Project Superior: A Hero’s Awakening

September 28th, 1809

Seven months had passed since Xavier began training to master the art of RealmHeart. With each grueling day, his abilities grew sharper, yet the struggle had been anything but easy. Now, as the crisp autumn air whispered through the training grounds, the young prodigy stood, his aura gradually fading as he let the ethereal glow of RealmHeart dissipate.

Turning to Alcmena, who sat nearby with a bowl of roasted nuts in his paws, Xavier declared, "I've finally mastered it. Staying in my RealmHeart state now takes much less energy and focus."

He clenched his fists and exhaled, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. "But I still hate the fact it took me this long to finally master this transformation."

Alcmena, nonchalantly popping another nut into his mouth, shrugged. "Well, it took that long because your body needed time to adjust to absorbing more ethereal energy than it's been used to for years. Transformation isn't just about skill; it's about foundation."

He smirked, adding with a playful tone, "Don't get so worked up about how long it took. Just like a mighty blade needs to be folded countless times to achieve perfection, you needed time to forge the balance between resilience and strength."

Xavier sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. But now that I've mastered RealmHeart, will you finally teach me about the other stages you mentioned?"

Alcmena tilted his head, pretending to think. "Oh yeah, that!"

Xavier groaned. "What do you mean, 'Oh yeah, that'? You made it sound like the next stages were crucial!"

Alcmena's golden eyes gleamed mischievously. "Let's leave those stages for later. First, it's time you learn to wield my abilities."

Xavier's eyes lit up. "Finally! Did it really have to take this long for you to start teaching me?"

Alcmena's ears twitched as he replied, "Oh, shut it, kid. The only reason it took so long was because you needed to fully control RealmHeart before even thinking about channeling my powers."

Xavier's lips curled into a teasing grin. "So, what are we waiting for, Master? Are you also going to teach me how to wield the powers of Excalibur?"

Alcmena raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with confusion. "What do you mean, teach you? You've already used Excalibur's powers."

Xavier froze, the teasing tone dropping from his voice. "Wait—what? I've already used Excalibur's powers? When?"

"Do you remember your fight against that bandit leader?" Alcmena asked.

"Yeah…?" Xavier replied, frowning slightly.

"Well," Alcmena continued, "in those final moments, before you wiped out those bandits like they were nothing, you somehow managed to activate Excalibur's core ability. That's why the sword suddenly started glowing so intensely, and you heard that church bell ringing out of nowhere."

Xavier's eyes widened, excitement overtaking his confusion. "Wait, that was Excalibur? I thought I was hallucinating or something! That's insane!"

Alcmena gave a small nod, crossing his arms. "It was no hallucination. You tapped into Heroe's Residual, Excalibur's greatest gift."

"Heroe's Residual?" Xavier asked, leaning forward. "What does it do?"

Alcmena's gaze sharpened, his tone steady as he explained, "Heroe's Residual is not merely a power—it is the essence of hope itself. Hope doesn't guarantee triumph; it ensures you'll rise again, no matter how dire the circumstances. With every blow you endure, every step you take, Excalibur grows stronger, reflecting your will to keep fighting. In your hands, the sword chooses not just a warrior, but a beacon for all who would follow you."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. "To put it simply, Heroe's Residual grants you the ability to overcome any obstacle. It can alter the course of time, warp fate, and even reshape reality itself—all driven by your desire to conquer the challenges ahead."

Xavier stared at him, his jaw practically on the floor. "That… that's incredible!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with wonder.

Alcmena smirked faintly, though his tone remained measured. "It is. But don't get too carried away. While Heroe's Residual is unmatched in power, it comes with a significant drawback—it relies entirely on your willpower and resolve. If your determination falters, the ability will fail, no matter how desperate the situation."

Xavier's enthusiasm dimmed slightly as he processed Alcmena's words. "So, if I can't keep my will strong enough, I won't be able to use it at all? That's a pretty harsh trade-off…"

Alcmena stepped closer, his piercing gaze locking with Xavier's, firm and unwavering. "Don't let that discourage you. Your willpower, Xavier, is unmatched. It far surpasses that of others your age—or even beyond." His voice softened, though the conviction in his words never wavered. "You have the potential not only to unlock the near-omnipotent power of Excalibur itself but also to awaken the Dragon Seed—the source of all my powers within you."

