appeared.
Lilliana.
Tall. Regal. Dressed in flowing white robes lined with gold. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, and her sharp erald eyes blazed with fury.
Her presence was suffocating.
Leo imdiately understood—this woman was dangerous.
Lilliana's gaze locked onto Tatiana.
"You," she hissed. "What are you doing here?"
Tatiana smiled sweetly. "Visiting family, of course."
Lilliana's eyes narrowed.
Then, she saw Leo.
Her lips curled into a cold smile.
"And who is this?"
Tatiana stepped forward, placing a hand on Leo's shoulder.
"My champion," she said.
Lilliana stared at Leo for a long mont.
Then, she laughed.
"A native?" Her voice dripped with disdain. "You send this*m to challenge ?"
Her smile faded, replaced by sothing darker.
"Fine. I'll humor you. I'll crush your little champion and prove, once again, that you are nothing."
Her gaze locked onto Leo.
"And you… I'll break you."
Leo felt the weight of her words. The sheer pressure of her aura pressed down on him.
But he didn't back down.
He t her gaze head-on.
Tatiana stepped back with a grin.
"Let's see what you've got, Leo."
Lilliana raised her hand. Energy crackled around her fingers.
The fight was about to begin.
The air itself seed to freeze.
Leo tightened his grip on Nightshade.
This was it.
No more running.
His battle against an Off-worlder was about to start.
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