In one final desperate attempt, the Cerulean man launched himself forward, hoping to tackle Leon to the ground. But Leon was ready. With a swift movement, he sidestepped the charge, grabbed the Cerulean man by the arm, and twisted it behind his back. The man yelped in pain as Leon held him in a painful lock.

    "You''ve lost," Leon whispered in his ear, his grip tightening just enough to make the man realize he was at his mercy.

    With a flick of his wrist, Leon sent the Cerulean man flying through the air, his body slamming into a nearby wall with a sickening crash. The impact was so forceful that the wall cracked under the weight of the blow, and the Cerulean man crumpled to the ground, his body limp and defeated.

    Leon stood over him, breathing steadily, his expression still as cold as ever. He glanced down at the fallen man, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

    "Tell your brother I said ''hello,''" Leon said nonchalantly, as though this had all been just another day for him.

    Hearing Leon taunt, Ryoken gritted his teeth but kept his head down, knowing he is mocking him as he came to cover up his brother but was defeated instead.

    The Cerulean man could barely lift his head, his pride shattered and his body in agony. His attempts to rise were futile; his limbs refused to obey him. The fight was over.

    Roselia, who had been observing the entire battle with keen eyes, couldn''t help but admire Leon''s composure. He controlled his strength well, even when he didn''t let the destruction energy from his Berserk state overtake him, perfectly channeling it.

    Though Leon didn''t show much effort, she noticed when the Cerulean man glared at her, Leon''s anger seemed to increase. It was almost like a double-edged sword; had he been calm, he would have just ignored them, but instead, he beat the Cerulean man to a pulp, leaving him helpless on the ground, watched over by Roselia.

    As Leon and Roselia began to walk away from the defeated Cerulean man, the atmosphere around them remained tense. The sound of the man''s labored breathing echoed in the space, but neither Leon nor Roselia paid him any more attention. Leon''s confidence remained unshaken, but his mind was already moving forward—his focus returning to their mission and the tasks ahead.

    Roselia walked by his side, her expression unreadable. She had seen Leon in his Berserk State before, but it always amazed her how quickly he could shift from pure destruction to calm composure. It was as if the violence was a natural extension of him—something he could control with ease, but something he always put away when no longer needed.@@@@

    "You''re always so... efficient," Roselia remarked, breaking the silence as they walked.

    Leon''s lips twitched into a slight smile, though it didn''t reach his eyes. "I don''t waste time on things that aren''t worth my effort."

    Roselia glanced at him but said nothing, her silence conveying her trust. She knew Leon wouldn''t push himself recklessly, but she also understood the weight of mastering such potent abilities.

    As they stood at the threshold of the Plague King''s Castle, the massive iron gates creaked open, seemingly of their own accord. A suffocating wave of necrotic energy spilled out, heavy and oppressive, as if warning them to turn back.

    Leon tightened his grip on the staff, its light flaring briefly in defiance of the darkness. "Let''s finish this," he said, stepping forward into the castle''s shadowy depths, Roselia following close behind.

    Inside, the air was thick with decay, and the faint sound of shuffling footsteps echoed in the distance. The walls were lined with grotesque tapestries depicting scenes of death and plague, their vibrant reds and greens dulled by centuries of neglect.

    "This place is worse than the last one," Roselia said, scrunching her nose in disgust as she glanced around the decayed, flesh-ridden interior. The faint squelching of decomposing matter underfoot didn''t help her unease.

    "They were just bones; these are revolting piles of rotting flesh," Leon replied with a shrug. With a quick motion, he cast Refresh, a minor utility spell designed to cleanse the air of odors. A soft, invigorating breeze swept through the area, momentarily dispelling the stench of decay.

    "Much better," Roselia said, exhaling in relief as she lowered the hand covering her nose.

    Leon smirked. "Better than fighting while holding your breath, at least," he chuckled, his lighthearted tone cutting through the oppressive atmosphere.

    Roselia''s lips twitched into a faint smile, but her grip on her sword remained tight. "Don''t get too comfortable. This place feels... Keeping an eye on us, in all the worst ways."

    Leon nodded, his senses heightened as they moved deeper into the castle. Each step seemed to echo unnaturally, as if the very walls were listening. The grotesque surroundings were almost designed to sap their focus, but they pressed on, determined to confront whatever horrors awaited.

    "Let''s keep moving," he said, adjusting the grip on his staff. "The sooner we find the Plague King, the sooner we can burn this place down."

    Roselia chuckled dryly. "Now that''s a plan I can get behind."

    They soon encountered their first opposition—simple zombies. As they stepped into a grand, decayed hall, the sound of dragging feet and low groans echoed through the chamber. Hordes of undead emerged from the shadows, their decayed forms moving with a sinister intent as they charged in waves.