Timeless Assassin-Chapter 447: Introduction

(Juxta Military Base, The common mess hall, Charles’s POV)

Charles burst into laughter the second he saw Soron’s silhouette descend on the stream, slapping his knee with the flat of his palm as he pointed at the screen, shaking his head like he’d just watched the punchline of a joke unfold perfectly.

"Well I’ll be damned... The old man actually showed up."

But the humor didn’t last long.

Around him, dozens of Juxta Military Base soldiers had already dropped to their knees, foreheads pressed to the floor before the television.

Even those caught mid-meal had abandoned their trays entirely, choosing instead to bow in silence, hands clasped as they offered quiet prayers to the Divine Protector now seated upon the arena’s edge.

Charles let out a slow exhale as he glanced around the mess hall.

’That’s right...’ he reminded himself.

For them, Soron wasn’t just a man.

To them, Soron was a deity.

The worst nightmare of the righteous faction. The strongest god who walked across the stars in silence, leaving behind only dead bodies and blood.

Charles snuffed out his laughter and leaned back in his chair, expression neutral once more. Then, taking a slow drag from his cigarette, he let the smoke trail lazily from the corner of his mouth.

"I’ll be damned," he muttered again, this time under his breath, as his eyes drifted back to the screen. "Maybe this fight is really more important to the future of this Cult than what I believe."

—-----------

(At the same time, down in the warm-up room, Leo’s POV)

Leo wondered what all the ruckus was about above him?

For a solid minute, it sounded like the entire stadium had imploded into madness.

However, unfortunately, without a live feed or even a single screen down here in the warm-up tunnels, he could only guess what was happening.

"I sense the presence of someone extremely strong, Lord Father," Dumpy whispered, a slight tremble in his croaking voice. "It’s like... if everyone else shines like a candle in this arena, then that individual... he shines like a sun."

Leo glanced down at him, gently stroking the frog’s back as he brought him some calm.

"It’s okay," Leo said softly. "It doesn’t matter who came or who didn’t. I still have to fight this battle the same way I had to five minutes ago."

The words were spoken quietly, mostly to himself, a steady anchor against the rising tide of nerves.

Seconds ticked by, unmeasured and slow, as he closed his eyes and centered his breath.

He recalled the battles with Charles.

Recalled the pressure in his bones, the breathless sensation of dancing on the edge of the realm of intent.

He wrapped that sensation around him. Replayed the memory on loop, over and over, until his pulse slowed and his limbs felt light again.

"Lord Father, don’t overthink it," Dumpy said, voice sincere. "You may be a Grandmaster... but you’re Lord Father. Nobody can beat you when you really try."

Leo’s eyes opened slowly, a faint smile pulling at the corner of his lips. He gave the little frog a final pat before setting him on the bench behind him.

As the booming voice of the announcers echoed through the arena, calling his name for all to hear, Leo took a deep breath and walked out to meet the light.

His steps were steady.

His heart calm, as a quiet smile rested on his face.

—---------

(Main Arena Stage, Seconds before the Match Start)

Once the clock timer ran down to zero and it was finally time for the match to begin, the crowd erupted in cheers as the officiating referee of the day was introduced.

"Firstly please welcome the officiating referee for today’s match.... Very experienced, very reliable, very famous..... Captain Max!"

The ground vibrated beneath the force of the applause as Max strode into the arena, his boots echoing with crisp authority.

A thick red sash was tied diagonally across his chest, denoting his official role, as he waved at the crowd with a firm and focused expression on his face.

"Captain Max is no stranger to high-pressure situations, folks. And I can’t think of a better man to referee a battle of this magnitude." Joe said, his voice ringing out over the broadcast, loud and proud.

"He’s a decorated officer, a neutral enforcer of law, and one of the few men trusted by all the Elders in the Sect," Dana added.

Max reached the center of the arena and came to a halt, giving a deep bow toward Lord Soron’s throne, before turning slightly toward the tunnel on the left.

Joe’s voice quieted slightly as the camera panned to the entrance now glowing faint white.

"And now... the moment we’ve all been waiting for."

Dana’s tone dropped to a whisper, as if reverence itself commanded the silence.

"Introducing first... hailing from the righteous faction’s reputed Rodova Military Academy... Champion of the Interstellar Circuits... The warrior nominated by the Twelfth Elder..."

A pause. A beat.

"LEO SKYYYYYYSHAAAARD!"

The crowd surged once more.

And from the shadows of the tunnel, Leo stepped forward into the light, a calm smile on his face, as he strode on to the main arena with confidence.

*CHEER*

*RUCKUS*

The crowd’s roar echoed like thunder as Leo walked across the stage, every step calm and deliberate, his presence striking not because of flair or theatrics but because of the composure that radiated off him like quiet heat.

He didn’t wave, didn’t glance at the audience, didn’t acknowledge the desperate shouts, as he simply walked with his eyes forward, as if the entire stadium had ceased to exist around him.

Captain Max stepped in to intercept him halfway, offering a respectful nod before holding out a small mana scanner.

He gave Leo a quick once-over, checking that all the gear on his body was the same one as what he had registered before the fight and that his main weapons had still not been spiked with poison between the first check and the fight.

Once satisfied that everything matched, Max gestured toward the left side of the battlefield, as Leo took his place at the designated starting spot.

’The hell..... what is that pressure?’ Leo wondered when he took his starting spot, as he felt a pair of ancient eyes looking down on him.

As that was when he saw him....

Soron, watching with a quiet curiosity.

Their gazes locked for a single breath.

And despite his body begging him to bow, Leo did not. As he chose to stand straight instead.

While Soron did not blink, as he continued to scrutinize Leo with a consistent intensity.

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