At the Gates of Authority
Leon stood outside the Soulforge Citadel.
The wind brushed lightly against his black hair, lifting a few strands across his sharp features. His golden eyes reflected the towering gates before him, calm… but carrying something deeper beneath the surface.
"So this is it…" he murmured quietly, almost to himself.
In his arms, the Silver Rabbit shifted slightly, its soft body nestling closer.
"…It's bigger than before," he added under his breath, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Looking around, the towering and majestic palace complex is resplendent and magnificent, full of sacred and majestic atmosphere under the reflection of the sun.
The golden light cascaded down the layered rooftops, each structure carved with intricate patterns that seemed to breathe with history. The air itself felt heavier here—solemn, restrained.
"Every stone here screams authority," Leon muttered. "They really like showing off."
Outside the temple is a line of silver-armored knights holding sharp spears, solemn and solemn, patrolling and guarding.
Their armor gleamed under the sun, polished to perfection. Not a single movement was wasted—every step measured, every glance sharp.
"Disciplined," Leon noted, eyes scanning them lazily. "But a bit too stiff."
The Silver Rabbit's blue eyes flickered slightly, as if sensing something.
"…Don't worry," Leon whispered softly, his fingers brushing its fur. "They won't touch you."
Leon stepped forward and was stopped by a silver armored knight.
The knight's spear dropped instantly, blocking the path with precision.
"The important place of Soulforge City citadel. From here, entry is restricted. Unauthorized persons—stop. State your purpose before taking a single step."
Leon looked at the knight, his gaze steady, voice calm.
"I want to enter the citadel."
The knight didn't move.
Didn't blink.
"Everyone wants to enter," he replied flatly. "Not everyone is allowed."
Leon tilted his head slightly.
"…Then tell me what I need."
"Is there a pass to enter inside?"
The knight's eyes narrowed slightly.
"There is."
Leon's expression remained unchanged.
"Can't get in without a pass?"
The knight snorted.
"Right—you don't."
A faint silence settled between them.
Leon exhaled lightly.
"…That's troublesome."
"Is there no other way to enter?" Leon asked.
The knight's patience clearly thinned.
A flicker of irritation crossed his face.
"It's useless without a pass. This is not some place where anyone can come and go as they please."
Another knight nearby added with a scoff, "This isn't a marketplace, boy. Don't waste our time."
Leon frowned slightly, the first hint of displeasure surfacing.
"…I see."
"What, are you angry?" The silver armored knight sneered, arrogance creeping into his tone. "No matter who you are, if you don't have a pass, get out and don't stand here."
Leon's expression darkened subtly.
Not explosive.
Just… colder.
"Hey, do you still want to make trouble?" another knight laughed. "A commoner like you wants to act tough here? Let's see how far you get."
A few of them chuckled.
The atmosphere shifted.
Hostile.
The knight in silver armor straightened, confidence swelling in his chest.
"Want another way?" he said mockingly. "Fine. Show strength above Elite level."
He tapped his spear against the ground.
"Otherwise—even if you're from some big family—you don't enter."
Another voice chimed in, amused, "And looking at you? You don't even have Spirit Force."
The lead knight smirked.
He was an Elite himself.
To him—
Leon was nothing.
Leon's voice was low.
"Do you know who I'm looking for?"
The knight paused.
For a moment, something cautious flickered in his eyes.
"Who are you looking for?"
Leon answered simply.
"Evelyn."
The air froze.
"Presumptuous! You dare mention the name of the Supreme Empress?!"
The knight's voice exploded.
In an instant—
Five Spirit Hallows rose around him, glowing brightly, releasing a crushing aura that spread outward.
Other silver-armored soldiers reacted immediately, surrounding Leon from all sides.
Steel clashed softly.
Boots scraped the ground.
The tension snapped tight.
He sneered coldly.
"If you were just some kid looking for someone, I'd let you leave."
His eyes hardened.
"But you dare speak Her Majesty's name so casually?"
His spear tilted forward.
"I won't let you go before I teach you some manners and respect towards the empress."
Another knight spat to the side.
"He deserves it."
"Teach him a lesson."
Facing the pressure, surrounded on all sides—
Leon lowered his head.
His gaze fell on the Silver Rabbit.
His fingers stilled.
For a moment—
His body trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
But from something else.
"…They're testing my patience," he thought.
He had come here in a good mood.
But now—
That mood was thinning.
Fast.
"…Still holding back, huh?" he muttered faintly.
The silver-armored knight burst into laughter.
Looking around proudly—
"Brothers, do you see this?"
He pointed at Leon.
"He's already trembling before I even use my full strength!"
Laughter erupted.
"He wanted to see the Supreme Empress?"
"Doesn't even know his place!"
"He should look in the mirror first!"
Another knight added with a grin, "Commander, look at him—pretty face, smooth skin, holding a rabbit… looks more like a gigolo than anything."
More laughter.
"Hurry up and throw him out," someone said. "If he bleeds here, it'll dirty the gates."
The laughter echoed.
Loud.
Mocking.
Then—
A voice cut through it.
Cold.
Sharp.
Leon spoke without lifting his head.
"I said… are the guards at the gate of the Soulforge Citadel always this brainless?"
Silence.
Instant.
Every knight froze.
Their expressions twisted.
They hadn't expected—
This.
The man who had been trembling—
Dared to mock them?
"Have you grown guts suddenly?" one snapped. "Still talking like that?"
"I'm afraid you came to the wrong place!"
"Boom!"
Spirit Force surged again.
More Spirit Hallows rose.
One after another.
The air grew heavy.
Crushing.
Leon was surrounded completely now.
At the center—
The five-ring Elite stood out, arrogant and confident.
In their eyes—
This was already over.
But—
Nothing happened.
Leon stood there.
Straight.
Unmoved.
The trembling—
Gone.
Completely.
Then—
He raised his head.
Slowly.
His golden eyes—
Bright.
Clear.
And dangerous.
The faint frown on his face had vanished.
In its place—
A smile.
Not warm.
Not friendly.
Something sharper.
"I haven't been impatient for a long time," he said slowly.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I just couldn't control it for a second… so I trembled a little."
A pause.
"Sorry."
His lips curved slightly.
"Looks like you misunderstood that."
The laughter—
Stopped.
Abruptly.
As if someone had grabbed their throats.
Every knight stared.
Disbelief filling their eyes.
"Isn't he supposed to be weak?"
"How is he still standing…?"
"He doesn't have any Spirit Force…"
"Impossible… absolutely impossible!"
"He's just a good-looking commoner!"
But deep down—
They knew something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Leon still had no visible aura.
No Spirit Force.
Nothing.
And yet—
That smile…
Made their skin crawl.
Leon's golden eyes swept across them slowly.
Then—
Stopped.
On the five-ring Elite.
His voice dropped.
Flat.
But heavy.
"You… are very arrogant."
The Elite's heart skipped.
For no reason—
He stepped back half a step.
Then clenched his fists.
Trying to suppress the strange unease.
"You're the arrogant one!"
His voice rose.
"Maybe I was wrong earlier—but no matter who you are—"
He pointed his spear forward.
"This is not your place to show off in front of the Soulforge Citadel!"