Chapter 28: The Final Choice [1]
On the other side of the arena, Victor Vance sat slumped in his VIP chair like a pile of mud, his face as pale as paper.
His eyes were filled with despair and unwillingness, a single thought echoing repeatedly in his mind:
It's over. Everything is over...
Why is Alex, this orphan, so powerful?
This glory should have belonged to my Vance Clan. It was already in the bag! How could it be snatched away by a powerless nobody?
His eyes were bloodshot, red veins crawling across the whites like spiderwebs. A look of madness surged in the depths of his pupils.
Around him, the faction leaders who had been flattering him just moments ago were now retreating as if he were the plague. They avoided his gaze, whispering among themselves.
It was a perfect illustration of the saying: When you are strong, everyone flatters you; when you are weak, even dogs disdain to look at you.
On the stage, Alex walked step by step toward Elara.
He held the Death Scythe high above his head, like a judgment from the Grim Reaper.
"You... lost."
Elara's lips curved into a bitter smile. "I... lost... I'm sorry..."
This battle was a complete and utter defeat. She had no power to fight back.
"You aren't the one who should be apologizing."
Alex turned his head sharply, his gaze shooting straight toward Victor Vance in the audience stands.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a piece of red paper—the engagement contract. His voice was cold and powerful, amplified by his Origin Energy to reach every corner of the arena.
"Victor Vance, you old dog! Do you have anything to say today?!"
"From the beginning to the end, it was your Vance Clan that was unworthy of my Whitefield family! Unworthy of me, Alex Whitefield!"
"Eighteen years ago, my parents risked their lives to save you and your wife! You showed no gratitude. Instead, three years ago, after my parents passed away, you came to my door to annul the marriage! You brought some meager resources, thinking you could humiliate me, and you even injured my uncle!"
"You deliberately spread rumors that I, Alex, was promiscuous and incompetent, claiming that was the reason the Vance family withdrew the engagement!"
"Today! I, Alex Whitefield, declare this engagement contract with your Vance Clan... null and void! It is I, Alex, who is rejecting you!!"
"Your Vance family... is simply not worthy!"
Riiip!
As soon as the words fell, Alex tore the red engagement contract in half. Then into quarters. He threw the pieces into the air, where they fluttered down like red snowflakes, disappearing into the dust of the arena floor.
Three years ago, shortly after he transmigrated, his parents died. The Vance family came to annul the marriage almost immediately. The naked humiliation of that day was still fresh in his memory.
His uncle stood up for him, went to reason with the Vance family, but was beaten and mocked, told he would be a lowly hunter for the rest of his life.
Today, he was determined to make Victor Vance pay a hundredfold for his past actions!
Only the victor has the right to write history!
In an instant, the eyes of the entire audience turned torch-like, focusing uniformly on Victor.
"Holy crap... so the Vance family are actually despicable villains? I'm never buying from their shops again. Disgusting!"
"Truly shameless. His parents saved your whole family, and you repay kindness with betrayal? You're worse than dogs! Even a dog wags its tail to say thanks!"
"Victor Vance! Apologize to Alex!"
"Apologize! Apologize! Apologize!"
The crowd was filled with righteous indignation. Victor's behavior was heinous.
The surrounding faction leaders also made their stance clear, drawing a line between themselves and the Vance Clan.
"I didn't know Patriarch Vance was this kind of person. Patriarch, our two families should cease contact in the future."
"Patriarch Vance, cancel our business contracts. I don't want to work with ungrateful people."
Listening to the tidal wave of ridicule and condemnation, Victor felt his strength drain away. It was as if his spirit had been extracted from his body.
He was finished. He had single-handedly caused this situation. Regret came too late.
"Victor, go up and apologize to Alex. At least salvage the last shred of dignity for your clan," Cyrus Xander said coldly from the neighboring box.
Victor's eyes were hollow. Like a walking corpse, he nodded woodenly. "Mhm."
He leaped down from the VIP box, landing heavily on the arena floor. He walked toward Alex, the boy who had ruined his reputation. But in his eyes, there was no hatred left—only overwhelming regret.
If he hadn't been blinded by power and money, none of this would have happened.
He dropped to one knee. "I'm sorry, Alex. It was I, Victor Vance, who wronged you. I wronged your parents..."
He was filled with guilt, feeling he deserved to die a thousand times.
"You are not worthy to mention my parents!" Alex roared, his eyes burning with disgust. "You don't truly know you were wrong. You only know you're finished!"
"I... I am unworthy to mention Brother Whitefield... I failed him..." Victor clenched his fists, remorse eating him alive.
"You failed a lot of people!" Alex turned his head toward the stands and shouted, "Uncle! Come down here!"
James Whitefield looked at the scene, his expression complicated. He slowly walked down the stairs and onto the stage, standing beside Alex.
"Alex..."
Alex's eyes were cold as he pointed at James. "You should apologize to my uncle even more! Back then, my uncle hunted beasts alongside my parents and you! Now, you mock the very man who fought beside you? You are truly repulsive!"
Victor looked at James. His body felt numb, his lips trembling. "James... I wronged you..."
After speaking, he dropped to both knees.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
He kowtowed heavily, banging his head against the stone floor again and again until blood flowed from his forehead.
