Extra’s Survival: Reincarnated with a Doomed Bloodline

The conference room fell into absolute silence, broken only by the labored breathing of elders struggling under Soren's overwhelming presence. The violet aura that surrounded him pulsed with barely contained violence, making it clear that his patience had limits that wise men wouldn't test.

Slowly, deliberately, the pressure began to ease as Soren reined in his power. The elders straightened in their chairs, their faces pale and sweat beading on their foreheads despite the room's cool temperature.

The first to recover was Elder Javier, a lean man in his sixties whose crimson eyes held the sharp intelligence of someone who had survived decades of family politics. His silver hair was pulled back in a neat queue, and despite his recent humiliation, he managed to maintain some dignity as he spoke.

"Elder Soren," Javier said, his voice carefully controlled. "Please accept my sincere apologies. We... I forgot myself in the presence of such accomplishment." He gestured toward Fenix with genuine respect. "The young master has clearly earned recognition through deeds that speak louder than rank classifications."

Elder Davies nodded vigorously from beside him. A stocky man with calloused hands that spoke of years wielding weapons, he had the practical wisdom of someone who understood that power came in many forms. "Aye, forgive an old fool's prejudice. The temple expedition proves the young master's worth beyond any doubt."

Elder Silas, the eldest of the group at nearly seventy, leaned heavily on his walking stick as he bowed his head. His crimson eyes had faded slightly with age, but they still held the fierce pride that marked Ackerman blood. "I served your father faithfully for thirty years, young master. If Elder Soren believes in your capabilities, then so do I."

Elder Ronan, perhaps the most prideful of the group, struggled visibly with his words. His jaw worked silently for several moments before he managed to speak. "The... the temple changes people. We should have remembered that before making assumptions." His admission came out stiff and reluctant, but sincere.

The last to speak was Elder Sansa, the only woman among the council. Her steel-gray hair was braided with silver ribbons, and her crimson eyes held a maternal warmth that had been absent from the others' apologies. "Young master," she said softly, "forgive a grandmother's foolishness."

Soren's violet aura finally dissipated completely, though his presence remained imposing. "Better," he said with approval. "Now that we understand proper respect, perhaps we can discuss the real threats facing this family."

Khan cleared his throat nervously, his own Grandmaster-rank presence seeming almost modest compared to what had just occurred. "Yes, well... the situation with the Richter family has become quite serious."

He stood and moved to a large map hanging on the wall, pointing to various territories marked in different colors. "As you all know, when we lost the war a years ago, we were forced to give up most of our ancestral lands. The arrangement with the Richter patriarch Broderick was simple - Abigail would marry into their family, and in return, we would gain access to a portion of their territory in what used to be our province."

Elder Davies frowned. "A poor bargain, but necessary for survival. Without those trading rights, we couldn't generate enough resources to maintain even this reduced estate."

"Exactly," Khan continued. "Broderick also promised to help us reclaim territory from a weaker Tier 3 family - the Valdris family. It would have given us a chance to rebuild our power base gradually."

"But now that the marriage arrangement is cancelled..." Elder Javier's voice trailed off ominously.

Khan's expression grew grim. "Now Broderick is furious. He's claiming we've violated our agreements and is threatening to use his connections to seize our remaining lands entirely."

Elder Silas struck his walking stick against the floor. "Impossible! Even the strongest families can't simply claim another's territory without cause. The Domain's laws prevent such blatant theft."

"Under normal circumstances, yes," Khan agreed. "But Broderick claims to have backing from a Tier 2 family - the Voss family. And beyond that..." he paused, the weight of his next words obvious. "He says they have connections to the Beaumont family themselves."

The room fell silent. The Beaumont family was one of the legendary Tier 1 houses, rulers from the Aura Faction whose word could reshape entire regions.

Elder Sansa shook her head in disbelief. "A Tier 1 family involving themselves in our petty disputes? It makes no sense. We're barely worth their notice."

"Unless," Elder Ronan said slowly, "they see an opportunity to absorb our lands for some larger purpose. Our territory does sit at a strategic crossroads."

