(Execution Livestream Continuation, The Pit, Leo’s POV)
For a heartbeat, Leo hesitated, his eyes tracing the arcs of both attacks, as in that single stretched moment where the world seemed to hold its breath alongside him, his mind split down two brutal paths, where one future showed him turning away from Veyr to chase the wider arc of annihilation, while the other demanded that he once again prioritized the life of the Dragon.
*Eyeballs curving*
*Frown lines appearing*
Millions of lives weighed on one side.
While on the other, there was just one.... A life heavy with meaning. A life they had already sacrificed so much to save.
*Clench*
His jaw tightened, muscles screaming in protest as he forced himself to calculate under a pressure that threatened to tear his focus apart, as the memory of twelve million dead burned behind his eyes and the thought of letting even more follow made his stomach churn.
’I can’t do this again....’
The thought barely had time to form when movement flickered at the edge of his perception.
A figure stepped forward, who he recognised as Su Pei.
’Good.’
Leo thought, as he saw it in the corner of his eye, the man planting himself between the Cult Army and the oncoming destruction, shield raised with shaking arms, posture rigid with resolve as he shouted at the top of his lungs that he would keep everyone behind him safe.
*Exhale*
A soft breath escaped Leo before he could stop it, as a tiny burst of relief flooded his system.
’Thank you....’
He thought quietly, as the decision was ripped from his hands and resolved by another’s will, allowing him to move without hesitation or regret, as he pivoted sharply and threw himself into the path of the remaining strike aimed squarely at Veyr.
*ROLL*
*GRIT*
Leo dove into the arc at an angle that bordered on reckless, daggers flashing as he twisted his torso and caught the edge of the attack, redirecting it upward with a violent wrench of his entire body.
*CLANG*
*SCREEEEECH*
Pain exploded through his arms instantly, muscles seizing as the backlash tore through him, a sharp cramp locking his shoulder mid-motion as he stumbled on the landing, teeth grinding as he forcibly shook the stiffness loose while still moving forward.
He didn’t stop.
He couldn’t.
Hobbling for a single step, Leo straightened, blood dripping from his knuckles as he forced his body to obey, eyes already locked onto Raymond as killing intent hardened into something cold and absolute.
’I can’t allow him more time to play these games again.
I need to commit to this attack.
And I need to do it now–’
He concluded, as he used [StormFlash Traverse] to close in the distance between himself and a superior opponent within a heartbeat.
—--------
(Meanwhile, Su Pei)
The moment the second arc descended, Su Pei felt the world narrow into a single, unbearable line of pressure, as the air ahead of him compressed so violently that even breathing became an act of resistance, his instincts screaming at him to move, to dodge, to abandon the impossible position he had chosen.
Yet his feet did not budge.
As the slash approached, Su Pei drove his shield into the ground and activated [Iron Fortress], mana surging outward from his core as layers of reinforced shielding wrapped around his body, his stance lowering instinctively as he braced for impact.
*THRUMMMMM*
The strike hit.
And in that instant, Su Pei understood with terrifying clarity that his body simply was not strong enough to endure the blow head on, and while Leo could deflect such an attack with ease, it was beyond anything he could currently hope to replicate.
’I— I can’t block this.’
The realization settled in fully as the force pushed through [Iron Fortress] like it was paper, the edge of the slash beginning to bite inward, compressing space, mass, and will all at once.
’If this continues... I’ll be cleaved clean in half.’
The thought landed with unsettling calm as pain exploded through his arms and spine, nerves lighting up in cascading failure as cracks formed across his shield’s surface and blood surged violently through his chest.
At this moment, every rational instinct screamed at him to disengage, to step back, to preserve his life.
But behind him the Cult soldiers were still running, still carrying the wounded, still trusting the promise he had shouted only moments ago, and hence, he refused to step away now.
"No," Su Pei rasped, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth as his teeth clenched hard enough to crack.
"No, I will not give up."
He reaffirmed, as the pressure surged again, threatening to crush his organs into pulp, as he forced his shaking legs deeper into the ground and activated [Indomitable Will] to ensure he could not back out of this defence now.
*FSHHHHH*
Almost instantly, he felt a boost in strength, as [Indomitable Will] provided strength to his failing muscles, however, while the skill provided him with some much needed strength, it also locked his legs in place, meaning there was no turning away for him now.
"ARGHHHH COME ON NOW, COME ON SU PEI, SHOW THEM WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF"
Su Pei shouted in pain, as he tried to motivate himself to stand tall till the end.
However, as the seconds passed, blood started to drip from his mouth, his ears, his nose and even his eyes, as it became evident that he was straining his muscles to their very limits now.
"Just a little more.... Just a little more and I will overcome this...."
He muttered, as he tried to trick his mind into holding on for just a few seconds more, until—
*CRACK*
Something inside him broke.
An internal organ rupturing from the strain, as blood sprayed across the inside of his shield.
*WET COUGH*
*SPLAT*
’I will not move.’
He reminded himself, even while his arms trembled violently and his spine screamed, as he refused to budge till the bitter end even if it meant courting death.
However, suddenly—
*SHATTER*
After a full 30 seconds of him enduring the attack alone, it was actually Dumpy intervening and stepping in beside him to shoulder the blow that finally relieved him of his pressure, as the divine arc in front finally collapsed into fragmented energy, meaning that the soldiers behind him were finally safe.
"Told you. You’re safe behind m—"
He mused, before falling unconscious, as—
*THUD*
Exhaustion and injury claimed their due, his battered body hitting the ground face first, as Dumpy nodded his head in pride beside him.
"You did well here, Su Boy.
I will personally recommend you for the position of the Skyshard Family guard after this war ends."
Dumpy muttered, as he slung Su Pei’s unconscious body over his shoulders and took a big leap to instantly transport him to the nearest medical ship.