Black Phoenix Heir

Chapter 13: Chapter 13 — Clash

Chapter 13 — Clash

”Unhand me, you filthy slave.”

Victor slowly released Alex’s wrist.

The moment he did, Alex pulled his arm back and took several steps away. He stared down at the place where Victor had grabbed him, rubbing his wrist as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened. Victor remained where he was, watching him carefully.

Victor, you’ve really done it this time.

He glanced toward Jacob for the briefest moment. Jacob’s expression told him everything he needed to know.

This was bad.

Very bad.

Alex’s face had gone strangely still. The anger that had been written all over his face only moments ago had disappeared, leaving behind an unsettling calm. He slowly lifted his arm and looked at his wrist again, turning it from side to side. He took a deep breath through his nose, held it for a moment, and slowly let it out.

Then he looked at Victor.

”It looks like you need to be taught a lesson.”

Victor’s expression remained neutral, but his mind was already racing.

Of course.

There was no talking his way out of this.

Alex’s eyes narrowed.

The next moment, his cultivation erupted.

A surge of spiritual energy exploded from his body, causing the loose dirt and sand around his feet to scatter. His robes fluttered violently as an invisible pressure spread through the surrounding area. The aura coming from him was completely different from anything Victor had felt from before.

It was sharp.

Aggressive.

Predatory.

Victor’s eyes narrowed as he felt the pressure against his body.

Body Tempering Rank Eight.

He had only been in this world for a short time, but even he could tell that the difference between Rank Four and Rank Eight wasn’t small.

Alex lowered his stance.

For someone so young, there was an unsettling confidence in the way he moved. He had clearly been trained for this from childhood, and unlike Victor, fighting wasn’t something he had learned through necessity. It was something that had been drilled into him.

Alex’s fist shot forward.

Victor’s instincts screamed.

He dropped his body low, letting the punch pass over his head before quickly stepping backward. The wind generated by the strike brushed against his hair.

Alex’s eyes widened slightly.

He hadn’t expected that.

A Rank Four slave had just dodged him.

For a moment, Alex simply stared at Victor.

Then a small smile appeared on his face.

Interesting.

”Let’s see how long you can keep doing that.”

Alex stepped forward again.

This time, his leg came around in a powerful kick aimed directly at Victor’s head.

Victor raised his arm just in time.

The impact shook his entire body.

He redirected Alex’s leg to the side and immediately stepped backward, putting distance between them.

His arm tingled from the impact.

He’s fast.

Victor had some experience with martial arts from Earth, enough to understand basic movement and timing, but this was different. Alex had been trained from childhood, and his cultivation enhanced every movement he made.

Victor wasn’t fighting someone who merely knew how to throw punches.

He was fighting someone who had been raised to fight.

Alex’s expression darkened.

He had expected Victor to be helpless.

Instead, the slave had dodged his first attack and blocked his second.

People were watching.

That realization seemed to make the anger inside him burn hotter.

His killing intent began to spread through the area.

Victor felt it immediately.

This wasn’t sparring anymore.

Alex actually wanted to hurt him.

Alex stepped forward and clenched his fist.

Spiritual energy gathered around his arm, twisting around his hand like an invisible current. Victor’s eyes widened as he sensed something gathering there.

Alex swung.

A burst of spiritual energy erupted from his fist.

Victor barely had time to react.

He raised his arm in front of his chest.

The attack slammed into him.

Boom!

Victor was thrown backward.

His feet struck the ground, but the force carried him several more feet before he managed to regain his balance. He slid across the stone and finally stopped, his shoes scraping against the ground.

Victor looked down at his arm.

It was numb.

His eyes returned to Alex.

What was that?

He had seen martial arts on Earth. He had seen people throw punches, kicks, and even weapons.

But nobody could do that.

Nobody could throw a punch and send energy flying through the air.

The memories he’d inherited didn’t help either. There was nothing useful there. If anything, they only reinforced the fact that Victor’s previous life had been sheltered. He had barely experienced violence, much less anything involving cultivation.

Alex stared at him.

”You survived?”

Victor didn’t answer.

His breathing had become heavier.

He needed to be faster.

That attack had made one thing clear.

Dodging wasn’t enough if he couldn’t keep up with Alex.

Alex’s hand moved toward his waist.

Victor’s eyes followed.

A sword.

The weapon slid from its sheath with a metallic sound.

The moment Alex grasped the handle, spiritual energy began flowing into the blade.

The air around the sword seemed to tremble.

Victor’s expression became serious.

Alex raised the sword and pointed it toward him.

”Spiritual Stab!”

The moment he shouted the technique’s name, his body moved.

To Victor, it almost looked like Alex had disappeared.

His eyes widened.

Too fast.

Victor’s body reacted before his mind could finish processing what was happening.

His knees bent.

His upper body dropped backward, his spine nearly parallel with the ground.

The sword flashed past his face.

Victor felt the wind of the blade brush against his skin.

He narrowly avoided it.

Alex’s eyes widened.

Victor rolled away and quickly pushed himself back onto his feet.

His heart was pounding.

That attack had been different.

Much different.

If that blade had connected, he was certain he would have died.

There was no room for another mistake.

Alex turned toward him.

His expression had completely changed.

There was no amusement left.

Only rage.

”You think you can keep running from me?”

Victor didn’t answer.

He shifted his stance.

His body felt strangely calm despite the danger.

The fear that should have been there wasn’t.

Something inside him had stirred again.

The same strange feeling from the cavern.

The bloodline.

His breathing slowed.

His eyes focused.

The noise of the market seemed to fade into the background.

For a brief moment, Victor felt as though everything around him had become clearer. He could see the position of Alex’s feet, the angle of his shoulders, the way his fingers tightened around the sword.

He didn’t understand what was happening.

He simply knew that his body was ready.

Alex charged.

”Spiritual Stab!”

The sword came forward.

Victor waited.

At the last possible moment, he moved.

His body twisted aside as the blade passed through the space where his chest had been.

The attack missed.

Victor felt a cold bead of sweat run down his back.

He had done it.

But he immediately realized something else.

He couldn’t dodge forever.

Alex recovered from the attack and turned around.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Alex’s killing intent erupted again.

Victor tightened his fists.

Alex raised his sword.

”Let’s see if you can keep dodging.”

He charged again.

Victor’s pupils contracted.

He was already moving, but this time his body wasn’t fast enough.

The sword was coming directly toward him.

There wasn’t enough room.

There wasn’t enough time.

Victor’s mind went blank.

The world seemed to slow.

Alex’s sword was only inches away.

Victor knew he couldn’t dodge.

Then—

”All right, Alex. That’s enough.”

A metallic clang rang through the market.

Victor froze.

The sword that had been coming toward him was suddenly stopped.

Someone was standing between them.

Victor stared at the unfamiliar boy who had appeared in front of him.

The boy’s sword was raised, its blade locked against Alex’s.

He hadn’t seen him arrive.

The stranger didn’t appear winded.

He hadn’t even taken a step backward from Alex’s attack.

Victor’s eyes narrowed.

Who is this?