Khan nodded grimly. "That's our fear. But Broderick has become clever about this. He's not trying to claim our lands through brute force - that would violate the mana contracts that govern territorial disputes. Instead, he's challenging our right to exist as an independent family."

"What do you mean?" Fenix asked, speaking for the first time since the confrontation began.

"He's demanding what he calls a 'demonstration of worthiness,'" Khan explained. "A formal duel between our families to prove we still possess the strength to hold our lands. If we lose, we forfeit our status and become absorbed into the Richter holdings as vassals."

Elder Davies snorted. "Convenient. The Richter family has three Grandmaster+ fighters and over fifty Grandmasters. We have six Grandmasters total, counting Khan."

"It gets worse," Khan continued. "Broderick is sending his second son, Vin Richter. The boy is sixteen years old and at Graduator rank. The mana contract requires us to provide a champion of equal rank and similar age."

The implications hit everyone simultaneously. A sixteen-year-old Graduator was considered a genius of the highest order, someone whose talent exceeded normal understanding of cultivation advancement.

Elder Javier leaned back in his chair. "Our youngest fighters are Kai and Abel, both seventeen. But they're still Expert rank, not Graduator."

"And even if they were," Elder Sansa added quietly, "fighting someone with superior cultivation... it would be suicide."

All eyes turned to Fenix. At fourteen, he was also closer to Vin's age. But his apparent Intermediate+ rank made the idea of facing a Graduator seem like madness.

Elder Ronan was the first to voice what everyone was thinking. "Absolutely not. wasn't he considered useless a few months back, it'd be our loss if we did that."

"The boy would tear him apart," Elder Davies agreed. "This isn't a temple trial with ancient safeguards. This is real combat with real consequences."

Elder Silas struck his walking stick again. "We need to find another solution. Perhaps we could petition the Bureau directly, claiming the Richters are violating territorial sovereignty laws."

"With what evidence?" Khan asked wearily. "Broderick has been careful to frame this as a legitimate challenge between equals. The Council won't intervene in what appears to be a fair duel."

"Then we surrender," Elder Javier said bluntly. "We give up our independence and become Richter vassals. It's not ideal, but at least the family survives."

The room erupted in angry voices as the elders argued over impossible choices. Some demanded they fight regardless of the odds. Others insisted that survival required swallowing their pride. Through it all, Fenix sat quietly, his expression growing darker with each word.

Finally, he stood up, his chair scraping against the stone floor with enough force to cut through the arguments.

"Enough," he said quietly, but his voice carried authority that made everyone fall silent. "You're all missing something important."

Elder Ronan scowled. "And what's that, young master? Some miracle solution that makes an Intermediate capable of defeating a Graduator genius?"

Fenix's crimson eyes held depths of power that made several elders shift uncomfortably in their seats. "You're missing the fact that Abigail is my sister, not yours."

The words carried weight that pressed against everyone present like a physical force.

"This Broderick Richter wants to humiliate our family by taking what belongs to us," Fenix continued, his voice growing harder. "He thinks he can threaten my little sister and I'll just stand by and let it happen."

Elder Davies tried to interrupt. "Young master, your feelings are admirable, but feelings don't change cultivation ranks. This Vin Richter has been trained by the best instructors money can buy. He's had years to perfect techniques that you've barely started learning."

"You think I don't know that?" Fenix's aura began leaking out, crimson energy that made the air itself feel heavier. "You think I haven't considered the odds?"

Elder Sansa leaned forward with genuine concern. "Then surely you understand why you can't. You'll die before even getting to clash."

Fenix's laugh was cold as winter wind. "Really? You still don't understand what happened in that temple, do you?"

He looked around the room, meeting each elder's gaze in turn. "I didn't survive the Viraldean Temple through luck. I didn't come home with legendary treasures because the guardians felt sorry for me. I earned everything I achieved by becoming strong enough to take it."

Soren, who had been silent throughout the discussion, allowed a small smile to play across his lips. He could sense what was coming, and he approved completely.

"The Richter family wants a demonstration?" Fenix's voice carried absolute certainty. "Fine. I'll give them one they'll never forget."

Khan found his voice first. "Fenix. I know you want to protect Abigail, but your foolishness won't just end in your death but our family's disgrace."

