The Black Necromancer

Elena and Mica were barely able to stabilize their spiral caused by the explosion. When they did, they hastily turned their attention to the rapidly shrinking form of Leon. The menacing aura that belonged to Izeal was rapidly diminishing and turning lackluster.

"What have you done?!" Izeal's voice boomed all around them, not just coming from Leon's body.

"No! This can't be! This can't be! I cannot go out like this!!! I was so close!" Despair and hate welled up in the voice of the Paragon of Undeath as Leon's body finally shrunk down to normal size.

Before they could catch their breaths, they felt their bodies get drawn up into a vortex that appeared out of nowhere, dragging them out of the Void within Izeal's body. They appeared in another Void, with the Nexus Being's light shining down on them.

Hovering a distance away was the true body of the Paragon of Undeath, covered in cracks that shone with an ominous light. A huge amount of turbulent energy was surging from the cracks, impacting the stability of space in reality.

"You have lost, Izeal. Your plans have fallen through." The Nexus Being's majestic voice boomed, carrying a hint of finality in its tone.

"You... You ruined everything!" Izeal's voice was hoarse and lacked the earlier power that it once had.

As he spoke, the cracks continued to spread until it had run through every part of his body. He would detonate at any moment now.

However, that was not what the Nexus Being wanted to see. It held out a hand and a familiar Obsidian Skeleton materialized out of nothing. In the center of the Obsidian Skeleton's chest, a reformed Divine Spark that had not been corrupted appeared, and life surged through the bones.

Leon awakened with a start as he felt his powers return to him. Along with that, the knowledge of what had happened after Izeal had gotten the upper hand also swarmed in.

"I see. I know what I have to do." Leon nodded as he digested everything.

He moved forward until he was right in front of Izeal, his eye sockets gleaming with mockery. His job now was to absorb Izeal's power as the True God slowly lost control. He would gain all of Izeal's powers, but with the help of the Nexus Being, filter out the negative aspects and avoid devolving into the same madness that plagued Izeal.

"I would have won..." Resentment, anger, hate, and despair, tainted Izeal's voice as he gazed upon the key to his success.

"Yes, you would have won. But you chose to make everyone your enemy or your pawn. You wanted to do everything alone. I pity you, Izeal. You were nothing but misguided." Leon shook his head as Izeal's body started to break down, turning into ash and allowing the accumulated energy begin to disperse. He did not waste any time and began to siphon the energy, drawing it into his Divine Spark.

The alignment between Leon and Izeal was very high, allowing Leon to easily accommodate the energy and essence of the Paragon of Undeath. With each passing moment, the aura emanating from his body began to grow in weight, making him resemble a radiant star. Elena and Mica hurried to shield their gazes from the force of might.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Elena finally felt like it was okay for her to turn her gaze back on Leon and the Paragon of Undeath. However, there was only one being left floating where there had once been two.

"...Leon?" Elena hesitantly called out. Mica protectively stretched his wings and blocked Elena's path. He wanted to play it safe.

"I... I feel... great!" Leon's voice was full of energy and vitality as he turned around to look at Elena, Mica and the Nexus Being.

"Congratulations, Leon Cromwell, you have overcome the first step. But that is not all. You are not yet in balance. You must spend time to reestablish balance within yourself to avoid falling to the corruption that drove Izeal down the path he took." The Nexus Being said with a heavy tone.

"I understand. I can already feel the corruption setting in. Even with Izeal gone, the madness that plagued him refuses to be expelled from what was contained in him." Leon sighed, examining his body through his enhanced senses. He could see much more than he ever could, feel much more.

"Leon!" At that time, Elena got tired of waiting and called out to Leon. She hurried forward, but was hesitant to cross the entire distance. She could feel the horrifying energy that was emanating from his body. It blinded her senses and she could not even look at him clearly with her bare eyes.

Her level had dropped back to that of a Peak A rank, and she was only able to survive in the Void thanks to the support of the Nexus Being and her bond with Mica. But even Mica was struggling under the raw power radiating from Leon.

"Elena." Leon paused and tried to get a handle on his newly acquired powers. He had just gotten this strength and found it difficult to suppress. It was very much like when someone just underwent a breakthrough in rank and found it difficult to contain their aura and powers.

After a moment of concentration, the blinding aura emanating from him abruptly disappeared, and Leon looked like an ordinary skeleton. Flesh, muscles, tendons and ligaments quickly grew all over his body until he had regained his human form, looking even more perfect than the last time he had taken this form.

A moment later, he was embracing Elena in his arms, comforting her.

"It's fine. I made it out alive, thanks to all of you. I won't be going anywhere for a long time." A small smile crept onto Leon's face as the words sank in. He was glad he could finally say those words and mean them.

It was finally over. This long drama with the Paragon of Undeath had finally come to an end. He had finally reached the pinnacle of power that would grant him agency over his own actions without being manipulated by those above him.

Finally.