Chapter 510: Badly Defeated and Accepting Weaknesses
Half an hour later...
"Hah... Hah... Hah..."
Leon lay on the ground, panting, his face pale.
Bruises covered his handsome face, arms, legs, and stomach, painting a clear picture of his defeat.
He stared at the overcast sky, unable to shake the feeling of helplessness.
"I really lost..." he muttered softly, letting out a small sigh.
His practice fight had ended in failure. Not only that, but his entire body ached from the bruises.
This was a first for him—an unfamiliar yet strangely exhilarating experience.
Finally, he knew what it felt like to lose.
Meanwhile, twenty meters away, the dragon ancestor stood with a relaxed posture.
Despite their prolonged battle, he had only a few minor bruises—nothing compared to Leon's injuries.
His breathing remained steady, showing no signs of exhaustion even after half an hour of combat.
With a faint smile, he stepped forward and asked, "How are you feeling, Fated One? Disappointed with the outcome?"
Leon glanced at him and slowly sat up, wincing as pain rippled through his body.
"Disappointed? Not at all. I finally understand my limits, dragon ancestor," he said in a solemn tone.
Victory and defeat were both part of the battle. Yet, ever since he became a hero, he had never lost—not even once.
And in that time, he had almost forgotten what defeat felt like.
Now that he had experienced it again, he felt exhilarated rather than frustrated.
Seeing the genuine excitement on his face, the dragon ancestor couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"Your nature is indeed very similar to Amon Crimson and Luminus Troya," he said, extending his hand toward Leon.
Leon's eyebrows raised slightly at the mention of those names. He took the offered hand, and with a firm pull, he rose to his feet.
"So, what were they like? Can you tell me?"
Amon Crimson and Luminus Troya were legendary figures.
Had they not altered the course of history, they would have been revered as role models by all beings.
Particularly Luminus Troya, who sacrificed himself to bring the heroes into existence, allowing his name to be forgotten by all—except those closest to him.
His bravery was beyond imagination. He was the true hero of humanity and the entire world.
The dragon ancestor fell silent for a moment, a nostalgic look crossing his face.
"Both of them were men of unwavering ambition who never gave up. But more importantly, they knew when to step back and recognize their weaknesses. That's what made them truly strong," he said honestly.
Turning back to Leon, he asked, "By the way, Lady Miranda must have told you about the war between the races before the Evil God's arrival, correct?"
Leon wasn't sure why he mentioned it, but he still gave a small nod. "Yes, I know."
The dragon ancestor let out a small chuckle before explaining, "In that era, Luminus Troya and Amon Crimson were actually enemies. Humanity stood behind Luminus Troya, while the Demon race was led by Amon Crimson. The two waged an endless war."
"They shone in battle as if destined to fight each other. I even remember an unwritten rule that went, 'Never start a war with those two madmen.'"
"That rule wasn't without reason. Once they set their sights on an enemy, that person was as good as doomed. Even I wouldn't dare provoke them."
The dragon ancestor looked slightly embarrassed as he said this, but there was no denying it—those two were absolute madmen and unbelievably powerful.
That was also why they were chosen to wield the legendary swords bestowed by the gods to defeat the Evil God.
Hearing this, Leon finally gained a clear understanding of them. "I never expected those two to already be so powerful before obtaining the Holy Sword of Zenith and the Great Sword of Chaos."
Well, considering those swords were reserved for the two strongest figures in the world at the time, it wasn't all that surprising.
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention.
Turning their heads, they saw Athena and Miranda walking toward them.
Athena's brows furrowed slightly as she noticed the bruises on Leon's face. "Leon, are you okay?"
She gently touched the bruises, her eyes filled with concern.
Leon took her hand and smiled casually.
"It's nothing, just a minor bruise," he said in a reassuring tone.
Hearing that, Athena let out a small sigh of relief, though her expression still held a trace of displeasure. She turned to her ancestor with a hint of irritation.
"Ancestor, you went too far," she scolded.
The dragon ancestor's expression stiffened. He hadn't expected his beloved granddaughter to reprimand him!
For some reason, his heart ached—as if he wanted to cry but had no tears to shed.
At the same time, however, he felt a sense of relief. His granddaughter's relationship with Leon seemed quite close. Perhaps… they had already taken the final step.
Now, it was only a matter of time before he could hold his great-grandson!
With that thought, his expression gradually returned to normal, a gentle smile forming on his lips.
"Ahem! My apologies, Athena. I'll be more careful next time," he said, feigning guilt.
Leon nearly burst into laughter. He never imagined that the mighty dragon ancestor could act this way in front of his granddaughter.
But then again, considering how powerless he was before his own four little girls, he quickly held back his laughter and cleared his throat in embarrassment.
"How did your battle with the dragon ancestor go, Master? Did you gain any enlightenment?" Miranda's curious voice pulled Leon from his thoughts.
He turned to her, meeting her expectant gaze, and gave a small nod.
"Yes, I did gain some insight. More importantly, I now understand the limits of my power and abilities. That knowledge is more valuable than anything else," Leon replied seriously, clenching his fists.
Miranda nodded in satisfaction. "That's good, Master. Although you're already powerful, it's still not enough. Your future opponent is the Evil God—an existence powerful enough to crush this world in the palm of his hand."
Even after seven thousand years, the terror of the Evil God remained vividly etched in her memory. His power was beyond words.
At this moment, her master was still far too weak—not even close to being "comparable," let alone surpassing the Evil God.
Leon didn't argue. Instead, he acknowledged the truth. "You're right. But don't worry, I'll keep growing stronger until I can defeat the Evil God."
Seeing the unwavering determination in his eyes, Miranda smiled in approval. "Well said!"