197 MATTER EXPLOSION
"Everything about this Demon of Gullee defies expectations," Hanna said, shaking her head. "He's either a prodigy or favored by the System."
Rabama's frustration boiled over. "How am I supposed to cast anything if you keep interrupting me with that unfair fast cast?" he shouted.
Leo shrugged, his tone smug. "Fine. I'll let you go first this time."
The crowd erupted in murmurs. "Why would Leo, with the clear advantage, offer Rabama such an opportunity?"
Rabama glared at him, his pride refusing to let him back down. "You'll regret this, this is the secret technique of our family," he spat, channeling his fury into his next spell.
Leo watched, calm and calculating, as Rabama began weaving a complex incantation. His sharp eyes followed every movement, committing each detail to memory- copied to his control panel.
"Matter Explosion!! Finally," Leo murmured under his breath as Rabama completed the spell.
Rabama's expression twisted into triumph. "Yes! This is the spell that will end you! Matter Explosion."
Leo's smirk deepened. "Perfect. This is just what I was fucking waiting for."
The real reason Leo came here to Eoloth was to learn this powerful secret spell enhancement magic- Matter Explosion.
Mission Accomplished.
A barrage of enchanted stone pellets erupted from Rabama's hands, each infused with explosive energy. The missiles screamed through the air, striking Leo with a deafening roar. Fire and ash engulfed the arena, obscuring him from view.
"That spell should have killed him," Lord Kabana said, his voice laced with satisfaction as the smoke began to clear.
But from the swirling ash, a golden light emerged. A spectral dragon shimmered into view, its radiant form shielding Leo. He stepped forward, completely unscathed, the aura of his Dragon Rakshasa Body Transformation Sutra glowing faintly around him.
"This… this Body Transformation Sutra can block my spell?" Rabama stammered, his expression a mix of shock and horror.
Leo's gaze was steady, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You must rarely leave Eoloth. The world outside is full of things that would fucking surprise you."
Rabama's hands trembled, his confidence shattered. "Never actually. Alright, I give up," he said abruptly, lowering his arms.
"You can't just give up!" Lord Kabana barked, his face darkening with fury. "You haven't defeated him yet!"
Rabama turned to his father with a defiant glare. "Then you fight him, Father. I'm going back to my room."
The crowd fell into stunned silence. The duel was over. Leo won.
Leo raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "So, we're calling this a draw, then?"
Rabama hesitated, but a slow grin spread across his face. "Yeah, a draw!"
The tension in the arena eased as the two fighters approached each other. Rabama extended a hand, and Leo clasped it firmly. The gesture, so unexpectedly cordial, sent a ripple of disbelief through the gathered Eoloth family.
"What's the meaning of this?" Lord Kabana demanded, his voice slicing through the murmurs. "You're stopping now?"
"It's a draw," Rabama replied, flashing a playful grin. He pointed at Leo, his tone lighter now. "I like this guy. He's the first friend I've made from outside Eoloth."
Leo chuckled softly, but before he could respond, Siphonia stormed up to him, her face a mix of irritation and bewilderment. "What the hell just happened?" she demanded in a hushed tone.
Leo shrugged casually. "It's a guy thing. Friendly gamesmanship. You sluts wouldn't understand."
Siphonia's eyes narrowed, but before she could retort, Rabama clapped Leo on the shoulder.
"Come on," he said cheerfully. "Let's head somewhere quieter. I've got some great wine stashed away."
Siphonia raised an eyebrow. "I'm coming too. I like wine, and I'm not a slut," she said firmly.
Lord Kabana's expression darkened as he watched the three walk away. "What is the meaning of this?" he growled, his voice trembling with rage.
Rabama turned to face his father, his tone sharp yet oddly cheerful. "Don't act like you don't know, Father. You ordered Sabana to challenge the guards at dinner so they'd kill them all, ensuring no one could leave Eoloth alive with our fucking secrets."
He gestured toward Leo. "But you can't kill him. He's beyond us. No one here can touch him—not even you."
Lord Kabana's face twisted in fury, but Rabama wasn't finished. "You'd need Guba… ah nevermind, and we both know he won't involve himself in this mess."
With that, Rabama spun on his heel and strode off, leading Leo and Siphonia toward his private quarters.
Kabana's fists clenched at his sides, his body trembling with suppressed rage. "Did he just make friends with that stranger after an hour?"
Hanna, standing silently beside him, finally spoke. "Rabama's lived his entire life isolated in Eoloth. Meeting someone as eccentric and strong as Lilleo Gullee—it's no wonder he'd feel a connection."
Kabana's gaze hardened, his mind already racing. "We can't let this Demon of Gullee leave with our secrets," he hissed.
"You saw how he fought, and he barely used his best moves," Hanna replied calmly. "Even if we sent our entire army, it wouldn't be enough to stop him. Gubana's the only one who could match him, but you know as well as I do that he won't leave the cave."
Kabana's jaw tightened. "Gubana stays where he is. I'll think of another way."
-----
The trio sat atop the roof of a grand building, the silvery moonlight casting its glow over the scarred terrain of the mined-out mountain below. The faint hum of distant activity drifted through the cool night air as Rabama and Leo passed around their wines.
"I've never tried wine from the outside before," Rabama admitted, taking a tentative sip of Leo's offering.
"Same here," Leo replied, savoring the smooth yet sharp flavor of the Eoloth wine. "It's different—smooth but with an edge."
"I like your wine," Siphonia chimed in, her face flushed from too much drinking.
Rabama raised an eyebrow. "Is she really a slut?" he asked Leo, his tone laced with curiosity.
Leo shrugged. "Ask her yourself."
Rabama glanced at her, but before he could speak, Siphonia leaned forward and planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek.