Chapter 49: Lord Star’s Fall

As Xavier finished collecting the last of the storage rings from the fallen guards, he moved with precision, scanning the area with his dragon eye to ensure there were no remaining threats inside the stronghold. Just as he secured the rings in his personal storage ring, a booming voice echoed from outside the stronghold walls.

"I, Lord Star, will kill any who dare invade my domain! We have this place surrounded—one hundred of my finest warriors. How many of you are there?" The voice was dripping with arrogance and carried an air of confidence that only someone like Lord Gabriel Star, a formidable 9th Earth rank warrior, could muster.

Xavier, unfazed, let a smirk cross his lips. His dragon eye quickly assessed the situation outside, identifying the positions of the surrounding warriors. There were indeed around a hundred of them, their weapons gleaming under the faint moonlight, all awaiting Lord Star's command.

From the top of the stronghold's central tower, Xavier stepped into view, his Infernal Winged Blade resting casually on his shoulder. He chuckled softly, the sound cutting through the tense silence like a blade. "Hey, up here," he called out, his voice calm yet carrying a commanding presence that made even the most seasoned warriors pause.

Lord Star's eyes snapped upward, locking onto Xavier's figure silhouetted against the night sky. Xavier stood tall, showing no signs of fear or intimidation despite the overwhelming odds. His confidence was almost unnerving, a stark contrast to the force gathered below.

"You're surrounded, boy," Lord Star sneered. "One hundred against one. What makes you think you'll survive the night?"

Xavier's smirk deepened as he twirled the Infernal Winged Blade, the flames along its edge sparking to life in a mesmerizing display. "Survive?" he said, his tone laced with amusement. "You've made a critical error, Lord Star. You've brought a hundred men… and I brought me."

The warriors below shifted uneasily, the air thick with tension. Xavier's words weren't a boast—they were a declaration. One that promised devastation.

Lord Star's expression hardened. "You'll regret underestimating me, boy," he growled, raising his hand to signal his warriors to advance.

But Xavier, still calm, raised his blade, the fiery aura around him intensifying. "Before we begin," he said, his voice cutting through the night like a blade, "I'll give you one chance. Surrender your resources, disband this hideout, and leave. Or face the wrath of the Soul Clan."

The mention of the Soul Clan caused murmurs among the warriors, but Lord Star merely laughed. "Soul Clan? You think the name of a fledgling clan will scare me? You'll be nothing but a memory by dawn!"

Xavier's smirk turned into a grin. "Then come and try!"

Raiden watched in awe as Xavier descended from the tower, the master of his own fate, without a hint of fear. The sight of Xavier facing down over one hundred warriors without hesitation stirred something deep within Raiden—respect, admiration… and a growing dread. He could only imagine how quickly things would escalate, and the grim thought that this could be the end for his master lingered.

Lord Star, at first laughing in arrogance, quickly faltered as Xavier's movements became a blur of calculated mastery. With a single wave of the Infernal Winged Blade, the ground beneath them seemed to tremble. Xavier called upon the power of the Infernal Blade of Enlightenment, channeling its fourth form with a focus that left no room for mercy.

Flames erupted from the blade in all directions, a terrifying, unrelenting barrage of fire and heat that scorched the air. The Infernal Winged Blade became an extension of Xavier's will, and the ground around him warped as waves of fire surged forward, engulfing everything in its path.

Lord Star's eyes widened in disbelief as the once confident warriors under his command were consumed by the infernal onslaught. His voice caught in his throat as the heat of the flames burned everything, reducing his followers to nothing more than ash.

"NO!" Lord Star screamed, his body trembling with fear and rage. "Stop! STOP!"

But the flames didn't cease. They continued to blaze, each wave intensifying with Xavier's control, as if the blade itself craved destruction. In moments, eighty of Lord Star's warriors were nothing but charred remnants of their former selves. The air was thick with the smell of burning flesh, the once-dominant forces of Star's stronghold now reduced to a mere fraction of their number.

Lord Star stood frozen, his once proud façade shattered, his mind reeling from the destruction unfolding before him. He could only watch, helpless, as the true power of Xavier's blade tore through his forces with ease.

