It was infuriating…
Ever since Dom had learned to read—since he could understand stories and the ideals they carried—the Magic Knights had stood as an unquestionable symbol of hope. They were protectors, saviors, heroes carved into history. And among them, the Monarchs were legends. Hope personified.
So to hear those words—twisted, cruel, and almost blasphemous words—spill from the mouth of a Magic Knight… no, from a Monarch successor…
Dom felt something inside him snap.
Disappointment curdled into disgust.
Disgust ignited into rage.
"Dog?" He muttered, his fists clenching so tightly that blood seeped between his fingers.
"Don't you know?" Xavier replied casually as he approached, lazily spinning his spear at his side. "Even among the Monarchs, there were criminals—two of them, actually—meant to be executed for crimes against humanity."
His grin widened as he continued,
"Instead, they were recruited and used to end the war. My former boss, the Devil Fox, was one of them."
As he went on, his spear spun faster in his grip.
"Every single knight is just a monster the Council decided not to lock away--to control…" His voice grew deeper, colder. "They leashed us. Point us at their problems and reward us with treats. Just like a dog."
Dom's gaze darkened. "And you're okay with that?" He asked.
Xavier stopped some feet away, resting the spear against his shoulder. A crooked smirk tugged at his lips. "As long as I get paid—and can spend it on booze and women—I don't mind wagging my tail for the Capital. If that means wiping out a town…" He shrugged. "It is what it is."
That was the last straw.
Lucy flinched as a sudden shift rippled through the air—dark, heavy, wrong. Dom's usually bright mana twisted into something colder.
"Stay back," Dom warned Lucy, his tone firm.
She frowned at him, unsettled by his now threatening presence, reminding her of the glimpse of it he displayed when he killed those wolves at the river.
As Dom stepped forward, Xavier arched an eyebrow. "You think you can handle me alone?"
Dom didn't answer as he stopped some distance from Lucy and the wolves, then took his stance, his eyes and fists glowing with blue mana.
Xavier scoffed at the unflinching gaze. "Alright, newbie. Show me what you've got."
A surge of red aura burst from Xavier, rolling through the clearing like molten fire. Lucy and the wolves shivered instinctively, the forest itself seeming to recoil from the sensation.
Dom's vision narrowed; all else vanished beneath the oppressive wave of power washing over his body. Every cell screamed the truth before he even registered it: Xavier was far stronger, and any fight was already lost.
Yet despite trembling and the instinct to flee, Dom forced himself to focus, swallowing his fear as he released his own mana.
Xavier's eyes widened slightly at the fairly stable shroud surrounding Dom's body. "You've got some serious balls, kid," He said, smirking.
Then Dom charged.
Seconds collapsed as he closed the distance with a fist thrown instantly.
"I've read about you," Xavier remarked, planting his spear into the ground before weaving aside, narrowly avoiding Dom's punch.
Dom skidded across the dirt, his inertia unhindered, then pivoted and leaped for another strike, which Xavier deflected with casual ease.
"Physical enhancement, right? I almost feel sorry for you," Xavier said, dodging effortlessly.
"Shut up," Dom growled, swinging his leg down in a devastating kick that shattered the clearing.
Debris and dust flew as Dom's foot sank into the broken ground. He glanced at Xavier, now a few feet away—unharmed and still smirking.
"Channeling mana to strengthen and withstand attacks. It's basic mage combat," Xavier explained, voice calm.
Dom surged forward with a sonic boom, but Xavier ducked, rolling aside while Dom shot right past him.
"If your so-called specialty is something any mage can do, it isn't special," Xavier added with a condescending grin.
Rage burned in Dom's eyes. He dashed again, cracks snaking across the hard earth as he delivered another mana-infused punch.
But this time, Xavier didn't dodge. He raised a hand and caught Dom's fist effortlessly, the impact sending a gust through the clearing with an audible smack of skin.
Dom's eyes widened once he realized that his punch, capable of destroying body parts and metal with ease, had no effect.
"The more mana you focus on enhancing your body," Xavier said, raising his free arm, which pulsed with red mana while his other hand tightened around Dom's fist, "… the stronger you become. Which means that as long as I have more…"
Dom gritted his teeth as he tried--and failed to pull his hand free from Xavier's grip.
Then Xavier clenched his free fist, forcing Dom to instinctively guard.
"…I will always be stronger than you."
In the blink of an eye, Xavier's fist struck Dom's gut, radiating through him like shock-waves and echoing out of his back.
He groaned as blood spilled from his mouth while his vision blurred.
