CHAPTER 90: ALEX IS DEAD?

10 seconds later

Alex blinked.

Different place.

Circular arena.

Massive.

Stone walls rising.

Colosseum.

Opposite side—

A figure.

Robed.

Hood up.

Watching.

Alex looked around.

"What the—"

[TASK 3 COMPLETE!]

His vision flooded.

[REWARD: Skill Book Obtained!]

[Your Ass Is On Fire!]

Alex froze.

Read the description.

"Slime’s rear leaves a burning zone."

"Duration: 30 seconds."

"Deals 5% of Slime’s Defense as continuous damage per second."

"Reduces enemy healing and movement speed by 20%."

"Allies recover 5% Defense per second within the zone."

"Burn area scales with slime butt size."

His eyes lit up.

"YES!"

Perfect counter.

For liquid enemies.

Just make Pie bounce around.

Cover the ground in fire.

And it heals allies?

"God-tier support skill!"

[Consume 1 Explosion Potion to upgrade to Level 2?]

[Slightly increases Slime’s Strength]

[Current Stock: 3]

"Do it!"

No hesitation.

[UPGRADE COMPLETE!]

[Level 2: Deals/Restores 10% Defense per second]

[Reduces enemy healing and movement by 30%]

"YEAH!"

Pumped his fist.

"Skipping class was worth it!"

He turned.

Ready to test it.

"Pie, let’s—"

Stopped.

Empty space beside him.

No yellow slime.

No "Gulu."

Nothing.

He spun around.

"Pie?"

Silence.

"PIE?!"

His heart dropped.

Where...?

He looked at the arena again.

The figure.

The stone walls.

"Where the hell am I?"

The figure stepped forward.

Hood fell back.

Pale face.

Sunken eyes.

Black veins crawling.

Soul Elder.

He stared at Alex.

Blinked.

"YOU?!"

Voice sharp.

Furious.

"Where’s Wilson?!"

Looked around wildly.

"I pulled the WRONG ONE?!"

Kicked the ground.

Stone cracked.

"The King wanted him ALIVE!"

Pacing.

Muttering.

Then—

Stopped.

Smile spread.

Slow.

Twisted.

"Wait..."

Turned back to Alex.

"The King wants you alive..."

"To consume your power..."

Finger pointing.

"Why not do it myself?"

Laughter.

Echoing.

"Betray the organization!"

"Take your strength!"

"Become King MYSELF!"

Arms spread wide.

"Beautiful!"

He stepped closer.

"BOY!"

Voice booming.

"You should feel HONORED!"

Chest puffed out.

"I am Soul Elder!"

"6-Grade Beast Master!"

"I’ve killed SEVENTEEN official Beast Masters!"

Counting on fingers.

"Each one stronger than you!"

"Each one BEGGING for mercy!"

Pointed at himself.

"I am UNDEFEATED in mental combat!"

"INVINCIBLE!"

Pause.

"You will contribute to my greatness!"

More words.

More boasting.

Alex stood there.

Cold sweat.

Down his back.

No Pie.

No backup.

Just 10-Grade.

He was scared.

Actually scared.

But—

"Huh?"

Soul Elder’s eye twitched.

Kept talking.

Louder.

"I’ve mastered the Mental Duel!"

"A GOD-TIER skill!"

"No one escapes!"

Alex tilted his head.

"Huh?"

Soul Elder’s face reddened.

"Are you LISTENING?!"

More ranting.

Accomplishments.

Power levels.

Alex yawned.

"Huh?"

Soul Elder trembling.

"I am a MENTAL specialist!"

Jabbed his temple.

"The BANE of all Beast Masters!"

Alex’s eyes cleared.

Mental specialist?

Oh.

He laid down.

Right there.

On the stone.

Stretched out.

Arms behind head.

Closed his eyes.

Then—

PRRRRRRRRRRRT.

Long.

Loud.

Echoing through the arena.

Soul Elder froze.

Face purple.

"YOU—!"

Shaking.

"YOU DARE—!"

Alex settled in.

Comfortable.

"Wake me when it’s over."

...

Outside.

Darkness everywhere.

Not night. Bodies.

Hundreds of them. Officials. Beast Masters. Armed units.

Surrounding the office. Surrounding the formation.

Silent. Weapons ready.

Massive beasts stood guard. Dragons coiled. Tigers prowling. Serpents raised.

All focused. All waiting.

The air thick. Hard to breathe.

One young officer whispered.

"Soul Elder..."

His voice cracked.

"He killed my mentor." "Three years ago."

Hands shaking on his weapon.

"Pulled him into the duel." "Fifty-two seconds."

Swallowed hard.

"That’s all it took."

Another officer nodded. Older. Scarred face.

"Forty-seven of us dead."

Stared at the formation.

"Seventeen Beast Masters." "Thirty support personnel."

Pause.

"Every single one—alone." "We couldn’t do anything."

His fist clenched.

"Just stood outside." "Listening to the screams stop."

A woman beside him. Eyes red.

