Chapter 23: Lessons in Motion
Xavier groaned as he pushed himself off the ground, his ribs aching from the simple yet devastating shoulder strike from his mother. Sweat dripped down his face, and his shirt clung to his back from the heat of exertion.
He looked up. Mable stood a few meters away, relaxed, almost amused. Her piercing eyes tracked him, unblinking, as though she already knew his next move. Behind her, Serena and his sisters—Veronica, Mira, and Rachel—watched in silence, tense but fascinated.
A small ping from the system drew his attention.
[Survive 5 Minutes – Progress: 1/10]
Xavier exhaled sharply. The timer was still running, and he knew he was far from done.
"Okay…" he muttered under his breath, brushing off the pain. "I need a better plan."
He stepped back and mentally reviewed his abilities. Engine Sync, Stats Multiplier, Turbine Breathing, Exhaust Saber. Each one had incredible potential—but against someone who could anticipate his movements, raw power alone wouldn't cut it.
Wisdom. Dexterity. Strategy. That was the missing piece.
Xavier closed his eyes for a moment, letting Turbine Breathing sync his body. Oxygen flowed through him like a river, muscles loosening, senses sharpening. He mentally shifted his stats: 50 points into Wisdom, 30 into Dexterity, 11 into Strength.
He opened his eyes.
Mable tilted her head, a smirk forming on her lips.
"Impressive… you're thinking now," she said softly. "But thinking won't help if your timing is off."
Xavier gritted his teeth. "Then I'll make my timing perfect."
He lunged, but this time it wasn't a full-powered swing. Short, quick strikes, deceptive feints. Every motion designed to probe Mable's reactions.
She didn't flinch. She sidestepped one, then another, her movements smooth and fluid. A single step, and Xavier's blade barely grazed her robe.
"You're fast," Xavier muttered, circling. "But maybe… you're predictable."
Mable's smile widened. "Predictable? Oh, Xavier. You've learned nothing yet."
Xavier's eyes narrowed. He adjusted his footing, readying the next strike. Turbine Breathing synchronized with Engine Sync, his muscles coiled like springs. He feinted left, swung right, then twisted mid-air in a small arc.
This time, something different happened.
He connected—not fully, but enough to make contact. A brief spark of energy jolted his saber as it struck the edge of her robe. Mable's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second.
"Ah…" Xavier breathed, feeling a surge of confidence. "I'm learning."
Mable tilted her head, acknowledging the minor strike. "Not bad. Clever. But don't think that means you're winning."
Serena's voice broke through, calm but sharp. "Xavier, watch her left foot! She's shifting her weight—she's about to move!"
Xavier adjusted instantly, sliding backward, avoiding a light sweep that could have sent him sprawling. "Got it," he muttered. "She's fast, but even she has patterns."
For the first time, Xavier saw it—the rhythm. Her foot placement, her stance shifts, the way her shoulders rotated before any strike. He could anticipate her moves. Not perfectly, but enough to adapt.
He lunged again, this time combining a short thrust with a spinning sidestep. Mable blocked, but only barely. He had forced her to adjust—just slightly, but enough to see that he could influence the fight.
"Five minutes… almost," Serena muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Xavier gritted his teeth. "Okay… time to get serious."
He activated Stats Multiplier, feeling every point double. Strength surged, Speed intensified, but he didn't go wild. Turbine Breathing kept him calm, oxygen flowing steadily, reactions sharper than ever.
He swung his Exhaust Saber, not in a direct slash but in a sweeping arc, cutting through the space Mable might step into. She moved effortlessly—until, with one calculated twist, Xavier changed his trajectory mid-swing, forcing her to dodge backward.
It was small. Tiny. But it was progress.
Mable's eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm… clever."
Xavier's chest heaved. He realized something crucial—this fight wasn't about winning by brute force. It was about adapting, anticipating, and outsmarting someone who was better than him in every traditional sense.
"Not bad for a kid," Mable said, her voice carrying a hint of approval. "But don't get cocky yet."
Xavier smirked, wiping blood from his lip. "Oh, don't worry… this is just the start."
Then, in a blur, Mable appeared behind him, hand on his shoulder. A simple touch—but it lifted him off the ground and slammed him gently against the wall.
Xavier grunted, feeling the force, and realized something: even with all his stats, skills, and planning, he hadn't accounted for her precision.
"Shit…" he muttered. "The devilish woman that loves spending money is stronger than me… and smarter."
He looked at Serena, who hid a small smirk behind her hand. "Well… at least I know I'm not the only one learning today," he muttered under his breath.
The system chimed softly:
[Survive 3 Minutes – Progress: 2/10]
Xavier groaned. This was far from over.