Chapter 20: White mane!

The large lion man lifted his sword and dropped it on his shoulder as he examined his handy work.

"Now, little wolf, it's your turn next." He said, locking his sharp yellow eyes with hers.

Luna was outraged that this beast had dared lay a hand on her master, feeling her rage build up inside.

"You'll pay for that!" She said as she let her transformation take full effect, turning into a huge werewolf and letting out a terrifying howl.

"W-w-what the fuck is that!" The man they had kidnapped shouted as he scurried away from her, trying to get back to his boss for protection.

The lion-man looked at her with interest, liking what he saw before he stuck his sword into the ground.

"Show me what you've got, bitch!" He then roared as he charged towards her.

Luna did the same and the two classed in a vicious exchange of power, interlocking their fingers as they battled for dominance.

Luna couldn't believe how strong he was, feeling herself being pushed back as her legs started to give way.

"Funs over!" He then shouted, pushing her down and breaking his grasp from her hands.

The lion-man quickly smashed a huge right hook into her jaw, causing her to feel it dislocate from the force.

He wasn't finished there though and stepped forwards, slamming a left body hook into her liver, causing her to double over and spit out blood onto the stone below.

"Now to finish this." He then said as his large mane blew in the wind before he raised both his arms, interlocking his hand as he got ready to drop a powerful finishing blow.

The lion-man dropped his hands down, using all of his power to deliver his attack, feeling it connect as the force of it caused a large shock wave and dust to spring up from the ground, blocking everyone's field of view.

The dust slowly settled, but to everyone's surprise, Xolvion was stood before the lion man, his arm raised as he had blocked his attack.

"You're alive!" The lion-man snapped, trying to push all of his weight down into his attack in an attempt to overpower Xolvion.

However, Xolvion seemed to be fairing rather well, not even looking as if he was breaking a sweat.

"Sorry to disappoint you." He said before he turned to check on Luna.

"You will pay for laying a hand on one of my girls." He then said, frowning as he looked back at the lion-man.

Xolvion suddenly pushed the large beast-man back, then shifting his weight through his legs, he jumped ever so slightly off of the ground, turning his hips and spinning his leg through before slamming his foot into the lion's chest, delivering a perfect jumping spinning back kick.

The lion man was no pushover though, quickly crossing his muscular arms over his body, blocking the kick, the force of which sent him flying back through the air before he landed back on his feet, skidding across the ground.

"It's over!" Xolvion said as he raised his open palm, letting powerful flame magic burst forth towards the lion man.

The lion was shocked to see such a powerful magic attack heading towards him, knowing he didn't stand a chance against such power.

"I don't think so!" He roared, quickly taking the hilt of his sword, using his powerful muscles to swipe his large blade down into the ground and cutting the fire magic in half.

Xolvion watched in surprise as his magic attack had been negated. Harmlessly crashing into the cliffside behind its intended target.

"An anti-magic sword." He thought as he examined the large ruby blade.

"You're not bad kid. Pretty damn strong, if I do say so myself." The lion spoke as he stood to his full height.

"My name is White Mane! Leader of the Ruby lions." He then said, looking at Xolvion with keen interest.

Xolvion didn't respond, instead, he walked over to Luna and placed a hand on her shoulder as she had turned back into her human form.

"It's alright Luna. This guy is pretty strong, you should sit this one out." He said as he also cast heal on her, bringing her back to 100% in an instant.

"You dare ignore me! The mighty White Mane, the Ruby destroyer!" The lion shouted in rage, seeing the lack of respect Xolvion was showing him.

Xolvion turned around to face him, looking him dead in the eye as he examined him

"He does not possess much magic. Yet his physical ability is off the charts. To be expected from a Lion man." Xolvion thought as he tried to assess his opponent.

"If there is one thing that boils my blood, it is a lack of respect and manners!" White Mane shouted as he pointed his blade at Xolvion.

"He's stronger than the Empress ice. Much stronger..." Xolvion said as he weighed him up.

"This will be a good chance to test out my new power." He then said as he clenched his fist, finally drawing his sword and taking a ready stance.

White Mane couldn't help but smile as he watched Xolvion take a ready stance, already noting his fighting abilities from just that.

"Let the battle begin!" White Mane shouted as he charged in head-on at Xolvion, raising his sword into the air before he tried to deliver a crushing blow to the top of his head.

Xolvion wasn't stupid enough to try and block such a powerful attack and quickly dart to the left, trying to sidestep and flank White Mane to attack his blind spot.

"Nice try!" White Mane shouted as he suddenly twirled around, using an insane amount of balance and power in order to adjust his moments so quickly.

