CHAPTER 167: EX 167. CONFESSION

After finishing with Adrian and Eden, Leon left the clinic bay. His presence had been needed to sign off on their discharge papers it was part of his captain’s duty, and soon they’d be free to leave. By tomorrow, they’d be standing on the summoning platform together, stepping back into the trial world as a unit.

Now, though, he and Elizabeth were making their way back to their accommodations.

But a thought suddenly struck him.

He glanced at her. "What do you mean by ’I have a cult’?"

She stopped mid-step. Slowly, she turned toward him, her amber eyes locking onto his. His reflection was caught in them, framed by the sharp, symmetrical lines of her face; features that were almost too perfect. The fall of her hair, the subtle movement of fabric over a frame that carried itself like it belonged on a runway. His gaze traced the curves that her clothing only partially concealed, before something else caught his attention, an almost imperceptible glow in her eyes. Energy, Old and potent. Her Dragon heritage, without a doubt.

He let himself appreciate the sight for just a second longer.

Then she spoke, her voice breaking into his thoughts.

"I’ll tell you," she said, "if you answer my question first."

Pulled from his brief trance, Leon raised a brow. "Lizzie, you know you can ask me anything."

"So it’s a deal?" she asked, her tone unreadable.

"Yes."

She tilted her head slightly, studying him. Then, in flawless English, she asked,

"Are you a dragon?"

Leon’s eyes nearly popped out.

Elizabeth’s suspicion hadn’t come out of nowhere.

Ever since the day in the trial world when they’d shared their talents, she’d carried a quiet doubt in the back of her mind. Leon claiming his was Extraordinary tier had been, to her, the most blatant lie anyone could say. Even Supreme tier wouldn’t have been more believable. With everything he’d done, every impossible feat he’d pulled off, even a blind man would know he wasn’t normal.

Most people might chalk it up to some rare synergy between talent and skill, a fluke of compatibility that turned him into a force of nature. But Elizabeth wasn’t like most people. She knew the other races of the trial world. She knew of talent tiers above Supreme. And she believed Leon harbored one of those.

Her mother’s words echoed in her mind:

"The soul of a human can’t withstand a talent above Supreme." If Leon truly had one... then he shouldn’t be human at all.

That was why she’d asked if he was a dragon. The way he’d handled the Black Dragon Art had only pushed her suspicion higher, but in truth, what she was really asking the love of her life was simple: Are you even human?

And Leon... was stunned.

’Did I grow scales or something?’

But when he saw the seriousness in her gaze, his joking thought faded. "Is there a reason for that question?" he asked.

She told him. Every tangled thread of confusion she’d kept bottled up. How his talent didn’t match the person he pretended to be. How she hated the idea of them keeping secrets from each other, no matter how many times she told herself she could wait for him to open up. How she’d realized, because of his density, it could be a very long wait unless she asked outright.

Her honesty hit him harder than any blow.

’I’ve been really selfish, haven’t I?’

The truth was, he’d always intended to tell her about his talent, but only when he was strong enough. ’Strong enough for what, though? To tell her after I’ve broken the trust we’ve built?’

A thought settled deep in his chest, heavy but sure. ’I want to live my life with Lizzie. And not just her... Nikki too. If I want that, I have to come clean about what I’m capable of.’

He drew in a slow breath. His decision was made.

"I have to tell you something," Leon said.

Leon led Elizabeth away from the bustle of the corridors, past the murmuring soldiers and the scent of sterile clinic air, until they found a quiet corner.

"In English," he began, "my talent is EX—"

Before he could finish, she cut in, her amber eyes shadowed with sadness. "Leon... you don’t have to lie."

For a moment, he almost laughed just to stop the sting in his chest. He nearly felt tears prick his eyes. "That’s not what I meant, Lizzie."

Something in his tone must’ve reached her, because the tension in her shoulders eased. She looked at him again, relief softening her face.

"My talent," he said, still in English, "is EX rank."

Elizabeth froze. "...EX rank? What does that even mean?"

"I have no idea," Leon admitted, "but that’s what I saw."

She took a step closer, voice low but tinged with disbelief. "Then... what’s the name of this talent?"

"Attack."

"...." Elizabeth just stared.

’Yeah... that’s the reaction I expected.’

He went on, explaining. How it gave him raw Attack Points to distribute into his stats. How it let him grow stronger at a pace others couldn’t match. How it granted critical hits at random, and how, if he landed a higher critical than before, it rewarded him with Evolution Points to push his power even further.

As he spoke, he watched her face shift, from shock at first, then something deeper, until awe finally took over.

"...So that’s it," Leon finished.

Elizabeth’s lips curved into a small smile. "Thank you... for telling me."

"I’m sorry," he said quietly, "for keeping it from you for so long."

They stood there for a moment, eyes locked, the air between them charged with something warmer than the quiet corner around them. Then, as if drawn by the same pull, they closed the gap and their lips met.

****

The corridor back to their quarters felt quieter than usual, the echo of their footsteps the only sound. Elizabeth still had the faint aftertaste of the moment they’d just shared.

When they stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind them, a figure was already waiting.

Nikko Yakomoto sat in the lounge chair by the low table, her back straight, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The moment her gaze landed on them, her amber eyes narrowed like a hawk’s. Leon saw her pupils flicker, scanning them from head to toe, the faint wrinkles in his shirt, the disheveled strands of Elizabeth’s hair, the creases in her dress.

Then her nose twitched.

A shadow of suspicion crossed her face, quick and sharp.’ ...What is that smell?’

The thought was almost visible on her expression before it twisted further.

’These... fucking perverts.’

"Well?" she said, voice clipped. "Where have you two been? You took your time. I expected you here when I was done with the Governor."

Elizabeth’s lips curved into a slow, almost lazy smile. There was a glimmer in her eyes that made Leon’s stomach sink because he knew that look.

"Leon went to sign out Eden and Adrian," she replied, her tone carrying that deceptively sweet edge she used when she was toying with someone.

Nikko’s gaze shifted, a small "Oh," escaping her as if she’d pieced together a neat explanation. Still, her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

’Then what about that strange scent...?’

Elizabeth stepped closer to the couch, brushing a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "And on the way back," she said, her voice dipping to something playful, "I decided to have... a snack."

Nikko froze.

Color flooded her cheeks in a wave, the kind of flush that even her composure couldn’t hide.