Ex-Rank Awakening: My Attacks Make Me Stronger - Chapter 361

Chapter 361: EX 361. Specialty
The corrupt creatures poured from the island like a black tide, their howls rolling through the clouds as corruption thickened the air.

At the center of the horde was their guardian, an abomination that looked like an ox fused with an octopus, sprouting tattered wings that leaked dark miasma.

Its roar made the air shudder as it led the charge upward, hunger and rage twisting in its many eyes.

Behind Leon, the others hovered in silence, Francis, Nikko, Elizabeth, and Malachi each instinctively stepping back as Leon raised Void Blade.

The weapon shimmered once, then shattered into countless floating shards that glowed faintly against the dark sky.

For a brief heartbeat, everything went still.

Then the shards fell.

They sliced through the horde like divine rain, each piece cutting through corrupted flesh with surgical precision.

The guardian didn’t even have time to realize what had happened.

One shard pierced its skull, and in the same breath, it dissolved into a cloud of violet dust. The rest of the legion followed, bursting apart one after another until the entire swarm disintegrated midair.

Francis stood motionless, his eyes reflecting the silent storm of falling dust.

He was a ruler who had seen countless battles, but this, this was different.

There was no extra steps, no movement, just death on command.

Nikko and Elizabeth exchanged stunned glances, their hearts thudding with both pride and disbelief.

They knew Leon was strong, but witnessing it so effortlessly reminded them how far above he truly was.

Malachi exhaled softly, watching the violet haze drift across the wind.

“Magnificent,” he muttered, almost reverently.

And then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. No creature remained, not even the stench of corruption.

Leon lowered his hand.

“I’ll be back,” he said simply, and vanished from the spot.

Within moments, a calm breeze swept across the island as the foul aura faded entirely. When Leon reappeared beside them, his tone was casual and almost bored.

“Handled the tether as well.”

Francis blinked, taken aback before quickly regaining his composure.

“Thank you for the assistance, Leon. You’ve done more than enough for the people.”

Leon nodded.

“Since there’s nothing more, we’ll take our leave.”

The Beast Chief smiled faintly.

“Why don’t I escort you?”

Before Francis could continue, Originus’s voice echoed dryly in Leon’s mind.

‘What an a—’

Leon cut him off mid-sentence.

“It’s alright, Chief. I’ll make sure to repay your hospitality.”

Francis inclined his head.

“You don’t have to, Leon.”

Leon’s reply came with a small smile.

“Until we meet again.”

Light rippled around him, and in the next instant, he vanished—taking Elizabeth, Nikko, and the still-dazed Malachi with him.

Left alone in the open sky, Francis watched the empty air where they had stood.

The faint remnants of corruption drifted away on the wind, leaving the world quiet once more before he too disappeared, a thoughtful expression lingering on his face.

*****

Leon cut through the skies of Pandora like a streak of controlled lightning, the wind peeling away behind him until the sprawling capital of the Arman Empire rose beneath them.

The moment his feet touched the polished stone of the imperial palace, he exhaled lightly and said,

“We’re back.”

Nikko’s eyes widened as she took everything in. Golden towers, sweeping walkways, the quiet hum of authority in the air, none of it resembled the wilder lands she was used to back on the beast island rather it was closer to the federal manor in the real world.

Malachi, on the other hand, held a faint, nostalgic look. This was the land of his origins, a place he had long left behind.

Leon turned to Elizabeth, catching her attention. “Lizzie, why don’t you show Nikki around?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“No problem.” Though confusion lingered in her gaze, she wasn’t the only one wondering what Leon was planning.

Nikko asked the question first.

“What about you? What will you be doing?”

Leon stepped closer and gently patted her hand, the warmth in his touch grounding her.

“I want to talk to our guest alone.”

His eyes flicked over to Malachi.

Malachi blinked and pointed at himself, incredulous.

“Me?”

Elizabeth glanced between them. Nikko looked unsure, but Leon’s calm expression said this wasn’t something to worry about.

If anything, he was telling them to take a break. So Elizabeth guided Nikko out of the hall, the two disappearing into the palace corridors.

As soon as they were gone, Malachi threw both hands into the air like he was surrendering.

“I didn’t know she was your woman!”

Leon stared at him in dead silence.

After a moment, he asked flatly,

“What do you mean by that?”

Malachi squirmed.

“I mean… I didn’t know Nikko was your woman. If I did, I wouldn’t have hit her the way I did.”

Leon studied the monkey man for a long beat. “That’s not the reason I wanted to talk to you.”

Malachi nodded slowly, still cautious.

“Then… why do you want me alone?”

Leon’s expression eased into something almost casual.

“It’s simple. I just want to spar.”

A thrill shot through Malachi’s chest. His staff materialized in an instant, primal energy pulsing faintly along its length.

“I’m ready when you are.”

Leon nodded once at the overly eagerness. “Good.”

And in the next heartbeat, the palace hall fell empty, both of them vanishing into thin air.

****

The air hummed with the weight of old battles and fresh expectations.

The space Alexander had gifted Leon was enormous, its stone pillars carved with scenes of past emperors and champions.

Torches burned with steady orange light, casting long shadows across the tiled floor.

Leon and Malachi stood at the center of it, a stillness settling between them like the calm before a storm.

Originus’s voice slid into Leon’s mind, dry and unimpressed.

‘Why would you want to spar with the youngster? It’s not as if you would gain anything from it.’

Leon almost snorted. Malachi, older than him by decades yet being labeled a youngster amused him.

He adjusted his stance, watching Malachi twirl his staff with a grin tugging at the edges of his mouth.

‘Who says I won’t gain anything?’ Leon thought back.

‘I don’t usually do things without a reason.’

Originus huffed in mild irritation.

‘Please enlighten me, then. What do you wish to gain from this spar?’

Leon’s gaze sharpened, the faintest hint of anticipation flaring behind his calm expression.

‘It’s simple,’ he answered.

‘Primal energy.’