The skies cleared, ash shimmered away. As the battlefield became visible once more, Julius stood calm and quiet, hands tucked in his pockets, staring coldly at the now crumbling dragonoid.
Its flesh—no, its entire body—began to break down. Not just from the impact of Julius' attack, but from within. The dragonoid's body could no longer contain the ever-expanding power it was being forced to harbor. The Dragon Seed had already pushed Xavier's transformation far beyond what his body could handle. Now, backlash had arrived—core corruption. And this was no mere early stage; it was something far worse.
The dragonoid's frame collapsed under its own weight, its limits long surpassed before the battle had even begun. Its roar was one of agony, its attempt to rise failing as its draconic regeneration shut down. Flesh warped, bones splintered, its form breaking apart.
Within, Alcmena fought desperately. His presence lingered inside the dragonoid's consciousness, struggling against the beast's will. This was his only chance to save Xavier.
"Come on," he muttered, desperation in his voice. "Stop resisting. Just give up already. Your body is tearing itself apart from forcing power far beyond your core stage—beyond anything your body could ever endure."
"JUST STOP RESISTING, DAMMIT!" Alcmena's roar echoed in the void. "I WON'T LET XAVIER DIE BECAUSE OF ME!"
He pressed harder, clawing against the raging force. "EXCALIBUR!" he cried, unheard in the real world. "Come to me, Blade of the Sovereign! Your master is in danger!"
The air fell silent. Then a sound, sharp as thunder, split the heavens. A streak of light tore through the skies and came crashing down. Excalibur struck, piercing through the dragonoid's chest with a resounding crack.
The blade had answered his call. Though not bound to Alcmena as it was to Xavier or Saint Sabestian, their long bond had formed a connection—guardian and sacred companion.
The dragonoid shrieked, blood spilling, claws raking uselessly at the weapon embedded in its chest. Excalibur's voice whispered faintly, filled with sorrow. "Forgive me, Master. But please... endure what must come. I cannot lose my Master again."
Its runes lit, casting divine brilliance. Thunder roared, the heavens answering with a bolt of judgment. Lightning descended, striking the dragonoid with merciless force. The beast's screams echoed, pain and despair etched into every note.
From a distance, Julius leapt back casually, keeping himself clear of the punishing light. He knew too well the torment of Excalibur's judgment, and he had no interest in feeling that soul-tearing agony again.
When the thunder ceased, the dragonoid slumped, unconscious from the overwhelming assault. Alcmena seized the chance. With Excalibur's aid, he dove deeper into Xavier's subconscious, a place the dragonoid's grip had barred him from until now.
He emerged into a void. Darkness stretched endlessly, broken only by a faint light illuminating a single spot. There knelt Xavier, bound in chains he could not break. His eyes, once filled with joy and life, now carried only despair, sorrow, emptiness.
"Xavier..." Alcmena's voice broke as he approached, guilt heavy in his chest. "I've been meaning to talk to you... about the truth."
The boy gave no reply, his head bowed, gaze fixed on the abyss below. Alcmena hesitated, his usual stoic self lost. For the first time, he seemed small.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice timid. "I should have told you from the beginning. That I wasn't... really alive. Not fully."
His words faltered. "I planned to explain... but—"
YOU ARE READING
The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening
FantasyIn a world where power isn't just a privilege but a birthright, those born with supernatural abilities stand at the top-revered, feared, and often consumed by their own arrogance. The powerless? They're left to survive in the shadows, treated as not...