This time Xolvion was forced to block the attack, even holding the flat part of his blade with his free hand to strengthen his guard.

Both of their swords clashed with the weight of White Manes's strike sending Xolvion back into the air. Xolvion flipped backwards and quickly started to chant before he landed back on the ground.

"Emperors blast!" He shouted, unleashing a Saint-level magic attack.

The powerful fireball headed right for White Mane, who snarled as he clutched the hilt of his blade

"I told you the first time! Magic won't work on me!" He roared, cutting the fireball in half and scattering it harmlessly into the distance.

Xolvion was more than aware that he would block his attack and had instead used it as a distraction, one that had allowed him to close the distance and get within striking range.

White Mane couldn't help but watch as Xolvion appeared out of the flames, not having enough time to react before he landed a clean blow, slashing White Mane clean down his chest and knocking him back with the force.

"It's over," Xolvion said as he landed, looking at his handy work.

White Mane was bent down on one knee as he clutched at the wound on his chest, trying to stop the bleeding with one hand, but to no use.

"I don't think I've ever been wounded this badly before." The lion-man said as he tried to catch his breath.

Xolvion spun his sword around and flicked the blood from it with skill, giving him a smile.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Xolvion said, getting a little cocky.

"You may be strong... But you are a fool!" White Mane suddenly shouted as he gripped his sword tight.

Xolvion watched as the ruby sword started to glow with magic. Watching as all of the magic it had absorbed flowed into White Mane's body, healing him in a matter of seconds as well as increasing his strength.

"The more you feed her, the stronger I become!" White Mane then shouted as he pointed his sword at Xolvion and unleashed a blast of concentrated magical energy right at him.

"Master look out!" Luna shouted as she watched from the sidelines.

Xolvion didn't have much time to react, thanks to him letting his guard down thinking he had already won the battle. The blast hit him head-on, breaking through his magical barrier and still doing a large amount of damage, exploding on contact.

This time White Mane was the one who grew cocky, however, unlike Xolvion, he didn't let his guard down.

"Let's see how he handles that." The Lion said as he waited for the debris to clear, already being able to sense that he was still alive.

The smoke cleared and Xolvion's form was revealed to all. He had taken a large amount of damage with the blast ripped away half of the armour on his torso. His left arm was also burnt badly, and the rest of his body wasn't feeling much better.

"That is one strong ass sword," Xolvion muttered, slowly looking up at White Mane with a smile still spread across his face.

"It's time to finish this battle stranger!" The Lion shouted, pointing his sword at Xolvion again as he readied himself to pounce at his prey.

"I agree," Xolvion said before he shifted his hand to his face.

"Heal..." He said, using his divine healing to completely heal him back to full health in an instant.

White Mane was beyond shocked, almost not believing his eyes as he watched all of Xolvions wounds disappear.

"That can't be the divine healing skill..." He said shocked.

Xolvion laughed as he ran his hand through his hair, slicking it back before he looked dead into White Manes eyes.

"I must admit that you are indeed strong. However, it's time for me to stop playing around and finish this." Xolvion then said, finally deciding it was time to get serious.

White Mane couldn't help cock an eyebrow, feeling extremely disrespected and making him grow angry.

"You think I am a joke!" He roared, finally snapping as he let all of the magic from his ruby blade flow into his body, causing his muscles to increase in size and his aura to explode with power.

"This is my true power!" He roared, letting Xolvion bask in his final form before he finished him for good.

Xolvion couldn't help but smile in the face of such power. Slowly he drew his sword and took a battle-ready stance, welcoming the challenge.

"very well. Let's see what you have got."

White Mane charged, moving so fast that he almost seemed to disappear, only coming into sight at the last second as he smashed his blade into the ground where Xolvion had been stood.

Xolvion jumped backwards, avoiding another slash that was meant to separate his head from his shoulders. Next came another downward swipe that he deflected at an angle causing it to smash into the ground, unearthing the stone beneath them and jolting them into the air.

White Mane used his free hand to throw a punch at Xolvion, slashing with his claws and then spinning around attempting a kick down to his head. Xolvion leaned back in the air and avoided the slash flipping back before he blocked the kick with an X-block.

The force of the kick knocked him back down to the ground where he crashed hard into the stone. White Mane didn't waste any time as he dived down with his sword pointed, aiming to impale Xolvion with a downward thrust.

Instead, Xolvion rolled out of the way and avoided the attack, proving slippery and tenacious in his ability to run away as the ruby blade smashed into the ground, sliding into it like a hot knife into butter.

"Fight like a man!!!" White Mane shouted, growing more and more enraged as he failed to land a blow against his opponent.