With a smirk, Xavier released him, but before Dom could hit the ground, a spinning heel slammed into his cheek, sending him spiraling across the clearing before crashing with a lifeless thud.
As Dom trembled on the floor, Xavier's laughter echoed. "First time anyone's hit you this hard? Too bad, kid."
Dom didn't even hear his words. He only tasted blood and heard the ringing in his ears.
As he stared at the ground which trembled in his sight, as if the earth itself was vibrating, his rattled mind drifted to his previous battles— his years of training, the Reflezard, Lucy— they all felt insignificant to these simple two hits.
Xavier's smile finally faded as he regarded Dom's struggle. "And here I thought I might actually see a fight." He scoffed, disappointed, then turned toward Lucy, who growled at him. "Perhaps your girlfriend will do better."
Xavier barely took a step when a static spark snapped at his side. His eyes widened slightly as he caught a black blade inches from his face.
Then, he vanished, leaving the blade swinging harmlessly through the air.
He reappeared several feet away, skidding to a stop on the dirt with an amused grin fixedon the newcomer. "Was wondering where your partner-in-crime was." He chuckled.
Taking a calm sword stance, Dae scanned the area, his sharp mind quickly assessing every detail until his gaze landed on the spear sticking out of the ground in the distance.
"You're the 7th Division's Head Vice-Captain," Dae stated, returning his calm focus to Xavier.
Xavier clapped. "Yes. There's a guy who knows his stuff." He teased, glancing teasingly at Dom, still struggling to rise, then his smile darkened as he focused his gaze back on Dae. "And I know who you are, Dae Hyeon."
Dae stiffened, shock widening his eyes.
Xavier shook his head slowly. "I gotta say… I was surprised to learn that Old Man Jin had a grandson. I wonder if he's still al-"
"How did you know?" Dae's aura flared darkly, his voice low and tense.
Noting the sudden surge of darkness in Dae's mana, Xavier smirked. "Oh? Is that what this is about?"
Before Dae could react, Xavier vanished and reappeared beside his spear.
With a sharp thunderclap, Dae blitzed forward, closing the gap, blades aimed within inches of Xavier.
In a single swift motion, Xavier's spear intercepted Dae's slash, lightning-infused swords grinding against the resilient metal of his spear.
"While there's no physical evidence," Xavier said calmly, "… as someone who's survived seeing that sword technique firsthand. I can tell."
Annoyed, Dae clicked his tongue, stepping back into a new stance, his swords raised above his head. "Form 32: Spark Chain," He whispered, unleashing a rapid series of slashes.
The residual electricity from his rapid blade arcs formed a dense bundle of purple lightning, surging toward Xavier.
Xavier dropped low, red eyes glowing, and spun his spear in a rapid, complex pattern. Sparks flew as each sword strike collided with his spear, and in moments, the clashes dissipated, leaving Dae blown back from the aftereffects.
Dae's eyes widened, seeing Xavier grinning amidst the lingering sparks. "He countered each one?" He muttered, frustration tightening his jaw as he retook his stance.
"That's disappointing," Xavier said as he spun his spear casually. "What made the Thunder Sword Style deadly wasn't its forms… It was speed."
Dae narrowed his eyes, tracking his every movement.
"Your grandfather's speed was on a whole other level." Xavier continued, "Only the Emperor himself and the current Acting Knight Commander were the only ones to ever match his speed. Before I even make a move, he's already made ten. He was a monster."
His gaze then grew scornful as he stared at Dae.
"So when I realized he had a descendant, I was hopeful that I could see that legendary speed again. But…." His tone grew dark. "… compared to Jin, you're just a fucking joke."
Dae gritted his teeth, violet electricity crackling around his body as he surged forward, the ground cracking beneath him with a deafening thunderclap. "Form 56: Static Spear," He whispered, channeling lightning into his blades, the energy extending forward from their tips like a massive light spear.
Right before impact, Xavier sidestepped with casual precision, leaving Dae to rocket past him.
Once he stopped, a shiver ran through his spine as Xavier appeared behind him. "Jin must be rolling in whatever hole he's in right now." He whispered into Dae's ear.
Dae spun, barely blocking Xavier's spear aimed at him. The dirt beneath their feet crumbled from the impact, sparks flying as their weapons ground against themselves.
Even using both hands, Dae couldn't overcome Xavier's strength. With a calm smirk, he pushed against Dae with one hand, forcing him to a knee while the rubble beneath crumbled further.