Xavier, still standing tall amidst the blazing inferno, smiled with chilling confidence. "Is this the strength of your hundred men?" he taunted. "Pathetic."

As the final echoes of Lord Star's men were swallowed by the flames, Xavier slowly turned his gaze toward the now trembling Lord Star. "Your turn," Xavier said calmly, his voice cutting through the heat of the battlefield.

Raiden, who had been watching from the trees, was frozen in place. His respect for Xavier was now matched only by the weight of the realization that his master was on a completely different level—a level he could hardly comprehend, but one that would bring nothing but ruin to those who opposed him.

Lord Star, drenched in sweat and fear, was all but broken. He stumbled back, attempting to summon the strength to fight, but he knew his time was up.

Raiden stood in the distance, his heart racing as he processed the events unfolding before him. Xavier had just decimated over eighty warriors with an effortless display of strength, and now Lord Star—on the brink of death—was begging for mercy. Xavier's calm demeanor remained unshaken, even as Lord Star pleaded for his life.

"Be quiet," Xavier said with cold precision, his tone commanding. Before Lord Star could even react, Xavier was upon him, and in an instant, he severed Lord Star's arm with a single swipe of the Infernal Winged Blade. The blade hummed with dark energy as it cut through flesh and bone, sending Lord Star crashing to the ground in agony. His screams echoed, but Xavier simply stood over him, his gaze unwavering.

Xavier's voice, now softer but no less powerful, reached Raiden. "Raiden," he called calmly, "Do you want to fight Lord Star for practice?"

Raiden hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Fighting against Lord Star, a level 9 Earth Warrior, was a daunting prospect. But the lesson Xavier had taught him was clear: strength alone wasn't enough. Strategy, control, and experience were equally important. If this was an opportunity to learn, Raiden would take it.

With a deep breath, Raiden nodded. "I'm ready, Master."

Xavier turned his attention back to Lord Star, who was now writhing on the ground in pain. His breaths were ragged, and his eyes burned with hatred and fear.

"Listen closely, Lord Star," Xavier spoke, his voice low but filled with authority. "You will not use your full power. If you do, I will kill you on the spot. This is merely a training session for my disciple. If you want to live, you will abide by the rules."

Lord Star's face twisted in rage, but the reality of his situation was too clear. His remaining arm, now gushing blood, trembled as he clenched his fist. He had no choice but to comply. He shot a venomous glare at Xavier, but in the end, he agreed.

"Fine," he spat, his voice thick with pain. "But don't think I'll go easy on your disciple."

Xavier's eyes narrowed as he placed a hand on Raiden's shoulder, his gaze focused and intense. "Remember, Raiden, this is about learning. Fight smart. Don't rush in."

Xavier watched with a sharp eye as Raiden clashed with Lord Star. Despite facing a one-armed opponent, Raiden's strikes were hesitant, his movements unsure. Lord Star, though weakened, still had years of experience, and he was quick to exploit Raiden's indecision. Minor cuts and bruises started to accumulate on Raiden's body as Lord Star pressed his advantage.

Xavier, standing quietly to the side, observed every detail of the fight. He could see the uncertainty in Raiden's movements, the hesitation in his strikes. Raiden was overthinking, trying to plan every move meticulously, which only left him vulnerable. It was time to step in with some guidance.

"Raiden," Xavier called calmly, his voice cutting through the noise of battle. "Find openings. Quit overthinking. Be firm in your decisions."

Raiden's eyes flickered toward Xavier for just a moment. His breath was heavy, but he nodded. The advice settled within him like a spark, and he focused. No more second-guessing. No more hesitation.

Raiden adjusted his stance, his posture now more confident. He moved with purpose, and with one swift motion, he dodged a slash from Lord Star. As the opening presented itself, Raiden struck, his Infernal spiritual Blade cutting across Lord Star's face with precision. The blow left a deep gash, blood pouring down Lord Star's face. The old warrior staggered back, momentarily stunned.

