Chapter 40: Ending A Family

As Alexander stood at the edge of the arena, he clenched his fists, feeling the immense surge of power from the Sun Pills coursing through his body. His aura flared uncontrollably for a brief moment, radiating the strength of a 9th-ranked Earth Warrior. The crowd gasped, the sheer intensity of the aura drawing the attention of everyone present.

"Alexander's no joke," Mara muttered from the stands, narrowing her eyes. "He must've been hiding his true strength all this time."

Jessica's gaze sharpened. "No, something's off. His aura wasn't this strong before. He's forcing it with something unnatural."

Meanwhile, Xavier stepped calmly into the center of the arena, his expression unchanging. He moved with measured grace, his aura suppressed to that of a 5th-ranked Earth Warrior, intentionally masking the strength he had gained in the spiritual lake. The contrast between the two warriors was stark: Alexander's raging, unrestrained power against Xavier's quiet, poised confidence.

Alexander pointed his blade at Xavier, a sneer twisting his face. "Let's see you smile after this!" he shouted, charging forward with his temporarily boosted strength. His aura surged, a storm of power radiating from his body as he unleashed a flurry of attacks.

Xavier dodged with effortless grace, his Mirage Step leaving afterimages that confused and frustrated Alexander. Each strike from Alexander was met with either a parry or an evasion, his blade finding nothing but air.

"Is that really all you've got, Alexander?" Xavier taunted, his voice calm yet sharp enough to cut through Alexander's pride.

Alexander roared in anger, increasing the ferocity of his attacks. "Stop playing with me and fight!"

Xavier smirked. "You don't want that, trust me."

The crowd watched in awe as Xavier continued to toy with Alexander, his movements so precise it was as if he predicted every strike. Jessica and Xavier's friends exchanged knowing glances, each of them recognizing Xavier's strategy: to break Alexander's spirit before ending the fight.

After minutes of this one-sided dance, Xavier stopped abruptly, his smirk fading into a serious expression. He raised his head, his Dragon Eye glowing faintly as his aura began to shift.

"Fine," Xavier said, his voice low but commanding. "You wanted to see my true strength. Let me show you."

In an instant, Xavier unleashed his full aura, the power of an 11th-ranked Earth Warrior flooding the arena. The air grew heavy, the sheer intensity of his spiritual energy causing cracks to form in the ground beneath his feet. The crowd gasped, their cheers turning to stunned silence.

Alexander staggered, his temporary 9th-rank aura paling in comparison to Xavier's overwhelming presence. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled to maintain his composure. "Impossible," he muttered. "How… how can you be this strong?"

Xavier's gaze locked onto Alexander, his voice cold. "You relied on borrowed power, Alexander. You're a fraud. And now you'll pay the price for your arrogance."

Xavier raised his hand, channeling his spiritual energy into his blade. The weapon glowed with an ominous light as he activated Soul Pierce, a technique he had mastered during his time in the spiritual lake.

Alexander's eyes widened as he felt an invisible force tear through him. Pain surged through his body as the connection to his aura was severed, leaving him vulnerable and powerless. His blade fell from his hand, clattering to the ground as he stumbled back.

"What… what have you done to me?" Alexander gasped, clutching his chest.

Xavier stepped forward, his expression cold and unyielding. "I've severed your connection to your spiritual energy. Without it, you're nothing."

The crowd watched in stunned silence as Xavier raised his blade, its edge gleaming in the sunlight. He paused for a brief moment, his gaze meeting Alexander's.

"You chose this path," Xavier said. "Now, you'll face the consequences."

With a single, decisive strike, Xavier's blade cut through Alexander's neck. His head fell to the ground, his body collapsing a moment later. The crowd erupted in gasps and cries, the brutal conclusion shocking even the most hardened warriors in attendance.

The arena fell silent as the tension reached its peak. The sight of Alexander's lifeless body still lingered in the minds of the onlookers when Elder Cross, the mystic-ranked elder of the Reyes family, stepped into the ring.

"Young boy," Elder Cross snarled, his voice booming through the arena. "You've gone too far. I challenge you!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. A mystic-ranked warrior challenging an earth-ranked disciple? It was unprecedented. Even the boldest warriors watching felt uneasy at the sheer imbalance.

Jessica and Xavier's friends exchanged looks of horror. Felix spoke first, his voice trembling. "He can't fight a mystic! That's suicide!"

Liana added, "This isn't a fair match. Someone has to stop this!"