Xavier grinned, shaking off the lingering doubt. In one swift motion, he hoisted Alcmena off the ground, his playful side returning. "You've got a lot of confidence in me, Master."

Alcmena scowled, arms crossed even as he allowed himself to be lifted. "And you've got a lot of nerve. Now put me down before I teach you a lesson you won't forget."

Xavier laughed, his spirits lifted as he gently set Alcmena down. "Alright, alright. But seriously—thank you." His voice carried a sincerity that cut through the lighthearted banter. "I won't let you down. I'll make sure I live up to the hope that Excalibur—and you—have in me."

Alcmena's grin returned. "I hope you do, because you're my faithful student, after all. Now, enough talk. Rest up for an hour. You'll need your strength for what's next."

Xavier smirked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Before I do, do you have anything else your forgetful mind wishes to tell me, gramps?"

Alcmena's expression twisted with indignation. He swiped his clawed paw at Xavier's face, lightly grazing him. "Gramps?! I'm only 275 million years old! I'm not that old, you annoying brat!"

Xavier burst out laughing. "Relax, Master! I'm just joking around."

Alcmena, still ruffled, grumbled, "You'd better be, you punk."

Regaining his composure, Alcmena continued, "Anyway, other than some sub-effects Excalibur has, the only main power you need to focus on is Heroe's Residual."

"Really?" Xavier questioned.

"Yes," Alcmena confirmed. "And as your Master, I'll guide you in wielding the full potential of Excalibur."

Xavier smiled brightly. "I'm counting on you, Master!"

After an hour's rest, Alcmena abruptly woke Xavier.

"Ugh, Master, my body aches. I don't think I can keep going anymore," Xavier groaned, rubbing his eyes.

"Stop whining, brat!" Alcmena snapped.

"But why are you pushing me so hard? I haven't even mastered my green core yet," Xavier complained.

Taking a deep sigh, Alcmena explained, "Kid, I'm doing this for your own good."

"My own good?"

"Yes! What else would it be for?" Alcmena retorted. "You can barely use your vector powers, and you haven't grasped even a fraction of Excalibur's potential—or your Dragon Seed."

Xavier sighed, clearly hurt. "You don't have to be so rude about it, Master. So what are you trying to teach me now?"

Alcmena smirked. "One of the most powerful abilities in my arsenal."

"What is it?" Xavier asked, his curiosity ignited.

"Why do you look so excited, kid?" Alcmena teased. "Aren't you the one who was whining just now?"

Xavier's excitement faltered. "Why are you always so mean to me..."

"Shut it," Alcmena said coldly.

"Meanie," Xavier retorted, puffing up his cheeks in mock frustration.

"Back to the point," Alcmena said, ignoring Xavier's antics. "Since you carry my Dragon Seed and can access my powers as my vessel, you've finally met the requirements to learn them. Especially now that you've mastered RealmHeart."

"My powers are called Astral Sovereignty," Alcmena continued. "This ability gives me command over celestial and fundamental forces—space, gravity, cosmic constructs, quantum forces, and more."

"Astral Sovereignty? That's an awesome name, Master!" Xavier exclaimed.

Alcmena smirked proudly. "There's a reason they call me the Grand Herrscher of the Cosmic Realms."

"Now," Alcmena continued, "the ability I want you to learn is called Blackhole, or as I prefer, Blackstar Authority."

"You really love giving your powers cool names, huh, Master?" Xavier teased.

Ignoring the jab, Alcmena explained, "By the name alone, you know what it does. It's incredibly versatile and serves as the foundation for mastering my other abilities."

Alcmena instructed Xavier to assume a meditative position and activate RealmHeart. "Feel the energy around you," Alcmena guided. "Visualize condensing it into a single point in space."

Xavier tried repeatedly but failed each time. The space around him warped slightly, but only faint sparks appeared before the energy dissipated.

"Why can't I do it?" Xavier murmured, his discouragement growing.

Sitting on Xavier's head, Alcmena gently slapped his cheek with a paw. "Don't overthink it, kid," Alcmena said softly. "It's normal to struggle when learning something new. Take it slow."

