Chapter 29: Refinement

As Xavier and Jessica made their way through the forest, still basking in their shared triumph, they let their guard slip—a mistake that would prove costly. Shadows shifted among the trees, and before they knew it, five figures emerged from the dense foliage, their auras oppressive and unmistakable. Each of the intruders carried the distinct presence of 1st-ranked Earth warriors, their malicious intent radiating from their every movement.

"Ah, so these are the infamous dungeon conquerors," one sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "You should've stayed hidden, kids. Messing with the Reyes family was the last mistake you'll ever make."

Another warrior chimed in, cracking his knuckles. "Don't worry, we'll make it quick… eventually."

Jessica's hand instinctively went to her weapon, her eyes narrowing as she stepped into a defensive stance. Xavier, however, stood unnervingly calm, his spear casually slung over his shoulder.

"Before we get to the killing," he said, his tone almost lazy, "mind telling me your names? I like to keep track of the trash I take out."

The warriors bristled at his words, their leader stepping forward with a sneer. "You don't need to know our names. Just remember the pain."

Xavier sighed dramatically, spinning his spear once in his hand. "Suit yourselves. But don't say I didn't ask nicely."

The clearing erupted into chaos as the five warriors lunged at Xavier and Jessica. Jessica took on two opponents, her ice-infused strikes leaving trails of frost as she fought to keep them at bay. Xavier, meanwhile, held off the remaining three, his spear weaving arcs of infernal flame as he moved with precision and speed.

But the gap in strength was evident. Despite their talent and teamwork, Xavier and Jessica were barely holding their ground. Every swing of their enemies' weapons sent shockwaves through the air, forcing the two to dodge and parry with all their might.

Jessica managed to freeze one of her opponents in place with a perfectly timed blast of ice energy, but the effort left her open for a counterattack. A heavy blade struck her side, sending her sprawling to the ground with a cry of pain.

"Jessica!" Xavier roared, his focus momentarily broken as he saw her blood staining the grass.

One of his opponents seized the opportunity, landing a glancing blow across Xavier's shoulder. The pain only fueled his growing rage as he struggled to keep the enemies at bay, his mind racing with desperation and fury.

As Jessica's motionless body lay in the dirt, something inside Xavier snapped. His dragon bloodline, already stirred from the dungeon, flickered to life. His veins burned with molten fire as his body surged with newfound power.

The air around him grew heavy, an infernal heat radiating from his body. The warriors hesitated, sensing the sudden shift in his aura.

"What… what is this?!" one of them stammered, taking a step back.

Before they could react further, Xavier disappeared. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind one of the warriors, his spear slicing cleanly through the man's torso. The flames that trailed his weapon ignited the corpse, leaving nothing but ash as Xavier turned to the next target.

The remaining three barely had time to lift their weapons before Xavier moved again, each strike of his spear landing with deadly precision. One by one, they fell, their bodies crumbling under the weight of his unleashed fury.

Only the leader remained, trembling as Xavier's fiery gaze locked onto him. He dropped his weapon, raising his hands in surrender.

"Wait! Please! I was just following orders!" the man pleaded, stumbling backward.

Xavier's voice was cold and unyielding. "Tell Alexander that his days are numbered. And if he sends anyone else after me or Jessica…" He stepped closer, the flames of his spear licking the air. "There won't be anyone left to deliver the message next time."

The man nodded frantically, tears streaming down his face as he turned and fled into the forest.

With the battle over, Xavier dropped to his knees beside Jessica. Her breaths were shallow, her face pale from blood loss. Gently, he lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest.

"Hold on, Jessica," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Don't you dare leave me."

Without wasting another moment, Xavier activated his soul dash, his body a blur as he sprinted toward the academy's medical bay. Trees and buildings zipped past him, but his focus never wavered from the woman in his arms.

The journey felt like an eternity, but at last, the medical bay came into view. Xavier burst through the doors, shouting for help as healers rushed to tend to Jessica.

As they took her from his arms, Xavier stood frozen, his fists clenched at his sides. His mind was a whirlwind of anger and determination.

"Alexander…" he muttered under his breath. "You'll pay for this."

