LEGACY OF THE FALLEN

LEGACY OF THE FALLEN

Chapter 24

This was how Aksh was able to fight Avni head-on after just a day. It wasn't because he was talented, but because of his will and determination to win. He had suffered ten whole days in the mind world to prepare to beat her. And now, he was ready to reap the fruits of his labor.

At present

Avni's eyes widened, and she opened the third fingers on both her hands. A slight smile tugged at the corner of Aksh's lips—almost undetectable—and he immediately jumped a few steps back.

"Did I just see a smile on the face of that expressionless kid?" Arihant smirked, folding his arms. "No way. You're just seeing things," Jasmine replied.

The broken branch that had been smashed by Aksh slowly moved and got back up. All three branches began attacking him from three different directions. They came at him with incredible speed, twisting and turning in ways that made no logical sense. Trying to understand their movement was a stupid idea—there was no pattern to it. The branches attacked randomly, bending with illogical flexibility.

But—

Not a single hit landed on Aksh.

He spun the trident with his hands around his entire body, deflecting every single attack from the branches.

"This is the third basic technique of the trident—Barrier of Spinning Trident," he said, continuing the motion.

"What the hell is that stupid name?!" the voice in his mind shouted.

"This is the name I came up with, since you didn't give this technique any name," Aksh replied, still spinning to defend himself from the incoming attacks.

Aksh blinked and immediately smashed his trident downward. All the branches were gathered in one spot beneath the trident as they were smashed into the ground.

"Oh, so he wasn't just trying to protect himself by spinning the trident," Arihant chuckled. "He was also moving all the branches to one place in order to immobilize them at once."

Aksh jumped onto one of the branches and began running toward Avni, using the branch as his platform. Avni moved her hands, and the branch he was running on immediately shifted like a wave, sending Aksh flying upward into the air. The other two branches moved upward, directed straight at Aksh.

"That same move won't work on me this time," he said, narrowing his focus.

Aksh pulled his legs closer to his abdomen, holding the trident outward as he began spinning his whole body midair. As he fell, the branches came at him, but the sharp prongs of the rotating trident cut them down before they could land a hit. With a final spin, he landed back on the ground, feet first.

Sweat started appearing on Avni's face as she grew exhausted from all the fast movements. She moved one hand, and the last remaining branch came toward Aksh from behind. He turned around, moved his left foot backward, and held the trident with both hands.

"This is the first basic technique of the Trident—The Thrust of God," he said, thrusting the trident forward.

The prongs of the trident and the pointed end of the branch collided. The trident drilled through the branch, shattering it into several pieces.

"Oyy brat! What did you just call that move? It's so lewd and undignified! And by god, did you just aim that at me?!" the voice shouted, unable to hold back its anger.

Aksh didn't reply and rushed forward toward Avni.

She quickly moved both of her hands, and all three branches came forward—tattered but still moving—trying to protect her from Aksh. Aksh didn't stop and kept sprinting towards her. The branches joined together, completely covering her from the front.

Aksh spoke again, "This is the fourth basic technique of the trident—Slashing."

He jumped, holding the trident with both hands, and slashed it at a 45-degree angle toward the branches. The branches sliced like butter, opening a gateway where the controller of the branches was sitting on her floating chair.

"Oy, now why is the name of this technique just Slashing'?" The voice echoed in his mind.

"Because I couldn't think of anything else," he replied internally and moved forward.

He swung his trident like a baseball bat toward Avni. "This is the second basic technique of the trident—Slamming, Homerun Version."

He slammed Avni like a ball hit by a baseball bat. Blood burst out of her mouth as the trident struck her, sending her flying. She crashed into a nearby tree and fell to the ground.

Aksh silently walked toward them, trident still in hand. His eyes didn't blink. He didn't say a word.

When he reached her, he pointed the tip of the trident straight at Avni.

"The match is already over, Aksh. You won," Jasmine said cautiously.

Aksh spoke in a light but firm voice, his face completely blank.

"Why?"

He stared directly at Avni.

"Why didn't you use your full power?"

"What are you talking about, Aksh?" Jasmine interrupted, confused.

"I'm not talking to you." He didn't even glance her way. "Tell me, Avni. Why didn't you use your full power?"

Avni looked up at him, her breathing shaky.

"Thank god... cough cough ...you're not hurt." She reached out with a trembling hand.

Aksh slapped it away without hesitation.

"Do you think I'm that worthless?" His voice was still calm, but each word hit like a blade. "So weak in your eyes that you didn't even need to fight seriously? If you had used your real power, you would've easily dodged and countered my last attack."

"Aksh, that's enough," Arihant called from behind.

Aksh turned his head slightly, then walked away without another word.