A Body Forged by Heaven's Wrath [Part-2]
There was a bang!
The entire cave trembled.
A sudden flare of gold tore through the dark, as if dawn broke underfoot. Layer by layer, lotus shapes unfolded in silence, their scent thickening the air until it pressed against the skin. Then the swirling vapor jerked - and froze - as though time forgot its next move.
Anna's pupils shrank.
Forward she moved, though didn't know it.
Then another.
And then -
She froze.
Beyond the bright yellow flowers, someone long gone returned like a spirit slipping through worlds. A presence drifted into view where petals opened wide under soft light.
An eighteen-year-old youth stood there.
Leon.
Down his back flowed thick strands of dark hair, spilling past his shoulders in soft waves, wild but effortless. A stillness sat above his eyes - edges cut fine, like lines sketched with care. Balance defined his look, each part meeting another without fault. The hint of a curve lived on his mouth, slight yet certain, as though silence spoke louder than words ever could.
But it was his eyes—
Deep.
Golden.
And quietly dangerous.
They held a kind of charm that wasn't loud… but impossible to ignore.
A calm kind of dominance.
A lazy kind of arrogance.
And beneath it all—something wild.
His body… was even more shocking.
Every line was clean, precise, as if carved deliberately by something beyond nature. His shoulders were broad, his chest firm and defined, the muscles across his torso naturally shaped—not exaggerated, but perfect in proportion. His waist narrowed just enough, his legs long and powerful, every movement carrying a sense of controlled strength.
Not bulky.
Not excessive.
Just… right.
Like the golden ratio had taken form.
Golden light still lingered faintly across his skin, flowing along his veins like something alive, giving off a subtle glow that made him look almost untouchable.
Compared to his already stunning face, Leon could clearly feel—
This body…
Was on another level entirely.
The nine orifices were fully opened.
The eight extraordinary meridians flowed without resistance.
Energy moved through him like water through open rivers.
Even his blood seemed different—warm, vibrant, carrying a faint golden radiance.
He let out a quiet breath.
"…So this is it."
Even the protagonist of this world needed over a decade, rare treasures, and sheer luck to barely open those meridians.
And him?
This was just the starting point.
Leon glanced around—
And then noticed Anna.
She was staring at him.
Completely still.
Eyes wide.
Unblinking.
For a rare moment… the proud Crimson Dragons Empress looked genuinely stunned.
Leon smiled.
Slowly.
Then waved a hand in front of her face.
"Cutie… hey, my cutie, wake up."
"Ah?!"
Anna snapped out of it.
Her expression shifted instantly—
Embarrassment.
Shock.
Then anger.
Her fist flew forward instinctively—
But halfway—
She realized something.
Her eyes widened again.
"You—!"
Her face flushed instantly, and she turned her head slightly away.
"Ah! Bastard rascal, why aren't you wearing clothes?!"
Leon blinked.
Then looked down.
"…Ah."
A beat.
Then he scratched his cheek casually.
"My body just finished reconstructing… give me a second."
Anna didn't respond.
Because in that exact second—
Her fist had already connected.
"Wait—wait, I'll do it! Boss lady, please be gentle—don't hit me, I'm not even used to this body yet—!"
Too late.
Boom!
Leon was sent flying backward, crashing into the cave wall with a heavy thud, cracks spreading from the impact.
Dust fell.
Silence followed.
Anna froze.
Her anger vanished instantly.
"…Leon?"
She rushed over, panic replacing everything else.
"Leon, don't die!"
"Ahem—"
Leon coughed, clutching his chest.
"I'm not dead… but if you hit me again, I might actually be crippled."
Anna stopped right in front of him.
Relief flashed across her face—
Then confusion.
Her gaze… dropped slightly.
"…Your body…"
Her hand instinctively reached out.
Lightly.
Carefully.
As if confirming something real.
Leon's muscles tensed slightly at the contact.
"Anna, what are you doing? Playing with my body in your own cave? Planning something?"
He raised an eyebrow, half teasing, half wary.