"Okay," Xavier replied, his voice subdued but determined.

Suddenly, Violet entered the training grounds, her radiant smile lighting up the entire space like a morning sun piercing through shadows. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward Xavier, wrapping him in a bear hug so tight it threatened to crush his ribs.

"What's up... Sis?" Xavier managed to choke out, struggling to breathe. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything's great! I was looking for you and heard from Miss Anastasia that you were training here!" Violet exclaimed, squeezing him even tighter, her joy bubbling over like an overexcited puppy.

"Ah, I see," Xavier wheezed, wiggling free from her unnaturally strong grip.

Spotting Alcmena perched on a nearby rock, Violet's eyes sparkled. She darted toward him and scooped him up in one swift motion, hugging him as if her life depended on it. "Ark, you're so adorable!" she gushed.

Alcmena froze, his normally sharp demeanor reduced to a facade of ordinary feline nerves. Letting out a hesitant meow, he played along, all while silently cursing Xavier for not warning him.

"I've always wondered where you found him," Violet said, cradling Alcmena as though he were the most precious thing in the world.

Xavier hesitated, then awkwardly lied, "Oh, I found him during my visit to Moscow."

Violet's perceptive eyes lingered on her younger brother for a moment, clearly seeing through his flimsy excuse. She chose not to press him, knowing that Xavier only lied when he had a good reason. Instead, she stroked Alcmena's fur gently, her smile softening.

"You sure like training a lot—just like Aleksander," she said, her voice carrying a hidden note of worry.

"Of course!" Xavier declared with conviction. "How else will I become a paladin-knight as great as Saint Sebastien?"

Violet sighed, but instead of dampening his enthusiasm, she patted his hair gently. "Then keep going, little brother. I believe in you."

Xavier's face flushed from the rare encouragement, his lips curving into a beaming smile. "Thanks, Sis. That means a lot."

With a playful gleam in her eyes, Violet suddenly proposed, "Let's have a sparring match. I want to see how much my little brother has grown."

Xavier's confidence wavered. "You do remember how absurdly strong you are, right?"

Her only response was a mischievous grin.

After a quick change into proper training attire, Violet emerged, wielding two awe-inspiring weapons: the Shield of Achilles and Mighty Lancelot, a lance that gleamed with an aura of ancient power.

"What are those?" Xavier asked, captivated.

"These?" Violet replied with a smile, holding the weapons out proudly. "They're my ethereal instruments—a gift from Grandpa. They once belonged to our grandmother, Svetlana Ivanovich."

"That's so cool," Xavier said, his awe written all over his face.

Unsheathing Excalibur, Xavier released an immense, divine aura that washed over the training grounds like a tidal wave. Violet's eyebrows arched in surprise as she felt the weapon's overwhelming presence.

"Quite the blade you've got there, little brother," Violet teased.

"Yeah... I, uh, got it at an auction," Xavier lied awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.

Violet smirked knowingly but chose not to call him out. "Well, let's see how well you can use it."

The air grew tense as they faced off, their eyes locked in a silent exchange. Xavier's thoughts raced. I can't risk using RealmHeart or Violet would never let me hear the end of it. I'll just have to rely on raw skill and speed.

Before he could finish his thought, Violet vanished from his sight. In a blink, she reappeared behind him, her lance striking with devastating precision. Xavier barely managed to block with Excalibur, the impact sending him skidding across the training ground. He crashed into the dirt, coughing and clutching his left arm.

"Not bad, little brother," Violet said, her voice light but her eyes sharp.

"Not bad? That almost broke my arm!" Xavier muttered, staggering to his feet.

"Distractions can be deadly, even in practice," she chided.

Raising Excalibur, Xavier grinned despite the pain. "Alright then, no more distractions."

"That's the spirit!" Violet cheered, lunging forward.

Their weapons collided with explosive force, releasing a shockwave that rippled through the grounds. The clash of steel echoed like thunder as the siblings exchanged blows, each strike faster and more precise than the last.

On the sidelines, Alcmena lounged in a lavish chair, wearing tiny shades and casually munching on grapes, his expression the epitome of relaxed amusement. "Kids these days," he muttered to himself, chuckling.