(Meanwhile, back near the execution platform)
At the same time as Soron pushed Helmuth into the Fourth Dimension, Leo launched himself toward Raymond in a head-on charge.
’That’s it boy, come at me.’
Raymond thought, as rather than surprise or concern, Raymond felt a slow, almost indulgent amusement stir within him at the audacity of a mere Monarch daring to attack him alone.
’Come and witness the gap between us,’ Raymond mused, a faint curl of satisfaction spreading through his chest as he watched Leo close the distance between them without hesitation.
*Shuffle*
Planting his feet, he shifted his stance rather casually, as to him there was no need to prepare for a serious clash when the outcome was already decided, and so he simply waited, watching Leo appear before him in a blur of distorted space as [StormFlash Traverse] carried the Cult’s Shadow Dragon into his reach.
*SLASH*
The instant Leo slashed upward toward his throat with both daggers, Raymond calmly raised a single finger coated in dense divine essence, his movement casual and unhurried, as though he were brushing aside an irritation rather than intercepting a killing strike.
*SHRRRKKK*
The collision was sudden and absolute, as Leo’s blades screeched violently against the condensed divinity surrounding Raymond’s finger, his forward momentum dying on contact while the backlash rippled straight through his arms and shoulders, rattling bone and tearing at muscle.
*Push*
Forced to retreat, Leo took a couple steps back, however, much to his horror, Raymond was already at him, as the Demi God refused to give him the luxury of distance.
"Too slow, cousin."
Raymond muttered, as he punched Leo square in the face, the impact blanking Leo’s mind for a moment as he was sent back flying, the impact crushing his nose and fracturing his facial bones.
*Crack*
*Splat*
A streak of crimson blood poured out of Leo’s nose, as by the time he regained his footing and refocused his vision, Raymond was already before him, The Demi-God’s blade aimed straight for his throat.
’Shit–’
Leo thought, as he used [Fade Step] to barely dodge Raymond’s attack on time, the movement skill teleporting him behind Raymond as he attempted to counter with a strike of his own to the back of Raymond’s neck.
*SHRKKKKK*
*Block*
Once again, using a single finger, Raymond blocked the incoming strike without so much as turning, as he casually tilted his neck and gave Leo a mocking look as if to say ’You’re not at my level, pal’, as Leo found himself forced to retreat at once.
*Step*
*Step*
*Pant*
Creating distance, Leo wiped some of the blood dripping down his broken nose, while also sizing Raymond, as the Demi God let out a low and amused chuckle.
"Ha... hahahaha"
Raymond said, as rather than laughing a natural laugh, he laughed a forced one which sounded shrill and agitating to hear.
"Is this it? Is this all the Great Leo Skyshard is capable of?
Come on now Cuz, I’ve heard such wonderful things about you.....
Aren’t you the Cult’s Shadow Dragon?
The successor to both Commander Charles and Uncle Soron?
Aren’t you the DEMON of Omega?
So why are you so weak?
Come hit me with your best...."
Raymond mocked, as Leo steadied his breathing and nodded his head.
Despite how it appeared, the battle up till now had unfolded pretty much exactly how Leo had wanted it to unfold, for now, he had a rough gauge on how fast Raymond could move, and just how big the window of opportunity needed to be for him to end the Demi God’s life.
"Come on and show me some of the Cult’s forbidden moves!
The legendary techniques that you Cultists have safeguarded for over two millenia.
That move you used to slip behind me.... That was a good one.
Show me more of them, and maybe I will reward you just like I rewarded your beloved Dragon when he used to be my teacher back in the Eternal Garden."
Raymond muttered, as he saw Leo’s pupils dilate in shock.
"What? He didn’t tell you?
Oh geez. I guess he could not convey the message while he was being held as a prisoner, however, the moment we isolated him, he began to sing like a canary and co-operate, selling all of the Cult’s secrets just so that he could have good food to eat and a warm bed to sleep at...."
Raymond said sadistically, before using [Shapeshift] to turn into Veyr’s form, so as to prove that the Dragon had indeed betrayed the Cult and shared confidential information that he wasn’t supposed to.
"What a spineless coward he is.... The revered Cult Dragon Aegon Veyr.
I cannot help but pity you and your followers who travelled all the way here to save your messiah, when in reality your messiah had already sold his soul to us long ago...."
Raymond said while still being in Veyr’s form, as he shook his head in disappointment.
"Believe me when I say, we were doing you a favor when we were executing him live, because such a spineless and moral-less individual was truly a burden on both sides.
However, alas, you and Uncle Soron had to stupidly intervene.
And now, we are left with this mess."
Raymond said, as he slowly shifted back to his own form, his clever eyes glinting with mischief as he tried to overwhelm Leo’s psyche even more.
"I can tell just by crossing swords with you once, Skyshard, you’re not as spineless and weak as Veyr.
You’re a true blood carrier of the Timeless Assassin and the embodiment of the Cult’s defiant spirit.
Which is exactly why.....
I will now be emasculating you live in front of the whole universe, for an example needs to be made of someone so that the fear and respect we command remains intact."
Raymond said, as he gripped his blade tight, divine essence surging outward in thick, suffocating waves, as his intent pressed down upon the battlefield with crushing weight, promising pain, humiliation, and a lesson that the onlookers would remember forever.