"You… are you attracted to my handsomeness already?"
Anna paused.
Then immediately withdrew her hand.
"You're the one with problems."
Leon snorted.
"No, I think you're the one acting strange."
Anna looked at him again—more carefully this time.
"…Your body is too perfect."
Before he could react, her hand moved again, brushing lightly across his arm, as if trying to understand what she was feeling.
Leon slapped her hand away.
"Enough. You hit me once already, now you're touching me—be careful, I might actually misunderstand this."
Anna narrowed her eyes.
Her gaze flickered downward for a brief second—then immediately shifted away, her ears turning slightly red.
"Idiot."
She turned her back quickly.
"Just… hurry up and get dressed!"
Leon sighed.
"…You really are slow sometimes."
But he didn't argue further.
Because right then—
The Genesis Lotus reacted.
The twenty-four golden petals lifted into the air, circling around him.
Light surged again.
Clothes formed.
Layer by layer.
A deep indigo robe wrapped around his body, fitting perfectly, accentuating his build without restricting it. A jade-like belt settled at his waist, and his long hair was tied back loosely with a golden crown.
When the light faded—
Leon stood there.
Completely transformed.
Calm.
Composed.
And somehow… even more striking than before.
He adjusted his sleeve casually, then smiled.
"Well?"
"You can look."
Anna had already turned halfway.
Her fingers still covering part of her face—but her eyes were clearly peeking through.
And when she saw him—
She froze again.
"Leon… I found out something…"
"What?"
She hesitated.
Then—
"You're a little handsome."
Leon raised a brow.
"A little?"
Anna pinched her fingers slightly.
"…A billion points."
Leon laughed softly.
Anna sighed, more serious now.
"Your body… might be the number one divine body in Coreland. No one can match it."
She looked at him steadily.
"And your presence… it's strange. It pulls people in. Especially women."
Leon waved his hand dismissively.
"Relax. You're exaggerating."
"I'm not joking," she replied quietly. "You're… dangerous."
Leon coughed lightly.
"You're saying it like you tested it yourself."
"Shut up! I'll hit you again!" Anna snapped, baring her teeth slightly.
Leon raised his hands.
"Alright, alright. Serious now."
A pause.
Then—
"Annie, I'm leaving the forest."
Anna's body stiffened slightly.
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
"The first stop… Soulforge Citadel."
Her eyes flickered.
"And the second?"
Leon shook his head.
"Not sure yet. Probably the Heavenly Spirit Empire."
Silence settled.
"Then go."
Leon blinked.
"You're not stopping me?"
Anna snorted lightly.
"If you want to leave, can I stop you?"
Then she added, more quietly—
"I also need to recover. That injury from the Slaughter God… it won't heal anytime soon."
Leon nodded.
Then turned.
Walking toward the exit.
Behind him—
Anna stood still.
Her hands… gripping her robe tightly.
But her face remained calm.
He stopped at the door.
Didn't turn back.
"Annie… don't worry."
His voice was low.
Steady.
"Whoever hurt you… I'll return it."
A pause.
"The one who used that sword on you… I'll kill him."
Anna scoffed lightly, though her voice wasn't as steady as before.
"Stop bragging. Do you even know who that is?"
"Top existence of the God Realm. Even I couldn't beat him before… only the Dragon God might have had a chance."
Then, softer—
"You don't need to avenge me… just live well."
Leon pushed the door open.
Light spilled in.
Then—
His laughter echoed from outside.
Carefree.
Sharp.
Full of disdain.
"Annie, stop acting mysterious. It's just the Slaughter God, right?"
A beat.
"If someone dares touch what's mine… I don't care who the fuck they are."
"I'll crush them."
Anna trembled slightly.
Her heart… tightened.
"He… how does he know…?"
Her thoughts raced.
Fear.
Confusion.
Something else.
But slowly—
That turned into warmth.
A quiet, stubborn warmth.
"He's gone…"
She whispered softly.
Then smiled.
Faint.
Foolish.
"Stupid man… I'll wait for you."