She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 431: Four vs One

Six days had now elapsed since that fateful night with Elyria, yet Alex found himself unable to shake the memories, no matter his efforts.

The overwhelming, crushing force of her palm strike remained vivid in his mind. It hadn't felt like an ordinary blow; it was akin to being hit by a cataclysmic wave that had effortlessly tossed him aside and slammed him against the wall as if he possessed no weight at all.

A single attack was all it took to reveal the terrifying chasm between cultivation realms. Alex now truly grasped that the difference between Enhanced and Apex was not merely a matter of strength; it was as profound as the contrast between a flickering candle and the blazing sun.

This realization fueled a burning desire within him to bridge that gap with utmost speed.

He committed every waking moment to rigorous training, pushing his body to its absolute limits within Viktor’s basement facility, from morning through the night. His sole focus was the advancement of his Battle Sense.

And his dedication had yielded results.

[Battle Sense: 5%]

In a mere six days, his Battle Sense had surged from 1.5% to a significant 5%. While still a considerable distance from his ultimate goal, the progress was undeniably substantial.

However, the atmosphere tonight was palpably different, heavy and thick with an almost suffocating tension, like the profound stillness that precedes a violent storm.

Alex stood shirtless in the vast sparring area, sweat glistening on his skin, his breathing measured yet his eyes sharp and alert.

Arranged in a loose circle around him were four formidable men: Damien, Dimitri, Andre, and Pavel.

Their positions were not casual; they were like predators coiled, ready to strike, their stances low, balanced, and vigilant, their gazes locked onto Alex without a flicker of distraction.

Silence reigned, broken only by the faint hum of the overhead lights and the occasional creak of the reinforced flooring under unseen pressure.

Alex felt the intense pressure, the collective weight of four trained killers focusing their complete attention on him. This was no longer mere training; it was a hunt, and he was unequivocally the prey.

From the perimeter of the arena, Viktor observed with arms crossed, his expression inscrutable, yet his eyes keenly assessing the scene.

Taking a slow, deliberate breath, Alex surveyed the four men before him.

Then, his gaze shifted to Viktor.

"Viktor..." Alex's voice was calm but imbued with a quiet firmness, carrying a significant weight. "I hope you will honor our agreement."

Viktor’s lips curved into a smile.

A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face as he met Alex's eyes directly. "Yes," he replied calmly, a subtle thread of amusement lacing his tone. "I will... if you defeat them all together."

Alex’s primary objective was to elevate his Battle Sense at the most rapid pace possible.

After deep contemplation, he had reached a clear, albeit unconventional, conclusion: the swiftest method mirrored the one that had proven effective with Elyria – enduring significant damage.

He firmly believed that confronting overwhelming power directly, surviving the onslaught, and allowing his body to adapt to the resulting injuries was the most direct route to genuine growth. This conviction was why he had initially requested Viktor to strike him with full force.

However, Viktor had refused, stating Alex was not yet prepared and that absorbing a full-powered strike would only break him rather than foster growth.

Instead, Viktor presented a different trial: Alex had to defeat all four of his men concurrently in a single engagement.

Only then would Viktor even consider confronting Alex with his full strength.

The palpable tension within the room intensified.

Alex’s eyes slowly swept over Damien, Dimitri, Andre, and Pavel, each observing him with composed, focused expressions.

He had bested each of them individually over the preceding days, understanding their unique fighting styles, their strengths, and their vulnerabilities.

But facing all four simultaneously? That presented an entirely different, formidable challenge.

Viktor’s voice sliced through the heavy silence. "No cultivation enhancement. No extra abilities. No tricks. Just pure skill. If you can do that... then maybe, just maybe, I’ll consider hitting you myself."

Alex held Viktor’s gaze for a few moments.

Then, a slow, dangerous smile began to form on his lips.

"Fine," he stated quietly.

He rolled his shoulders, dropping fluidly into a fighting stance, his eyes fixed intently on the four men encircling him.

The tension in the hall reached its absolute zenith.

Damien audibly cracked his knuckles.

Dimitri adjusted his stance, shifting his weight.

Andre’s eyes narrowed with focus.

Pavel offered a slight, approving nod.

Viktor's voice resonated throughout the hall, clear and commanding. "Begin."

The instant Viktor uttered the command, the air in the training hall seemed to sharpen, becoming as keen as a blade.

