Xavier lay on a hospital bed near the window, his body wrapped in bandages from the wounds he had sustained in his battle against Adam Durandal—otherwise known as the Grim Reaper of the Abyss.

Slowly, he pried open his left eye, the other buried beneath layers of bandages. As he shifted slightly, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen, making him wince.

Holding his side, he groaned internally, "Oh right... I got stabbed. Even my vector shield couldn't stop Sir Adam."

Glancing around, he quickly recognized his surroundings—the medic room used for injured fighters in the Colosseum, where the Gladiator Grand Festival was taking place.

"Did I lose?" he wondered, struggling to piece together the aftermath of his fight. "The last thing I remember... I caught Sir Adam off guard and purposely destabilized my black hole attack to cause an explosion. That was my last resort."

His brows furrowed. "After that... nothing. I don’t remember what happened after that at all."

Xavier attempted to move again, but his body resisted. It felt as if his muscles had been drained of blood and moisture, leaving them stiff and unresponsive—like stone.

Just then, Alcmena, in his cat form, leaped gracefully through the window and landed on Xavier’s bed. "I'd advise against moving too much," he said, his tone calm yet firm. "Your body is experiencing the early stages of core corruption. Any more strain, and you might just tear yourself apart."

Startled, Xavier instinctively jerked backward—only to regret it immediately. An indescribable pain erupted throughout his entire body, making him scream out as tears welled in his eyes.

Alcmena, on the other hand, burst into laughter, nearly rolling off the bed. "You cry like a girl!" he taunted between gasps of laughter, wiping away his own tears of amusement.

Flushing with embarrassment, Xavier weakly smacked Alcmena on the head. "Not funny, you big meanie," he grumbled, his cheeks puffing up like an annoyed puppy.

Before Alcmena could retort, Xavier sensed approaching footsteps. Instinctively, he reached for his white-fang mask, securing it over his face just as the door swung open.

Anastasia, Sir Lorian, and the rest of his friends flooded into the room. The moment Anastasia saw Xavier awake, she rushed to his side, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace.

"Young Master! Are you okay?!" she bombarded him with questions, her concern evident. "Can you move? Are you breathing properly? Does your throat hurt? Can you even talk?!"

Despite himself, Xavier chuckled, touched by her worry. "I'm fine, Miss Anastasia," he reassured her gently.

"Oh, thank goodness!" she sighed in relief. "I was so worried when you didn't wake up this morning. The doctors thought—"

"Well, I'm awake now," Xavier interrupted with a small smile. "So you can relax. Take it easy, Miss Anastasia."

Still overwhelmed with relief, Anastasia hugged him tightly once more.

A sudden glare pierced through Xavier, sending a shiver down his spine. Turning his head slightly, he met Alcmena’s eyes—sharp, menacing, and filled with unmistakable jealousy.

"Watch how you act around my woman, brat," Alcmena muttered, clicking his tongue in irritation.

Xavier, unfazed, responded with a teasing grin. "You're so childish, Master."

"Look who's talking," Alcmena shot back.

As Anastasia finally pulled away, Sir Lorian stepped forward and patted Xavier’s back. A wide grin spread across his face. "Well, Klay, did you have fun out there?"

Xavier's eyes lit up. "Yeah! And I even managed to pull off your 'Power Fist' technique!"

"Oh really?" Sir Lorian raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Yes!" Xavier nodded enthusiastically. "I mean, I could only replicate a fraction of its true power using my own strength, but still!"

Sir Lorian laughed heartily. "That’s only natural. My 'Power Fist' works because of my gifted ability—superhuman strength."

Xavier scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But still, I can’t shake off the disappointment of losing to the Grim Reaper of the Abyss."

A calm voice cut through his thoughts.

Miraxis, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, spoke evenly. "Your fight was a spectacle, Xavier. Everyone who witnessed it was captivated... well, until you got dragged into that dark space."

Xavier turned to him, listening intently.

"My point is," Miraxis continued, "you went toe to toe with an opponent leagues beyond your strength. That alone is a victory in itself."

The room fell silent. Everyone was stunned—Miraxis was the last person they expected to offer words of encouragement, especially to the one who had bested him in battle.

A warm, genuine smile spread across Xavier’s face. He bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Sir Miraxis. I'll remember your words."

Miraxis smirked. "You’d better, Klay."

For the first time since waking up, Xavier felt the weight of his defeat lift just a little. And in its place, a renewed determination took root.

Time passed, and everyone enjoyed their time together with Xavier. He spent several days hospitalized, with Alcmena continuously healing his wounds. Though he still felt lingering pain, he could now walk and move his muscles without extreme discomfort. A day later, needing some fresh air, Xavier stepped outside alone.

Seated on a wooden bench, he struggled to channel ethereal energy into his weakened body. The side effects of the early stages of core corruption made it difficult, his body resisting even the simplest attempts.

Activating the dragon seed within his essence, he borrowed Alcmena’s ability, Oblivion Grip, using it to gently lift an apple from his lap to his mouth. He bit into it slowly, savoring the crispness as he waited for Alcmena and Anastasia to return from purchasing supplies for their journey back home.

