Chapter 60: The Decisive Battle

Just as a blinding light enveloped the stage, now shrouded in total darkness, a rift in space opened. From its depths, the Holy Blade, Excalibur, emerged, descending gently into Xavier's grasp.

As his fingers curled around the hilt, Xavier exhaled deeply. "It's been a while since I’ve called upon you, Excalibur," he murmured, a tinge of reverence in his tone.

Across from him, Adam stood frozen, his face a complex mix of awe and unease. His eyes fixated on the blade, its otherworldly holy energy radiating with an overwhelming presence that seemed to dominate the entire battlefield.

"So that’s it," Adam thought, swallowing hard. "Excalibur—the legendary blade forged from the essence of a god, wielded by the Great Hero, Saint Sebastian Akintola." He could hardly believe he was witnessing the sword he'd only ever heard of in tales as a child.

Shaking himself from his trance, Adam smirked and spoke in a teasing tone. "Tell me, Xavier—are you by any chance the reincarnation of Saint Sebastian?"

Xavier chuckled softly, the corners of his mouth lifting beneath his mask. "Saint Sebastian is someone I’ve always admired. But me, his reincarnation? That’s giving me far too much credit."

Adam laughed, though his voice carried a hint of tension. "You're right, it doesn’t add up. Saint Sebastian never had a dragon companion as a pet."

Within Xavier's mind, Alcmena groaned, his teeth clenched. "Pet? Really?"

But before Alcmena could retaliate, Xavier cut in, his voice sharp. "My master is not a pet. He is my Contractor. Watch how you speak about him—I do not tolerate disrespect toward those I care about."

Adam raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Contractor, huh? That explains your ability to use his powers. Interesting."

Xavier didn’t respond. Instead, he unsheathed Excalibur, its radiant energy flooding the space around them. His cosmic eyes glowed behind the mask as he shifted into a battle stance.

Adam grinned, flicking his own blade into his hand. "Show me what you’re made of, Xavier. Prove to me that my faith in finding you wasn’t misplaced."

With a firm grip on Excalibur, Xavier lunged forward, their swords clashing in an explosion of sound and energy. The sheer force of their auras colliding sent shockwaves rippling through the stage.

Adam launched a series of quick, chaotic strikes. His unorthodox movements were hard to predict, but Xavier remained composed, parrying each one with precision. "Black Star Authority: Gravitational Downfall," he muttered, pointing a finger toward the ground.

Suddenly, the gravity around them intensified to crushing levels, forcing Adam to his knees. Taking advantage of the moment, Xavier channeled his Regokinesis Blade Technique into Excalibur, delivering a powerful upward slash that cut across Adam's chest. The blow sent sparks flying.

Gritting his teeth, Adam fought against the overwhelming pressure. His eyes glowed fiercely as he tightened his grip on his blade. Breaking free of the gravitational pull, he deflected the incoming flurry of slashes from Xavier. Blood seeped from deep cuts along his arms, but Adam didn’t falter.

Seizing what he thought was an opening, Xavier raised his hand, summoning a point-blank "Vector Nova" to obliterate Adam. But the attack missed, shredding the ground instead. Adam had vanished, slipping into the shadows just before impact.

Appearing behind Xavier, Adam smirked and drove a kick into his back, sending him skidding across the stage. "Tricky, aren’t you?" Adam taunted, his voice laced with amusement. With a wave of his hand, he conjured a barrage of dark weapons, launching them at Xavier.

Xavier deflected most but couldn’t avoid them all, wincing as some tore into his skin. Shadowy arms erupted from the ground, pinning him in place. Adam formed dark bullets in the air and fired them with deadly precision, piercing Xavier’s body.

"Hold on!" Alcmena shouted, panic creeping into his voice as Xavier coughed up blood.

Despite the pain, Xavier summoned his strength, ripping apart the shadowy arms with the power of his RealmHeart state. He retaliated with a wild uppercut, which Adam dodged, countering with a kick. But this time, Xavier blocked it, his movements now keeping pace with Adam's.

What followed was a ferocious brawl, their fists and blades colliding in a blur of motion. Xavier ducked under a punch and retaliated with a spinning kick to Adam’s face, creating some much-needed space. Without hesitation, he concentrated his strength into his right hand, veins bulging as he threw his most fastest attack yet, a devastating punch. The air around him warped violently before exploding outward in a concussive blast.

"Power Fist," Xavier murmured as the attack hit its mark.

The instant the attack struck Adam, it felt as though his entire body was slammed by an overwhelming force—like a freight train moving with the relentless speed of light itself, each atom carrying the weight of annihilation. Its sheer force sent Adam hurtling backward, smashing through shadowy constructs before he managed to stop his momentum with several dark hands.

"What the hell was that?" Adam muttered, shaking off the impact. His arms were bruised, and his breath came in sharp gasps. "I’ve never seen him use anything like that before. He’s full of surprises."

Adam grinned despite himself. "Impressive, Xavier. But don’t think I’ll let you pull that off again."

