The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

Adaptive Genius

"Why are you so filled with vengeance for Miss Anastasia?" Xavier's voice cracked, the air splitting with a trembling tone. His small frame heaved from exhaustion, his wounds bleeding through tattered cloth and bruised skin.

Haruki blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What kind of idiotic question is that?" he spat. "You've been fighting me all this time—without even fully knowing why I want her dead?"

His expression darkened, voice cutting sharp. "Did that witch not tell you what she did to me?"

"She did," Xavier replied softly.

"Then why ask me something so... stupid?"

The boy stood still. For a moment, he looked almost fragile. But his eyes—dim but unwavering—slowly rose to meet Haruki's glare.

"Because..." Xavier began, "even with what she did to you... she's not that person anymore. She's changed."

Haruki scoffed. "Changed?" His fingers twitched as if gripping invisible pain. "You expect me to forget the trauma she carved into me? The permanent scar etched into my face?"

"You just want me to forgive and forget?" His eyes narrowed. "Because you said so?"

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, stepping forward with the weight of his words. "Tell me, child... if someone shattered you, tore your life apart, left you bleeding and broken... would you forgive them just because they said they were sorry? Or because they claim they've changed?"

His voice lowered—dangerously calm now. "Would you forgive them, Xavier?"

"...Would you?"

Xavier couldn't respond.

His fists curled. But his lips remained sealed.

Because in his heart, he saw a face—a twisted grin, a broken family, and the name that haunted him more than death ever could.

Percival.

Haruki caught the silence and unsheathed his blade slowly, the metallic whisper of steel ringing clear.

"If she truly wishes to make amends..." he said coldly, "then she can atone—with her life."

"Only then will my thirst for vengeance be satisfied."

Xavier's throat tightened. Words wouldn't solve this. Not anymore. So he raised his blade—Excalibur—burning with fading light, and prepared to meet the storm.

In an instant, Xavier launched forward—his feet thrumming with a surge of raw vectors. The air around him exploded as he compressed directional force into his legs, creating a temporary slipstream around his body. He shot like a missile, blade forward.

Haruki tilted his head, unimpressed. He dodged with minimal movement and whispered, "You disgusting ant."

Then retaliated.

A blazing kick ignited with searing aura crashed into Xavier's chest, sending shockwaves through his ribcage. The force cracked the earth beneath them and launched Xavier across the arena.

Before he could recover, Haruki was already in front of him.

Xavier was too slow. The world blurred around him as Haruki's blade pierced from every angle—shoulder, thigh, side, hip. Every strike a blur of perfect precision.

Tsk... my body's too heavy.

His thoughts raced. Vector acceleration drains me with every burst. I need something smarter... something cleaner.