Chapter 15

The Final battle of the tournament is today. Rey has been resting all day and has fully recovered thanks to his improved body. During his last battle with Ryan, Rey had broken through his mental block and reached 1st Stage Human Realm. This was a big deal for him as he had been stuck for weeks without any advancement to his cultivation.

"Come on Jasper, we don't have long before you're next battle starts." Reys mom was in a good mood as her son was growing stronger. She appeared to have no worries but deep down she was terrified. Ryan was strong enough as it is and he nearly brought Rey to the brink of death. Jeremy was leagues above Ryan in both strength and martial arts. Rey had almost no chance of winning and would most likely benefit from conceding the match. She already asked Rey if he would concede by he declined it without a second thought.

"Mom, it's been nice being back home. I'm glad we found eachother again!" Rey told his mom while hugging her. She smiled and looked Rey in the eyes. "I'm glad too, but you need to focus. Jeremy is on an entire different plane than Ryan. If you have any chance of beating him, you'll have to outsmart him!" She told Rey.

Rey and his mother made their way over to the Arena where Amiel and the rest of the town gathered. "The crowd is bigger than it was yesterday..." Rey said nervously. "That's because they heard of what your capable of and wanted to come see for themselves." Amiel said as he came over to them. Rey was happy to see that Amiel was there from the start this time. "Sorry about ruining your plan Amiel." Rey told him. "Don't worry about it kid, your health comes first."

"The Final Round will how commence. Will both contestants enter the Arena!" The announcer yelled. Both Rey and Jeremy stepped into the arena at the same time, on opposite sides. "The reigning champion of the last two tournaments, Jeremy! He's the eldest son if the city lord and is currently on track to be even stronger than his father! He has devastating power that destroys his opponents in one swift attack." The announcer turned his attention to Rey as the crowd screamed Jeremys' name. "Rey, the unknown newcomer that has defeated his opponents with his wits. Will he stand a chance against Jeremy? Let's find out! FIGHT!"

The announcer started the fight but neither Jeremy or Rey moved. "I must congratulate you Rey. You've managed to defeat my younger self absorbed brother. That's no easy task. Sadly, this has brought shame upon my families name and we can't have that. For what it's worth... I'm truly sorry, you had great potential as a cultivator." With the last word Jeremy was directly in front of Rey. He towered over Rey as he was 6' tall. Rey could do nothing but watch as Jeremy threw a punch at him.

Rey had closed his eyes expecting to take the full force of the punch but felt nothing. When he opened his eyes, Amiel was standing in front of him with Jeremy out of the Arena. "Interference by an outside party. Since the Interference was caused by Reys sponsor, Jeremy is the winner.!" The announcer called. "Wh-why did you do that Amiel?" Rey asked still shocked. "Listen Rey, that punch was filled with the intent to kill you. I couldn't let that happen." Amiel told him.

Amiels attention drew to the center of the ring where a man in all blue stood. The crowd was dead silent and the announcer was slowly making an escape. Reys mother could do nothing but look at the scene with dread. "I knew you were watching the fight from the shadows. You had to make sure that Jeremy fulfilled his task didn't you...Jackson." Amiel stared at the man as he pulled his hood off his head. "Long time no see, little brother..."

"How long has it been Damien? What like 30, 40 years?" Jackson said to Amiel. "Not long enough apparently. I no longer go by Damien, it's Amiel and you know that!" Amiel yelled back at Jackson. Rey had slowly made his way to his mother while the two talked. "Amiel? You really did change it didn't you. I never thought that you would leave the name mother gave you behind" Jackson said to Ameil with a crooked smile. Amiel clenched his fists, "You don't get to mention mother, not after what you did!" Amiel shouted. "What I did? Oh you must mean how I had her relieved of her burden. I mean, why would anyone want to stay in this God awful world when they have no power."

Amiel charged at Jackson faster than the eye could see. Both of them were Heaven Realm cultivators who's power transcended what the human mind was capable of understanding. Reys mother grabbed Rey, "Jasper, I need you to leave this town now!" Before Rey could reply a loud thud resounded as Amiel hit the city wall. "Jasper you say? I guess the little runt didn't die after all!" Jackson was next to Reys mother. "Seeing as griffins weren't strong enough to kill you. I guess I'll just have to do it myself!"

Jackson went to grab Reys neck but was stopped by Reys mother. "Jackson please don't kill him, he's all I have in this world!" She begged him. "You've outgrown your stay in my town Andrea, it's time you leave!" Jackson said as he slapped her. Rey could do nothing but look on in horror as his mother's head was decapitated and her body fall lifeless on the ground. "N-no...m-m-mom!" Rey cried. Jackson was about to finish off Rey when he was struck by Amiel.

"Rey! You need to leave now!" Amiel told him. Rey didn't answer as he was still looking at his mother's body. He didn't even hear what Amiel had told him. Amiel kept trying to get Reys attention over and over but had no luck. Amiel just had to defend Rey from Jackson as best he could. The battle went back and forth with both Amiel and Jackson suffering great injuries. Amiel had hit Jackson into a wall and took that as his best opportunity. He cast 'Devils Imprint' at Jackson who had no choice but to block. Amiel grabbed Rey and stormed out of the town as far as he could.

Amiel ran for hours before his body gave out on him and he succumbed to his injuries. Rey looked at Amiel and cried. "My mother's dead Amiel, I saw him kill her with my own eyes." Rey told him. "Listen kid...death is an ugly stain on this world that can never be washed out. We just have to live with it as best we can..." Amiel told him. "Set up camp here, I'm going to rest and should be good in the morning. You keep watch tonight and wake me up if something happens." Amiel said as he closed his eyes. Rey listened to him and set up a fire. Rey would stay up all night thinking about his mother as her death replayed through his mind over and over.