Glossy patches of midnight-blue fur began to appear around Leo's arms; growing slowly until they ended in five razor-sharp claws.
*CREEAK*
"Here goes nothing."
The ancient sarcophagus' lid opened wide, revealing a thick layer of swirling black smoke.
"That's not supposed to be possible."
Leo jumped back, creating some distance between himself and whatever the ominous smoke was forming.
"Who dares interrupt the Great One's slumber?"
A creepy voice oozed out like venom. The malice in it was astonishing, saturating Leo's senses with a primordial dread.
"I am Leo Oakhyr… one of the Great One's last remaining relatives," Leo lied, knowing full well that the strange beast might have a way of verifying an elf's bloodline.
"I highly doubt that."
The voice dripped from the now humanoid-shaped smoke. "You look like a regular human to me."
"That's because I'm a halfling." Leo gave his most genuine smile.
"In that case…"
Leo could've sworn a small smile flickered across what resembled the smoke's face.
"You wouldn't mind undergoing a little test, would you?"
"No." Leo bowed politely, his eyes already scanning for escape routes.
"Very well."
A wide black curve formed across the apparition's face.
"I will need you to answer a few questions."
"Sh*t," Leo cursed inwardly. "It's found out."
"Feel free, mighty guardian," he said aloud, gesturing forward. He was seriously considering cutting his losses and fleeing.
"Why do you lie, filthy Huntran?"
The curve deepened into a grin across the apparition's face.
"Me? Lie?" Leo shook his head with mock disappointment.
Of course, he'd already determined one thing: the only way out was through.
Going back the way he came was impossible with the apparition blocking the entrance.
That left the unexplored tunnels of the catacombs.
"You see, Huntran…"
The apparition continued forward as Leo quietly drew his weapons.
"I had been warned beforehand of your arrival."
"By who?"
Leo began circling like a predator stalking prey.
"You're so rude."
The apparition tsked. "You haven't even asked my name, and yet you ask for my master's."
"So… your master was some kind of prophet?"
Leo's eyes noticed a twitch in the smoke's body.
"Prophet?!"
*BOOM!*
Leo flew back, a thunderous punch sending him crashing into the stone wall.
"That was fast."
He grunted, standing while massaging his bruised arm.
He'd barely gotten up when—
*SWOOSH*
The apparition struck again, narrowly missing as Leo leaned back.
"Prophet, you say?"
The voice now echoed from all directions.
"Yes," Leo smirked, still trying to provoke it.
"Anyone who sees visions is a prophet."
*ROAR!*
Here it comes.
Leo twitched his ears toward the sound, and—
*SWISH*
Two blue lines shot across the catacombs, obliterating everything in their path before slamming harmlessly into the ancient walls.
"My master isn't some prophet," the voice seethed—too late for Leo to react.
*CRACK*
Leo's body slammed into the ground again.
"He is a god!"
The voice now dripped with mania.
Leo stood, breathing heavily. "Which is why I must kill you," the voice roared.
*BOOM*
Waves of corrupted mana rolled out from the monstrous beast.
Leo crossed his arms to shield himself. Flames kissed his gauntlets, but when the smoke cleared, he was still standing.
"I've never seen mana behave like this," Leo thought, lowering his arms.
It was wild. Toxic. Alive.
His only hope was to rely on the ripples in the air that came with the beast's movement. He focused—
Nothing.
"Did it run away?" he thought, then dismissed it.
His enemy was too powerful to retreat.
"I guess I have no choice."
Leo forced his remaining strength into activating the Azure Eye.
Streams of crimson trickled from his sockets. Pain rippled through his skull, but he refused to stop.
And then—he saw it.
A towering black silhouette, lurking like an ancient god.
"It's toying with me," Leo realized, seething with rage.
"I walked right into its trap."
"You will pay for that," he growled, then lunged forward with a flurry of claw strikes.
"Pathetic."
The apparition vanished from the Azure Eye's sight.
Dejection.
That was what Leo felt.
His trump card had failed.
"Don't fight it," the apparition whispered into Leo's mind.
"This… is true power. The kind your kind can only dream of."
Leo clenched his fists.
"No…"
He forced himself to remember.
Demons. Mages. Monsters.
He'd fought worse.
And he was still alive.
"Where are they now?" he asked himself.
DEAD.
A weak smile crept across his lips.
"What's your name, guardian?" he asked aloud.
The apparition reappeared in the Azure Eye—right beside him.
"Chaos."
Leo's grin turned savage.
"Seems I'm not the only liar here."
"How so?" the smoke asked with faux amusement.
"You can't be Chaos."
Leo chuckled darkly.
"And you know why."
"Educate me, Huntran."
"You're just a pale imitation of the bastard your cowardly master couldn't fight."
*CRACK!*
Leo slammed into the wall again, coughing blood.
"I will feast on your fear, Huntran!" the apparition bellowed.
Leo stood again, growling low.
"I, Leo Fanghyr, the Midnight Panther… am a predator."
The apparition's crimson eye flared at the sight of Leo's bleeding Azure Eye.
"Never prey."
A loud ROAR burst from Leo's throat, erupting into a beam that ripped through space itself.
"Not bad…"
Leo's eyes widened in horror.
The apparition's mana twisted, forming a deep circle—a perfect counter.
His attack vanished.
"My turn," the voice sneered.
Leo grit his teeth.
And then… the laughter came.
Mocking. Malevolent. Endless.