Chapter 441

Chapter 441: The Betrayal of a Sword

Psychic Explosion Seeds.

Another high-level mind-related ability.

This technique compressed a psychic explosion into a tiny seed implanted into the opponent’s body through contact, later detonated at will. Such was the Psychic Explosion Seed.

Its key trait lay in stealth—difficult to detect, lying dormant until the critical moment rather than merely chipping away at psychic defenses.

More crucially, these seeds could accumulate.

When dozens exploded simultaneously, even the sturdiest will would shatter completely.

A seasoned Thought Capturer might notice anomalies if too many seeds were planted, escaping restraint to purge them.

But Risen wasn’t a true Thought Capturer. His defenses mirrored their Dragon’s might, yet offered no countermeasures against such tactics.

Even Midi failed to decipher Alexis’s method initially.

Until now.

Through repeated minor strikes, Alexis had secretly planted dozens of seeds. Their simultaneous detonation left predictable results.

Neither Blood Flame protection nor high-level Thought Capturer defenses could save Risen.

Amidst azure detonations, the Black Dragonkin—epitome of raw power—collapsed with rolled-back eyes, no roar or resistance escaping him.

His massive double-bladed axe clattered to the ground without having once struck true.

The dragonkin’s hulking frame followed, crumpling like wet clay.

Instant kill!

Silence smothered the bonfire gathering.

Risen’s defeat—deemed the gathering’s sturdiest defender—without even token resistance stunned all witnesses.

Where Midi inspired shock through visible might, Alexis now radiated inscrutable mystery, defying logical assessment.

"Will Risen recover?" Midi asked the Eighth Apostle, less from concern than tactical necessity—knowing Alexis’s limits mattered for their inevitable clash.

"Luck favors him," Rot replied. "Blood Flame’s last-ditch defenses activated, and Alexis prioritized spectacle over exhaustion. His consciousness remains intact."

"Though waking requires over a week. His fighting spirit’s survival… remains uncertain."

"At least it wasn’t total annihilation," Midi murmured, relieved.

Despite his own trump cards, Alexis’s display chilled him.

Half-Sight Perception and Psychic Explosion Seeds represented advanced mind-skill tiers far beyond Midi’s current grasp.

Matching environmental awareness against Half-Sight, or psychic explosions against these seeds, meant certain defeat.

Thankfully, the seeds couldn’t yet obliterate high-level Thought Capturers.

Otherwise, even Midi’s Pure psychic energy would falter against Alexis’s full power.

Joining the Death Scorpion family granted access to vast resources—potential keys to surpassing this foe.

Yet one question lingered: which family would claim Alexis?

Such prowess would draw many major families, Death Scorpion included.

But Master Hawke’s stony expression betrayed no recruitment intent.

In contrast, Hawke gazed at Midi with admiration.

Midi had immediately declared Alexis’s victory without hesitation from the start, and now Alexis had indeed won a clean victory just as predicted.

To the martial arts master, everything seemed to unfold exactly as Midi had foreseen.

Accurately judging the outcome between Risen and Alexis meant Midi had seen through both sides’ trump cards. Such insight suggested Midi’s true power was far beyond their level.

Though this was a misunderstanding, Midi had no reason to correct it.

Whether competing for qualifications or resources, fewer opponents were always better.

Given Alexis’s pride, he’d never join the Death Scorpion family that sheltered Midi anyway.

Alexis swept his arrogant gaze across the stands before settling on the Death Blood Bats’ box.

Simon’s face darkened as two extraordinary warriors emerged from the Wolfspider tribe.

Though Alexis hadn’t defeated Risen through direct combat, his strange, instant victory still commanded respect. Among Mososbury City’s Four Major Families, another besides Death Scorpion and Death Blood Bats would surely invite him. Simon could already imagine the threat if these warriors joined rival families and rose through their ranks.

Then Alexis’s voice cut through: “Mr. Simon, I wish to join the Death Blood Bats. Your thoughts?”

The stunned silence from Risen’s defeat shattered. The stands buzzed with confusion.

The Wolfspider tribe and Death Blood Bats were sworn enemies – yet their Great Warrior wanted to switch sides?

Simon blinked, wondering if he’d misheard. But years of negotiation experience steadied him.

“Join us? Why?” Simon narrowed his eyes.

“Only a major family like yours deserves someone of my strength.” Alexis spoke bluntly, glancing pointedly at Midi’s box.

Simon’s mind whirred. Accepting the enemy’s champion would crush Wolfspider’s reputation. Was this a feud between Alexis and Midi? A tribal power struggle? Or worse – a scheme to infiltrate and destroy them?

Rejecting Alexis was safer. No one would blame them for refusing an enemy warrior. Yet Alexis’s power tempted him – such strength could dominate the coming Crystal Dragon Fortress campaign.

Alexis smiled, sensing Simon’s hesitation. He swung his curved blade toward Wolfspider’s stands.

Midi’s heart lurched, but too late – a Ghost Cry Illusion Array erupted across the Wolfspider section. Psychic snipes followed. Tribe members fell like wheat, bleeding from their eyes and ears. The old mage’s head exploded before he could scream.

Chaos erupted. The Mososbury officials froze, but the Dark Dragon God’s emblem remained impassive – blood oaths banned inter-tribe violence, not internal killings.

“I joined Wolfspider to destroy them,” Alexis stated calmly. “Your decision, Simon?”

Simon surveyed the carnage, then Midi’s stormy expression across the arena. Satisfaction bloomed in his chest – the Death Scorpion’s precious Wolfspider allies lay broken, their elder dead. All thanks to this mysterious warrior.

“The Death Blood Bats welcome you,” Simon declared, smirking at the Death Scorpion’s box.

His triumphant gaze met the martial arts master’s stony silence.

And found Midi wordless.