Free Web NovelChapter 19: I watched you die! (Bonus Chapter)
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"Now, what were you saying again?" Theon smiled.
"How the hell where you able to get yourself loose!?" Reacher demanded. "Those ropes aren’t normal. It’s an artifact that even E-Rank Resonants have problems when loosening it—"
He paused slightly.
"So tell me how a weak F-Rank like you was able to snap those ropes with such ease."
Maya slowly retreated back, noticing the tension between the two. She could tell a fight was bound to break out.
She peeked a glance at Theon. ’Does he really believes he can beat Reacher?’
She had to ask herself this question seeing the confident look on Theon’s face. Reacher was a second year student, and a D-Rank Resonant as well. He had way more experience with his ability when it came to battles too.
And Theon, well he was just a weak F-Rank who didn’t even have an ability.
’So then where the hell is all this confidence coming from?’
Theon stared at Reacher, his smile not leaving his face for a second. Of course it was easy to snap the ropes. He had been pouring his essence from the moment he gained consciousness.
Even while he was being roasted by Adrian’s flames, he never once stopped pouring his essence into the ropes. If anything, Adrian’s surge of essence acted as a cloak for Theon to freely increase the output of his essence.
Those ropes had come loose since when Adrian had stopped burning him, but he just decided to keep playing the act of a trapped kitten.
That was until Reacher caught unto it.
"It doesn’t matter," Theon finally replied. "You already planned on letting me go either way, so how about you move out of the way?"
Reacher’s eyes squinted. "Are you really the Theon Grey I know?"
"What can I say," Theon calmly said. "People change I guess."
The moment he finished speaking, his senses flared up and he shifted his head slightly— just enough to feel something fast blowing past him.
Theon’s gaze sharpened. ’I should’ve guessed that this was his ability.’
He thought as he watched Reacher’s arm retracting back to its normal length.
’He can stretch his fucking limbs.’ Theon hissed mentally. ’This is going to be annoying.’
Reacher was about three meters away from Theon, yet his fist was still able to reach him, and at frightening speeds too.
Once again, Reacher’s arm snapped forward but this time Theon placed his arm in front of him.
Reacher’s fist slammed into him with unnatural force, sending him skidding backwards. ’What the hell!? Did the speed of his punches just increase.’
Before he could recover, Reacher’s arm snapped forward again. Theon barely reacted in time, twisting his body just enough for the punch to barely pass by his side.
Reacher gaze sharpened, then he began releasing a barrade of lightening fast punches. Like bullets, they moved forward at unnatural speeds, each punch being thrown aimed at a different part of Theon’s body and each one faster and stronger than the last.
If it was any other student, whether E-Rank or D-Rank, they would have already been hit by at least, five of those punches.
They would’ve already been defeated.
On paper, Theon should’ve been completely overwhelmed by the barrage of attacks.
But that was what shocked both Maya and Reacher even more.
’How the hell is each punch barely grazing him.’ Reacher hissed.
Theon was like a slippery eel. Not only was he evading, he was also parrying some of the punches. His aim— trying to find a small opening that would allow him close the distance between the two of them.
Then finally, after throwing a long right hook aimed at Theon’s head, Theon finally saw the opening he needed.
He golden eyes glowed brightly, his hands moved quickly. He slammed the incoming fist towards his left side with enough force that caused Reacher’s body to twist slightly.
Then, golden lightning arcs coated his body, then in an instant he was beside Reacher
Reacher’s eyes widened noticing Theon beside him. ’How the hell is he this fast!? And those arcs of lightning— did Theon through a late mutation?’
Without giving him enough time to retract his outstretched arms, in a clean transition, Theon’s leg slammed into Reacher’s right rib.
Reacher felt something crack as he was sent flying before slamming into one of the walls of the building causing it to shake slightly.
’That strength—’ Maya said mentally, her eyes shining with amazement. ’That speed! Theon, what in god’s name actually happened? You were gone for two days. This type of change isn’t supposed to be possible.’
Reacher seemed to be thinking the same thing as he coughed out a mouthful of blood.
"What is this!?" Reacher demanded, holding his broken rib with his left hand. He stood up shakily. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"What the fuck is this!? Theon isn’t this strong. How is this even happening—"
Reacher raised his voice. At this point he was already shouting. He just couldn’t understand— Theon was weak. Theon was a failure, the bottom of the barrel.
And yet, he was losing. Not only that, but not only had Theon broken through to the next rank, it also looked like he had finally gone through mutation, allowing him to finally discover his ability.
All of this wasn’t possible, unless—
"Of course—" Reacher’s eyes widened. "You aren’t Theon, are you? I know it because I watched Theon die."
Theon stared at Reacher with a confused expression. Even Maya was left with her mouth agape.
’He died? How is that possible? He was declared missing?’ she paused, still trying to understand everything that was being said. ’And Reacher— he just admitted to it. Does that mean he was the one responsible?’
A lot of questions began to pop into her head one by one. Maya’s head was a complete mess. ’Is that why Theon changed so much? Because that might not even be him?’
Her gaze shifted to Theon who still stood with the same calm and confident aura as before.
"Yes! That must be it! You’re just a fucking imposter—"
Before Reacher could finish his next words, Theon suddenly appeared in front of him, his arm pulled back.
"You know, I think I misjudged you." Theon muttered, his eyes glowing brightly. Reacher’s eyes widened, his mind in absolute chaos seeing Theon in front of him.
"You actually talk too much."
His said, before his fist snapped forward before slamming into Reacher’s face.
Blood spilled from his mouth and nose, his eyes rolled backwards and he was sent tumbling backwards, before landing face flat on the cold ground.
’I lost,’ Reacher thought, his vision slowly going dark. ’I was defeated so easily. I guess this is how things are going to end.’
"What do you think your doing," Theon said calmly. One moment he was two meters away from Reacher, the next he was right beside him.
He bent down and grabbed Reacher by his hair.
"You can’t go to sleep now," Theon coldly said. "You still have a lot of questions to answer."
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