A familiar voice rang out from a distance, one that was engraved in his mind—Adam Durandel.

"Yo!" Adam greeted casually. "How've you been feeling, Xavier? Are your wounds healing?"

Xavier stiffened slightly, uneasy around Adam. He averted his gaze and muttered, "Yeah. I'm fine."

"That's great to hear!" Adam responded, his voice genuinely pleased. "I almost thought you’d destroyed your body beyond repair after pushing yourself past your limits."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Xavier exhaled. "You're not wrong. Moving still feels like hell, even something as simple as shifting my eyes."

Adam chuckled. "Well, I guess that's the price you pay for going beyond your limits."

He sat down next to Xavier, his presence calm yet imposing. "So," Adam continued, "have you given any thought to my offer? The Gladiator Grand Festival is over, and as this year’s victor, the deadline I set for you has finally arrived."

Xavier inhaled deeply, his thoughts still tangled. "Not quite."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

Xavier glanced at him, trying to clarify. "I mean that I still can't give you a definite answer. I'm asking for a little more time—just a few days—to decide."

Adam sighed and turned his gaze toward the horizon. The setting sun bathed the sky in an orange-red blaze. "Fine," he relented. "I’ll give you the time you need. But after that, whatever decision you make is yours alone. Choose wisely."

He stood, about to leave, but suddenly stopped. Without turning, he spoke over his shoulder, "Oh, by the way, Xavier, I strongly suggest you stop using that vector teleportation skill of yours."

Xavier blinked, confused. "What? Why?"

Adam glanced back. "Because it’s not as handy as you think."

Xavier frowned. "What do you mean?"

Adam’s tone was firm. "That skill may seem useful, but it could very well be what kills you. When you used it against me in our fight, I could see and predict exactly where you’d appear."

Xavier's stomach sank. "That’s impossible."

Adam shook his head. "No, it isn’t. It only looks like instant teleportation because of how fast it is to the human eye. But there’s a delay before your body actually moves. Every time you used it, I could sense your ethereal energy shifting. Your presence never vanished—I could always feel exactly where you were."

Xavier’s mind raced. "Then... during our fight, you—"

Adam nodded. "I had multiple chances to kill you. Every time you teleported, I let it slide. You only caught people like Miraxis and Lorian Fennwick off guard. But that’s just it—you caught them by surprise. Against someone prepared? You’d be dead."

"So stick to just amplifying your speed with those vectors of yours," he continued.

Xavier clenched his fists, pain shooting through his arms. "So my skill is useless now, huh...?" He thought bitterly. "And he even knows about my ability to accelerate my speed with vectors... though, I did use it often in our fight. Someone like him would figure it out."

Adam smirked. "You’re smart, Xavier—figuring out how to control vector movement at your level is impressive. But in real combat, your enemies won’t just stand there and let an opportunity slip by. If you rely on that skill, you will die. Stick to that yellow-haired draconic transformation of yours, use acceleration vectors, but do not teleport."

He turned away, walking toward the horizon, but his voice lingered in the air. "Rest up, Xavier. Get back to full strength. In a few days, I’ll send a message telling you where to meet me. That will be the moment you decide—stay here with the people you call ‘family,’ or come with me to find your real ones."

The sky remained ablaze in a stunning orange hue. The massive ring around the Earth loomed above, casting an otherworldly glow. Xavier stared at it, his celestial-blue eyes reflecting the vastness of the sky.

Just then, Anastasia and Alcmena returned from their shopping trip.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Young Master," Anastasia said apologetically.

Xavier smiled faintly. "It’s fine, Miss Anastasia. Honestly, sitting out here helped clear my head."

"Oh! That’s good to hear!" she responded, happy her absence hadn’t been an inconvenience.

Anastasia’s gaze shifted, spotting Adam walking away. Her eyes narrowed. "Isn’t that the infamous Grim Reaper of the Abyss?"

"Yeah," Xavier confirmed.

"Oh?" She gasped. "What’s he doing here?"

Xavier shrugged. "Not sure."

Alcmena's expression darkened. His gaze moved between Adam’s retreating figure and Xavier. "I advise you to stay away from that man. We don’t know his true nature, nor what misfortune he might bring."

Xavier forced a small smile. "Yeah... don’t worry, Master."

But Alcmena could feel it—the storm of emotions swirling inside Xavier’s mind. Confusion. Fear. Uncertainty. A quiet sadness. And yet, all he could do was stand by his side, ready to support him when the time came.

February 26th, 1810

A few days had passed, and Xavier, Anastasia, and Alcmena prepared to head back home.

Before their departure, a small crowd had gathered outside the inn to see them off. Miraxis, Sir Loran, and his companions all came to bid Xavier farewell. To his surprise, even Ms. Lila, the ever-composed Battle Herald who had guided him since his very first fight against Miraxis, stood there, waiting just before their carriage.

"It's sad that I have to leave so soon, Ms. Lila," Xavier said with a playful tone, though there was a hint of sorrow behind his words.

"No need to worry, Klay," Ms. Lila replied with a gentle smile. "Parting ways is a natural part of life."

