Leon took a deep breath as he approached the seat offered by the Beastman Emperor. His body ached from the battles, but he maintained a steady posture. He had earned this moment, and he wouldn't waste it.
Jarek and Kaelen stood behind him, watching the room carefully. Rhun, however, had his eyes locked on the emperor, his expression unreadable.
The emperor leaned forward, golden eyes gleaming. "You have proven yourself in combat, but strength alone does not grant you the right to demand answers."
Leon expected this. Beastmen respected strength, but they were not fools.
"You seek knowledge," the emperor continued. "But knowledge is power. Power that belongs to those who have the right to wield it."
Leon nodded. "Then allow me to prove my right in a different way."
The emperor's brow lifted slightly. "Oh?"
Leon exhaled slowly. It was time to reveal a fraction of what he knew.
---
A Truth Not Yet Known
"The world will change," Leon said, his voice calm but firm. "In ways no one can yet imagine."
The warriors in the hall shifted, their ears twitching at his words.
"The balance between the continents, the struggles for dominance, the wars you have fought—they will all become meaningless."
The emperor's golden eyes narrowed.
Leon met his gaze without flinching. "A force greater than any kingdom, any emperor, or any race will descend upon this world. And when that happens, only those who are prepared will survive."
Silence.
Then, one of the warriors scoffed. "You speak in riddles, outsider."
Leon didn't respond to the insult. Instead, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small, glowing crystal.
The moment it left his hand, it floated in the air, pulsing with an eerie light.
The reaction was immediate.
The emperor's eyes sharpened. Several warriors tensed, hands drifting toward their weapons. They recognized power when they saw it.
"This is a fragment of what is to come," Leon said. "A power beyond the understanding of this world."
The emperor's gaze locked onto the crystal. His expression didn't change, but Leon knew he had his attention now.
"Explain," the emperor said, his voice quiet but commanding.
Leon's fingers curled slightly. "In time, these fragments will appear across the world, granting power to those who claim them. But they are only the beginning."
He paused before delivering the final blow.
"This world will no longer belong to the strong. It will belong to those who can evolve."
---
A Kingdom on the Edge of Change
The emperor studied Leon for a long moment. The warriors around them exchanged uneasy glances, but no one spoke.
Finally, the emperor leaned back, his expression unreadable.
"You speak of change," he said, "but change is inevitable. What makes this different?"
Leon exhaled. "Because this time, the change will not be one you can fight with swords and claws alone."
The emperor's fingers drummed against the armrest of his bone-carved throne.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed. A deep, rumbling sound that filled the hall.
"You have courage, outsider. And more than that—you have secrets."
His golden eyes gleamed.
"I will allow you to stay in Stormclaw. For now."
Leon gave a respectful nod. He had taken a risk, but it had paid off.
But the emperor wasn't finished.
"If you truly believe in this coming change, then you will need to prove it in more ways than just words."
He gestured to one of his guards, who stepped forward and handed Leon a rolled-up scroll.
Leon took it and unrolled it, his eyes scanning the contents.
A map.
More specifically, a map leading to a location deep within the Beastman Continent—one that Leon recognized instantly.
His grip on the parchment tightened.
So it still exists…
The emperor watched his reaction closely. "That is a place only the strongest of our warriors have dared to enter. If you wish to prove that you are worthy of knowledge, then you will go there."
Leon exhaled slowly. He already knew what this meant.
A new trial awaited.
One far deadlier than the battles he had just fought.
---
A Journey Into the Unknown
As they stepped out of the emperor's hall, Jarek sighed heavily. "Why is it always trials with you?"
Kaelen smirked. "Because without them, he wouldn't be Leon."
Rhun, however, was quiet. He looked at Leon carefully. "Do you truly believe what you said in there?"
Leon didn't hesitate. "I don't just believe it. I know it."
Rhun's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't press further.
Jarek ran a hand through his hair. "So, where does this map lead?"
Leon looked down at the scroll, his mind already racing.
To one of the oldest ruins in the Beastman Continent.
A place filled with forgotten knowledge and untamed power.
And if his memory was correct…
It was also where one of the first great legacies lay hidden.
Leon's eyes gleamed.
"This," he said, "is where our real journey begins."
---