Ex-Rank Awakening: My Attacks Make Me Stronger - Chapter 358

Chapter 358: EX 358. Unexpected Guest
Nikko’s thoughts drifted far from the arena. They twisted into things she would never admit out loud, things that made her toes curl inside her boots.

In her mind she pictured Leon doing all the things a stronger mate could do.

The images flashed too quickly for her to chase away, and her head almost short circuited.

Leon blinked at her, confused as her face turned scarlet.

“What’s wrong with her?” he muttered under his breath.

Originus, calm as ever, answered inside his mind. “It seems she wants to mate with you.”

The arena seemed to hold its breath the moment the thought hit Leon.

Nikko’s stare told him everything he needed to know. Since stepping into the divine stage, reading a woman’s intentions had become embarrassingly easy.

He had known what she wanted the second she locked eyes with him, but he didn’t expect her reaction to flare this openly, right in front of a hundred champions and a ‘roaring’ stadium.

Her cheeks had turned a warm shade of red, and her gaze kept dipping, as if her thoughts were sprinting far ahead of her.

Before Leon could say anything aloud, another thought struck him, sharper and far more irritating.

Turning his attention to the ancient presence lounging in the back of his mind.

‘I thought you were still sulking.’

The primordial dragon actually stopped mid-laugh. The pause felt heavy enough to crack stone.

‘I am not that petty, boy. I hardly hold grudges. Even in my prime, many enemies bent the knee and served under me. A child like you could never keep me awake at night.’

Leon scoffed quietly.

‘I bet that only applied to the female enemies.’

The dragon choked on whatever grand speech it had been preparing.

Leon shook his head at the reaction, then set his attention back on Nikko. She still looked flustered, still looked like she was trying to process the fact that he had reached S rank while she was busy fighting for her spot in the top hundred.

He stepped closer and spoke softly.

“Alright, Nikki. It is time to go.”

But before she could reply the air above the arena cracked.

As a beam of light slammed down at the center stage, forcing the spectators to shield their eyes. When it faded, a towering figure stood where the light had struck.

His presence rolled across the arena in a wave that made the air grow heavy. His body was massive, sculpted with a strength that felt carved from the wild itself.

Primal energy crawled across his skin in faint, shifting patterns, as if the essence of beasts moved underneath it.

Gasps turned into a rush of motion.

The champions and the crowd dropped into bows without hesitation.

A united voice filled the arena.

We greet the Beast Chief.

Francis, the ruler of the Beast clans, had arrived.

****

The crucible hung in a hush as Francis stepped forward, his shadow stretching across the stage like something ancient stirring awake.

Moments earlier, he’d been far away in his domain, sifting through the steady stream of reports that every ruler received.

Most were routine cluster checks. Patrol disputes. Minor beast tribe squabbles. Tournament updates.

But then one report made him stop cold.

Someone ‘claiming’ to be Leon Kael had appeared in the middle of the tournament final ceremony.

Next to the top one hundred Divine-stage champions.

At first, Francis thought it was a joke.

A prank. Maybe a misunderstanding in the report he received. But the more the report repeated itself, the more he felt a quiet pull in his chest.

He might have ignored it if it were anyone else. But Leon… Leon was different.

Leon was the rising hope of Pandora. A variable the rulers watched closely. A being of impossible growth whose existence had already twisted the expectations of what a professional could become.

So Francis came.

He stepped through the light and arrived at the crucible without announcing himself.

He didn’t show his presence immediately, choosing instead to watch.

The moment he saw the scene, A champion clinging to a man, the crowd frozen, the goat-headed overseer paler than chalk, he understood the reports hadn’t exaggerated.

Then he saw Leon’s face, heard his voice.

And Francis nearly sighed.

Alexander had told him Leon was a womanizer, but this felt like a bit much, even for the boy.

One girl in his arms, another pouting in the stands.

A hundred Divine-stage champions looking like they’d been struck dumb.

Francis almost turned around and left.

Almost.

Instead, an idea took shape, and he decided to make himself known.

His arrival stormed the arena like a shockwave of primal pressure.

Every champion and spectator stood with heads bowed low.

“We greet the Beast Chief!”

That thunder of voices rang through the crucible.

Leon turned casually, as if someone had called his name from across the street.

Francis didn’t bother to hide his exasperation.

“Leon. Long time no see.”

Leon blinked once, then offered a light shrug.

“I thought you were just here to watch.”

The Beast Chief felt something catch in his throat.

Of course Leon noticed him watching. He should have expected that. Still, it threw him for a moment.

Around them, the last shred of doubt in the spectators evaporated.

Anyone who knew the Beast Chief knew how he behaved around people. For him to speak to a young man so directly… there was only one explanation.

This really was Leon Kael.

Francis straightened, folding his arms across his chest as the primal energy along his skin dimmed into calm currents.

“I originally intended to observe,” he said, “but I changed my mind. I’ll need your help with something.”

Leon glanced at Nikko beside him. Then at Elizabeth in the stands, who was glaring at him like she was deciding whether or not to jump down and wring his neck.

He gave a small shake of his head, more amused than bothered.

Finally, he faced Francis again.

“I don’t have anything going on,” he said. “I don’t mind helping.”

His tone was easy. Almost relaxed.