James sighed, looking at the broken man. "Victor... you shouldn't have lived your life this way..."
Alex tried to suppress the anger in his heart. He couldn't hold back completely. He stepped forward and kicked Victor hard in the chest.
Bang!
Victor flew backward, tumbling across the ground, coughing up blood.
"From this day forth, my Whitefield family and your Vance family have nothing to do with each other! We are enemies, cut off forever!"
With that, Alex took James's arm and led him off the stage.
In this battle, Alex, as a commoner, had thoroughly defeated a noble clan. His victory was glorious and absolute!
Victor Vance, on the other hand, had lost everything—his reputation, his dignity, and his family's future. Darkness awaited them.
This was what he deserved!
Elara looked at her battered father, her expression dazed. She felt lost, her direction in life shattered.
She walked over slowly, helping Victor up. Her voice was numb. "Let's go home, Father."
The Aftermath.
Principal Higgins watched everything unfold and couldn't help but sigh. "You reap what you sow..."
Then, he raised his voice, announcing to the silent stadium: "Alex Whitefield! Wins!"
ROAR!!!
The cheers were deafening. If it had been any ordinary S-Rank Awakener standing on that stage, they likely would have been suppressed by the Vance family forever.
But Alex relied on his own strength to defy fate and create a miracle!
Higgins turned around, ready to discuss recruitment with the Academy representatives, only to find the VIP seats empty.
The representatives of the Five Great Academies were gone. They were already running toward Alex's direction.
It didn't take a genius to know they were going to fight over this peerless genius.
Higgins smiled with relief. "Our Riverdale High has finally produced a True Dragon!"
Principal's Office.
Alex and his uncle James were surrounded. The representatives of the Five Great Academies had them hemmed in, their faces eager.
"Alex! Come to my Arcane Martial Academy!" Gideon Lance shouted, his voice booming. "I guarantee you a new girlfriend every day! No repeats!"
Alex looked at him with confusion. "? How is that a good thing? I'm looking for strength, not a harem."
"Gideon, you think Alex is as shallow as you?" Seraphina Frost sneered disdainfully. "Ignore him, Alex. Come to my Capital Warrior Academy. We have the best resources in the Federation. I can offer you SSS-Rank admission treatment immediately!"
Hiss...
Principal Higgins, standing by the door, sucked in a cold breath.
SSS-Rank treatment was the highest level possible. It meant Alex would enjoy unparalleled resources and cultivation support.
It seemed Riverdale High was truly going to be famous.
Hearing this, Gideon wasn't having it. "I told you not to steal from me! Can't you understand human speech? Alex, come to me! SSS-Rank treatment, plus I will personally mentor you as my final disciple!"
The other representatives chimed in, throwing offers like confetti.
"Alex, the Legion Military Academy offers SSS-Rank plus a guaranteed commission as a Major upon graduation!" Commander Drax barked.
"The Northern Bastion Academy offers SSS-Rank and unlimited access to our S-Rank Beast Hunting Grounds!" Matron Valerius added.
Alex remained calm amidst the storm of offers. He looked around at the eager faces.
"So... what about the other three representatives? Can you beat those offers?"
He understood the principle of shopping around.
Professor Alaric of the Expanse War Academy stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. "We can offer SSS-Rank treatment as well. But we also have something the others don't. We recently uncovered an ancient ruin related to the Darkness affinity. We can give you exclusive access."
Alex's ears perked up. Ancient ruin? Darkness affinity?
That sounded promising.
Seraphina Frost saw Alex's interest and immediately upped the ante. "Ancient ruins are dangerous. Capital Warrior Academy has the Tower of Eternity. It's the best place for honing combat skills. Plus, I will give you a Tier 5 Darkness Skill Book immediately upon signing."
Gideon Lance gritted his teeth. "Tier 5? Stingy! I'll give you a Tier 6 Skill Book! And a set of S-Rank Armor!"
The bidding war escalated rapidly. The representatives were practically shouting over each other, their faces red.
James watched from the side, his mouth agape. He had never seen such important figures fighting like market vendors over his nephew. Tears welled up in his eyes again.
Brother, Sister-in-law... do you see this? Your son is amazing.
Alex raised his hand, silencing the room.
"Everyone, your offers are generous. But I have a question."
The room went quiet. Every representative looked at him intently.
"My goal," Alex said slowly, his eyes burning with ambition, "is to become the strongest. Not just in a school, but in the Federation. I want to fight the strongest beasts and the strongest enemies."
He looked at Gideon.
"Can your academy guarantee that I will face the toughest challenges? I don't want to be protected. I want to be forged."
Gideon grinned, a savage, approving smile. "Kid, at Arcane Martial, we throw you into the fire. If you survive, you become steel. If you want easy, go to the Capital. If you want to become a god of war... you come to me."
Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "Don't listen to his brute logic. The Capital offers the best technique and theory. Strength without wisdom is just violence."
Alex pondered.
He had the System for brute force leveling. He had his own combat instincts. What he needed most were resources, high-level skills, and challenging environments to farm Slaughter Points.
"I've made my decision," Alex announced.
The representatives held their breath.
"I choose..."