Elena and Mica were barely able to stabilize their spiral caused by the explosion. When they did, they hastily turned their attention to the rapidly shrinking form of Leon. The menacing aura that belonged to Izeal was rapidly diminishing and turning lackluster.
"What have you done?!" Izeal's voice boomed all around them, not just coming from Leon's body.
"No! This can't be! This can't be! I cannot go out like this!!! I was so close!" Despair and hate welled up in the voice of the Paragon of Undeath as Leon's body finally shrunk down to normal size.
Before they could catch their breaths, they felt their bodies get drawn up into a vortex that appeared out of nowhere, dragging them out of the Void within Izeal's body. They appeared in another Void, with the Nexus Being's light shining down on them.
Hovering a distance away was the true body of the Paragon of Undeath, covered in cracks that shone with an ominous light. A huge amount of turbulent energy was surging from the cracks, impacting the stability of space in reality.
"You have lost, Izeal. Your plans have fallen through." The Nexus Being's majestic voice boomed, carrying a hint of finality in its tone.
"You... You ruined everything!" Izeal's voice was hoarse and lacked the earlier power that it once had.
As he spoke, the cracks continued to spread until it had run through every part of his body. He would detonate at any moment now.
However, that was not what the Nexus Being wanted to see. It held out a hand and a familiar Obsidian Skeleton materialized out of nothing. In the center of the Obsidian Skeleton's chest, a reformed Divine Spark that had not been corrupted appeared, and life surged through the bones.
"I understand. I can already feel the corruption setting in. Even with Izeal gone, the madness that plagued him refuses to be expelled from what was contained in him." Leon sighed, examining his body through his enhanced senses. He could see much more than he ever could, feel much more.
"Leon!" At that time, Elena got tired of waiting and called out to Leon. She hurried forward, but was hesitant to cross the entire distance. She could feel the horrifying energy that was emanating from his body. It blinded her senses and she could not even look at him clearly with her bare eyes.
Her level had dropped back to that of a Peak A rank, and she was only able to survive in the Void thanks to the support of the Nexus Being and her bond with Mica. But even Mica was struggling under the raw power radiating from Leon.
"Elena." Leon paused and tried to get a handle on his newly acquired powers. He had just gotten this strength and found it difficult to suppress. It was very much like when someone just underwent a breakthrough in rank and found it difficult to contain their aura and powers.
After a moment of concentration, the blinding aura emanating from him abruptly disappeared, and Leon looked like an ordinary skeleton. Flesh, muscles, tendons and ligaments quickly grew all over his body until he had regained his human form, looking even more perfect than the last time he had taken this form.
A moment later, he was embracing Elena in his arms, comforting her.
"It's fine. I made it out alive, thanks to all of you. I won't be going anywhere for a long time." A small smile crept onto Leon's face as the words sank in. He was glad he could finally say those words and mean them.
It was finally over. This long drama with the Paragon of Undeath had finally come to an end. He had finally reached the pinnacle of power that would grant him agency over his own actions without being manipulated by those above him.
Finally.