Before anyone could act, Lord Cedric appeared in the ring, standing between Xavier and Elder Cross. His imposing aura silenced the restless crowd.

"Elder Cross," Lord Cedric said sharply, his tone laced with authority. "This is a blatant abuse of power. Xavier is merely an earth-ranked warrior. If you proceed, it will not go unnoticed by the academy or the council. I highly—"

Before Cedric could finish, Xavier raised his hand.

"I accept!" Xavier declared, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

His friends shouted in unison, "Xavier, no!"

Ignoring their pleas, Xavier turned his gaze to Elder Cross. "But on one condition—tell me where my mother is!"

The arena fell deathly quiet. The mere mention of Xavier's mother sent murmurs through the crowd.

Lord Reyes, seated above, chuckled darkly. "You mean her?" he said, gesturing with his hand.

One of his lackeys stepped forward, dragging a figure into view. A woman, bound and visibly weak, was held up for all to see. Gasps echoed through the crowd, and Jessica's hand flew to her mouth in shock.

"There you have it, boy," Lord Reyes said smugly. "Your mother is in our hands. If you want her back, you'll have to survive."

Xavier's gaze hardened, his Dragon Eye glowing faintly as he locked eyes with Elder Cross. "Very well," he said. "Let's fight."

Elder Cross laughed, his mystic aura swirling around him like a violent storm. "You've signed your death warrant, boy."

Lord Cedric stepped aside reluctantly, his expression grim. "This is madness," he muttered. But as much as he disapproved, he could not intervene in an officially accepted challenge.

Jessica grabbed Xavier's arm before he could step forward. "Xavier, don't do this. You don't have to prove anything!"

Xavier turned to her, his gaze softening. "I do, Jessica. They have my mother. I have no choice."

She clenched her fists, her eyes brimming with tears. "Just… come back to me. Promise me."

"I promise," Xavier said, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear before stepping into the center of the arena.

Elder Cross wasted no time. The moment the duel began, he unleashed a wave of mystic energy that sent cracks rippling through the arena floor. The sheer pressure forced many spectators to shield themselves, and Xavier's friends felt their knees weaken.

Xavier activated his Mirage Step, narrowly avoiding the devastating attack. His Dragon Eye flared, analyzing Elder Cross's movements and weaknesses.

"Impressive reflexes," Elder Cross said mockingly. "But let's see how long you can last."

Xavier countered with his Infernal Blade technique, flames roaring to life as he launched a barrage of attacks. Elder Cross deflected them with ease, his mystic aura forming a barrier that rendered Xavier's strikes ineffective.

"You're outmatched, boy," Elder Cross said, slamming his palm into the ground and summoning a massive shockwave.

Xavier leapt into the air, using his speed to evade the attack. He activated Soul Pierce, targeting Elder Cross's spiritual core.

Elder Cross's eyes narrowed as he felt the technique closing in. "Clever," he muttered, countering with a mystic barrier that shattered Xavier's attack.

The crowd was on edge, witnessing a battle unlike anything they had seen before.

Elior's voice echoed in Xavier's mind. "Young master, you can't match him with brute force. Use your soul energy. Focus. Find his rhythm."

Taking a deep breath, Xavier activated his Infernal Soul Blade, channeling his soul energy into his attacks. His flames turned darker, more intense, and his strikes grew sharper.

Elder Cross frowned, sensing the change. "What is this?" he muttered, his movements growing less fluid as Xavier's attacks pushed him back.

Xavier's Dragon Eye locked onto a weak point in Elder Cross's defense. With a burst of speed, he closed the gap, his blade glowing with fiery energy.

"For my mother!" Xavier roared, slashing through Elder Cross's barrier and landing a devastating strike on his shoulder.

Elder Cross staggered, blood seeping from the wound. He growled in frustration, his aura flaring wildly. "You little—"

Before he could finish, Xavier unleashed his Soul Pierce technique, severing Elder Cross's connection to his mystic energy. The elder gasped, his aura flickering before vanishing entirely.

"No… this can't be!" Elder Cross stammered, falling to his knees.

Xavier stood over him, his blade poised for the final strike. "This is for my mother," he said coldly, bringing his sword down.

Elder Cross's head rolled across the arena floor, his lifeless body collapsing moments later. The crowd erupted into chaos, their cheers and cries blending into a deafening roar.

Lord Cedric stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "The duel is over. Xavier York is victorious."

Xavier turned to Lord Reyes, his gaze burning with intensity. "Release my mother. Now."