“Ouch!” Xero shouted as Meldie was passing some healing salve over a very large bruise as well as several not too serious cuts.

Meldie pouted, “Xero stop jumping around.” She said and grabbed his arm firmly holding it with her unexpectedly monstrous strength. “Muu~! Why did you have to go at it so hard?” Meldie complained while finishing and wrapping his arm with a bandage.

“It’s not like I could help it.” He said, “Chad was actually really strong together with his familiar.” He said.

“Did you need to go into a mad frenzy with him?” Univa asked and sighed.

“I couldn’t help it, his armor was hard, much harder then the dragon scales on the Wyrm. The Dragon scales was just hard because of the dragon aura which Ashley’s devil aura could cut but his armor was actually that hard.” Xero said.

The battle that happened was actually beyond what anyone expected, were Xero had been dominant during the first to battles, the final match made it seem as if the first two battles were illusions.

***

When the Minions began to march forward they all followed the same movement by Xero’s command, the jump high up. All earth minions were set up with similar spells. This was for one simple reason.

BOOM!

As all Earth minions landed the earth below them seemingly bends down and with each growing deeper and as the earth rose up once more a massive earthquake spreads out and completely destroys the 300 meter radius circle arena completely shattering the ground, raising stone pillars or some cliffs.

Soon a maze of rock and stone had formed. This was a spell Xero devised called rock valley. One minion using it alone would change a landscape around 20 meters around it but this was not a field spell it was a terrain altering spell. It allowed for stacking to happen so when almost 10 minions activated the same spell, the effect was more than 10 times stronger completely altering the entire terrain of the coliseum field.

“Hmph!” Chad snorted and with a movement of his shoulders, amazingly, a set of wings spread out and turned invisible as he beat them and took to the air. He pointed his hand forward and soon the other ant’s took to the air. “Exterminating breath.” He said. All the 18 ant’s plus his familiar suddenly screeched as, from their mouth, a very powerful flame breath came down from the sky in all directions including down bathing the arena in flames.

They were so intense that the earth began to melt and gather in rivers of lava while large earth outcrops became islands.

Those who were common people could only watch in horror as these two ‘children’ changed the landscape to that of a hellish badland. What was amazing was that the sand and earth was melted and even began to form obsidian glass and volcanic rock. As for the Minions and Xero, they just stood in the sea of flames unaffected. The Sword Devil was a race born from flames, forged under the searing Holy flames, a small flame like this would not penetrate their armor never reaching their soul. What is more, the Devil’s aura around them resisted the magic attack weakening it to becoming a nonexistent threat.

Of course, if it was fire from something at least level 50 or higher it would be a different story but they were a very resistant race, if at least at normal levels towards physical attacks, but towards magic they were as resistant as Plated Devils, where were weaker towards magic.

At this time, Ashley stepped up and began to manipulate the sword minion’s magic. Suddenly all the flames around her began to gather around her like several rivers slowly forming a large blade of flame.

She then suddenly jumped out of the Sea of flames before spinning in the air, “Flaming Grand Cleave!” She shouted as the flames began to storm out and a powerful flame storm burst out while a magic blade lead the charge.

Chad looked at it coldly before flying forward and met the blade with just his fist that suddenly released an explosive flame when coming in contact with the fire blade causing all the fire to be extinguished by the shockwave weakening the spell considerably and with his unexpected strength breaking the spell apart.

In the VIP stands the nobles were a bit surprised, “Oh? The Liquivet family sure taught him well after he was expelled from Everlight, he learned instant combustion of fire to cancel out fire.” An old voice said.

When everyone looked to the unfamiliar voice they found Archmagus Valmor standing.

Instantly Marquess Crost stood up, “Archmagus, please come join us.” He said gesturing for him to take his seat.

“No need, it is your event so stay within your own seat.” He said and with a small wave behind him, slowly rose a large throne made of black stone. It looked majestic yet demonic.

“As expected of the Old Devil of Everlight, his throne makes his presence quite prominent even in this place of so much energy.” Francis said looking back.

Valmor leaned on the throne’s arms and smiled, “You boys have sure made quite an event of your own daughter's’ marriage, not that I mind, I have been curious of the boy’s true strength myself.” Valmor said.

