Arjun returned to consciousness.
He was back in the Spirit Root Hall.
Chaos was everywhere.
The Heavenly Root Stone was shattered.
Elders were panicking.
But Arjun only looked at one person.
Karan.
Karan had pushed through the crowd and stood over him, eyes cold.
"Looks like you caused trouble," Karan said quietly. "The elders won't protect you now."
He slowly reached out to grab Arjun's neck.
"I'll end you here."
But—
Arjun stood up.
Straight.
Calm.
Karan frowned.
"What?"
Arjun lifted his fist.
And in his arm, a deep power spread like molten iron.
💥 IRON BONE FIST!
He punched.
BAM!!!
The air exploded.
Karan's face twisted in shock.
His body flew across the hall like a broken puppet.
He smashed into a pillar and coughed blood.
The crowd froze.
Someone screamed.
"HE ONE-SHOT KARAN?!"
Karan tried to stand.
But Arjun walked toward him slowly like a hunter.
"You said I don't matter?" Arjun whispered.
His voice was cold enough to freeze bones.
Karan's eyes filled with fear.
"No… wait—!"
Arjun raised his fist again.
And the system flashed.
🔊 [Bonus Condition: Crush enemy's pride.]
✅ Reward Doubled.
Arjun smiled.
A smile that didn't belong to a weak disciple anymore.
It belonged to a future demon.
The Spirit Root Hall was silent.
So silent that even breathing sounded loud.
Karan lay against the broken pillar, blood bubbling from his lips. His eyes were wide open, full of disbelief.
He tried to speak.
But his throat trembled.
Arjun stood above him, expression calm.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just… empty.
Like a blade that had forgotten how to feel.
Karan coughed again.
"Arjun… you… you can't kill me…"
His voice cracked.
"I'm ranked. I'm useful. The elders—"
Arjun crouched down.
Then he grabbed Karan's hair and pulled his face closer.
"So you're saying…" Arjun whispered, his voice quieter than death, "…you deserve to live because you're useful?"
Karan's lips shook.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"When you kicked me, did you think about elders?"
"When you stole my pill, did you think about rules?"
"When you told me to lick your shoe…" Arjun leaned closer. "Did you think I deserved mercy?"
Karan swallowed.
Then suddenly, the fear turned into anger.
"You were trash! Still are!" he spat. "You were born useless! I made you know your place!"
The crowd gasped.
Even the elders stiffened.
But Arjun…
Smiled.
A horrifying smile.
"Good."
He stood up.
Then he stomped down on Karan's right hand.
CRACK!
Karan screamed.
"AAAAAAA—!"
Arjun's heel pressed harder.
CRACK! CRACK!
Fingers shattered like twigs.
Arjun didn't stop.
He wanted Karan to remember every second.
Not just the pain.
The helplessness.
The same helplessness Arjun felt for years.
"AHHH STOP!! STOP!! PLEASE!!"
Karan cried like a broken animal.
Arjun finally lifted his foot.
Then he whispered:
"Now you understand."
Karan's body shook violently, tears and blood mixing on his face.
"I'll… I'll give you spirit stones! Pills! I'll—"
Arjun grabbed the crushed pill dust from the floor and rubbed it on Karan's mouth.
"Eat."
Karan looked at him in horror.
"No… no please…"
Arjun's eyes turned colder.
"Eat it like I was forced to eat dirt."
Karan started sobbing, trying to spit it out.
Arjun slapped him.
SMACK!
Karan's head slammed back.
His teeth chipped.
Arjun's voice was calm and sharp:
"Swallow."
Karan swallowed.
His entire body was trembling.
The crowd had already stepped back.
Now they feared Arjun more than they feared the elders.
Then Arjun slowly stood up.
And looked at the elder on the stage.
The elder's face was pale.
"Disciple Arjun…" he said slowly. "Enough. Stop. This is the Spirit Root Hall."
Arjun tilted his head.
"And?"
The elder's eyes flared.
"This is the sect!"
Arjun nodded.
Then he said something that made the whole hall freeze:
"Then the sect is weak."
The elder's veins bulged.
"How dare you—!"
Arjun turned away from him and stared at Karan again.
He raised his fist for the final strike.
Karan screamed.
"I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!! I'LL BE YOUR DOG!! PLEASE!!"
Arjun paused.
The crowd thought he stopped.
Even the elder relaxed slightly, thinking Arjun's humanity returned.
But Arjun's lips moved:
"Dogs don't bite their master."
Then he punched.
💥 IRON BONE FIST!
BOOM!!
Karan's chest collapsed.
Blood burst like a fountain.
His eyes rolled back.
And his body fell still.
Dead.
The hall erupted.
"HE KILLED HIM!!"
"ARE YOU INSANE?!"
"THE ELDERS WILL EXECUTE HIM!"
Arjun stood there, blood on his knuckles.
His heartbeat was steady.
His breathing calm.
Then—
🔊 [Mission Completed: Defeat Karan]
🎁 Reward: +500 Body Tempering Points
🎁 Reward: Skill Evolution unlocked
🎁 Reward: New Technique: SHADOW STEP (Beginner)
A second notification appeared.
🔊 [Hidden Reward: You chose cruelty over mercy.]
🎁 Title Earned: HEARTLESS DISCIPLE
✅ Passive Effect: Fear Aura +10%
Arjun's eyes flashed.
He turned to the elder and said:
"I accept punishment."
The elder narrowed his eyes.
"What punishment?"
Arjun's voice was steady:
"Bring your strongest outer disciples."
The elder's expression twisted.
"How arrogant—!"
Arjun took one step forward.
"I didn't become strong to obey."
"I became strong to erase."