The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

Twisted Truth

The scene opened just as it had left off, with Xavier staring blankly into the necklace that held the shattered remnants of his soul.

Victoria tried once more to reach him, stepping closer, her voice trembling with guilt. "Xavier... I'm sorry. I really did try to tell you about this, but I didn't know how you'd react..."

She paused, heart heavy. "I didn't want to ruin what you and Teslaine have. You're her very first friend."

Still, Xavier said nothing. Silently, he rose to his feet and, in a flash, appeared beside Victoria. Wordlessly, he handed her the necklace. Not once did he meet her eyes.

Then he walked past her, his face void of emotion. Those once-brilliant eyes now looked like hollow voids.

"X-Xavier!" Victoria called out again—but it was no use.

Just as he stepped into the living room, the apartment door swung open. His friends had arrived—Teslaine among them.

Catching sight of him, Teslaine's face lit up with joy, and she ran toward him. "Xavier!"

But as her arms reached out, Xavier suddenly stumbled backward, collapsing to his knees. His body felt impossibly heavy.

His vision blurred. His breathing quickened. His veins flared beneath his skin, and a sharp pain struck his chest like lightning.

Teslaine's joy turned to worry in an instant. She crouched toward him, gently reaching out. "Xavier, are you okay?"

Then their eyes met.

In that split second, her face twisted—not literally, but in Xavier's mind, it shifted into the face of Percival. That cruel, grinning face.

Terror surged through him. He slapped her hand away, violently.

"Xavier!" Jason shouted, shocked along with everyone else. "What the hell is going on with you?!"

Xavier didn't respond. He clutched his chest, gasping for breath. His heart raced, his body shaking. The walls felt like they were closing in.

He didn't know what was happening to him—only that it hurt. It hurt like hell.

Jasmine took a step forward, clearly frightened for him. "Xavier—"

"Get away from me!" he screamed, the pain twisting his voice. It wasn't aimed at her. It was Teslaine he couldn't stand to see.

Teslaine froze. Her voice cracked, almost a whisper. "Why...? Why are you being like this? What did I do? Why are you looking at me like I'm your enemy...?"

No response.

Xavier gritted his teeth, aura bursting from his body like an overflowing dam. His hair flickered between its usual shade and gold, unable to stabilize. RealmHeart struggled within him.

Then something darker awakened.

A terrifying, draconic presence surged through him. Shadow pits formed beneath his eyes, stretching into the whites. His aura bled crimson—deep, violent red dripping into the once-calm blue.

Everyone in the room stood frozen, paralyzed not by fear, but by sheer despair. Xavier was breaking—mind, body, and soul.

He whispered. "Why didn't you tell me..."

Then roared. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THE MAN YOU CALL FATHER IS THE MONSTER WHO KILLED MY DAD?!"

His voice cracked, fury and sorrow melding into a howl of betrayal.

"He took everything from me... everything..."

His irises shifted—twisting into the same draconic slits Alcmena bore.