BOOM!

At this time a huge explosion happened as the Minions on both side attacked. The blade like crushing ant maulers bit down while the Minions were pushed back by the immense strength smashing into the ground where it finally stopped the advancing but after blocking jaws of the beast but the strength was equal and on par.

“A Royal Fire Ant soldier at level 20 normally has level 31 strength. This means that the linked Sword Minions also have similar strength while the linked familiar and minion have at least level…” Francis began to say but they were hit but an explosion and looked up as they saw Ashley impact sword on the familiars fist.

Unlike before it was fighting for real.

Ashley had one of her flying blades under her while the Arachnid Ant had wings. The two split off before rushing forward into a massive flurry of fists and sword pounding each other. In Ashley’s hand was her own Black long sword while in the other was the black volcanic obsidian sword.

Each sword and fist hit with equal power and ferocity causing the air to shake under the intensity of the true combat between Familiars.

The public was in horror of the strength that, as the rumors few people were believing, was true. Both familiars had at least level 40 strength and both of them could actually hold their own against a Level 41 Wyrm if needed.

After another round, suddenly the armor jaws on the ant shined and flew to its hands forming curved blades and it suddenly flew out at Ashley and the two entered an even more furious sword battle that began to sound out the clash of swords like a ringing bell.

Xero and Chad were on the ground and sky commanding the minions.

Xero found that the strength and defense of the ant soldier were both level 31. Even if he had earth spikes shoot out their shell would block it.

“Earth stomp.” Xero muttered and transmitted through the link.

The eyes of the Minions shined as the began to push before jumping and letting the head of the ant’s pushing down crashing into the ground.

The Minions then came down crashing down while the spell took effect, the ground suddenly rose while the weight of the minion tripled.

The crowd roared as the Minions crushed the ants but suddenly the ants screeched and like a mad bull their exoskeleton suddenly turned bright before bursting into flames.

Almost instantly the armor of the minions turned bright red and they all jumped away in fear of being melted.

Xero frowned as he saw the flame was no joke. It was a self defense method with really powerful fire attacks that even the minions couldn’t take. Xero didn’t have other fire type minions, and he didn’t make them when he was in school since he didn’t have much time.

“Earth minions are a rather bad match unexpectedly.” Xero thought but with a small movement of his hand suddenly caused four blue swords to come out. Two lit up and became blue sword minions who grabbed another minion and linked their spirits becoming bigger and more powerful.

“Rain force.” Xero said.

The two lifted their swords while their bodies shined. With them at the center storm clouds formed all over the coliseum.

“Wha!” Chad looked up and frowned but before he could react the clouds suddenly released a rumble and a heavy rain suddenly fell down on the arena. “WHAT!? BASTARD!” Chad shouted as his wings were covered in rain as was his ant minions and soon he fell down unable to fly with his wet fragile wings while they were wet.

The rain was heavy but the entire field had been completely heated by the countless flame attacks. When rain met the hot ground, it instantly began to form a dense fog on the field while the intense heat rapidly decreased.

Ashley suddenly grinned as her blue eyes shined completely seeing the position of everyone and everything in the fog.

As for Xero and sighed, “Time to see how well that spell is.” He said and took out a very small spirit blade made of iron. Xero closed his eyes and filled the blade’s only spell. “Magic eyes.” he said and opened his eyes. The brown eyes and black pupils suddenly transform to pure white while the world around him vanishes while only a vague outline appears but the rough outline of the people all around him could be seen. He could also see the link to the minions and the ants.

“This is enough. Now…” With a vague vision in the fog that blinded even the minions and the rain that destroyed the pheromone messages that Chad used, Xero used this chance and began to command the minions.

In the VIP box everyone was using some form of spell or another to see through it while Valmor raised a brow and grinned, “So he hasn’t ignored that has he, good, a resource so useful shouldn’t be ignored and must be analyzed.” Valmor nodded approvingly as he got to see another good thing from one of his students.

Xero took a step as his Minions began to move under his and Ashley’s command. All the ant’s were in a confused state until the mental order came from Chad, “Calm down and sense the nearby pheromone of the enemy!”