Then, sparks danced in Dae's eyes as his blades erupted in brilliant purple light. "Giga Mine!" He shouted, lightning surging in a powerful explosion, enveloping both combatants and creating a massive cloud of smoke and dust.
Xavier emerged from the smoke, his body unscathed as he searched through the smoke below.
Within the cover, Dae crouched, his blades sparking with electricity.
"Bolt Barrage!" He chanted, slashing rapidly upwards, the thunderclap dispersed the smoke as arcs of lightning shot through the air.
Xavier laughed, spinning his spear to form an instant shield that blocked the fired bolts.
He then landed several feet away just as Dae reappeared behind him, his stance already taken and his swords already drawn.
"Twe-"
"Too slow," Xavier said, thrusting the blunt end of his spear into Dae's exposed chest without looking.
Dae's eyes widened as the impact knocked the wind out of him.
Then, Xavier spun, throwing a punch at the now vulnerable swordsman-- before suddenly anchoring his spear to the ground, using its shaft to block a sudden kick from the side.
He backslid several feet away, the ground fracturing beneath him, before stopping, spear planted firmly.
"Huh. You're tougher than I thought," Xavier said as he straightened, his eyes now fixed on Dom, who stood in front of Dae, visibly pained and exhausted.
"Looks like… we're in real deep shit now… Sorry," Dom muttered, a hand pressed against his aching stomach.
Dae groaned, forcing himself upright. "Too late for apologies." He said, taking his place beside him.
Xavier's gaze swept over both.
"Boss!"
They turned as some magic knights arrived, the number 7 marked on their uniforms.
"Damn, you guys are so slow!" Xavier snapped at them.
"You're too fast, boss!" One of the knights replied as they skid to a stop some distance away.
Dae clicked his tongue once he realized that the knights had already encircled them.
"So they're the traitors? They don't look so tough." Another knight asked, raising a hand that lit up with bright, hot flames.
Dom raised his fists, his eyes drifting between each knight, gauging their abilities and planning his next move.
"Don't bother," Xavier said, waving them off. "They may be newbies, but you can't handle them."
A third knight glared at him, purple mana orbs hovering around his body. "Are you underestimating us, boss?" He asked.
Xavier met his gaze with an equally serious one. "Just focus on the girl and those wolves. I'll handle them." He said, his tone sending a chill up the knight's spine.
They frowned, dissatisfied, but nodded as they turned their gaze to Lucy and the surviving wolves.
"Stop!" Dom shouted as he dashed toward Lucy, only to halt as Xavier materialized before him, casually leaning his spear on his shoulder.
"If you want to save your girl, you'll have to get past me first, newbie." Xavier scoffed confidently.
"Dammit," Dom grumbled while Dae stepped up to his side.
"But that's never gonna happen. Wanna know why?" Xavier asked.
Dom frowned; his fists tightened. "No. But you're going to tell us anyway," He muttered.
Xavier smirked. "The magic class basically determines a mage's strength." He held up a hand, gesturing expansively. "From the lowest, each step up doubles the previous. A D-class mage is at least twice as strong as an E-class, and a C-class doubles that again."
As Xavier spoke, Dae's eyes caught a subtle signal from Dom's fingers—a battle tactic they'd formed during academy training.
"That progression continues with each class but stops at S. Do you know why?"
The two remained silent, unmoved by his ranting.
Xavier shrugged and continued, "S stands for the Special Class. Only the elite ever reach it. And instead of a double power gap, the difference between A and S jumps to ten."
His smirk widened.
"One S-class mage is at least ten times stronger than an A-class. Then, from S to SS? A hundred times."
Xavier removed his spear from his shoulder, spinning it slowly in his hand. Dae raised his katanas, and Dom cracked his knuckles, bracing.
Xavier's spear spin quickened, sending gusts of wind across the clearing.
Then, with a sudden stop, the weapon was planted in the dirt with a loud thunk, tip reflecting the bright moonlight.
"Judging by your mana, I'd say you're both A-class. Which means…" He paused dramatically. "…I'm at least a thousand times stronger than both of you."
Dae shifted his stance. "A thousand," He whispered.
Dom's eyes narrowed, his hand trembling as he tried to steady himself. "No wonder we're getting obliterated." He chuckled, humorlessly.
Xavier's grin widened.
Red aura slowly bled from his body, pressing down in the air like a living weight. The young mages flinched from the sheer intensity.
"So," Xavier said, voice dripping with sadistic pleasure, "…are you going to surrender quietly, or do you want me to humiliate you even more?"