What is Left of Me

The biting cold of northern England seemed to seep into Lee's bones as he stood across from Aries once more. The Judge of Heaven had agreed to give him another chance—a chance to prove his worth. Yet, Lee couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. Kuran stood at a distance, arms crossed, his gaze sharp but filled with concern.

"Prove thyself," Aries said, his voice as cold and unfeeling as the air around them. "Show me that Ophiuchus is not a threat."

Lee nodded, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes, focusing on the energy within him. He could feel it, wild and untamed, like a storm waiting to be unleashed. He had practiced flight and begun to understand his power, but it was far from mastered.

The barren field they stood on seemed to stretch endlessly, the cracked earth a testament to battles fought long ago. Lee extended his arms, summoning his power. A faint glow enveloped him as he lifted off the ground, his movements shaky but determined.

"Good," Aries said, watching intently. "Now control it. Harness it."

Lee gritted his teeth, trying to stabilize himself. He could feel the energy pulling him in different directions, like a wild beast refusing to be tamed. His body wavered in the air, and suddenly, the glow around him faltered.

"Focus, Lee!" Kuran called out.

"I'm trying!" Lee shouted back, frustration boiling over. He pushed harder, forcing the energy to obey him. For a moment, he managed to stabilize, his form steady and glowing brighter.

But then it all fell apart.

The energy surged wildly, spiraling out of control. Lee screamed as he plummeted to the ground, landing hard on his back. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he lay there, gasping for air.

Aries approached, his expression unreadable. "You have failed," he said simply.

Lee pushed himself to his knees, his body trembling. "I can do this. I just need more time."

"Time is a luxury you do not have," Aries said coldly. "You are not worthy of Ophiuchus. You are a danger to yourself and to the celestial court."

Before Lee could respond, Aries lunged at him. The movement was so sudden, so precise, that Lee had no time to react. Aries' palm slammed against Lee's stomach, and an intense, burning sensation spread through his body.

"What are you doing?" Kuran shouted, running toward them.

"Stay back," Aries commanded, his voice echoing with authority.

A glowing symbol appeared where Aries' hand made contact with Lee's skin. It was intricate, swirling with patterns that seemed alive, pulsating with a dark energy. Lee's eyes widened in terror as his body stiffened, his limbs frozen in place.

"What… what is this?" Lee gasped, his voice barely a whisper.

"It is the mark of judgment," Aries said, his voice devoid of emotion. "And it has revealed your true nature."

Lee's body began to tremble violently, his breathing ragged. A dark aura seeped from the glowing symbol, spreading across his skin like ink. His eyes rolled back, and a guttural, inhuman growl escaped his lips.

"Aries, stop this!" Kuran shouted, his energy flaring as he prepared to intervene.

Aries stepped back, his gaze cold and unyielding. "This is not my doing. It is his."

Suddenly, Lee's body went still. His head tilted forward, and when he raised it, his eyes were no longer his own. They were pitch black, voids that seemed to swallow the light around them. A malicious grin spread across his face.

"Ah," a voice said, deep and resonant, dripping with malice. "It's been far too long since I've tasted freedom."

Kuran froze, his heart pounding. "What… who are you?"

"I am Asterius Labyrinth," the voice replied, a mocking lilt to its tone. "An alternate of pure maliciousness, and now… your dear Ophiuchus is no more. This body belongs to me."

"No!" Kuran shouted, his fists clenching. "Lee, fight it! Don't let this thing control you!"

Lee's possessed body turned to Kuran, the grin never wavering. "Your friend is gone. But don't worry—I'll make good use of him."

Aries stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his blade. "If you are what you claim to be, then you will face judgment."

Asterius laughed, a sound that sent chills down Kuran's spine. "Judge me if you dare, celestial. But know this—I am no ordinary alternate. And you will find no justice here."

Without warning, Asterius lunged at Aries, moving with a speed and precision that matched the Judge of Heaven himself. Aries blocked the attack, their clash sending shockwaves through the air. Kuran could only watch in horror as the battle unfolded, the fate of Lee Geon hanging by a thread.

And in the depths of his mind, Lee's consciousness screamed, trapped and powerless as the monster within him waged its war.