Leon screamed as he realized it was Vera who had pierced his skull with her fingernails. "What the fuck do you want, Vera?"
Leon shouted, but Vera just grinned and slammed the door so hard it shook the walls and rippled the weak plaster.
'Who was she talking about? Was it Jade she was talking about, or was it Tiger?' Leon thought as he struggled, then sat up straight.
But as he tried to stand on his legs, he fell so hard he cursed under his breath. "Fuck!"
Then, slowly, he used his arms as pillars to help himself up onto the chair once again. Even after failing three attempts, Leon tried to stand again.
This time, he was able to do so, but had to lean on a table before he could stand straight. "Why did she say I should send her father's greetings to my dead father?"
Leon frowned as he murmured under his breath. His eyes stayed at the door through which Vera had exited, waiting for her to come and give him the answer he was looking for.
Yet no one came through, and no answer came; only the silent air that flowed through the room continued.
Then, as he fully regained his strength and control of his own bones, he moved forward, one step at a time, and moved to the wall.
He pressed his head to the surface and whispered, "I can't let Tiger win. No matter what level he is, I have to fight him till the last moment. Even if I have to crack all my bones to fight him, I will."
Leon closed his eyes and made the words 'I will' settle deep in his gut. But saying it wasn't enough. He needed a plan.
His eyebrow raised slightly as he thought of Mr. Lee's lesson. 'He will try to make you explode. Don't let him.'
A faint smile tore across Leon's face as he whispered softly, "I'll use his strength, redirect it, and make him fight himself."
Though it wasn't a guarantee, nor was it even a good plan. But it was what he had chosen.
A chime sound erupted, causing Leon to move from the wall's angle to the door.
There, his ears picked up sounds that seemed to come from the space behind the door. Every word or statement he heard had his name either at the beginning or at the end.
But he stayed there, gently pressing his ears to the door's surface and listening to the words.
"Are you sure he won't die instantly?"
"Why are you asking me this question at this moment? Why do you think that good-for-nothing brat has a chance against me?"
"I'm just asking to be sure, since he was able to survive all four fights he had to fight. But wait, why was his fifth fight skipped?"
"I don't know, but it's good they skipped it. Whatever the case, I don't care. All I want now is just to fight him, kill him, and tear out his skin as I did to your friend."
"That girl was never my friend; I just wanted to use her. But since she's out of the scene, it's even better for me to move on with Zoe and try my tricks on her as well."
"Don't you dare try any tricks on her! If I see you doing it, I don't mind that we've had something before. I will wipe you out!"
"Do you think you're the only one who has undergone your third awakening under the Tier 2 evolution? Don't you dare do anything stupid."
"So, are you trying to challenge me?"
"Nah, I'm just letting you know you aren't the only one who has strong power and is capable of doing something massive."
Leon pulled his ears from the door, tilted his head toward the door behind him, and stared there as if he had heard something approaching.
The moment he pressed his ear to the door, he heard footsteps approaching the door he was standing behind.
Slowly and swiftly, he walked to the stiffened foamy chair and sat down, pretending to be thinking of something.
Then, slowly, a chime sound erupted as something pulled the door from the inside. Slowly, Tiger walked in, staring at Leon like trash.
"Leon Storm. I want to ask you something; hope you're not bothered?" Tiger's voice echoed, followed by a short laugh.
"Why don't you beg me here so I can plead with the proctors to cancel this death sentence you're bringing upon yourself?"
Tiger grinned as his lips stopped moving.
Leon stared at him, not flinching, not answering, and not moving, just letting the air respond for him.
After a while, the room rose back to life as Leon began to speak. "Even if I'm to walk into the deepest pit of hell, I will walk through with a raised head and a broad chest."
Leon paused and clenched his fist.
"I will struggle on my feet, rather than beg on my knees, and later die and rot in shame!"
The moment Leon's voice faded, Tiger stood there, staring at him with wide eyes and an open mouth.
Leon could see the density of confusion etched in Tiger's eyes, but couldn't respond to him.
Then, Tiger brushed his right hand over his face and smiled. But in the smile, Leon saw a face he hadn't seen or even heard of anyone seeing before.
"I love the courage you have. But let's see how you show it at the platform. Your graveyard!"
Tiger grinned after speaking, lowered his head, and shook it.
Slowly, Tiger gripped the door so hard that after he opened it and left, the handle had his palm imprinted on it.
Leon softened his clenched fist and shook his hand to pull away the pain he felt in his palm.
Then, slowly, he moved his palm to his eye angle, but was shocked at what he had done to himself.
He stared at the blood seeping from his palm, felt the sharp pain that felt distant, as if it belonged to someone else.
He walked to the sink in the corner of the room and turned the nozzle. Cold water splashed on his hands, washing the blood away in thin, pink ribbons. He watched it swirl down the drain until the water became clear.
Then, he braced his hands on the edge of the sink and lowered his head. His reflection stared back, a pale, tired, but steady face.
'Tiger wants me to be afraid,' he thought, breathing slowly. 'I'll walk onto that platform. I'll do what Mr. Lee taught me. And, no matter what happens, I won't beg.'
He raised his head, dried his hands on his trousers, and turned to the door. 'One fight. One chance to show myself what I'm made of.'
Just as he brushed it for the third time, he felt a sharp, electrified pain strike his thigh. "Ahh, fuck!"
Leon shook his fist rapidly, trying to make the pain vanish. After thirty minutes of waiting, he heard his name mentioned by the proctors.
As he opened the door and raised his eyes, he saw Malphas being dragged by two blue-clothed people—similar to the ones he had seen while they exited the Shattered Land.