Lord Star's rage surged. He gritted his teeth, wiping the blood from his face with his remaining hand. But there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes now. Raiden had landed a clean strike—something that most of Lord Star's previous enemies had failed to do.

Xavier smiled faintly, satisfied with Raiden's progress. The tides had shifted. Raiden had found his rhythm, and with Xavier's guidance, he was becoming more than just a disciple. He was becoming a warrior in his own right.

"Good," Xavier said, his voice still calm, "Now, Raiden, keep that focus. Don't let him recover."

As the battle raged on, Raiden's confidence grew with each passing moment. His movements became more decisive, and his strikes more deadly. The heat of the fight seemed to fuel his newfound determination. With a swift, powerful swing of his Infernal spiritual Blade, Raiden unleashed a devastating Infernal Strike, sending a wave of flame and energy crashing into Lord Star. The blow knocked Lord Star off his feet, causing him to drop his sword.

Raiden moved in for the finishing blow, the tip of his blade aimed at Lord Star's throat. However, before Raiden could strike, Xavier intervened. His calm voice broke through the tension of the moment.

"That's enough, Raiden," Xavier said, his tone steady yet firm. "You've proven yourself. As I promised, I'll stop the fight here."

Raiden, though a bit reluctant, nodded, stepping back to allow his master to take over.

Xavier, despite being enemies with Lord Star, extended a moment of mercy. Without uttering a single word, he helped Lord Star to his feet, steadying the injured warrior. There was no malice in Xavier's eyes—only a cold calculation. He had fulfilled his promise, but there was no reason to let Lord Star escape unscathed.

In the blink of an eye, Xavier vanished, and in the next moment, he reappeared in front of Lord Star. His dragon's eye glowed ominously as he activated Soul Pierce. The technique surged through the air, and Lord Star's body trembled as Xavier's gaze pierced through him, unraveling his very essence. His spiritual energy, once so potent, was stripped from him forever.

Lord Star's eyes widened in horror as he felt his connection to the world's energy severed. His once-powerful aura faded, leaving him weak and vulnerable, nothing more than a shell of his former self.

Xavier stood over him, his expression cold and resolute. There would be no redemption for Lord Star. In this moment, he had been reduced to nothing. Xavier's soul energy had claimed the last vestiges of his power, leaving Lord Star unable to use his cultivation ever again.

Xavier stood over the fallen warriors, collecting their spiritual rings one by one. The weight of their fallen power filled his storage ring, now holding a total of 150 spiritual rings. As he finished, his eyes turned back to Lord Star, whose form was still kneeling before him, his body now powerless.

"Give me your storage ring," Xavier commanded coldly, his voice unwavering.

Lord Star, his pride shattered and his spiritual energy drained, had no choice but to comply. With a resigned sigh, he handed over his storage ring, a symbol of his wealth and status that now meant nothing.

Xavier took it without hesitation, examining it briefly before tossing it into his own storage ring. He then stepped back, giving Lord Star a moment of freedom—one that he would not have granted if not for the promise to Raiden.

"Leave," Xavier said, his tone final. "You're not worth my time anymore. Go before I change my mind."

Lord Star, still shaking from the earlier ordeal, wasted no time. He scrambled to his feet, retreating as quickly as his legs could carry him, disappearing into the distance as his former stronghold lay in ruins behind him.

Once the enemy leader was out of sight, Xavier turned to Raiden, his eyes steely with purpose. "Now, let's plunder this stronghold."

Raiden nodded, following Xavier as they moved through the empty halls of the fortress. Without its former master, the stronghold felt hollow and lifeless. They scoured every room, taking whatever treasures and resources were left behind. It was a ruthless process, but it was necessary. The Soul Clan's strength had to grow if they were to survive the trials ahead.

Xavier's dragon eye swept across the walls and floors, revealing hidden compartments and stash caches. Every item, every resource that could be of use was seized. Weapons, armor, pills, cultivation resources, and even maps of future targets were placed into Xavier's storage ring. By the time they were finished, the once-proud stronghold had been emptied, its wealth now belonging to the Soul Clan.