Even with rain, the superior senses of the ants could still sense creatures within a limited range.

That said as soon as the rain fell, Xero had begun moving, the field had become an extreme advantous state for the two water Minions. The two moved and jumped as if swimming and their scent mixed with water making them invisible and when they appeared, it was from above on two ants and suddenly plunged their swords into the heads. Then the earth minions around these two ants appeared swinging their swords together covered in dense bedrock on the abdomen.

“DAMN YOU!” Chad shouted as his hard to create minion was killed.

He sent out an order, at once pillars of flames burst out from all 16 ants and the familiar.

The pillars pierced the clouds evaporating all the fog and the rain dispersed.

Even so two ant minions died and when the fog cleared, Xero appeared in front of Chad, his sword shining.

“Metal Cleave!” Xero said and swung horizontally.

“You trash! DIE! Explosion!” Chad shouted and swung his fist at the sword.

BANG!

The two spells activated at point blank range and the result was a shockwave that a five meter wide crater to form while both boys were thrown several dozen meters away from each other.

“You really love pissing me off you commoner trash! Fine! You killed two of mine! I’ll pay you back by destroying all of yours!” He shouted. His ant jaws transformed into two jagged curved blades but that wasn’t all, all the ant’s screeched and shook their wings free of water and began to fly. The 16 ant’s flew in pairs and slowly their bodies began to shine, “MERGE!” Chad shouted.

Suddenly the 16 ant soldiers vanished into small orbs of mana that fused into a single orb. Then from it a new body began to form. Almost three meters long, eight huge ants with shining red exoskeleton fell down.

“You trash! Try to live now! Tear him to shreds!” Chad ordered.

The black eyes of the ants shined red as they screeched and suddenly, like missiles, jumped using their hind set of legs to literally jump.

Xero’s expression darkened, “Edge!” He said and jumping as the flying sword appeared under his feet and like a blur he vanished from his spot while flying towards Ashley.

“Master! These all surpass level 31 strength but their defense is already above 41.” Ashley said.

Xero could tell as he nodded. The ants spread their wings and went after Xero. “Can the Sword minions completely merge?” Xero asked.

“They cannot, their spirits are more complex than the tiny ant souls inside these creatures.” Ashley explained.

Xero’s face darkened as he undid his link. “Then we only have one thing we can do.” he said and flying near Ashley, “Ashley, Link with me!” He said.

“Eh! B-but master that is dangerous!” She said.

“If we don’t do it I will have to face much more dangerous things.” He said and she nodded agreeing. The two fathers of the girls had been quite serious when they said he had to fight with his all. His ability with the skill was already quite good and his soul was strong thanks to the training as well as the tempering.

“Alright master, let’s try!” She said.

She undid her transformation and grabbed his hands.

In the VIP stand, Valmor’s eyes narrowed while Lucifer appeared on his shoulder, “The kid is weaker than the ant boy.” Lucifer said.

“Indeed but that depends on how one uses his familiar. The boy was very good being able to induce his familiars minions to merge and form Giant Royal Soldier ants.” Valmor commented, “Now let’s see if Xero can match that power by linking his soul with his familiar after only so long.” He said.

“This will be interesting.” Lucifer chuckled enjoying the show.

As Ashley held Xero’s right hand, the familiar seal suddenly began to shine as Xero strengthened the link like never before and pulled Ashley’s soul inside his body. When it entered, demon tattoo began to form while Ashley’s body suddenly shined and turned into a ball of black mana. Xero suddenly dove down to avoid a fast coming ant while still merging.

When the soul reached his chest he began to wrap her soul but to his utter shock he heard a giggle from within as Ashley also released mana that wrapped around his soul. Soon both souls were firmly wrapped and pulled together. “My master hug feels so warm!” Ashley said as their souls came in contact. Her soul was actually bigger than his but the amount of soul energy in both began to mix and match until the aura of surrounded them both.

As for his body, he suddenly landed while, unlike common linking, he dropped off Edge and landed while his body suddenly began to expel a very dense Miasma. It was to an intensity that caused the Ant soldiers to stop their advance.

“What are you doing!? Attack!” Chad shouted but it did not work. The fear they were causing had paralyzed them. Not only that but all the people below level 30 were shivering.

