"You filthy lowborn, you dared to lay hands on me?"
Cassian stepped into the circle of bodies that had formed around Tarkan. The moment he was inside, the crowd closed in tight, sealing off any path of escape.
Tarkan slowly rose to his feet. His face was blank emotionless with no sign of panic.
The meat in his hand dropped to the ground.
He curled his fingers into a fist.
"The entitled dog finally woke up from its nap," Tarkan shot back.
Cassian's expression darkened, His already stiff face twisted further.
"Good, Good, Good," Cassian muttered, his tone low and sinister.
The others around them glanced at each other, their faces twisted with mocking grins. Their eyes silently screamed
This guy's finished.
"Let me show you the difference between us… you filthy piece of trash."
Cassian turned to the others.
"None of you interfere, Just make sure he doesn't run or I will make you all pay."
"Yes, Sir Cassian!" they all said, almost eagerly, their smiles wide and fawning.
Tarkan remained still. His mask still covering the lower part of his face as he quickly calculated his options.
Why is it that every time I take a step forward, something always tries to drag me back down?
I didn't ask for this, I just want to grow stronger... explore… Not all this constant bullshit.
"Crazzzii... Crazzzii..."
Electric sparks flickered around Cassian's hand. His pace was slow, almost teasing. His eyes bore into Tarkan, filled with a perverse excitement, like he was about to test a new experiment.
Tarkan didn't wait.
As soon as Cassian was within range, he threw an uppercut straight for his chin.
But Cassian's hand shot out lightning-fast and caught it effortlessly.
"Crazzii! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Electricity surged through Tarkan's body.
His limbs convulsed, His muscles tensed. The pain tore through him like fire in his veins.
His scream echoed through the circle raw and helpless.
Cassian leaned in, his voice like poison.
"You could have just kneeled... and I might've let you serve me."
"What a pi.."
"REVERSE! FIVE SECONDS!"
Tarkan didn't even bother saying it mentally. He screamed the command without a care.
Time rewound.
Cassian was walking toward him again, lightning dancing in his hand.
Tarkan's eyes widened in realization.
So that's where he got his confidence...
Cassian wasn't just some spoiled brat, He came from a powerful family.
They most probably bought him creature corpses to boost his Prime Points to sprint pass the First Dimension, and move to the Second, were it was considered the real stage and beginning of ascension.
Tarkan activated his talent.
But something was off.
unlike with the F-rank ability he'd copied instantly before
This time, a percentage bar appeared.
[3%]
[5%]
"What the fuck is this shitty luck?"
His plan was shattered.
Shit, This is bad.
His mind raced, He didn't have time for a full copy.
Still, he moved.
He struck at Cassian's side.
Cassian caught his wrist again, Effortlessly. Like he wasn't even trying.
"Crazzii! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Lightning surged through him again. The torture was slow and deliberate.
Cassian was enjoying it.
"You could have just kneeled, and I would've given you a chance to s.."
"REVERSE! FIVE SECONDS!"
Back again.
Same scene.
Cassian walked forward.
Lightning in hand.
Tarkan attacked.
Cassian caught it.
Shock.
Scream.
Reverse.
Repeat.
Reverse.
Again and again.
He was trapped in an endless loop of pain and repeat.
And just as it seemed like the pain was never going to end...
[99%]
[Eyes of Comprehension has succeeded.]
[Congratulations on obtaining: wrath of thunder (Talent) – A RANK]
The notification echoed in his mind.
But Tarkan's mind?
was exhausted.
The pain might have been reversed, but the memory of it wasn't. It wore down on his spirit, His mind was spiraling.
Cassian had only tortured him once.
But Tarkan had lived through it dozens of times.
And every rewind, he activated his talent again, pushing the percentage higher... until he finally copied it.
An A-rank talent.
This bastard had an A-rank.
No more holding back.
Tarkan lunged again, this time going for Cassian's jaw.
Cassian caught it, like always, and activated his power.
But this time?
Tarkan wasn't fried.
He was... stunned and Disoriented.
The attack didn't damage him, just confused his senses.
Through the blur, Tarkan also used every force of his energy and used Cassian's own talent into his body.
Cassian staggered.
Disoriented, he let go of Tarkan.
Now!
Tarkan swept his leg forward, tripping him.
Cassian fell.
Before his back could hit the ground, Tarkan tightened the brass knuckles on his fists.
He clenched every muscle, channeling all the rage, pain, and bottled fury from every rewind.
Bang!
A flurry of punches rained down.
He didn't stop.
Not after the first punch, Not after the fifth, Not even after the fifteenth.
He poured everything into his fists.
All of it.
But..
Crack!
Tarkan froze.
Cassian's body wasn't even scratched.
Not a bruise, Not a drop of blood.
The same knuckles that tore through a Bog Skipper like wet paper hadn't left a scratch on Cassian's body.
Cassian rose up.
No signs of pain.
Just laughter.
Dark and Unhinged.
He stared straight into Tarkan's soul, his eyes glinting with cruel satisfaction.
He didn't even raise a hand to defend himself.
"That's the difference between me and you, lowborn."
Shoutout to:
novelmeister
George_john_3271
GuruEyes
Thank you so much for the support! I honestly woke up smiling like a fool, not gonna lie. 😄
I would've dropped an extra chapter or two just to show how happy I am, but… yeah, I'm kinda slow at writing and juggling this thing called a job. 😞
Still, your encouragement means the world and motivates me to keep going. Much love! ❤️