Chapter 97: EX 97. Nursery Of Horror
As the dust from the collapsed stronghold settled behind them, Leon walked out with calm steps, his sword already returned to his inventory. Ahead, his squadmates were hunched around a pile of demon corpses, harvesting their organs with mechanical precision.
Adrian looked up first, wiping a smear of blood from his face.
"You cleared the stronghold already?"
"Sorry, it took longer than I expected."
Adrian remained silent, not knowing if Leon was being modest or indirectly bragging, but he decided to let it go. He wouldn’t give himself a headache over Leon’s "normal."
After that, Leon directed them to gather the valuables and burn everything else that wasn’t useful.
Without complaint, the squadmates got to work. Leon didn’t just stand idly this time; he moved among them, inspecting, helping, and correcting when needed. When Eden mistakenly went for the wrong organ, Leon pointed it out. When Eleanor struggled with a stubborn chest plate, he sliced it open with a clean swipe.
Fifteen minutes later, they stood outside the stronghold.
As Leon lifted his hand.
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the earth behind them as the structure imploded in on itself. Ash and smoke curled into the sky, the once-standing fortress now a heap of shattered stone and blackened steel.