Xavier didn’t respond. Instead, he unleashed a relentless series of Power Fists, each strike faster and more devastating than the last. Adam barely managed to erect a shadowy shield, which shattered under the onslaught. Forced to retreat into the shadows, Adam reappeared behind Xavier for a surprise attack.

But Xavier was ready. Pivoting with incredible speed, he summoned Excalibur into his grasp and, with one swift motion, sliced through Adam’s blade, shattering it in half.

Adam's face shifted between shock and exhilaration as he observed Xavier's skill. For someone of Xavier's presumed caliber, this level of prowess was unexpected.

In a calm, cold voice, Xavier flicked his finger and commanded, "Power Fist." Instantly, a concentrated shockwave hit Adam with the force of a speeding train, hurling him across the arena.

Before Adam could recover, a barrage of the same attack followed at blinding speed. "Power Fist." Each strike warped the air, distorting reality with its sheer force.

Stunned but determined, Adam summoned a blade of pure darkness. With a wide, calculated slash, he deflected the oncoming shockwaves, generating a violent explosion that coated the arena in shadows.

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From within the inky void, Adam’s calculating voice resonated:

"So this 'Power Fist'... it’s not a special move. It’s the result of the air around you being bent and crushed under the sheer strength of your punches."

His lips curled into a smirk. "What monstrous strength you have, Xavier."

Xavier stood still, scanning the shadowed battlefield. His eyes darted for any trace of Adam’s presence.

"I can’t sense him, Master," Xavier admitted, gripping Excalibur tightly.

Alcmena’s voice echoed in his mind. "Stay focused. Keep your guard up—he’s planning to strike from the darkness."

As Xavier closed his eyes to concentrate, a flurry of slashes made of darkness surged toward him. His movements were swift and deliberate, each attack narrowly missing as he dodged with preternatural precision.

"Enough!" Xavier roared, twisting Excalibur. The blade erupted with radiant light, banishing the oppressive shadows and exposing Adam’s position.

Adam’s eyes widened in alarm. He tried to retreat into the shadows again, but Xavier anticipated this. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a salvo of vector bullets, pinning Adam in place. Xavier followed up, enveloping himself in a glowing aura, his speed amplified by vector manipulation.

In the blink of an eye, Xavier dashed forward, locking onto his target. "Vector Nova!" he yelled as Excalibur became a blur of energy-infused steel.

Adam countered with a calculated parry, deflecting the blade. The resulting collision obliterated a section of the arena. But Xavier was relentless, striking again with the same attack, his persistence unyielding.

Adam grinned amidst the chaos. "Impressive. Your power, your skill... truly outstanding!" With a swift uppercut, he shattered Xavier’s guard and summoned a swarm of dark spikes from the ground.

Xavier barely had time to react, blocking what he could while evading others. But Adam was relentless, aiming a decisive strike at Xavier’s head.

Before the blow could land, a massive dragon’s head burst forth from Xavier’s body. Gleaming silver scales, razor-sharp teeth, and glowing horns marked its terrifying form. Alcmena roared, "Starfire Breath!"

A torrent of flames, radiant with the power of distant stars, erupted from Alcmena’s maw. The searing heat warped reality itself, incinerating everything in its path, including the absence of light. Adam groaned as the flames engulfed him, narrowly escaping by absorbing their energy with his darkness.

Xavier looked on, stunned. "Master? Is it safe for you to emerge?"

Alcmena’s commanding voice cut through his hesitation. "Stop worrying about me! Focus on Adam—don’t give him time to recover!"

Xavier nodded, refocusing his attention. Across the arena, Adam prepared a harpoon-like projectile forged from the surrounding darkness. Xavier responded instantly, pointing a finger. "Quantum Blackhole."

A miniature singularity appeared, devouring Adam’s attack effortlessly. Xavier summoned three more black holes—the maximum he could sustain—and dashed at Adam, the gravitational orbs trailing behind him.

Adam’s composure faltered as Xavier launched one of the black holes in a calculated arc. Simultaneously, he used "Power Fist" again, letting the black hole’s gravitational pull curve the punch into an unpredictable zigzag. The attack connected, hurling Adam off balance.

Not letting up, Xavier hurled another black hole. Adam attempted to slice it apart, but the void consumed his darkness blade and collapsed.

Frustrated, Adam conjured a vortex of shadows, dragging Xavier toward him. But Xavier countered with his final black hole, neutralizing the pull. Their blades clashed once more, the sheer force of their combat shattering the arena floor and sending both combatants flying.

High in the air, Xavier regained his footing. Gripping Excalibur, he unleashed an omnidirectional storm of slashes. "Multi-Directional Echo!" he roared as glowing arcs rained down on Adam.

The relentless assault left Adam visibly wounded, deep cuts streaking across his body. His glowing eyes reflected both irritation and respect as he reached for the shadows around him, pulling the darkness like a cloak. With one mighty gesture, he dragged Xavier—and everything in the arena—violently down to the ground.

