Chapter 63: 4 vs 1

As the last of the challengers completed their rounds, Void God Malakar reappeared in the center of the arena, his overwhelming presence silencing the crowd instantly. With a wave of his hand, five glowing banners appeared in the air, each displaying the names of the clans that would be advancing to the final round. At the top, shining brighter than the rest, was the Soul Clan, boasting an impressive 18 points. The remaining four clans followed, their scores significantly lower, a testament to the Soul Clan's dominance.

Cheers erupted from the crowd, blending with the cries of defeat from the clans that had been eliminated. The noise was deafening, but it all ceased with a single gesture from Void God Malakar. His expression grew serious, his tone heavy with finality.

"This final challenge," he began, "is a death match—a free-for-all. Only one victor will remain standing. If you do not wish to participate, take your clan and leave now. This is your only chance."

The gravity of his words hung in the air, a heavy silence descending over the arena as clans weighed their choices.

Before anyone could respond, Xavier stepped forward, his movements steady and confident. Without hesitation, he walked toward the portal that had appeared behind Malakar, his calm demeanor unshaken by the announcement.

The crowd watched in awe as the young leader of the Soul Clan disappeared into the swirling light. Jessica and the rest of the clan looked at each other, their pride evident as they silently vowed to stand behind their leader, no matter the outcome.

Void God Malakar's piercing gaze followed Xavier into the portal, his expression unreadable. Speaking softly to himself, he murmured, "That boy… he isn't even scared of death. Such composure is rare, even among the strongest. I must uncover his lineage. There's something extraordinary about him."

The four remaining competitors exchanged wary glances after seeing Xavier's calm and fearless stride into the portal. They were no strangers to power, but the young leader of the Soul Clan exuded an aura that unsettled even the most seasoned warriors. His clan's dominance in the previous rounds and Void God Malakar's cryptic interest in him had not gone unnoticed.

Huddling together briefly, they formed a quick alliance. If they wanted any chance of victory, they would have to take him out together.

"He's the leader of the Soul Clan," growled Darius Venn, a towering man with a shaved head and a brutal scar running down his jaw. "If we let him pick us off one by one, none of us stand a chance."

"Agreed," said Kael Drayven, a wiry fighter with piercing green eyes and a perpetual smirk. "We handle him first. After that, it's every warrior for themselves."

"This is our only shot," chimed in Seren Malva, the only woman among the four, her silvery hair glinting in the sunlight. "He's dangerous, but he's still just one person. Together, we can bring him down."

The last of the group, Orik Brann, a hulking brute with arms like tree trunks, crossed his arms and nodded. "Fine. We crush the Soul Clan's leader, then sort out the rest."

The four turned as one, their expressions darkening as they glanced at the Soul Clan watching from the stands. Seren gave a mocking smirk, Kael offered a cocky wink, and Orik cracked his knuckles.

Without another word, they stepped into the portal, their figures vanishing into the swirling light.

The tension in the arena was palpable as a large screen materialized, broadcasting the scene from the other side of the portal. There stood Xavier, completely still, his hands resting lightly at his sides. He appeared unbothered, his expression calm as his eyes surveyed the barren battlefield, a vast, desolate wasteland with jagged rocks and no hiding places.

The audience held their breath, watching intently as the four figures emerged on the screen, materializing around Xavier. The Soul Clan's leader made no move, his composure unbroken.

Jessica clenched her fists as she watched, murmuring, "He's outnumbered, but they have no idea what they're up against."

Void God Malakar observed the screen silently, his eyes narrowing as he watched the pieces fall into place. "This will be… interesting," he muttered.

As the four competitors charged at Xavier with coordinated precision, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. The battlefield echoed with their war cries, but Xavier stood calm, channeling his bloodline and activating the Ethereal Draconic Step. His figure blurred, moving faster than the eye could follow, making it nearly impossible to track him visually.

The four weren't amateurs. They closed their eyes, honing their senses to detect his movements, and their combined attacks began to graze him. A long gash opened across Xavier's side, a stark reminder that even a prodigy could bleed.

Xavier's smirk faded briefly as he assessed his injury, but his resolve hardened. Channeling his soul energy, he mixed it with his ancient bloodline, a risky move that immediately reinvigorated his body and surged his strength to new heights.

