The knight grit his teeth and clenched his hands into fists as the despot started in on him, rambling and eyeing him in amusement. While he kept his head held high, he knew better than to look Mateus in the eyes. Whether it was out of fear of what the man would see or if he would see himself reflected back, he knew he wanted none of it.
“You left me to die!” he hissed out through his teeth, seething. “You took everything from me, gave me false hope, ruined me, and fed me to the wolves! Don’t act like this was never part of your plan! You would have killed me eventually when I overstayed my welcome if you hadn’t died! I’d be a fool to think otherwise!”
He backed away from the man, his hand on the hilt of his sword. His eyes were dark and dangerous, filled with a fire that scared most humans and demons on the spot, though it would do little against his former master, and he knew that. However, it wasn’t pure hatred that drove him now…not entirely. No, there were other feelings mixing in. Loneliness, envy, rage, sorrow, regret, bitterness, emptiness, nostalgia, even some fondness and kinship with the Emperor. It was forcing him to draw his blade and challenge his master here.
“I don’t know how you came back or why you’re here, but I won’t let you find the others! Face me here! Let me prove to you I’ve surpassed you and Firion! Whoever wins can choose what happens to the other!”
A grin formed on his delicate features, seeing his former second-in-command act towards him in such a way. He knew very well what kind of man Leon was. He had chosen him to oversee the creation of the Dreadnought after all.
“You amuse me, Leonhart. Such intricate plans that you thought me to have. Let me assure you of one thing: I never once planned to rid myself of you. That is, until you revealed your own desire to rule in my stead. And let us be fair, I could not let that slide, could I?”
“As for the issue of my return, I am the almighty ruler of Pandemonium and Arubboth, or have you forgotten that?!” His tone changed like from day to night, condescending and mocking. “Mere mortals shall not best me for long, for I shall always return.”
A light crackle of electricity ran over his arm towards his hand and digits that held his staff. Mateus had stopped his movement and faced the other with no fear to be read on himself.
“Now, if you insist on continuing this futile attempt at self-validation, come at me. And I shall show you, once again, the depths of my wrath!”
His grip tightened on his staff, sparks of electricity dancing over the metal and his fingers freely. His eyes fixed themselves on Leon with gleeful anticipation. In a way he welcomed the brave challenger, where very few even dared to talk back to him.