Leon drew in a slow, measured breath—and for the first time since the battle began, he allowed himself to feel.
The power within him was not foreign. Not borrowed. Not bestowed by some higher will.
It was his.
Forged from every trial he had endured, every desire he had refused to abandon, every limit he had shattered through sheer will alone.
Behind him, the lion manifested in full. Majestic. Immense. Silent in its authority. Its golden-lined form shimmered with quiet divinity, while its flowing mane of water moved like an endless tide, each ripple carrying a presence that felt both ancient and newborn.
It did not roar, nor did it bare its fangs.
It didn't need to.
Its very existence declared one truth… Nothing would pass Leon.
And in that moment, understanding settled deep within his soul.
This power was not meant to destroy. It was meant to protect.
