Chapter 74

Pietro quickly threw his hands up in mock outrage. "Hey, Wanda, are you serious? How could I ever question Boss Leon? Are you doubting my loyalty to him?" His voice grew more dramatic, and he clutched his chest as if heartbroken, his face full of exaggerated sadness and hurt. "I can't believe you would think I'd question my own family, Wanda!"

Wanda rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with his theatrics. She had more important things to worry about. A flicker of concern crossed her face as she turned her gaze back to the battlefield. "Leon..."

The rain of light that filled the sky had ceased. Leon hovered above, releasing his hands from the cross-shaped gesture he had been holding, his eyes fixed on the red figure below. The strong wind howled, dispersing the flames and smoke, revealing the devastation beneath. The land below was cratered with pits like the surface of the moon, of varying sizes and depths, the ground itself scorched and torn apart by the sheer power of Leon's attack.

Yet, despite all of that, Mephisto stood there, unharmed. A thin, blood-colored barrier shimmered around his body, barely rippling from the impact. The Demon Lord looked up at Leon, his voice cold and filled with disdain.

"I hate your impulsiveness, kid," Mephisto growled.

Then, without warning, he spread his arms wide. The very atmosphere seemed to shift as an overwhelming, indescribable force surged toward Leon. Faint whispers and eerie murmurs echoed from all around, as though the sky and earth themselves were conspiring against him.

"I hate your impulsiveness, kid," Mephisto growled, his voice cold as he glared up at Leon.

With a sweeping gesture, Mephisto spread his arms wide, and the very fabric of space and reality seemed to twist. A crushing, indescribable force surged toward Leon, filling the air with faint whispers and murmurs. These eerie voices carried a dark power, designed to weaken the will, seduce the soul, and drag it into an endless abyss.

But Leon, who had awakened his Conqueror's Haki, was far too strong for such tricks. His fighting spirit burned too brightly to be touched by these dark enchantments. His sharp gaze cut through the illusion, and he spat a single word: "Get out."

BOOM!

A torrent of overwhelming spirit erupted from Leon like a mountain crashing into the sea, sweeping across the battlefield. The sheer force of his will crushed Mephisto's dark magic, shattering the whispers and murmurings into nothingness. Even Mephisto, the Demon Lord, felt the impact. His very soul trembled, wounded by the surge of Leon's power.

The weight of Leon's spiritual force bore down on Mephisto, pinning him in place. The gravity around him seemed to intensify, making even flight impossible. Mephisto struggled to lift his gaze toward the sky, where Leon hovered like an unshakable colossus. The dark clouds above parted, revealing the full moon, casting its light behind Leon and making him appear almost divine.

For the first time, Mephisto felt the full weight of Leon's strength. It wasn't just physical power—it was the indomitable spirit of a man whose courage could shake mountains. And the more Mephisto saw of it, the more he coveted Leon's soul. It was unlike any other, both mysterious and unyielding. A soul like that would be of the highest quality.

But Mephisto's malicious intent was too obvious. Leon's response was swift.

WHOOSH!

In a flash of golden light, Leon's body dissolved into countless bright particles and vanished. Mephisto sensed the attack coming just in time. He spun around, arms raised defensively, but it wasn't enough. A swift, golden-shimmering kick connected with his arm, the impact like a clap of thunder.

BOOM!

Mephisto managed to block the strike, but the sheer force of the blow sent a shockwave rippling outwards, tearing the ground apart and widening cracks in the earth. Rocks and debris floated unnaturally into the air, defying gravity.

Not far from Leon and Mephisto, the very ground was pulverized by the sheer force of their clash. The space around them warped like a black hole, consuming everything that drew too close, reducing it to nothingness. The cracks in the earth widened, and where Leon's feet met Mephisto's arms, red and black lightning crackled violently, filling the air with a deafening sound like the cry of a thousand birds.

Amid the stalemate, Mephisto was the first to act. He raised his free hand, conjuring a black and purple magic circle in his palm.

Danger.

Leon's instincts flared. He felt the dark energy surrounding him like a tidal wave, threatening to crush him from all sides. The air itself seemed to tremble as something terrible stirred within the magic.

Without hesitation, Leon pulled back his right leg with lightning speed, crossing his arms as bright golden light surged through his body. In that moment, he became a living beacon, radiating blinding energy. The very atmosphere around him began to churn, a storm of unimaginable power brewing at his command.

Mephisto's eyes widened in disbelief. Could a mere human possess such raw, overwhelming energy? This brat was barely more than a teenager, yet he wielded power that defied comprehension.

Feeling the threat, Mephisto quickly unleashed every bit of his dark magic. He summoned layers of black and purple defensive barriers in a desperate attempt to shield himself. But before he could finish fortifying them—

BOOM!

A cataclysmic blast erupted. Golden pillars of light shot into the sky and surged across the ground like an ocean of molten energy. The searing heat and overwhelming force melted everything in their path, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake.

Inside his protective layers of magic, Mephisto watched in horror as the golden light shattered his defenses one by one. The winds howled, whipping his cloak violently, and even the mighty Demon Lord swayed, struggling to stay grounded as if he were an insect caught in a deadly storm.

"Damn it…" Mephisto muttered, his face twisted in shock. He had never imagined such terrifying power could come from a human.