Chapter 595: Means To An End

(Planet Juxta, The military base, Charles’s office)

Charles looked genuinely distressed as he tried to rack his brain on how to help Leo ascend faster.

The current state Leo had entered was called ‘Existential Overload’ and it was a problem that most average warriors would never face in their life.

Leo was currently facing this problem only because his current power levels were going beyond the thresholds of what his body could handle as a unit, and he needed to stabilize it fast, or pay heavy consequences for it.

“I still don’t understand why you picked that fucking manual….. Who the fuck learns about aura at the Grandmaster stage?

Most Monarchs I know don’t master it at all…. And they’re Monarch’s for fucks sake.

Of course your body was going to go into ‘Existential Overload’, you are too fucking talented for your own good.” Charles complained, as his panic hindered Leo’s ability to think clearly as well.

Shrouded in a thick aura of maroon, Leo felt ten times the frustration that Charles did at this moment, as he carried an overwhelming bitterness towards the creator of this manual and how difficult it was to master.

“Boy, you have learnt the Second Elder’s secret method…. Haven’t you?” Charles asked eventually, as Leo nodded in agreement.

“It’s time to use it boy, there is no time to delay.

I have a few enemy spies captured here on Planet Juxta.

Suck out their life essence and use it to speed up your breakthrough.

You have already spotted intent for one color, and should hence be able to spot intent for all colors pretty quickly if you enhance your comprehension using Life Essence.” Charles advised, as Leo looked at him with reluctance.

“But if I use that move even once, it will hinder my natural talent for life.

I will then need to be dependent on Life Essence forever to produce the same results.

Is that really worth the trade?” Leo asked, as Charles nodded decisively.

“I don’t see another choice boy, also, it will only hinder your ability to master ‘aura’ in the future.

But with you already completing the SevenFold Revelation Codex, you will be halfway to complete aura mastery already.

It’s not the worst choice to make, especially considering how you are not using the essence of life to enhance your mind or body.” Charles suggested, as Leo took his advice under serious consideration.

On one hand, he really did not wish to rely on such underhanded methods for fast growth.

However, on the other hand, he knew he had no other choice given the circumstances.

Hence, after thinking about it for a few minutes, he reluctantly nodded at the end.

“Very well, Commander, I will trust your advice on this….” Leo said, as Charles threw him a concerned grin.

“Attaboy!” He cheered, before starting to walk out of his office.

“Follow me to the holding cell, we will kill a few prisoners, but I don’t want anyone finding out that the Shadow Dragon did this.

So wait till I clear everyone out of the building first before starting.” Charles said considerately, as he led Leo straight to the military prison.

————–

Once Charles got the prison empty, Leo got to work.

The first prisoner blinked in confusion when the door opened, his brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of why the guards had suddenly abandoned their posts and why the infamous Shadow Dragon himself was stepping inside.

“What is this?” he muttered, suspicion creeping into his voice.

“Why would they send you here? Have I been scheduled for interrogation? Or is this some sort of psychological test?” His tone hardened as he straightened his back, trying to mask uncertainty with defiance.

Leo gave no reply. He crossed the space in silence, his dagger flashing once across the man’s throat.

*Slit*

The prisoner’s confusion turned into a wet gasp as blood poured down his chest, his hands clawing at the wound in a futile attempt to stop the flow.

*Catch*

Before the body could hit the ground, Leo pressed his palm against it, watching as a strange gray fog escaped through the man’s mouth, eyes, and ears and into his palm.

The Life Essence swirled upward before spreading like a cold current through his nerves and settling into the tattoo at his back.

The tingling sensation left a faint chill beneath his skin, but his face remained calm and detached through it all.

When Leo stepped out with the dagger still dripping blood, the atmosphere of the prison shifted.

The second prisoner, who had been sitting idly on the edge of his cot, went pale at the sight.

His eyes darted to the crimson blade, then to Leo’s expressionless face, and terror replaced every ounce of composure he had.

He scrambled forward on his knees, pressing his forehead against the floor. “Please… I beg you, do not do this. I was forced into this life. I have a wife, children, they depend on me. I will tell you everything I know, every contact, every safe house. Just let me live.” His words spilled out in a frantic rush, trembling with desperation.

Leo entered without hesitation, grabbed the man by the collar, and thrust the dagger into his heart.

*Blurb*

The prisoner choked, clutching at the blade as his voice broke into sobs.

The moment before death came, Leo pressed his palm flat against his chest. Once again, the gray fog burst free, spilling from eyes, mouth, and ears, twisting violently before being sucked into Leo’s body.

The tingling this time was sharper, racing like needles beneath his skin before sinking into the tattoo and the prisoner’s eyes this time went glassy after he was done, as if he had sucked away his very soul.

By the time Leo reached the third cell, panic had already spread through the criminals.

The man inside threw himself against the bars, his face contorted with rage that could not hide the fear behind it. “You bastard!” he screamed, pounding the metal.

“Feeding off bound men, that is all you are. A coward who is as dirty as the Evil Cult he serves. If you’re man enough, try giving me a weapon and engaging me in a fair fight.

I’ll chop your dick off and feast on it if you do!

Come on! If you’re man enough, give me a weapon! I will drag your soul with me to the grave!”

Leo opened the door without breaking stride. The prisoner swung wildly at him, desperate for even a scratch of resistance, but Leo caught his wrist and twisted until the bone cracked.

*Crack*

*Scream*

As the man howled, Leo plunged the dagger into his stomach and drove him to the floor.

His curses dissolved into agonized screams as Leo pressed his palm down, forcing the essence out.

The gray fog surged violently, as though resisting, before being devoured into Leo’s veins. The tattoo pulsed faintly at his back as his body shuddered under the rush. He rose calmly as the man’s final breath rattled out, not a flicker of guilt or hesitation in his eyes.

By the time he approached the fourth cell, there was no pretense left. The prisoner had already collapsed to his knees, his face wet with tears as he muttered broken prayers under his breath.

His hands shook uncontrollably, clutching the air as if invisible mercy might still descend to spare him.

But Leo slaughtered him without emotion.

For Leo, the death of these prisoners meant nothing to him.

For him, they were just means to an end.