The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

Portal of Despair

As half of the varmint's corpse passed through the portal, it scented blood and turned menacingly towards Xavier.

Xavier's heart pounded as the varmint twisted its grotesque grin toward him. Panic shot through him, but before he could react, the creature blurred behind him, clutching the unconscious Prince Magnus, its gaping maw ready to devour him.

Without hesitation, Xavier fired his vector shield, blasting the varmint away from Magnus with a concussive force. The impact sent the beast skidding backward, its expression momentarily stunned—before twisting into something almost delighted. It licked its lips, intrigued by Xavier's abilities.

In a blink, the varmint materialized in front of Xavier. A brutal fist connected with his face before he could react. The sheer force detonated through his skull, sending him hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. Darkness engulfed him as he crashed into the shattered terrain.

The varmint let out a disappointed sigh, turning away from Xavier's unconscious form. It had expected more of a challenge. Dismissing him, it returned its attention to Prince Magnus, intent on its original feast.

But Xavier's cosmic eyes flared to life, snapping him back to consciousness. The sudden awareness made his breath hitch. His vision swam, and pain throbbed in his head. He lifted a trembling hand to his eye, feeling the swelling from the varmint's strike.

"When did it even hit me?" The thought sent a chill down his spine.

He replayed the moment in his head, but there was nothing—no sign of movement, no warning. Just raw speed and overwhelming power. The realization sent fear coiling in his gut.

"He's faster—no, he's beyond stronger and faster than Prince Magnus..."

Despite knowing he was outmatched, Xavier forced himself to move. He couldn't let the varmint devour Magnus.

Then he saw it—the portal was growing. The eerie glow expanded wider, and from its depths, more varmints emerged. A swarm, spilling out like a living nightmare.

Xavier's breath hitched. "This... this is bad."

The lead varmint noticed him stir. It dropped Magnus and launched forward, claws outstretched. Xavier braced as it struck—only for his vector shield to flare instinctively. The impact sent a shockwave through the air. The varmint recoiled, its wrist twisted and warped in confusion.

A flicker of annoyance crossed its face before it lunged again, swinging its other hand. Xavier vanished in a burst of speed, reappearing behind it mid-air. He fired rapid bursts of compressed air, but the attacks barely scuffed the creature's armored hide.

The varmint snarled, twisting, its claws slashing for him. Xavier barely evaded, teleporting once more. His sword—he needed his sword.

Stretching his hand, he manipulated the air molecules, summoning his blade from where it had been flung. The moment it settled in his grip, he slammed his foot into the ground, triggering a seismic quake with the use of his vectors. The earth split beneath them, trapping one of the varmint's legs in the shifting rubble.

Seizing the opening, Xavier flashed behind it, swinging for the exposed limb. But as his blade met flesh, it barely nicked the creature's skin. His stomach dropped.

Unfazed, the varmint grinned mockingly. It drove its foot down with titanic force, shattering the terrain further. The entire battlefield trembled, sending Xavier airborne along with the debris.

A shadow loomed above him. The varmint leaped into the sky, hands outstretched, ready to crush him in its massive grip.

Xavier exhaled sharply, closing his eyes. He released his vector barrier, allowing energy to pool into his blade instead. Blue light ignited along its edge, crackling with devastating force.