"My brother was one of them."

Voice barely audible.

"7-Grade Beast Master." "Lasted ninety seconds."

Tears sliding down.

"They wouldn’t even let me see the body."

Someone else.

"Mental Duel is unbreakable."

Jaw tight.

"Once you’re pulled in—" "No escape." "No help." "No mercy."

Another voice.

"The King offers 50 million for Soul Elder’s head."

Bitter laugh.

"No one’s ever collected."

At the front.

Victor stood. Golden hair. Broad shoulders. Military uniform.

His face carved from stone.

Three massive beasts flanked him.

He stared at the formation.

Black runes glowing. Pulsing. Active.

His throat moved.

"I was supposed to go to his school."

Voice low. Rough.

"Next week."

Wilson turned. Looked at him.

Victor continued.

"Public commendation." "For his service at the cult incident."

His hand trembled.

"National Treasury gave him honors." "I was going to pin the medal myself."

Pause.

"Make sure every student knew." "Make sure they understood."

Eyes glistening.

"A 10-Grade with an E-rank beast." "Who dare to stand out and fight when none else can."

His jaw clenched.

"And now..."

Couldn’t finish.

Footsteps.

Running. Frantic.

"WILSON!"

Lilian shoved through the crowd.

Hair wild. Lab coat flapping. Eyes desperate.

She grabbed Wilson’s shoulders.

"Where is he?!"

Voice breaking.

"Where’s Alex?!"

Officers stepped back. Giving space.

Wilson’s face tightened.

He recognized her.

Alex’s Auntie according to the file.

And she seems to also have some special feelings for Alex

Another one.

Raven from school.Rose from the office.Now her.

Three gorgeous women.

This kid really has something special...

But the thought died.

He looked at Lilian.

Tried to speak.

"Alex will—"

His voice caught.

"He’ll be fine."

The words hollow. Empty.

His face betrayed him. Muscles rigid. Eyes avoiding hers.

Lilian’s breath hitched.

"Really?"

Tears spilling over.

"You promise?"

She grabbed his hand. Squeezed tight.

"Swear it."

Her voice rising.

"SWEAR IT!"

Wilson’s mouth opened.

Nothing came.

His throat closed.

Lilian’s knees buckled.

Collapsed onto the ground.

Hands covering her face.

"No..."

Sobbing. Shoulders shaking.

"No no no no..."

"Not him..."

"Please not him..."

An officer nearby looked away. Wiped his eyes.

"He was just seventeen."

Another.

"10-Grade, second year in high school."

Shook his head.

"Barely started his life."

Woman officer. Voice thick.

"Against Soul Elder..."

Couldn’t continue.

Victor’s hands formed fists.

Knuckles white.

"The moment Soul Elder exits—"

Voice steel.

"Every single one of us strikes."

Looked at his team.

"Simultaneously."

"No holding back."

"No mercy."

His beasts growled. Deep. Resonating.

"We end him."

Pause.

"For Alex."

The crowd responded.

"For Alex."

Weapons raised.

"FOR ALEX."

Beasts roared.

Ready. Waiting.

Lilian’s cries continued. Broken. Devastating.

An older officer knelt beside her.

Put a hand on her shoulder.

"I’m sorry."

She just shook her head. Over and over.

Wilson stared at the formation.

Black light pulsing. Steady. Mocking.

His watch showed the time.

Ten minutes. Thirty seconds.

His brow furrowed.

"That’s..."

Victor stepped closer.

"What?"

Wilson showed the screen.

"Soul Elder finishes in one minute."

Looked up.

"Maximum two minutes." "For the strongest opponents."

Pause.

"It’s been over ten."

Confusion rippled through the crowd.

One officer.

"What does that mean?"

"Malfunction?"

Another.

"The formation’s still active."

"Duel’s ongoing."

A third voice. Uncertain.

"Could the kid be..."

Trailed off.

No one wanted to hope.

Another scoffed. But weakly.

"10-Grade versus Soul Elder?"

"Impossible."

But his eyes went to the formation.

Doubt creeping in.

Wilson checked again.

Twelve minutes.

Thirteen.

Victor’s beast pawed the ground. Restless.

An officer spoke.

"My mentor lasted fifty seconds."

Stared at the runes.

"If Alex is still alive after thirteen minutes..."

Didn’t finish.

Couldn’t process it.

Lilian looked up. Face streaked with tears.

"Wilson..."

Voice hoarse. Desperate.

"Tell me the truth."

"Is there a chance?"

"Any chance at all?"

Wilson opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Looked at the formation.

Back to her.

"I..."

Paused.

"I don’t know."

His honest answer.

Lilian’s face crumpled.

But she didn’t look away.

Just watched.

Waiting.

Praying.

The crowd stood frozen.

Weapons ready. Beasts tense.

All eyes on the black runes.

Fifteen minutes.

Still glowing.

Still active.

No one spoke.

Just waited.

Victor’s jaw worked.

"Come on, kid."

Barely a whisper.

"Come on."