"Then that's what it's going to be uncle," Fenix replied flatly. "Broderick Richter has made this personal. He wants to destroy our family and take my sister as a prize. The only language men like him understand is strength."

Elder Ronan stood up, his own aura flaring with anger. "This is madness! You're condemning yourself to death for the sake of pride!"

"I'm protecting my family," Fenix shot back. "Something the rest of you seem to have forgotten how to do."

The insult hit its mark, and several elders flinched as if slapped.

Elder Javier tried a different approach. "Young master, even if you were somehow strong enough to win - which you're not - what happens afterward? The Richters won't accept defeat graciously. They'll find ways to retaliate that could endanger everyone you're trying to protect."

"Let them try," Fenix said with quiet menace. "I've faced worse things than spoiled nobles who think money and connections make them untouchable."

He turned toward the door, his decision clearly made. "I'm going to fight this Vin Richter. Whether you give your blessing or not, Uncle Khan, I'm going to end this threat to our family once and for all."

Fenix then continued without turning around. "Broderick Richter is going to learn why people used to fear the Ackerman name."

He strode toward the door, Soren falling into step behind him with obvious satisfaction. As they reached the threshold, Fenix paused and looked back one final time.

"Tell the Richter patriarch that we accept his challenge," he said calmly. "Tell him that Fenix Ackerman will face his son tomorrow at noon. And tell him that if he wants to take my sister, he'll have to go through me first."

The door closed behind them with finality that made everyone remaining slump in their chairs like deflated balloons.

For several moments, nobody spoke. Then Abel cleared his throat hesitantly.

"Father," he said carefully, "I think there's something you should know about Fenix."

Khan looked up with exhausted eyes. "What now?"

Abel glanced at Kai, who nodded. "Before we entered the temple, Kai fought a sparring match with Fenix. They... they drew."

"So?" Elder Davies asked irritably. "What does that prove?"

"You don't understand," Kai interjected, his voice carrying strange mixture of excitement and awe. "I'm Expert+ rank. I've trained with the best instructors in our family. And Fenix, at apparent Intermediate+ rank, fought me to a complete standstill."

The elders exchanged confused glances. Elder Silas frowned. "That's... unusual, but not impossible. Combat isn't just about raw power."

"But that was before the temple," Kai continued. "After we completed the trials, after Fenix saved all our lives..." He paused, remembering the impossible technique that had bisected a Graduator+ pack leader. "I'm not sure I could beat him now, even with everything I learned."

Kai's grin was sharp as a blade. "I watched him cut a Graduator+ Brelgorn in half with a single sword strike. One perfect slash that went through natural armor like it wasn't even there."

"That's impossible," Elder Ronan whispered. "Intermediate+ rank techniques can't penetrate Graduator+ defenses. It violates every law."

"I saw it with my own eyes," Abel said firmly. "We all did. Fenix has power that can't be explained by normal cultivation standards."

Khan buried his face in his hands. "Even if that's true, even if he's somehow stronger than his apparent rank suggests, we're talking about a sixteen-year-old Graduator from one of the most powerful families in the province. This Vin Richter isn't some wild beast - he's been trained from childhood to be a living weapon."

"Maybe," Kai said thoughtfully. "But I remember the way Fenix looked when he announced his decision. That absolute certainty in his voice, that complete lack of doubt..." He shook his head in wonder. "I've seen that expression before, Father. Right before he did something everyone said was impossible."

Elder Sansa wrung her hands nervously. "But what if you're wrong? What if we're letting pride and hope cloud our judgment? The boy could die tomorrow, and we'll have no one to blame but ourselves."

"He's going to fight regardless of what we say," Khan pointed out wearily. "The question is whether we support him or let him face this alone."

The elders fell silent again, each lost in their own thoughts. Outside, the sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson that matched the Ackerman family colors. Tomorrow would bring a confrontation that could either restore their honor or destroy them completely.

But in a small corner of each elder's mind, despite all logic and experience, a tiny flame of hope began to flicker. Maybe, just maybe, the boy who had conquered the Viraldean Temple could work one more miracle.

After all, stranger things had happened.

Though not many.