Nighttime...


    In his room, Leony with a dazed gaze fixed on the ceiling.


    He couldn''t stop reying his conversation with Miranda from earlier that afternoon, which left him unable to fall asleep.


    "Who could have severed my connection with the Holy Sword of Zenith, and why?" Leon wondered silently, his eyes narrowing in thought.


    He felt that the one responsible likely harbored a grudge against him, but he couldn''t determine who.


    After all, he had fought countless battles and had so many enemies that he could not count them on his fingers.


    "Could it be Velix and his subordinates?" As the thought crossed his mind, Leon raised an eyebrow, his expression turning suspicious as he slowly sat up on the bed.


    If he were to list the top ten people who loathed him the most, Velix would undoubtedly be at the top. That damn old man had not only orchestrated a murder plot against him but had also made him endure over two weeks of agony from the deadly poison coursing through his body.


    Beyond Velix, Leon couldn''t think of any other potential culprits.


    "However, if it really was Velix, how could that damn old man have done it? Isn''t he just a weak Emperor who relies entirely on his subordinates?" Leon mused, rubbing his chin in thought.


    During his time in the pce, he often observed Velix up close and concluded that the old man was a weak emperor with no real power. This belief led him to doubt that Velix could be the true culprit.


    Just as Leon was deep in contemtion, a sudden memory shed in his mind, causing him to widen his eyes in horror.


    "Wait! I might be wrong! Velix isn''t weak; he''s actually a powerful mage!" Leon eximed, stunned, as he recalled his conversation with Jim in the pce garden.


    At the time, he and Jim had been enjoying tea in the garden while exchanging ideas. During their conversation, he mocked Velix, dismissing him as a weak emperor with no real power.


    However, Jim had refuted this im, insisting that Velix was far from weak and was, in fact, very formidable, especially in the field of magic. Jim had even exaggerated, iming that Velix was stronger than Rain, the Great Mage of Mankind.


    Although he had found it difficult to believe Jim''s statement, he knew very well about Jim''s nature that the im was unlikely to be false.


    He also recalled that Velix possessed a magic staff that constantly floated beside him while he was on the throne. The staff was golden, adorned with intricate patterns and engravings, and crowned with seven strange, multicolored crystals that floated and swirled.


    Initially, he thought the crystals were mere decorations, but Jim rified that they were not just essories. Instead, they were a mysterious and ancient artifact from an era long before the heroes emerged.


    "Wait a minute... Seven crystals? Why does that sound so familiar?" As Leon pondered the seven colorful crystals, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he had heard them before.


    After a moment, he remembered Miranda''s words from earlier that afternoon, causing his face to drain of color.


    "Seven celestial crystals!?" Leon eximed in shock, leaping from his bed with his heart pounding.


    Cold sweat drenched his clothes, and his body trembled uncontrobly. He was reluctant to consider the possibility, but he could not find a way to dismiss it!


    "If the seven celestial crystals are indeed the ones in Velix''s magic staff, then everything falls into ce!" Leon''s expression hardened as his holy power surged uncontrobly, shaking his entire room as if struck by an earthquake.


    Even though it was only a theory, given the circumstances, Leon was convinced this was the truth!


    "Velix, if you truly seek your end, I will not hold back any longer," Leon muttered, his golden eyes growing cold and filled with deadly resolve.


    Initially, he had nned to savor his revenge, but this revtion left no room for hesitation.


    "Tomorrow, I''ll speak with Liliana to request permission to join the battlefield the following day. I''ve been idle for too long; it''s time to fulfill my role as the fated one and settle this score," Leon said, taking a deep breath to calm the turmoil of his holy power.


    *Knock!*


    At that moment, a sudden knock on the door jolted Leon from his thoughts, leaving him a bit surprised.


    "Who''s there?" Leon asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ncing at the clock, which now reads eleven o''clock at night, he felt a mix of confusion and curiosity about the unexpected visitor.


    ''Could it be Fiona and Ste?'' He wondered inwardly but quickly dismissed the idea.


    The two smelly girls never knocked; they usually barged in using a spare key they had secretly obtained.


    "Leon, it''s me, Liliana. May Ie in?"


    A cold yet gentle voice came from behind the door, startling Leon.


    "Liliana? What could she want at this hour?" Leon muttered in confusion, but he didn''t linger on the thought. Instead, he swiftly made his way to the door and opened it.


    *ck!*


    As the door swung open, Leon was about to greet Liliana, but the words caught in his throat as he took in her appearance.


    "Liliana... You..." Leon''s eyes widened slightly as he looked her up and down, struggling to swallow.


    Liliana, who usually wore a loose ck gown, was now d in a delicate ck lolita nightgown that highlighted her graceful curves. Her long white hair, typically cascading to her waist, was pulled back into a ponytail, revealing the smooth expanse of her neck and her charming corbone.


    Though Leon always found Liliana beautiful, this new look left him breathless, his heartbeat quickening uncontrobly.


    Liliana, noticing his stunned reaction, couldn''t help but smile sweetly.


    "Do you think this looks good?" Liliana inquired with a yful tone as she adjusted the edges of her lolita nightgown and gave it a graceful twirl.


    Leon quickly snapped out of his daze and nodded, his eyes bright with admiration.


    "Absolutely! It looks perfect on you, Liliana." His enthusiastic response made Liliana''s smile widen.


    "I chose this outfit specifically to show you, but I was hesitant because I felt a bit out of ce in a lolita nightgown," Liliana said, a faint blush blooming on her usually indifferent and cold face.


    Leon''s heart warmed at her words. He reached out to gently caress her lovely face, his voice tender.


    "You look wonderful in any outfit, Liliana. There''s no need to worry."


    Liliana didn''t respond verbally, but the joy in her smile spoke volumes.


    "By the way, why did youe to my room, Liliana? Is there something you need to discuss?" Leon asked, suddenly recalling her visit.


    Liliana''s expression softened as she replied with a somber tone, "Yes, there''s something important I need to talk to you about."


    Leon''s eyebrows knitted together in confusion, but he said nothing more and simply nodded.


    "Alright, let''s head to my room and talk there," Leon suggested, extending his hand to take hers.


    Liliana quickly shook her head. "No, let''s go to my room instead."


    Leon''s eyes widened in surprise. "Your room? Are you sure?"


    He realized this was the first time Liliana had invited him to her room, leaving him feeling somewhat puzzled.


    Liliana maintained herposure, though a faint blush colored the tips of her ears.


    "Yes, I''m sure," she said.


    Seeing the blush, Leon seemed to grasp her unease and clear his throat.


    "Ahem! Alright, let''s go."