*Punch*
*Punch*
The sudden appearance of the clones took Leo by surprise as he failed to dodge their attacks in time.
"Gah–" he said, keeling over, as the sheer force of the clones' attacks towards his gut made him double over in pain.
*Drip*
A drop of blood escaped his lips, splattering onto the floor. But more than the pain, it was the insult that ignited his fury.
In less than a second, he recognized the technique — and the fact that his opponent had dared to use [Mirror World], and it was this impudence that made him lose his mind.
The realization that his enemy had dared to use his master's move made Leo's eyes turn bloodshot, as he murderously looked into the eyes of his opponent.
"How do you know that move? That's my master's technique... WHY DO YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT?" Leo asked, his voice shaking with rage, as his mind turned numb from fury.
[Mirror World]
In response, he summoned over 30 clones of his own, as regardless of the mana cost and the strain on his body, Leo decided to show his opponent that he wasn't worthy of using his master's moves.
Using mirror world, Leo summoned an entire army of clones, covering the entire street with his look-alikes, and although at first Ben assumed that they would all be illusions at best, since that was the level of Leo's proficiency with the move last time he saw him.
When Leo's 30 clones began to physically gang-up and beat Ben's two, Ben could almost not believe his own eyes.
'How did this brat learn to perform the next stage of Mirror World? I have certainly not taught him about it yet… then why has he mastered it better than I have?' Ben wondered, as to him, it seemed impossible that Leo had grasped the next stage of [Mirror World] without Ben having to provide him any guidance.
*Bam*
*Bam*
*Bam*
Within seconds, Leo's thirty clones absolutely dismantled the two Ben clones that Ben had summoned, as at this point, Leo's murderous intent reached a fever pitch.
"I will give you one last chance to tell me your real identity… and where you learned to perform the move [Mirror World].
If you dare lie to me, I promise you won't suffer an easy death.
For the crime of impersonating my master's technique, I'll make you beg for death—but even then, I won't let you die.
I'll heal you and torture you all over again, until there's not a shred of vitality left in your body to support regeneration…" Leo said with his voice cold and his gaze unwavering, as he made it clear he was done playing games.
At this point, Ben could feel it in his bones that Leo meant every single word coming out of his mouth, however, what he could not understand was why Leo could still not figure out his identity?
Only the two of them could perform [Mirror World] in this whole wide world and hence his identity should have been obvious to Leo by now.
"Who am I? Brat you dare question your master now–?" Ben said in his usual tone, as dropping the voice disguise that he had equipped so far, Ben decided to end the farce as well.
Internally, he felt frustrated at having to end this fight on the back foot, as his disciple had clearly outmuscled him this time, however, to his absolute surprise, the second he spoke those words instead of greeting his master in joy, Leo immediately dismantled all his clones and binds, and fell to his knees trembling.
"M-a-ster?" He said, his voice cracking as an uncontrollable stream of tears started to flow from his eyes.
At this point, Ben could not understand why Leo had such an exaggerated reaction to his return, however, since his binds were undone, he casually removed his mask and revealed his true face to Leo.
"Oye…Oye…Oye Kid, have I really taught you so poorly?
Why are you believing the enemy so easily? What if I was an enemy pretending to be me?
Wouldn't you be dead then?
And what is this girl like rea–" Ben said, however, before he could complete his words, Leo threw himself towards Ben, hugging him tight as if he could not believe that his master was really in front of him.
*Sob*
*Sob*
Sobbing uncontrollably, Leo buried his face against Ben's chest, hugging him with every ounce of strength he could muster, as he squeezed him as tightly as his arms would allow.
"MASTER… IT'S REALLY YOU… IT'S YOU… IT'S YOU…" Leo repeated, reassuring himself he wasn't dreaming as watching Leo's reaction, Ben finally sensed that something was deeply amiss.
Knowing Leo well, Ben understood that he wouldn't react this way unless he truly believed Ben was gone forever.
Though what Ben couldn't grasp yet was why Leo thought he was dead? as for now, he simply consoled his disciple.
"It's okay kid, I'm here…absolutely fine and alive. Why wouldn't I be? I'm Ben Fucking Faulkner, did you really think I would die?" Ben said, stroking Leo's head, as although he tried to appear tough, for some indescribable reason, his own voice began to crack, as he resonated with the intensity of Leo's emotions.
"It's Lord Grandfather? No wonder I lost to him in battle. Today is a glorious day for sure—" said Dumpy from a distance, as watching the heartfelt reunion between Leo and Ben, even Dumpy shed a tear of joy.
"I knew it….. not even death could defeat Lord Grandfather, he must have fought his way against the King of the underworld and came back to the world of living after fighting through a sea of dead.
What a glorious return…. Worthy of being my Lord Grandfather indeed–" Dumpy said, bobbing his massive head up and down as he cooked his own fantasy story about Ben's return in his head.
Ben looked towards the giant frog, and blinked in confusion, as a part of him really wanted to smack the giant frog on his head for cooking up such an absurd tale. However, another wanted to pet his head for calling him 'Lord Grandfather' so affectionately.
In the end, Ben decided to ignore Dumpy for now and focus on Leo, who still did not wish to leave his side.
"What's the matter boy…why are you clinging to me like a sloth clings to a tree?" Ben asked, patting Leo on the back, as Leo finally said the words that had been haunting him for months now.
"They… they said you were dead…. I-I thought I lost you–" Leo said, as he began to break down into tears once more, much to the dismay of Ben.
The old man had never seen his disciple so weak and broken before and seeing him so weak made Ben feel a pinch in his heart as well.
"Silly boy… it's okay, I'm here now" Ben replied, as he desperately tried to console Leo, as best as he could, but failed to soothe him even slightly.
Whatever Leo was feeling today, Ben could do nothing to soothe him, as the emotions he was holding back like a torrent for months now had just broken free.
There was no stopping the tears now, as all Ben could do was wait for the storm to pass.