When Elder Rooney entered Alex's sea of consciousness, he saw four distinct energy cores. However, for reasons known only to him, he chose to disclose the existence of only three to the others.
The three energies he revealed were qi, mana, and the mysterious force called peace energy.
Stan and Peter were already familiar with mana and qi, as they had encountered those energies before. However, peace energy was something entirely different. To them, it had always been considered a myth. They only came to learn about it through the Pendragon Book of Knowledge.
At this moment, Elder Rooney held the ancient book firmly in his hand. Streams of information flowed into him, displayed through what seemed like a system-like interface, unique to him alone. As the knowledge unfolded before him, he began reading it aloud for the others to hear.
"This peace energy has a long history, going back to its very origins," Elder Rooney began, his voice calm but filled with purpose. "In the past, there were two beings known to possess this energy in great abundance. The first is a mythical creature – the unicorn. The unicorn is said to have the highest amount of peace energy, which explains its remarkable ability to heal almost anything."
Stan and Peter listened intently, their eyes fixed on Elder Rooney as he continued.
"Then there is the second creature," he said, pausing for emphasis. "This one is quite different, almost the opposite. It is known as a 'pain witch.' Unlike unicorns that use their power to heal, the pain witch uses its energy to do the opposite. Wherever it goes, it brings chaos and destruction, wreaking havoc in its surroundings."
"While the unicorn has the special ability to heal, the pain witch has the unique power to adapt to situations and grow stronger from them. And from the way things are looking, Alex seems to be using this special ability," Elder Rooney explained, his voice steady as he watched the unfolding events.
"Does that mean Alex could go berserk at any moment?" Peter asked, his concern evident.
"Not exactly. There's more to this power than meets the eye. It also appears to have a gender restriction in how it's used," Elder Rooney responded thoughtfully.
With that said, the three of them—Stan, Peter, and Elder Rooney—turned their focus back to the intense fight in front of them.
Gwen had taken a few steps back, retreating after Alex's unexpected recovery from the beating he had endured so far. Her eyes were locked on him, watching his every move with caution. There was something different about him now, something she couldn't quite figure out.
The two fighters stood facing each other, their gazes locked in a tense standoff. From the outside, it seemed like both were waiting for the other to make the first move, each calculating their next step carefully.
Eventually, Alex, driven by the powerful surge of energy coursing through him, made the first move. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, his speed now far greater than before. In almost an instant, he closed the distance between them, moving faster than even he thought possible.
As he reached Gwen, Alex swung his arm, aiming for her. But Gwen was quick. She knocked his hand away with a swift motion, blocking his strike. Not willing to back down, Alex quickly adjusted his stance and tried to sweep his leg toward her, hoping to catch her off guard.
But Gwen was already a step ahead. She swiftly dodged to the side, avoiding his kick. In a fluid motion, she swung her own leg and aimed it at Alex's, striking him hard on the shin.
Feeling the sharp sting from Gwen's kick, Alex gritted his teeth in pain but refused to back down. He immediately went in for another punch, swinging with all his might. However, every time he threw a punch, Gwen either blocked it with ease or sidestepped out of harm's way, delivering a punch back at him each time.
Despite the constant blows, the others watching from the sidelines began to notice something. With each punch Alex took, his movements seemed to get just a little bit faster. Every once in a while, his fist would get dangerously close to hitting Gwen, but she always managed to step up her speed at the last second, avoiding his strike.
"Why can't you just stay in one place!" Alex shouted, his frustration boiling over as he missed another punch.
Gwen smirked, standing her ground. "You are talented. I can see why the others are willing to let you clash with us," she said, her tone confident. "But you see, I've gone much further than you. You're still at the beginning stage, and I'm far beyond that level. Even now, you haven't forced me to use my qi in any way."
Alex clenched his fists tighter, his knuckles white with determination. Gritting his teeth, he rushed forward again, this time attempting to grab her instead of punching. His speed was improving, and he could feel it. He was sure that this time he could catch her.
But just as he reached out to grab her, Gwen's figure flickered. In the blink of an eye, she vanished, disappearing completely from his line of sight.
'That speed… was she telling the truth? Has she been holding back this whole time?' Alex thought, his mind racing with the realization. For a moment, doubt crept in, but instinctively, Alex felt where she might appear next. His body tensed, ready to react to her next move.
