There was a low, almost imperceptible sound of footsteps as the figure closed the distance between himself and the now unconscious and fallen Trux.
The figure, unmistakably Athar, wore an expression of almost savage delight, a twisted grin stretching across his face.
In the dim light, Athar's eyes gleamed coldly, a dark glint flickering in their depths as he remained fixed on the sprawled, helpless body before him.
His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling in rapid succession. The last swing had demanded every ounce of his strength.
Athar had not been willing to take any chances by taking half-hearted attempt; he had put his full weight into the blow. If Trux had retained even a sliver of resistance, the consequences could have been disastrous.
"Give a beatdown to students who miss their quota submission?" Athar muttered darkly under his breath, pressing the other end of the rod onto Trux's face. More specifically, onto his lips.
These were Trux's own words, the ones he had used to threaten Athar. And now, Athar was repaying that debt. That too with interest.
A cruel smirk spread across Athar's face as he raised the rod once more. With a swift, brutal motion, he brought it down onto Trux's jaw.
A dull, sickening crunch echoed through the stairwell—the sound of the jaw bone splintering and teeth shattering.
Trux's mouth was forced open by the impact, and a torrent of blood mixed with fragments of shattered teeth poured out.
His face was now a mangled mess, one side drenched in dark, glistening blood as it seeped from the fractured jaw and torn flesh within.
Athar had not used his full strength this time. He had held back. The temptation to crush Trux entirely had been strong. Two heavy blows from the rod could very well have snapped the life out of him. But that was not Athar's goal. At least not yet.
He shot a final, lingering glare at Trux's bloodied, unconscious body, his eyes cold and emotionless.
He believed he had accomplished what he had wanted. The message had been delivered. And he was satisfied at the retribution he had brought to the person who had threatened him.
Without a word, Athar let the rod fall onto the floor beside Trux's ruined face. The metallic clang echoed briefly, swallowed soon after by an eerie silence.
Athar descended the stairs quickly, his footsteps fading into nothingness, and within moments, he had vanished from the scene without a trace.
The silence that followed felt heavier, almost oppressive, as if the shadows themselves had been holding their breath.
Then, without warning, the still air rippled.
A subtle disturbance shimmered in the darkness, and at the exact spot where Athar had stood moments ago, another figure emerged suddenly.
This figure was that one of a female. She was draped in a long, flowing shawl that concealed nearly her entire form. Only her eyes were visible, glinting faintly in the darkness beneath the folds of fabric. They were sharp, cold, and calculating.
Her gaze remained fixed in the direction Athar had disappeared, silent and unmoving, as if she were tracing the invisible threads of his presence. She did not spare so much as a glance at the unconscious, bleeding Trux at her feet.
Her voice was low, almost a whisper, yet it was laced with a quiet authority.
"To think that behind your cowardice and fake nervousness, there lies such viciousness. Athar, you are becoming quite the fascinating individual."
A faint glint of amusement flickered in her eyes, quickly swallowed by a shadow of intrigue.
"Let's see... how will you handle the next obstacles in your path?"
Her gaze finally flickered to Trux, no more than a fleeting glance, as if the bloodied boy was not even worth a second look. She neither thought of helping him nor of calling for aid.
With a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer in the air, she vanished once more, swallowed by the shadows leaving behind the heavy silence of the night.
Athar had no idea that a certain individual had taken interest in him for some reason and he was being watched. The strength of the lady was far too great for Athar to pick up her presence.
As Athar made his way back toward his dormitory, he tried his best to maintain a neutral expression, keeping his steps steady and his gaze unshaken.
But inside, a storm was raging.
His heart pounded against his ribcage with wild and erratic beats. His breath came in ragged bursts, the adrenaline of the moment still coursing through his veins, making his hands tremble despite himself.
He had acted courageously, boldly and brashly taking a step that would have terrified the Athar of just a few weeks ago.
The raw rush of power, the surge of control... it had been intoxicating. Yet now, as the things settled a creeping dread began to seep into his bones.
One mistake. A single misstep. If Trux had dodged that strike, if he had managed to fight back, things could have spiralled out of control in an instant. A scuffle breaking out in the stairwell would have drawn attention, raised questions. And if Athar's identity had been exposed in the heat of the moment. His stomach churned at the thought.
But the deed was done. Trux had been dealt with.
As Athar walked, he forced himself to take slow, deep breaths, steadying the frantic drumbeat inside his chest.
He had never been a coward, never in heart. But the truth was, he had never been given the chance to fight back. The strength had simply not been there before. For years, he had endured, swallowed his anger, bowed his head under the weight of those stronger than him.
But not anymore. Now that he had power, real power, he would not bow his head.
He had snapped, severed the first hand that dared reach for his throat. And this... this would not be the last.
Every hand that tried to grip his neck, every force that tried to suppress him, he would slice them off. One by one, until there was no one left to stand in his way.
Athar's eyes darkened as he reached his dormitory door. His shoulders straightened, his posture sharp and deliberate.
This was only the beginning.
.
.
.
[Thank you for reading. Rate, Review and Comment on my novel. Also send the power stones]