Behind Xero the afterimage of Ashley’s demon form appeared.

All the while inside Xero, Ashley was in glee, “Master feels so warm!” She kept saying.

“Ashley! S-Stop!” Xero shouted as he felt her pulling him and he felt his soul merging with hers it entered part way when outside a massive change happened.

Suddenly mana gathered around Xero, it gathered around his head as did the tattoos and took the shape of horns, on his back shaping like a tail and ears making them elf like. While his body moved and grabbed the ball of black mana. He grabbed it with his left hand making a black light shine both ways then he grabbed the light with his right and ‘unsheathed’ a long pitch black long sword that seemed strange as it waved going between longsword and katana.

Minions and Ashley were all the same, their blade form was different as their power raised. When Xero simply linked their souls Ashley, she would take the shape of a long sword but when he merged his soul with her, she would become a katana.

It formed and holding the blade, Xero’s arm up to his elbow became black as night. He slowly raised the waving sword just as his eyes changed from the human eye to a black sclera and red eyes of a demon.

He roared and swung down. From that simple swing, an immense power that seemed out of this word came out. From his position all, he swung a random attack but that sword attack caused a wave so powerful a 30 cm cleaved crater appeared in the ground going all the way to the wall.

When the sudden attack was released, it put a strain on Ashley’s soul and she yelped in pain causing Xero to get loose and ‘wake’ her up. The merging was cut off and they properly linked.

The waving blade solidified as a Long sword while Xero’s body reverted to human while his arm returned to normal. The Demon tattoos shined and Ashley’s blade released lights that plated Xero’s body with a pitch black armor.

“AH~! Master it was so warm!” Ashley complained as her helmet finished forming around his head and conformed to his size.

“Never do that again without me wanting to.” Xero said but he suddenly felt it, within his body was immense demon mana pumping through him and going back to Ashley. “So this is what Archmagus said about me needing to circulate her mana in my body.” Xero said and lifted his hand to see his own hand in the armor.

Finally he turned to look at the ants that were fearing him.

“Let’s go Ashley.” Xero said.

“AH~! It feels so good to have master inside me! Finally I have something that is ahead of those two hussy!” Ashley said making Xero irritated.

“ASHLEY!”

“Okay master! Let’s kill!” She said giggling.

When their aim focused, Chad was in shock while trembling in rage, “ATTACK!” He roared.

When the Miasma finally vanished, the ants indeed did attack, they did not take the attack from before serious because of their weak minds. Xero, on the other hand, ignored them and turned to Chad. The best way to end a battle is to remove the head. He told the Minions to keep away in defensive formation and suddenly jumped causing a shockwave behind him.

“It’s you and me Chad.” Xero said.

“You want to fight! Then I’ll fight!” He said and jumped at Xero.

Xero held Ashley in both hands and Chad used his two jaw swords and both swung.

BANG!

Another explosion came while the two shot back but as both stopped, they both jumped and began to battle at an even more intense speed then the familiars had done before.

Swords hit the armor cracking it, a sword hit a sword in Chad’s hand breaking it. He changed to using fists soon while Xero used the infinitely powerful demon sword in his hand to cut at Chad all the while not defending receiving hits on his arms, legs, chest and head. The impact even transmitted to his body as an explosion followed both but his own swords would chip away at the dense exoskeleton armor.

The both were tied in a stalemate until finally they landed after an intense but short battle but as soon as they hit the ground, Xero activated Super Pounce and jumped away and began to circle Chad. Speed was his advantage and slowly he became a blur that Chad could not follow. “Let's end this. Sword Devil Flaming Slice.” Xero said.

Ashley was suddenly covered in Blue White Flame as he stopped behind Chad and turned thrusting at him.

He turned as he felt Xero’s presence already throwing a punch towards the sword. That said the attack was unlike any other and it hit his hand but was stopped by the Lifesaving barrier. That said, the fist still caught fire.

After the first stab stopped Xero instantly attacked five times with unnatural speed Chad’s body on fire only for it to be blow out in an instant by the referee. “The life saving barrier has activated. The winner of the third round is Xero Null.” The referee announced.

