Chapter 31: Drastic Change

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*STATS*

VITALITY: 100 (+500)

STRENGTH: 117 (+585)

MAGIC: 118 (+590)

SPEED: 98 (+490)

STAMINA: 98 (+490)

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Darkness had descended upon the temporary base of the hyenakins, and as if a malevolent sorcerer had cast a spell, a sinister wave of darkness extinguished all the campfire lights, leaving the area shrouded in obscurity. The moon, like a solitary sentinel, cast its feeble glow upon the scene.

Amidst this eerie darkness, a cacophony of destruction echoed through the air. The captive lionkins, imprisoned within iron cages, had broken free. The bars of their confines became projectiles that crashed to the ground with resounding clangs. Emerging from their shattered cells, the lionkins congregated around a figure standing resolute beside the demolished cages – Gideon.

The hyenakin army, poised to launch an assault on Gideon, froze in panic as they beheld this surreal turn of events. Confusion marred their faces, and their thoughts faltered.

However, their bewilderment was short-lived. With a deafening roar, the roof of Leo's cage rocketed into the night sky, revealing his towering silhouette. Leo, with feral determination, shattered the remaining chains that had held him captive. He stepped out, his massive frame casting a long shadow in the moonlight, an aura of menace enveloping him. Then, he unleashed a roar of such magnitude that it reverberated across a vast expanse, striking terror into the hearts of all who heard it. The very ground quivered, and the nearby trees swayed in submission to this legendary cry, a sound that had not graced the forest of Fiora for fifteen long years.

With a single glance, Gideon understood the extent of Leo's newfound power. Loyalty was the key to earning Gideon's extraordinary gift, and Leo had bestowed upon him a surplus of it, leaving even Gideon astounded.

"I anticipated your growth, Leo, but this is beyond my expectations," Gideon mused, a smile playing on his lips as he looked up at Leo. "It appears I've gravely underestimated you."

Gideon invoked *Nature's Blessing*, but contrary to its benign name, the skill did not manifest as gentle nature-based healing. Instead, a shroud of inky blackness enfolded the lionkins, instantly mending all their wounds. Even the elderly lionkin, sprawled on the distant ground, was healed in the blink of an eye.

Leo's golden eyes locked onto Gideon. Towering above him, Leo's gaze conveyed trust and unswerving loyalty to the one who had granted him a second chance to fight for their freedom. With Leo, their village's leader, pledging allegiance to Gideon, the rest of the lionkins would follow without hesitation.

"Leave their leader to me. I wish to confront him personally," Gideon directed his gaze toward the encircling hyenakin army. Despite being outnumbered, Gideon's confidence remained unshaken. "What are you all waiting for? Create chaos."

As if Gideon's words had triggered a long-awaited signal, the lionkin army, led by Leo, surged forward, charging toward the formidable hyenakin forces. Fear was an alien emotion to them now, replaced by an overwhelming desire for vengeance.

The hyenakin leader's eyes blazed with fury as he shouted, "Why are you all standing there in terror? We have the numerical advantage—"

His words faltered as he witnessed his subordinates falling to the lionkins with startling ease. Although the hyenakins held the advantage in numbers, the lionkins were swifter, stronger, and remarkably deadly even without weapons. They tore through the hyenakin ranks with their bare hands, their determination unyielding, their desire for retribution insatiable.

The hyenakin leader's voice was choked with disbelief as he watched his forces crumble before the lionkin onslaught. "This can't be! We had the upper hand!"

The night bore witness to a cataclysmic clash between two forces, one driven by the desire for freedom, the other blinded by their belief in mere numerical superiority. Amidst the darkness, Leo's roar still echoed, a symbol of defiance, a call to arms, and a testament to the indomitable spirit of the lionkins.

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow upon the battleground where the screams of the hyenakins reverberated through the dense forest. The scent of blood and fear filled the air as the lionkins, led by Leo, mercilessly slaughtered their hyenakin foes. It was a gruesome sight, one where the line between predator and prey blurred, and the ground beneath their paws became a canvas painted in crimson.

The hyenakins, once numbering in the hundreds, now faced a terrifying decline in their ranks. Panic gripped their leader, a hulking figure with a spiky club in hand. His voice trembled as he bellowed, "What is happening? This is impossible!"

Gideon, seemingly unperturbed by the chaos, approached the towering hyenakin leader. His voice dripped with chilling confidence as he replied, "Even I am surprised too. They turned out easier to command than I expected."

The hyenakin leader's eyes blazed with rage as he glared down at Gideon, his club poised for a deadly strike. "You! You did all of this!" he roared. "If I kill you, the lionkins' forces will fall apart!"

With a mighty swing, the hyenakin leader aimed his spiky club at Gideon. But Gideon was no ordinary foe. In an instant, he vanished into thin air, leaving behind only traces of black smoke. The hyenakin's club struck nothing but empty space.

"The bad news is, you can't defeat me. Nobody will," Gideon's cold voice echoed in the ears of the hyenakin leader. Before the leader could react, Gideon materialized behind him. With a swift and precise motion, he severed the hyenakin's head, leaving no chance for the giant to dodge the attack.

The severed head of the hyenakin leader fell to the ground, but within seconds, it disintegrated into nothingness, a victim of Gideon's *Claw Attack* and its corrosive effects. There was no trace left of the leader's shocked expression.

Gideon landed gracefully on the blood-soaked ground, his claw dripping with the life essence of his foe. He casually waved his claw to rid it of the splattered blood and surveyed the massacre unfolding around him. A wicked smile crept onto his face as he watched the lionkins overwhelming the hyenakins, who now desperately attempted to flee, their bravery replaced by cowardice.

"Some of them managed to slip away. Should we chase after them?" Leo, a lionkin warrior who had fought valiantly by Gideon's side, approached him, his face and clothing stained with the blood of his victims.

Gideon merely smirked at Leo, his eyes alight with something akin to amusement. Slowly, he shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I can smell and hear them all. I have something for that specific job." Gideon's voice held an air of mystery as he spoke, and with a snap of his fingers, he initiated his plan.

What followed was a powerful surge of wind, a tempest that swept through the battlefield with breathtaking force. Even the lionkins, caught in the midst of their triumph, halted in their tracks, their fur ruffling as they sensed the impending juggernaut.

The moon, obscured by a massive silhouette, transformed the night into utter darkness. A cruel, serpentine shape glided through the heavens, casting an ominous shadow over the land below.

"A black dragon," Leo muttered in disbelief, his eyes wide with astonishment.

But Leo's awe quickly turned to concern as a familiar voice echoed from the back of the dragon. "Gideooooooon!" It was the cheerful voice of a girl, and her presence on the black dragon's back puzzled Leo to no end.

Leo turned his questioning gaze to Gideon. "Is it just me, or is the one riding on the back of that black dragon my sister?"

Gideon sighed as he watched the colossal black dragon wreak havoc upon the fleeing hyenakins, raining down explosive spines upon them. "It seems that if I regard someone as my ally, they will not be harmed by my spikes or their corrosive effect," he remarked casually, ignoring Leo's baffled expression. "Interesting."