Free Web NovelChapter 93: Preparing For Hel’Khar...
–Chapter 93–
"I am proud of you, son."
The statement reverberated in Dean’s mind. Again and again. And he honestly didn’t know how to react to that.
But while he was numb. Ash reacted in his place. The slime suddenly bounced, sensing the underlying joy in Dean. freёwebnoѵel.com
It wobbled towards Ying, coming from across the desk excitedly.
Ying stared at it with a cautious expression. But the slime didn’t mind, instead it stretched out a tiny pseudopod from its body toward the cautious Ying.
"Okay...that’s funny," Richard burst out laughing. Even as Dean covered his face, saying. "Hey buddy come."
Ash ignored both of them, still stretching towards Ying who finally reciprocated the Slime’s attempt by stretching out his own finger to poke the slime like a fist bump.
Mid contact, Ash’s body began to glow brightly as the pseudopod twisted and wrapped around Ying’s finger.
The tension in the room began to dissipate in that moment even as Ying’s expression grew warmer.
"Why is it so warm?" The Gray leader asked.
Dean finally let out a slow breath, some of the heaviness in his chest easing slightly.
"He likes you."
The slime’s bust rippled as its gelatinous interior began to vibrate like boiling water.
Having been observing the slime, Richard shook his head with a smile still on his face.
"Hard to believe, it is this smart."
It actually made sense that the W.S.A was going after it. This creature was intelligent and it had an even better array of skills.
After another second or two, Ying finally pulled his finger back. Raising his head to meet Dean’s eyes.
"What’s done is done," he said while he cleared his throat. "All that’s left is for you to win the challenge."
"About that?" Richard slowly cut in, looking at Dean."The school is willing to attempt convincing you and Marcus otherwise."
"Hmmm.." Ying mumbled but Dean stayed silent. "I don’t believe the Argents would agree?" he continued.
"They’re not fighting between themselves. This is between two students of Franseint who might potentially hurt each other."
The man’s voice genuinely sounded worried or maybe he feigned it very well.
Dean leaned back. Prior he had accepted the challenge without knowing much about it. And maybe even contemplated changing his mind.
But now, after ranking up and growing stronger in the blue zone. He actually wanted to see the limits of his own abilities.
And who better for that, than a young werewolf prospect like Marcus.
"I’ll fight," Dean said simply.
"And win," Ying completed with a small nod towards Dean.
"Fuuuuu..." Richard leaned back. "If that’s what you want."
With a sharp, determined breath. Dean nodded.
"Good.." Ying said with a proud smile. "And after that...we must talk again."
Dean immediately raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
"The family.." Ying answered.
’So there’s more..?’ Dean thought with a very exhausted expression.
Acknowledging the silence, Ying continued. "As the heir, you must understand the true dealings of the family."
Dean nodded. "I understand."
"No..." Ying watched him slowly and smiled. "I don’t think you do...yet!"
"But–" he continued while he slowly stood up. "---You will soon."
Already on his feet. Ying glanced at Richard who raised his supposed tea in a polite gesture.
Ying nodded once to acknowledge the man before taking a step closer to Dean.
And without warning, he placed one hand on Dean’s shoulder briefly. Merely massaging it for a second but Dean felt the warmth behind it.
"Just be careful..." Ying said in a whisper.
Looking up at him. Dean smiled softly. "I will, old man."
Ying smiled before he ruffled his hair gently. And he left with the door closing soundlessly behind him.
***
Dean remained seated a moment longer than he intended even as Ash leaped on his shoulder and melted there.
There was silence in the room. Dean was far lost to that last touch by Ying. It was a gesture this body knew all too well.
It was from his mother. Or better still Dean Gray’s mother.
"He’s terrified. You know?" Richard finally spoke to break the silence.
"Why?"
"Your death might actually break him," Richard said as he dropped the tea cup with the harsh smell. "Almost like her death almost did."
Dean felt his stomach drop. As he looked down slightly.
This wasn’t all about him anymore. There was so much to this new life than just him and his survival and he had to acknowledge that going forward.
"I won’t die.." Dean said with resolve as he stood up slowly.
Richard’s eyes narrowed, watching the boy closely before he completely gulped down whatever was inside that tea cup.