As Xavier staggered in the medical bay, the weight of his unleashed bloodline coursed through him. A fiery, searing pain spread across his body, consuming him like molten lava. He gritted his teeth, his hand instinctively reaching for the dragon talisman within his storage ring. But before his fingers could touch it, his vision blurred, and the world around him faded to black.

When Xavier opened his eyes again, he found himself in the all-too-familiar dream realm. The skies swirled with fiery reds and deep blacks, and the air crackled with energy. Elior's towering form appeared before him, his expression both stern and amused.

"Well, well," Elior said, arms crossed as he observed Xavier with a raised eyebrow. "You really pushed yourself this time, didn't you? You've barely tapped into your bloodline's potential, and yet you let it consume you. You're lucky you didn't burn yourself from the inside out."

Xavier groaned, clutching his chest as the lingering phantom pain coursed through him. "I didn't have a choice. Jessica was dying. I had to do something."

Elior's expression softened slightly. "I understand, boy. But that kind of power isn't meant to be wielded recklessly. It demands control, discipline, and mastery—or it will destroy you. And right now, your body is on the brink of evolution. This isn't just a simple recovery."

Xavier's eyes widened. "Evolution? What does that mean?"

Elior gestured to the swirling energy around them. "Your dragon bloodline is awakening further, but your body isn't ready to contain its full power yet. That's why you collapsed—it's a safeguard to prevent your body from tearing itself apart. While you're here, time will work differently. Each hour may feel like a year, and the training will be relentless. But if you focus, you'll emerge stronger than ever. Fail to adapt, and your bloodline will consume you completely."

Elior wasted no time, thrusting Xavier into a grueling regimen designed to push him to his limits.

"You're too dependent on raw strength and instinct," Elior said, summoning a flaming blade and tossing it at Xavier. "Learn to channel your bloodline into precision. Use your soul energy to guide your attacks, not just brute force."

Xavier caught the blade and was immediately thrown into combat with an illusory version of himself, similar to the one he faced in the dungeon. This version was even more refined and faster, mirroring all of Xavier's abilities but without his flaws.

The clash was ferocious, each strike testing Xavier's growing ability to merge his dragon bloodline with his cultivated skills. Sweat poured down his face as he practiced infusing his speed and strength with controlled bursts of soul energy, creating new combat combinations.

Elior's voice echoed around him, barking instructions. "Your flames are chaotic! Shape them! Forge them into a weapon, not a wildfire!"

Xavier closed his eyes, focusing on his infernal soul blade's power. Slowly, he began to channel the flames into precise arcs, his strikes becoming more fluid and devastating.

As the hours stretched into days in the dream realm, Xavier also faced mental trials. Elior brought forth specters of Xavier's deepest fears—Jessica's lifeless body, his friends suffering at the hands of his enemies, and Alexander's mocking laughter.

"These fears weaken you," Elior said. "Use them. Let them fuel your resolve, not your hesitation."

Through each vision, Xavier fought to remain composed, his determination growing with every step.

After what felt like years of training, Xavier finally stood before Elior, his body glowing faintly with a golden hue. His aura had shifted, the chaotic energy of his bloodline now tempered with discipline.

Elior smiled, nodding in approval. "You've come far, boy. But this is just the beginning. When you wake, you'll find that your body has begun to evolve. You'll be faster, stronger, and more attuned to your dragon heritage. But remember, the path ahead is treacherous. The enemies you face won't wait for you to master yourself fully. Stay vigilant."

As the dream realm began to dissolve, Xavier felt a rush of power surge through him. His body grew lighter, and his mind sharper. He whispered a silent vow to himself: I will protect those I care about, no matter the cost.

Xavier's eyes snapped open, and he gasped for air. His body felt different—stronger, more resilient. The fiery pain that had consumed him earlier was gone, replaced with a simmering energy that pulsed through his veins.

Looking around, he realized he was still in the medical bay. The healers glanced at him with a mixture of awe and relief, murmuring about his miraculous recovery.

But Xavier's thoughts were elsewhere. He clenched his fists, feeling the power coursing through him, and whispered under his breath:

"Alexander… your time is running out."