"Enough games," Xavier muttered under his breath, his voice calm but filled with an underlying ferocity.

He moved even faster, activating Mirage Step to disorient his opponents. His movements became erratic, creating afterimages that confused the four warriors, forcing them closer together as they swung at illusions and shadows.

When the timing was perfect, Xavier stopped abruptly, standing only a few feet away from the four, his silhouette wreathed in an ominous glow of fire and ice. The battlefield seemed to hold its breath as flames began swirling around him, taking the shape of a massive dragon.

The dragon, forged entirely from Xavier's fused fire and ice flames, materialized with a thunderous roar, its serpentine body towering over the battlefield. The heat was so intense that even the audience, safe in the stands, could feel its oppressive force.

The four warriors froze in place, their bravado faltering as they stared at the dragon.

"This is the power of a living dragon bloodline warrior," Xavier declared, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

He thrust his sword forward, directing the dragon toward the group. The beast surged forward, its maw opening wide as it unleashed a torrent of incinerating flames mixed with freezing winds. The four warriors barely had time to react before they were engulfed, their cries drowned out by the roaring flames.

When the firestorm subsided, the battlefield was eerily silent. All that remained of the four opponents were faint scorch marks on the ground. The screen in the arena flickered to show Xavier standing tall, his body glowing faintly with the residual energy of his bloodline, a figure both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

The audience erupted into chaos.

"A dragon bloodline warrior… alive?!" one elder gasped.

"Impossible! That power hasn't been seen in millennia!" another shouted, his voice trembling.

Jessica and the Soul Clan watched in awe and pride, though Jessica's heart clenched at the sight of Xavier's injury and the sheer toll the battle had taken on him.

Void God Malakar, who had been watching silently, was stunned. His expression, always calm and unreadable, shifted to one of genuine astonishment. He murmured to himself, "A living dragon bloodline… and the control to fuse such opposing elements? This boy… he may be destined to reshape this realm's fate."

As Void God Malakar's question hung in the air, Xavier hesitated for a moment. Suddenly, Elior's voice resonated in his mind.

"Xavier, this man is not your enemy. He was once a close friend of your mother, Cassandra Soul. It's okay to tell him your real name."

Xavier's eyes widened slightly at the revelation, but he quickly composed himself. Taking a step closer to Malakar, he leaned in, ensuring his words were for the Void God's ears only.

"My name," Xavier whispered, "is Henry Soul. My mother is Cassandra Soul."

The Void God's expression, normally cold and unreadable, softened for a fleeting moment. His eyes betrayed a flicker of recognition and something akin to respect.

"Cassandra Soul… so it is true," Malakar murmured, his voice low but filled with reverence. "You carry her bloodline, her legacy. She was one of the greatest warriors to walk these realms, and now, her son stands before me—a Sky-ranked warrior at just seventeen."

Xavier—no, Henry—nodded, his voice steady. "She raised me to be strong, but I never knew the full extent of her past. If you have answers about her or my bloodline, I would be grateful."

Malakar straightened, his tone now filled with authority and intrigue. "Your mother's legacy is both a blessing and a burden. She was one of the few who walked the Voidlands and returned alive, forging alliances and defeating foes even I would hesitate to face. Your bloodline… it is older than the realms themselves, tied to the Primordial Dragons of legend. It is a power many would kill to possess."

Henry clenched his fists, the weight of his lineage settling on him. "If that's true, then I will honor her name. I'll build the Soul Clan into something even she would be proud of."

Malakar nodded approvingly. "You will have to, Henry Soul. The path ahead will not be easy. But if you have inherited even a fraction of your mother's will, you may one day surpass even her. Seek out the Eternal Archives in the Voidlands. There, you will uncover the full truth of your bloodline."

Henry—still Xavier to his clan—bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, Void God Malakar. I will not squander the legacy my mother left behind."

Malakar gave a faint smile before vanishing into the ether, leaving the Soul Clan in awe of what they had just witnessed. Jessica stepped closer, sensing the gravity of the exchange but saying nothing. Henry turned to his clan, his resolve stronger than ever.

"Let's claim our rewards and prepare for what's next. Our journey is only beginning."

The Soul Clan erupted into cheers, their spirits high as they followed their leader into the next chapter of their story.