"Good boy.." he frowned. "Now, get the hell out.. you Grays are ruining my brooding time."
Unable to hold himself back. Dean chuckled as he made his way to the door. "I will get out of your hair."
But just as he was about to walk out. Richard raised his head again.
"Oh and Dean.."
Dean glanced backward. Even as Ash looked as well.
"Try not to start any other gambling operation this week.."
"Okay.. just for the week." Dean grinned, doing his best to hide his shocked expression.
"All... right! Gray.." Richard gestured to the door with a finger while he reached for a bottle under the desk.
"Out..."
***
The hallway outside Richard’s office felt quieter than before.
Dean walked slowly through the academy corridors while Ash rested silently around his shoulders like a living scarf. The slime usually bounced around whenever people passed by or when it noticed something strange.
Now it simply stayed still. Dean exhaled through his nose. His father’s words kept replaying inside his head whether he liked it or not.
I am proud of you, son.
Even now, the sentence still feels strange. It wasn’t obviously bad. Just unfamiliar.
The old Dean had grown up hearing those words. This body remembered them clearly. But for him, personally, it still felt heavier than expected.
Maybe because Ying almost never said things like that openly.
Or maybe because Dean finally understood what the man had truly been afraid of.
Not the family embarrassment. Or potential political fallout. But the deep sense of loss.
Dean rubbed the back of his neck while continuing down the empty corridor. All of this was stressful.
And for the first time since accepting Marcus’s Hel’Khar challenge, the fight actually felt real to him.
Before now, he had only thought of it as a chance to test his strength. He had only treated it like momentum.
It was supposed to be just another obstacle. Another situation to survive through sheer stubbornness. The motto of his life.
But now there was weight behind it. If he lost publicly, the Gray family would take the hit with him. Though that wasn’t too much for now.
And if he died...
Dean clicked his tongue softly. "Yeah... not happening."
Ash slowly stretched upward from his shoulder before lightly tapping against his jaw.
Dean glanced sideways at the slime. "What?"
Ash vibrated once. Sending him a signal of sorts.
The slime didn’t understand the specifics obviously, but Dean could tell it noticed the shift in his mood.
Its body kept pulsing curiously like it was trying to process why humans became emotionally unstable after conversations instead of battles.
Honestly, Dean wondered the same thing sometimes.
By the time he stepped outside, the evening air had already cooled. It was going through the courtyard.
Even as students moved through the academy grounds in smaller groups now while distant flux core lights flickered on across the campus.
Dean shoved both hands into his pockets while walking toward the training section.
His thoughts slowly became clearer with every step. That part at least felt familiar.
Back in his old world, this was how he handled pressure before fights. How he got his blood really flowing.
Not overthinking. Not panicking. But immersing himself in preparation.
This involved fight camps. Conditioning training, studying his and his opponent’s weaknesses. Sharpening reactions until instinct took over completely.
And then ... repeat. Repeat and Repeat
The Hel’Khar was not some emotional statement anymore. This was now a fight.
And Dean knew how to prepare for fights. That realization settled the nervousness inside him.
Ash bounced lightly, quickly noticing as Dean’s mood stabilized.
"Exactly," Dean muttered. "We train first. Existential crises later."
The slime pulsed blue and then green in approval.
***
The training yard was mostly quiet when Dean arrived.
The evening classes had already ended and most students were either heading back to the dormitories or finishing personal practice sessions.
The setting sun cast long shadows across the open grounds while cool wind drifted through the area.
Dean walked past several empty sections before heading toward the private training rooms at the back of the arena.
He needed to burn the leftover tension out of his system. His father’s visit had left him carrying too many emotions at once.
There was pride, pressure, worry and the unfamiliar sensation of responsibility. And all of it weighed heavily on his chest.
He needed movement. He needed to smash something or maybe even someone.
A sound reached him before the doors of the room itself came into view.
Thud! Crack! Thud!
The impacts were loud, controlled and yet violent enough to echo through the hallway.
Dean slowed down slightly as he approached one of the opened training rooms.
Light spilled outward through the narrow gap. As he looked inside.
"Rogue?"
–End of Chapter–