Xolvion rolled again this time avoiding a stomp from White Mane, rolling again and again as he avoided more of the same attack until White Mane soccer kicked him in the chest, sending him flying through the air.

"DIE!!!" White Mane shouted as he dashed through the air at blinding speed, raising his sword above his head with both hands as he got ready to cleave Xolvion in half, not holding any of his strength back.

Xolvion flipped back and skidded along the ground, raising his guard as he blocked a flurry of strikes from White Manes sword. Sparks flew through the air as the blades clashed over and over again, both Xolvion and White Mane moving and jumping around with grace.

White Mane was indeed strong and was even starting to gain the upper hand against Xolvion as he managed to knock him back, taking him off guard.

"It's over!" He roared, moving in to deliver the final attack.

Suddenly Ice burst out from the ground as a large number of spikes came to Xolvions defence, blocking the ruby sword with one even stabbing right through the lion's stomach.

"Got you," Xolvion said with a smile as White Mane could feel his body freezing from the stab wound.

"Curse you... You let me think I had the advantage so that I would get careless." The Lion said, biting through the pain.

But he didn't have much time to react as a fist covered in flame suddenly struck him in the chest, knocking him flying back through the air.

"Phoenix punch!" Xolvion shouted as he slammed his fist into White Mane's chest, watching as he flew back and crashed into the ground before he rolled onto his feet.

White Mane was in pain from the ice magic and now the martial art strike, looking down at the damage his body had received.

"Fire magic... Ice magic and even martial arts... What the hell is this guy?" He said to himself as he used the flat of his sword placing it against the ice wound on his body, allowing it to absorb the magic and heal him. However, the same did not work for the wound on his chest, something Xolvion noticed with interest.

"So that sword couldn't absorb that attack. I guess it makes sense considering that the martial art skills I have use chi rather than magic."

White Mane slowly stood to his full height taking a good look at Xolvion.

"You are probably the strongest opponent that I have ever faced in battle. I ask you, please allow me the courtesy of knowing your name." White Mane said as he lowered his sword.

Xolvion lowered his sword also, knowing that he no longer needed it.

"My name is Xolvion Valous." He then said after a moment.

White Mane closed his eyes as he nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well. Xolvion Valous. With this, I offer you my final attack." He then said as he gripped his sword one last time.

"This will cost me my life! But if it means defeating you, I am more than willing!!!" He suddenly roared at the top of his lungs as he began charging all of the magic that was left in the ruby blade, creating a massive shock wave of magical power that sent blasts of wind out in every direction.

"Shit! Is he really going to go that far?" Xolvion thought as he was forced to cover his face from the gusts of powerful magic that were coming from him.

"I can't let him get this attack off, I have to stop this now... Guess I'll use that attack." Xolvion said to himself, knowing it was now or never.

White Mane was still charging all of the power through his sword, fast approaching his final attack, one that would most likely wipe out a large chunk of the city they were in.

But Xolvion couldn't let that happen, knowing it was finally time to stop holding back.

"If I can't use magic, then martial arts it is..." He said to himself as he concentrated, feeling deep inside his body as he found his chakra points.

When he had gained the power and knowledge of martial arts from Holly, he had found that she obtained an ability to increase her battle power by over tenfold, something she could only do by opening each of her chakra points and allowing the Ki (or Chi) in her body to flow freely. There were seven in total and for each one she opened, the more strength she would be able to summon. The only downside to this was the insanely demanding effect that had on one's body, even being able to open just one of these chakra points took years and years of intense training and focus.

Holly had the ability to open just two of these chakra points, and from her memories, she had only ever done it once, the result of which had led to her being bed-bound for over a month in severe pain. However, with Xolvions divine healing ability, he was sure he would be able to push this ability even further.

"Looks like there is no better time than the present." He then said to himself as he focused intently.

When opening one's chakra point, one had to start at the bottom of their body, starting with the root chakra.

"Xolvion could feel his root chakra open at the very base of his spine, suddenly allowing his chi and magical energy to increase by over twice its normal amount.

"One more should do it... Next is the Sacral chakra." He then said to himself as he concentrated again, letting his body's energies flow until his power suddenly exploded as he felt the chakra point open.

Xolvion opened his eyes as his body had suddenly become engulfed in amazing power, a power that seemed to radiate off of him with intense heat.

"Amazing... This power is no joke..." He then said as he could already feel his body straining from the effects.

Xolvion looked up towards White Mane who had noticed his sudden increase in power too, knowing now was the time to launch his final attack.

The two of them locked eyes and with a furious determination, roared as they both acted.

"Time to finish this!!!"

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Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

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