Damien broke the silence first. His voice, though calm and almost respectful, carried an unmistakable warning. "Be careful, sir," Damien said, rolling his shoulders as he stepped forward. "I’ve improved a lot since our last fight. Last time you beat me easily. Tonight... it won’t be that easy."

Pavel smirked from Alex’s left. "He’s not lying. We’ve been training harder than you think."

Dimitri cracked his neck on the right. "Four against one. Even if you’re stronger, numbers change everything."

Andre remained silent, his gaze fixated on Alex, every breath he took meticulously monitored.

Alex offered no reply. He merely shifted his stance, knees slightly bent, hands hanging loosely at his sides. His eyes slowly scanned all four of them.

Then, the assault commenced.

Damien initiated the move... a swift jab directed straight at Alex’s face, appearing genuine and rapid. However, Alex’s instincts flagged it as a feint.

He didn’t fall for it.

Precisely as he had anticipated, Damien’s true strike came from below... a low kick aimed at his knee. Alex retreated, narrowly evading the blow.

Concurrently, Pavel launched an attack from the left with a spinning backfist. Alex ducked, only for Dimitri to surge forward from the right with a knee strike. Alex contorted his body at the last possible second, allowing the knee to brush past his ribs.

Andre didn’t attack directly. He simply repositioned himself.

The four of them began to orbit him like apex predators, their positions constantly shifting.

Every few moments, one of them would change direction... left, right, behind... compelling Alex to continually turn. They weren’t striking randomly. They were testing him. Probing for weaknesses. Searching for the slightest opening.

Alex’s eyes narrowed.

‘This is... entirely different.’

Engaging them individually had been arduous, yet manageable. He could concentrate on a single adversary, discern their pattern, and retaliate.

But now?

Four distinct fighting styles. Four unique rhythms. Four concurrent threats attacking from multiple angles simultaneously. It was utterly overwhelming.

Each time he focused on one, another would penetrate his blind spot. Every attempt to create distance was met with them closing in like a pack of wolves.

‘This is far more challenging than I had imagined…’

A cold sweat broke out on his back, but Alex compelled himself to maintain composure. His breathing stayed level. His mind grew sharper.

‘Focus. Do not panic. Read them.’

Damien attacked once more with a sequence... jab, cross, low kick. Alex blocked the initial two strikes and stepped over the kick. Yet, the instant he did, Pavel was already present, launching a sharp elbow toward his temple.

Alex raised his forearm just in time. The impact sent a sting through him.

Before he could recover, Dimitri swept low from behind, attempting to unbalance him. Alex leaped, barely avoiding the sweep, only for Andre to materialize before him like a phantom, unleashing a devastating spinning heel kick towards his chest.

‘Too fast—!’

Alex crossed his arms over his chest at the absolute last moment. The kick connected with force, sending him sliding backward across the mat. His arms throbbed from the sheer impact.

The four assailants granted him no respite.

They moved again... instantly reforming their positions. Damien assumed the front. Pavel shifted to his left. Dimitri circled to his right. Andre remained behind, poised for the opportune moment.

Alex’s chest heaved more rapidly now. His thoughts raced.

‘They aren’t merely attacking... they are executing a coordinated strategy. Each maneuver forces me into the path of the next attacker. This is teamwork manifested at its zenith.’

He clenched his fists.

‘But I am not the same person I was six days ago.’

Alex inhaled deeply and lowered his stance even further. His eyes became placid. Concentrated. Lethal.

"Come on then," he murmured under his breath. "Let's see how long you can maintain this."

The four men exchanged swift glances.

Then, they attacked anew... this time with even greater synchronization.

The four moved as a single, unified entity.

Damien came from the front with a lightning-fast barrage... jab, cross, elbow. Alex blocked the first two, but the elbow slipped through and grazed his shoulder.

Simultaneously, Pavel attacked from the left with a low sweep. Alex leaped over it, only for Dimitri to appear on his right, delivering a sharp knee toward his ribs. Alex twisted mid-air, redirecting the impact to his forearm instead.

Pain shot up his arm, but he had no time to process it.

Andre was already behind him.

A spinning back kick slammed into Alex’s lower back, propelling him forward.

Before he could regain his footing, Damien was there once more... this time with a powerful roundhouse kick aimed directly at his head.