As soon as the announcement was stated the referee activated a magic formation that slowly began to undo all the damage to the arena. Not only that but it completely undid the summon of the minions causing the ants to undo their merge and run into the nest holes while the sword minions all turned into swords that floated back to Xero.

The link of the two children also was undone and when Xero appeared, his body was covered in demon tattoos but suddenly he felt a pair of hand and found that it was Ashley’s. She pulled his face and suddenly stole a kiss leaving Xero in shock.

Only when she was done did she lick her lips but now her body was covered in the same tattoos while Xero was free of them. Her body vanished and it went into the seal so that she could rest and expel the demon particles that were now in her body that she had sucked out of her master.

Xero looked with complex emotions but then he felt the pain in his body and the exhaustion that followed. From there Francis announced the winner as Xero Null then he went on to make propaganda as to the method of how the ‘battle challenge’ will be done from then on but Xero and Chad had then since taken out to be treated from the bruises and cuts on their body.

***

As Meldie finished putting the healing items to heal the bruised areas, she summoned her familiar and used her Yin Yang Rebalancing on Xero so that his body would heal quicker. This spell helps the body heal and if medicine is applied it would aid in absorbing and healing by using them.

At this time, Univa’s and Meldie’s father walked in and the halfling was laughing, “Good job Son-in-law, I knew this tactic of pressuring you so much would result in a good burst of growth in you. Not even level 30 and already merging with an intelligent familiar. Although it was one berserked strike, the power was no joke.” he laughed.

“Yeah, it was really close.” Meldie said.

“Yes… far too close.” Francis’s eyes narrowed. Suddenly a small golden scale appeared floating over his right hand. As soon as it appeared, the eyes of all the people in the room drew to it because of the threatening aura it gave. “Xero, I hope this doesn’t sound too scary but everything has a price, you did good winning, you get my baby girl and I will even set up my firm in the Lurian empire, if you had lose though…” He grinned and stopped there as the scale vanished.

Xero felt a chill down his spine as Francis left leaving the girls, Nil, Zip, Void, Hilda and Marques Crost.

“W-what was that scale?” Xero asked shivering.

“That is father’s familiar, the Spirit Scale, Tribute Scale of the God of Merchants and Greed. Father helped expand the Merchant firm when he got it because of his familiar. I don’t know what level he is but because of it he created the motto, ‘Welcome to the Donima Merchant Firm, the place where even your soul has a price.’. I find fathers familiar creepy though.” Meldie explained.

“The scale is quite special and is considered an artifact of the God of Merchants. By putting an item, the god of merchants gives a value. One of its abilities can even remove the lifeforce and souls of anyone that angers Francis and tribute it to the god who will pay him back in gold coin. The strongest known person to ever piss of Francis was a level 80 but vanished a month after the event and was never seen again.” Marquess Crost said causing everyone to feel a shiver in their hearts by the description of the familiars power. “Anyway, congratulations, you were taken out early so you did not hear but during the week there will be a tournament each day and a day before your match the five winners during the week will fight to decide who your match will be.” He said.

Xero looked at him confused before he processed the words, “W-wait, I have to fight once a week!” Xero said in shock.

The Marquess grinned, “I am sure that many will give up if you can break through the level 30 bottleneck, until then you will need to fight to keep your ‘position’.” he smiled.

Xero sighed but Nil came over and pat his son on the back, “Good job son, you were great out there.” He said.

“Yeah lil bro, you really protected your women right.” Void joked only to shut up after getting glared at by Hilda.

“Oh right, father you won the bet right? How much did you get in return?” Xero asked.

Nil grinned and shook his magic bag, “90,000 gold coin at the rate of 6:1 at the start. This is good funds that will help after we get back home. I’ve already been thinking of how to get the bag back home quickly and having it invested in city development.” Nil said.

Xero nodded, “It’s probably better for father to be present instead of handing all the money at once.” he heard Zip say.

“Yes that is true, it's hard to say who is trustworthy after all.” He sighed.

“I shall be going, Univa, would you like to stay with your fiance or stay at the Crost compound?” He asked.

She blushed fiercely but accepted to stay with Xero and train with him so that she can make sure he doesn’t slack.

The men chuckled but soon they get up and all left the coliseum.