The Inferno Duel [Part-3]
"I know these runes..." he murmured. "Runes of devastation."
His voice turned cold. "They were used once, long ago. Back in the age when Galvia was still a fractured land of warring kingdoms. When one kingdom fell, its desperate king—rather than surrender—carved these runes beneath his own capital. He designed them to consume the city in death... and destroy the victors when they came to claim it."
Leon’s voice carried the weight of history.
"The moment the victorious army stepped into the city to celebrate... the runes activated. The enemy king, their leaders, even their royal family—wiped out in an instant."
Captain Black and Ronan stared at Leon, eyes wide with disbelief. This was knowledge lost to time—knowledge only Leon possessed thanks to his system. Yet somehow... these enemies knew too.
The technique had been outlawed centuries ago—banned by the United Empires when Galvia was unified. Forbidden by all four great empires. It was considered too vile, too monstrous to ever be used again.
And yet... here it was. Revived.
Leon’s golden eyes trembled for a heartbeat—then narrowed, sharpening into blades.
Across from him, the enemy leader’s smile twisted.
"Oh? So the mighty Duke is more than just muscle and charm. Impressive."
The leader man’s smirk deepened with delight.
"You know what’s coming. Good. That’ll make it all the sweeter—watching your legacy crumble into dust, knowing exactly how and why."
Leon didn’t respond to the taunt.
His golden eyes darkened, not with anger—but with purpose.
He inhaled slowly, then shut his eyes.
Without hesitation, he reached out.
Not with hands—but with his mind.
A telepathic link sparked to life, threading through his soul and reaching out to those closest to him.
Rias. Cynthia. Aria. Syra. Kyra. Lira. Tsubaki. Mia.
He called to them. [Listen, everyone.]
Their presence answered instantly.
Wherever they were—each woman froze. Some in the middle of guiding panicked civilians through smoke-choked alleys, others helping wounded guards limp through shattered streets. Some clutching crying children. Some holding weapons. All of them paused.
Far beneath the mansion, in the safety of the fortified basement, Rias and Kyra stood among the maids and remaining soldiers. Their bodies tensed as they felt his voice brush across their minds.
"Daddy?" Rias whispered, uncertain.
"Darling, what is it?" Lira asked softly, her voice gentle but sharp with worry.
"What happened, Leon? We’re still evacuating people—we’re on the east side!" Tsubaki said, breathless.
"Why does your voice sound tense, darling?" Cynthia asked, her thoughts pressing inward like a concerned hand.
"Is something wrong?" Syra added, her heart pounding louder than her steps.
Leon didn’t waste a moment. He didn’t reply to their questions, didn’t reassure them, didn’t soften it.
Instead, his voice struck through the link like a blade.
[Listen to me. Don’t ask questions.]
[You all have six minutes. Get out of Silver City—now.]
A weight dropped in the center of all their minds.
"Wait—what? What happened? Daddy?" Rias’s voice trembled.
"Leon, what’s going on out there?!" Kyra’s presence shook.
"Leon—is something dangerous coming?!" Aria’s flare of panic rushed across the link.
"Leon—" Cynthia tried, her tone firm but frightened.
But Leon didn’t let them speak.
His voice turned sharp. Unyielding.
[No time. Please. Just go.]
[For my sake—just go. Don’t look back. Get the civilians out. Rias, Kyra—take the maids and soldiers on horseback. Ride through the eastern gate. Cynthia, Aria, Syra, Tsubaki, Mia, Lira—finish the evacuations in your sectors and leave the city at the six-minute mark with every single guard you can take. Don’t argue. Get everyone out, fast. Now.]
"But Daddy—" Rias’s voice cracked. "We’re not leaving you until you tell us what’s happening!"
"Yes!" Aria echoed fiercely. "I’m heading your way—we’re not abandoning you!"
"I’m coming too!" Tsubaki added, her will strong as steel.
Leon’s eyes flinched, but he forced himself to stay firm.
[Listen to me—just leave the city. I’m about to engage in a fight that might shake the entire city to its foundations. I don’t know if Silver City will survive what’s coming.]
[I’ll do everything I can to prevent that. But I can’t guarantee anything. So leave.]
Their hearts dropped. The silence that followed wasn’t from hesitation—it was from dread.
He didn’t wait for more protests.
His voice cracked at the edges, emotion threatening to slip in—but before they could respond, he ended the connection. Cut the link. Silenced everything.
He couldn’t tell them the truth.
That there were fifty magical explosives hidden beneath Silver City.
He couldn’t let them know that time was already slipping through their fingers.
He gave them six minutes—not because it was enough time to think, but because it was all he could give.
If they knew the truth... they would never leave him behind.
Back in the square, the world stood still for a moment.
Then— The wind howled.
The enemy leader tilted his head with a mocking smirk.
"Hmm... lost in thought, Duke? You look a little pale. Don’t tell me you’re scared now."
Leon’s gaze slowly rose, settling coldly on the man before him. His hands trembled—not from fear, but from the white-hot rage pulsing through his blood.
"No," he said, voice low and bitter. "Just disappointed. I thought I’d need to try against you."
The man’s grin faltered, his expression tightening.
Without another word, Leon drew his blade again. A sudden surge of aura burst around him, heat and wind coiling like wild dragons at his command.
"You wanted a fight," he growled. "I’ll send you all to hell—before your pretty little runes light up."
Beside him, Captain Black cracked his neck and hoisted his massive new greatsword over his shoulder. A sharp glint lit his eyes.
"Let’s make this quick, my Lord."
Ronan spun both daggers between his fingers, his focus narrowing on the spellcaster who had summoned the earlier gust. His tone turned razor-sharp.
"I’m done playing games."
The enemy leader licked his lips, his eyes flicking between the three of them with growing tension.
"Very well, then... let this be our final dance, Duke Leon."
He paused, then sneered. "Well, it doesn’t matter. We’ll kill you here. Then we’ll watch your city collapse."
Leon stepped forward. The ground beneath them quaked as if responding to the storm about to break loose.
Three warriors stood.
One heartbeat passed.
No more words were needed.
Only one truth remained—
The clock was ticking. Because with the best against the best, they had only eight—maybe nine—minutes left.