Protagonist?Antagonist? I Reject Both

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His voice cut through the air like a blade, the crowd shivering under the weight of his words.

Suddenly, three more figures darted out from the crowd, their auras flaring as they surrounded Leon. They were all high-level cultivators, their combined energy forming a deadly pressure that crashed down on the area.

"Attack together!" one of them shouted. "We'll take him down!"

In unison, they launched their attacks. One sent a barrage of fiery blasts toward Leon, while another formed a massive spear of ice, hurling it straight at him. The third unleashed a storm of wind and lightning, the air itself crackling with electricity.

The crowd held their breath as the attacks converged on Leon, the sheer power of the combined assault enough to destroy a small city. The air around them buzzed with energy, and for a moment, it seemed as though Leon would be overwhelmed.

But then, Leon moved.

With a speed that was almost impossible to follow, he disappeared from his spot, reappearing behind one of the attackers. Before the man could react, Leon's fist collided with his back, sending him flying across the courtyard like a ragdoll. The second attacker barely had time to register what had happened before Leon was in front of him, his foot smashing into the man's chest, shattering his ribs with a sickening crack.

The third attacker tried to retreat, but Leon was faster. In an instant, Leon was before him, grabbing his arm and twisting it at an unnatural angle. The man screamed in agony as Leon hurled him to the ground with enough force to crack the stone beneath him.

Silence fell over the courtyard once again. The three attackers lay crumpled and broken at Leon's feet, their bodies twitching in pain. Leon dusted off his hands, as though the fight had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

The Saint, still standing in shock, took a step back. His confidence shattered, he now saw Leon for what he truly was—a monster, beyond comprehension.

"Now," Leon said, his voice calm and menacing, "who's next?" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The crowd was still. No one dared move, let alone speak. The power Leon had displayed was beyond anything they had expected. Even those who had been preparing to step forward found themselves frozen in fear.

Leon's eyes swept over the terrified faces before him, and he let out a soft chuckle.

Then, he looked at the man who stood there fearlessly.

"What's your name?"

"Why are you afraid now?"The man asked and flicked his sleeve.

"I am Saint Paul."

Heavy gasps and murmurs started to echo from the surroundings.

"Wait! Isn't he one of the higher members of the Federation?"

"Damn! This guy is doomed."

"It's over. "

While all this was happening, Lucien stared at Leon's back. His heart raced with anxiousness.

"Brother...I brought him a lot of trouble..."

"AH!If only I was stronger and stopped being pathetic. This wouldn't have happened at all."

Lucien's heart was heavy with guilt as he watched the chaotic battle unfold. His murmurs barely escaped his lips, but the weight of his self-blame hung over him like a storm cloud.

"Brother... I brought him so much trouble. If only I were stronger... if only I wasn't so pathetic, this wouldn't have happened."

As Lucien sank deeper into his gloom, a hand suddenly patted his shoulder, startling him. His instincts kicked in, and he nearly lashed out, spinning around with clenched fists. "Who?!"

"Calm down, kid," a voice said, smooth and confident. Lucien's eyes landed on a tall, handsome young man with pointed ears and a relaxed grin on his face. "I'm one of Leon's friends. So, we're your friends too."

"Really?" Lucien blinked in confusion, his mind struggling to catch up.

"Hey, Morbius, tell him. Looks like he didn't believe me after seeing my otherworldly looks," the pointed-eared man grinned, puffing his chest with mock pride.

A second figure stepped out from the shadows, a tall, dark-haired man with sharp eyes. "Stop being narcissistic, Ael," he muttered before turning to Lucien. "We aren't friends. At best, we're his acquaintances."

Ael scoffed, crossing his arms. "Acquaintances? We've shared a deep bond!"

"Bonding, my ass.." Morbius began, his eyes narrowing. "All you ever did was provoke him and get beaten."

Lucien stood dazed for a moment, trying to make sense of the bizarre conversation happening around him. "I... I don't know who you all are, but... I can feel how ridiculously strong you are. Shouldn't we help him?"

Both Ael and Morbius paused, exchanging glances. Then, they broke out in laughter.

Ael was the first to recover, shaking his head. "Help him? Are you out of your mind? That monster doesn't need anyone's help!"

"Huh?" Lucien tilted his head, still confused by their reaction when, suddenly, a sharp voice echoed in his mind.

[Damn! Just which brand of idiot are you? Look at that bastard's face.]

Lucien's gaze snapped to Leon's face, and his blood ran cold. The amusement that had been there before was gone, replaced by an expression so terrifying, so predatory, that it sent a deep chill through Lucien's body. It was as if the air around Leon had frozen, and for the first time, Lucien realized just how far out of his league Leon truly was.

Leon's expression twisted, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement as wild laughter erupted from him, echoing across the military complex.

"Hahahahaha!"

The sound was sharp, cold, and unhinged, sending a collective shiver down the spines of everyone present.

"So here you were, Paul," Leon sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "I wondered where you disappeared. I was told I'd find you in Sector 9... but you weren't there."

He paused, his eyes glinting with a terrifying excitement as he scanned Paul's stiffening form.

"So, this is where you holed up? Hahaha!"

Paul's heart pounded in his chest, a deep sense of unease clawing at his mind. That laughter, that chilling presence..it was all too familiar.

His lips parted, trembling slightly as he struggled to speak.

"Who... Who are you?" Paul asked, his voice shaky. "You're talking as if you know me very well."

Leon's lips curled, his grin widening into something far more sinister.

"Kekeke... Of course, I don't know you, but you should know me very well," Leon said, his voice chilling down carrying a weight that made Paul's stomach twist.

"After all, it was you who declared me an unwanted criminal."

The moment those words left Leon's lips, an eerie silence blanketed the entire courtyard. The weight of his revelation hit like a hammer, and for a moment, it seemed as though the very air had frozen. Those who had witnessed the infamous fight between Han Yu and Lucien exchanged knowing glances. The realization was settling in.

Ael and Morbius, standing off to the side, glanced at Paul with expressions of thinly veiled amusement, as though they were watching an inevitable tragedy unfold.

Paul felt his pulse quicken, his mouth dry. The ominous feeling that had been gnawing at him erupted into full-blown dread. He could hear the sound of a death bell tolling in his mind, its haunting chime filling him with a primal fear. Desperately trying to mask his terror, he asked, his voice barely a whisper, "Are... are you... Leon...?"

Leon's grin stretched wider, so wide it seemed unnatural, as a crimson aura, thick and suffocating, began to rise around him like a deadly storm.

"Yes," Leon hissed, his voice like the edge of a blade. "That's me."

The soft words sounded like a cacophony of thunder blasting in his ears again and again.

Paul's breath hitched, his heart sinking as he realized the nightmare standing before him was real.

It was at this moment, he knew he fucked up.