Trying to hide the melancholy behind his bright grin, Xavier sighed. "Well, in that case, thank you. Thank you for everything, for guiding me all this time, Ms. Lila."

Patting his head, Ms. Lila chuckled warmly. "You're welcome, Klay. It was an honor to serve a genius like you. Our time together may have been short, but I have no doubt you have a bright future ahead."

With a nod, Xavier turned and ran toward the carriage. Just before stepping inside, he turned back, waving enthusiastically. "Bye, Ms. Lila! Bye, Mister Miraxis! Bye, Sir Loran and everyone! I hope we meet again someday!"

Ms. Lila waved back, a soft expression in her eyes. "What a remarkable child... I’ve never met someone so full of life and love. This world could use more like him."

With that, the carriage set off toward Moscow.

The journey home took three days, but Xavier's mind was restless the entire way. The decision Adam Durandal had given him loomed over his thoughts—stay with those he loved or leave in search of the truth about his past. The weight of it gnawed at him, but he reassured himself. There was still time left to decide.

As they neared Moscow, the towering silhouette of the Tsarigrad Citadel came into view. At the castle gates, a royal-red carpet had been unfurled beneath Xavier’s feet, leading him forward. Every maid, butler, and servant of the citadel stood in line, bowing deeply in unison.

"Welcome back, Young Master," they all greeted.

Xavier scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. "Haha... Thank you very much, everyone. It's good to be home."

From the distance, a familiar voice rang out. "Xavier!"

Aleksander approached alongside their grandfather, Graviil, both beaming at his return.

"You're finally back, little brother! I've missed you," Aleksander said, his excitement evident.

Graviil chuckled. "I was starting to worry about you, Xavier, but I'm glad to see you’re safe and sound. Did you enjoy your trip?"

Xavier nodded eagerly. "I did! It was incredible, Grandpa!"

Graviil laughed heartily, patting Xavier’s head. "That’s good to hear, my beloved boy."

Xavier glanced around, suddenly realizing someone was missing. "Where’s Big Sis?"

At that, both Graviil and Aleksander hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.

"Well, Xavier..." Aleksander began, but before he could continue—

A loud bang echoed from inside the palace, followed by a series of crashing sounds. Silence fell over the entrance. Then, the doors burst open, revealing Violet, nose bleeding and covered in bruises, stumbling forward with wild energy.

"XAVIER!" she shouted with pure joy.

Xavier barely had time to react before she sprinted toward him at full speed. Behind her, her maid, Irina Kuznetsova, frantically followed, carrying rolls of bandages.

"Young Lady, wait! You're bleeding! Please slow down and let me treat your wounds!" Irina pleaded.

But Violet didn’t care. The only thing on her mind was her little brother, whom she hadn't seen in ages. Reaching him, she leaped and tackled Xavier in an iron grip of a hug, squeezing him so tightly that he gasped for air.

"I... c-can't... breathe!" Xavier choked out.

Violet ignored his struggles, holding him close. "You're finally back! Oh, how I missed you, little brother!"

She cupped his face, her eyes brimming with emotion. "I'm so happy to see you’re okay, Xavier. We were all so worried."

Xavier, unable to resist her infectious joy, smiled and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. "It’s okay, Big Sis. I'm home now, so stop crying."

Wiping her tears, Violet grinned. "Since you're back from vacation, I declare today Sibling Play Day! We’re spending the whole day together!"

Aleksander chuckled. "I guess that’s what you call sibling love."

Violet's head snapped toward him, her eyes glinting dangerously. "And you're joining too, Big Brother."

Aleksander’s smile immediately vanished. "Wait! Let's talk about this—"

"Nope. No ‘ums’ or ‘buts,’" Violet declared firmly. "You're in."

Xavier burst into laughter at his older brother’s panic. Meanwhile, Alcmena, who had perched on his shoulder unnoticed, whispered telepathically, "You humans sure love bickering over the smallest things."

Xavier smirked. "Oh, come on, Master. Don’t act all composed. I bet you’ve had moments like this with your own siblings."

At that, Alcmena’s expression shifted, his golden eyes flickering with a distant emotion. He murmured to himself, "I did... a long time ago. My brother, Azraelon and I... we quarreled all the time. But we were close once. And now... we’re nothing more than strangers. You don't even use your birth name anymore... calling yourself, 'Destroroyah'".

A heavy sigh escaped him as a shadow of regret crossed his face. "Why did it all fall apart so quickly? Why are we so distant now... as if we were never brothers at all?"

A few feet away, Graviil stood beside Anastasia, watching the lively reunion.

"How was the trip, Anastasia?" he asked with a curious smile. "Did you enjoy it?"

Anastasia responded with a polite nod. "It was great, Lord Graviil."

Graviil chuckled. "Why so formal? I am still your father, after all. And you are my beloved daughter."

Anastasia smirked, crossing her arms with a confident stance. "I am the loyal servant of the great and powerful Ivanovich royal family. Just because I am your daughter does not mean I can abandon that duty."

Graviil let out a playful sigh. "Ooooh, how cold..."