Adam slowly approached Xavier, who was struggling to rise. Xavier’s body trembled, the pain from his severe wounds amplified by the onset of early-stage core corruption. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and his vision blurred as fatigue threatened to overwhelm him. Adam tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Don’t tell me that’s all you’ve got. Come on, Xavier, I know you can do better than this.”

Xavier barely managed to prop himself up, but then Alcmena's voice calmly yet urgently echoed in his mind. “Xavier, I can still sense one of your black holes.”

“Wait, really?” Xavier croaked, disbelief evident in his tone.

“Yes,” Alcmena confirmed. “But it won’t last more than a few seconds. If you’re going to use it, the time is now.”

Clenching his fists, Xavier understood the gravity of Alcmena’s words. His body was at its absolute limit, teetering on the edge of collapse. Closing his eyes, he drew a deep, steadying breath and drove Excalibur into the ground, using it to steady himself.

“Let’s end this,” Xavier said, his voice steady despite the pain. His eyes locked onto Adam. “With our hands.”

Adam’s smirk widened, his abyssal eyes gleaming. “Our hands? Interesting. I like the sound of that.”

Both warriors squared off, their stances a study in contrast: Adam exuding power and precision, Xavier brimming with determination despite his battered state. In an instant, they clashed, fists meeting with bone-rattling force, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena. Every strike was deliberate, every movement a calculated risk as they exchanged devastating blows.

Yet, Adam couldn’t ignore the change in Xavier. His movements were slower, less fluid, and his attacks had grown predictable. It became clear Xavier’s focus wasn’t entirely on the fight.

“Fatigued already?” Adam teased, dodging a sluggish punch. “We can take a break if you’d like.”

Xavier didn’t respond, his attacks continuing with unwavering determination. Adam’s amusement faded into irritation as the fight dragged on. Suddenly, Xavier released a burst of ethereal energy, his Aura flaring wildly.

Adam’s eyes narrowed. “Are you mad? Your body’s already falling apart, and now you’re pushing it even further?”

Before Adam could react, an immense force tugged at him. He turned, and his expression froze. Behind him, a massive black hole had formed, its gravitational pull dominating the battlefield as it absorbed stray darkness and Xavier's ethereal energy that he released.

“So that’s what you’ve been plotting,” Adam muttered, realization dawning.

Xavier’s lips curled into a faint smile. From the start, his focus had been on sustaining the quantum black hole, ensuring it absorbed the darkness instead of dispersing it. With a final burst of energy, the black hole had reached its critical point.

Gripping Excalibur tightly, Xavier declared, “It’s over, Adam. This is my victory.”

Summoning every ounce of strength, Xavier activated his Aura once more, channeling ethereal energy into his blade. Excalibur glowed with an intensity that rivaled the sun. Adam’s expression shifted, a mix of excitement and respect. “Brilliant,” he murmured. “You truly are a genius, Xavier. Let’s see if your plan holds to the end.”

Alcmena’s voice cut through the tension. “Xavier, he’s preparing something. You need to strike now.”

Xavier nodded and unleashed one of his powerful techniques: “Stasis Oblivion.” The devastating attack streaked toward Adam, who instinctively prepared to counter it. But to his surprise, the attack missed, sailing past him.

“Did you just miss?” Adam asked, puzzled. Then his eyes widened in horror as realization struck. “No...”

The black hole absorbed “Stasis Oblivion,” and in that instant, everything changed. Xavier had designed the attack specifically for this moment, forcing the black hole’s rotation to reverse. The shift destabilized it, triggering a massive stellar thermonuclear explosion.

"Blackstar Authority: Cosmic Blackhole".

The arena was engulfed in blinding white light, the ground quaking violently as the deafening roar of the blast echoed through Saint Petersburg.

When the light faded, Adam’s ethereal dome had shattered. He stood, bleeding but alive, his wounds healing slower than usual—a side effect of Excalibur’s divine energy. Nearby, Xavier lay motionless, his mask cracked, and his hair reverting to its normal color as his RealmHeart form dissipated.

The crowd was stunned into silence, struggling to comprehend what had just unfolded. The announcer, recovering from his shock, declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the Gladiator Grand Festival is none other than the Grim Reaper of the Abyss!”

The arena erupted into cheers, but Anastasia’s eyes were fixed on Xavier, her worry outweighing the celebration. Her thoughts raced, wondering if Adam had harmed him beyond repair. Miraxis, standing nearby, spoke with a mix of coldness and admiration. “The kid lost,” he said, chuckling softly. “But to go head-to-head with that monster... it’s a feat in itself.”

Sir Lorian added, “Win or lose, what matters is that he gave it his all.”

Back in the arena, Adam chuckled as his wounds slowly healed. “You impressed me, Xavier,” he said. “I suppressed my power and black ethereal core to your level of power to give you a fighting chance, but I never expected you to push me this far.”

Adam’s expression turned serious. “I’ll say it again: join me, Xavier. Together, we can take down that bastard Percival. I need you for what’s coming.”