Black Phoenix Heir

Chapter 125: Chapter 125 — The Conviction Within

Chapter 125 — The Conviction Within

Victor had been sitting before the Monkey Fist Stele for roughly twelve hours.

And nothing had happened.

He remained cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed, his breathing slow and steady.

The ancient stele stood silently before him.

Victor had spent hours trying to understand what Moncasa had explained.

Want.

Desire.

Conviction.

Those were the things the stele supposedly responded to.

Yet Victor still couldn’t understand what he was doing wrong.

Maybe enlightenment was different for everyone.

Maybe Moncasa’s experience couldn’t be replicated.

Victor opened his eyes and stared at the ancient stone.

Am I even doing this right?

He had expected something.

Some kind of sensation telling him that he was getting closer.

Instead, there was nothing.

Victor sighed.

He needed to figure this out.

The Monkey Fist wasn’t simply another technique to add to his arsenal.

It was part of the path forward.

If he could reach the Intermediate level alongside his Intermediate Flash Step, his combat ability would increase dramatically.

And he needed that strength.

There were too many things waiting for him.

The mysteries surrounding Samal.

The ancient cavern.

The alchemical garden.

The Black Phoenix inheritance.

And most importantly...

The war.

Ten thousand years ago, something had happened that had completely changed the world.

Victor didn’t know what.

But Samal’s memories had given him the first real clue.

If Victor wanted answers, he needed to understand Samal.

And right now, this cavern was the closest thing he had to a path toward those answers.

Victor lowered his gaze.

But why am I not getting anywhere?

He closed his eyes again.

Then something occurred to him.

Maybe he was looking at the stele the wrong way.

He had been sitting here thinking about enlightenment.

Thinking about unlocking the technique.

Thinking about what he needed to accomplish.

But perhaps that wasn’t what the stele wanted.

Maybe the Monkey Fist Stele wasn’t simply a stone that taught people techniques.

Maybe...

It was alive.

Not alive in the way a person was alive.

But perhaps it could sense something.

Conviction.

Belief.

The truth someone carried within themselves.

Victor thought back to the moment he had first sat down.

Had he truly believed in himself?

No.

He had been sitting there hoping the stele would give him something.

Hoping enlightenment would simply appear.

Victor’s eyes slowly opened.

That’s the problem.

He hadn’t been approaching the stele with conviction.

He had been approaching it with expectation.

There was a difference.

Victor looked down at his hands.

He thought about his vow.

He had already decided what he wanted.

He would become strong enough to remove the bracelet himself.

He would control his own life.

He would uncover the mysteries surrounding Samal.

He would discover what happened ten thousand years ago.

He would understand the truth behind his Black Phoenix inheritance.

And if Lyra ever needed his help...

He would have the strength to give it.

Strength.

That was what everything came back to.

Not strength for the sake of power.

Strength because he had people he cared about.

Strength because there were answers he needed.

Strength because he refused to let someone else decide his fate.

Victor slowly closed his eyes again.

His breathing became deeper.

His thoughts became quieter.

He stopped thinking about the technique.

Stopped thinking about enlightenment.

Stopped wondering whether the stele would respond.

Instead, he focused on one thing.

Why do I need strength?

The answer came immediately.

Because I refuse to be powerless.

His heart beat once.

Because I refuse to let someone else control my life.

Another beat.

Because there are people I want to protect.

Lyra’s face briefly entered his thoughts.

Then Monkasa.

His memories.

His promises.

Victor’s fists slowly tightened.

Because there are things I need to understand.

And I’ll become strong enough to do it.

Something changed.

Victor couldn’t explain what.

It was simply...

Understanding.

An epiphany struck his mind.

For the briefest moment, everything became clear.

He didn’t understand what had happened.

He couldn’t put it into words.

But he felt it.

The conviction.

Something inside him had finally aligned.

Victor remained perfectly still.

His consciousness seemed to sink deeper.

And time passed.

At least, that was how it felt to him.

Seconds became minutes.

Minutes became hours.

Victor had no idea how long he remained there.

He simply stayed focused on the stele.

On his conviction.

On his desire for strength.

And beside the training grounds, someone watched.

Monkasa.

He had been keeping an eye on Victor for a long time.

He was cheering silently for his friend.

Monkasa knew Victor needed this.

He had seen something in Victor when he returned to the Lava Rock Monkey territory.

Victor had been smiling.

Laughing.

Talking.

But Moncasa had noticed something beneath it.

Something hidden.

A look in Victor’s eyes.

A kind of loss.

Something wasn’t quite right.

Moncasa had noticed.

But he hadn’t asked.

Some things weren’t meant to be forced out of another man.

Sometimes a brother didn’t need questions.

Sometimes he simply needed someone standing nearby.

Someone who believed in him.

So Monkasa watched.

And smiled.

"Come on, buddy."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"You’ve got this."

Victor’s consciousness remained completely focused on the stele.

Monkasa remained there for a little longer.

Then he slowly turned around.

He had his own path to walk.

His next fight was already scheduled.

Rank thirty-three.

One of the strongest monkeys in the ranking system.

Monkasa knew it wouldn’t be easy.

In fact, it would probably be one of the hardest fights he had ever experienced.

But he wasn’t afraid.

He had a reason to become stronger now.

He wanted to keep up with his brother.

Monkasa glanced back at Victor one final time.

There was absolute confidence in his eyes.

You’ll figure it out.

He knew it.

There wasn’t even a question in his mind.

Victor would eventually achieve the enlightenment he needed.

He would master the Intermediate Monkey Fist.

And when that happened...

Moncasa wanted to be strong enough to stand beside him.

He turned toward the dueling grounds.

His grin slowly returned.

"Rank thirty-three, huh?"

He cracked his knuckles.

"Sounds fun."

Moncasa walked toward the arena.

Behind him, Victor remained seated before the ancient stele.

And somewhere deep within his consciousness...

The first piece of the Intermediate Monkey Fist had finally begun to take shape.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!