From the direction of the magma sea below, Barbarossa's figure slowly emerged.
However, his form no longer resembled a dwarf—it had become a black, pulsing mass of flesh, unnaturally fused into the shape of a grotesque sphere.
At the center of the blob, a mouth began to take shape, its lips parting wide.
"Don't fool yourself, Fated One. You lost the moment this began... hahaha!" he bellowed, his cruel laughter echoing through the air.
The chilling sound rang out in all directions, sending Leon instantly on high alert.
"What does he mean? Lost from the start?" Leon muttered, disbelief thick in his voice.
Suddenly, Miranda's panicked voice echoed in his mind. "Master, it must be connected to that Hydra! This is dangerous—we've walked right into a trap!"
Leon's eyes widened as a wave of dread crashed over him.
"Damn it... I let my guard down!"
Ever since entering the hall earlier, he had sensed an unusually strong life force coming from the egg.