At that moment, Alex turned around just in time to see Gwen's fist flying straight toward him. This time, though, it was incredibly fast-too fast for him to avoid. The punch connected with his chest, knocking the air out of him. But Alex gritted his teeth and braced through the pain, refusing to back down. Instead of stumbling, he grabbed Gwen's arm with both hands, holding it tightly.
Gwen's confident expression shifted to one of surprise.
"I got you!" Alex shouted, a mix of pain and determination in his voice. Blood welled up in his mouth, but he ignored it.
At the same moment, Alex felt another surge of energy rushing through his body, stronger than before. He wasn't going to waste this chance. Using all his strength, he pulled Gwen toward him with a force that surprised everyone watching.
To their astonishment, Gwen was dragged closer, her feet sliding across the ground as Alex yanked her toward him.
'What's he going to do next?' Gwen wondered. 'Probably throw a punch... I can handle that.' But what Alex did next was completely unexpected.
Instead of delivering a punch like Gwen thought, Alex bent down, wrapping his arms around her waist. He was going to lift her off the ground.
"I idiot... You had a chance!" Gwen shouted as she saw Alex making his move. "You can't beat me!" she added, raising her hand high and slamming it down hard on Alex's back.
The sickening sound of bones cracking echoed through the room as her hand connected with his back. But Gwen didn't stop. Again and again, she pounded his back, each hit landing with brutal force.
Blood began dripping from Alex's nose, but he didn't care. Despite the pain, he felt something different this time- something powerful. The energy inside him was rising, much stronger and more intense than before. He could feel it bubbling inside him, building up with every second.
Fueled by this surge of energy, Alex gritted his teeth and, with a final burst of strength, he lifted Gwen off the ground. Her eyes widened in shock as he raised her above him. Then, with all the force he could muster, he slammed her down onto the floor with a loud thud.
Moments later, Alex collapsed beside her, his breathing ragged, his body trembling from exhaustion. But before everything went dark, he managed to say one last thing to Gwen.
"I won," he whispered, and then he passed out.
Peter, seeing the scene unfold, quickly reacted. "Quick! Call the medical team!" he shouted, his voice urgent. He activated the Pendragon system and sent an immediate message. "Teleport them to Hall 67, now!"
Meanwhile, Stan was already kneeling beside Alex, placing his hand gently on Alex's back. He could feel the turmoil inside Alex's body.
"His qi... it's running wild," Stan thought to himself, a wave of guilt washing over him. "I should have stopped this fight earlier."
Moments later, two men dressed in white robes appeared in the hall. Their robes had long sleeves, and their faces were covered with plastic masks, identifying them as faction healers. Without wasting any time, they rushed to Alex's side and began their work. They used strange tools and techniques, moving swiftly as they worked on his injuries.
"Don't worry, that boy's life was never in danger," Elder Rooney said calmly as he walked towards Stan. "With the healing ability of the peace energy, combined with the magic they're using, I'm sure Alex will be back to his peak in just a few minutes."
Stan nodded but remained quiet, his eyes fixed on Alex. Soon enough, the two healers finished their work. Alex's breathing had stabilized, and his body seemed less tense. They carefully lifted him and, without a word, vanished from the hall along with him.
Once Alex was gone, Elder Rooney turned to Stan. "So, what do you think?" he asked, his tone curious.
Stan crossed his arms, thinking for a moment before responding. "He's good... really good. With time, I'm sure he'll become a powerful ally. Maybe even someone like Graham," he said, referencing a well-known figure in their ranks.
---
Meanwhile, Peter had walked over to Gwen, who was sitting on the floor, clearly upset. Her frustration was obvious, and the teasing from the two boys standing nearby wasn't helping.
"You didn't perform badly, but I don't blame you for the outcome. That Alex guy... he's different. I'm sure you noticed that too," Peter said, trying to console her.
Gwen didn't respond immediately. She squinted her eyes, lost in thought. It was clear she was replaying the fight in her mind, analyzing everything.
"Who is he?" one of the boys, Tamsin, asked, breaking the silence.
Peter glanced at Stan, exchanging a brief look with him, before turning back to the teenagers. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"He's someone we need... someone who might help restore our family's bloodline to its full strength," Peter said, leaving the others even more confused.