[Aiden's POV]
Two punches collided, one covered with cracked knuckles, the other covered in a blackish substance. A small shockwave pushed us apart.
After I took the lead in fighting the boss alone, leaving small fries for Thane to handle. The boss became quiet, probably trying to figure out the reason I am lasting this long.
If anybody outside knew that an Awakened-rank cultivator was fighting with a Grandmaster-rank cultivator at a stalemate, the world would go insane just from the chatter.
However, I was on my last leg; if this continued for too long, then I think it would be difficult to get out alive. I had one trump card of sorts, my 9 summoning card, but that could prove equally dangerous if things were to go sideways.
The boss still had that air of arrogance on him, although he was more cautious than before. I even tried multiple feints, but he was too smart to fall for it.
Just the two words clicked in 'too smart,' and looking at that hubris, a plan formed in my mind. But I had to give all my strength to it.
"So you want to tell me why such a mighty being is locked up in a dungeon, and a beginner one at that," I taunted, trying to stall and find a way to implement my idea.
"You don't have the right to mock me with your weak strength," he sneered.
Finally settling my thoughts, I lunged at him. A feint to the right followed by an uppercut—he defended that easily, but I didn't relent and followed the same process 2 more times.
Every uppercut sent him one or two steps back. As we reached the area filled with multiple gravestone slabs lying around, I changed the tactics.
Gathering my strength, I delivered a right hook to the side, followed by a left, then a right again. He defended them every time with his impeccable defense.
"You think you can break my defense just by hitting the same spot multiple times. I had too much hope for you," he taunted back.
"Well, we won't know unless we try," I commented back as I focused more jabs and punches at him. I didn't want to give him time to attack and always keep him on the defensive.
Using the gravestones around, I jumped a little and delivered a kick to the head. He defended with his hands crossed over his head. The kick didn't land properly, but I jumped again and followed the same process.
After the second, I jumped slightly in the air; the boss took the same defensive position. Sensing the opening, I coated my hands with the Nullification ability, but this time not just my hands but also my wrists with a thicker layer.
Followed by adding left mana into my fist. This time instead of kicking, I shot the fully powered cross into his chest where a glowing black light was that I had noticed.
My arm felt like it would explode as it pierced through the bony cage of the boss, taking out the glowing mass with my ability.
For a moment, silence fell on the chamber, then the boss spoke first with a broken voice, "H-How? W-What is this? Y-You took me out in on...one punch."
The boss started crumbling into dust with that bewildered look on his face, probably thinking where did he go wrong.
After the boss disappeared, I fell on my knees. My breathing was rugged, and pain further intensified as I deactivated my sigils. The chamber turned battlefield became silent after the death of the boss.
Those who were trapped or not, all monsters turned to dust soon after. Thane came rushing at me and crouched down near me and spoke, "Just what are you, Master Aiden? You defeated such a powerful foe."
After taking a deep breath, I replied, "He was very prideful, if he had been gone all out from start and played on his strength the result would have been very different."
Next moment, the blue screen chimed in with much needed awaited notification.
[You have defeated the final boss; you can leave the dungeon within thirty minutes before you are expelled]
Beside me, a small chest also materialized. "This is much needed rest," I uttered as I slumped on the ground.
Thane started eyeing the Obtained chest beside me, I smirked slightly as I spoke, "Go on, open the chest."
With a crackling of his mandible, he proceeded to open the chest, hoping to find something that is useful to him.
– – –
[3rd Person POV]
The atmosphere was tense, even the air was still, not wanting to disturb the current situation. The hall was decent in size with five elders of the clan seated on the expensive chairs arranged beautifully on the raised pedestal in the hall.
Zale, dishevelled and sweating was on the ground with his both knees kissing the ground. Behind him, the protector that followed Zale and the lackey Sam were in the same position.
"We would like to hear how you disgraced yourself in our own backyard no less, Zale Arclight." An elder seated in the left most corner of the stage started the proceedings in a stern voice.
Zale, feeling humiliated, was seething with rage. Something he didn't consider possible happened to him.
The most hurtful thing was that it was done by someone he didn't even consider a threat until that punch hit him in the gut, sending him flying.
Reluctant, he proceeded to tell the whole story; he couldn't manipulate the truth because the incident was already known to them. He was being ordered to tell it himself just to humiliate him more.
"So, our prodigy is saying that he was outclassed by someone we considered worthless in just a single punch," the elder seated in most right, spoke with a mocking tone.
"Yes, estimated elder," Zale responded.
"Tell us more about this lady or girl with him, Hayden," the second elder from the left asked.
"She didn't spoke much, esteemed Elder. She just stood slightly behind Aiden. She only acted when I was about to restrain Aiden for harming Master Zale," Hayden, the protector, answered while bowing his head.
"And she held you by the neck before you could even move properly. Are you sure you are fit to be a protector?" The second elder from the right spoke.
"Why are we raising such worthless idiots who don't know their place?" elder on most right taunted.
"I think we have been too lenient on them in recent times. The Arclights has the best supply of cultivation items and consumables, but over cultivators just got pummeled by some F-rank and a nobody girl." The elder on the leftmost also remarked.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself, Zale?" The elder in the middle spoke for the first time.
"I wish to repent for my mistake and prove my worth to the clan," he spoke.
"This is your first mistake, so we will be lenient. You are to be confined to the mansion, and your allowance for 2 months will be cancelled."
"As for Hayden, your pay for 4 months will be withheld. Work on yourself; only after passing a verification test after 4 months would you be allowed to become a protector again. Dismissed." The elder in the middle finished giving the punishment.
"We thank the esteemed Elders," both Zale and Hayden spoke in unison and rose to leave. Sam also hurriedly tagged behind, happy that he didn't get any punishment.
He didn't know that elders didn't even consider him worthy enough to be punished.
After they left, the second elder from the right spoke, "What do you think? Did Aiden really have some double awakening, and who is the mysterious powerful lady with her?"
"We don't know anything, and that is the problem. However, something tells me that we let something useful slip past our hands," the elder seated in the middle answered. "For now just tail him and get us information," he spoke to no one in particular.
However, the next second, the shadows in the hall moved like it was just waiting to hear the order.
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[AN: Support the novel with powerstones and your comments guys. The story of Aiden is just beginning and it's only gonna get more enjoying.
Milestone (although we missed last week by small margin but any support is always appreciated)
50 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Powerstones = 3 Bonus Chapter
Thanks to all the readers and future readers.]