Chapter 681 Final Gift (2)
Following Kro'Han's attack, Ashton struggled to his feet, his body battered and bruised, yet his determination was unwavering. But as Kro'Han said, determination alone wasn't enough to win against someone like him.
"Is that the best you can do, nephew? I expected more," Kro'Han scoffed as he ascended the surface.
He was confident that Ashton would give up as he had made the difference between their strength clear. But to his surprise, Ashton still got back to his feet, ready to fight.
"I'm not done yet," Ashton said, spitting a mouthful of blood.
"I remember when your father used to be this stubborn," Kro'Han sighed.
Despite his demeanour, Kro'Han didn't want to kill Ashton because he was a Precursor, a bloodline on the verge of extinction. Besides, unlike Jo'Han, he believed in the supremacy of Precursor blood and didn't want to spill it unnecessarily.
But Ashton was not giving him much choice in the matter. They could rule the entire universe by themselves, but his nephew had to make things difficult for him.
In Kro'Han's eyes, the ideals of equality only worked for the weak, not for the strong, who had the power to shape their fate and those around them. Unfortunately, Ashton was brought up in an environment not suited for the strong. Hence, he was weak-minded... just like his father.
"You still have much to learn," Kro'Han commented as he got into position to end their farce. "But don't worry, as a good uncle, I'll teach you everything your father didn't. A lesson of why you shouldn't have gone against me."
With that, Kro'Han charged at Ashton, who couldn't even defend himself. Kro'Han, with his mastery of Precursor abilities far outshining Ashton's, delivered relentless barrages of strikes with calculated precision.
Each blow was a symphony of ruthless, unadulterated strength. With each punch and kick, Kro'Han seemed to take a sadistic delight in dismantling Ashton's defences.
Ashton tried to fight back, but he found himself struggling to keep pace with the sheer magnitude of Kro'Han's might and experience of thousands of years.
"You are powerful, Ashton," Kro'Han said, his voice was cold. "Give up your stubbornness and join me!"
Ashton's response was a defiant middle finger, a gesture of unyielding resistance. He refused to bow to Kro'Han's will, no matter the cost.
Bruised and battered, Ashton was forced into a corner. It wasn't the first time he had felt that way. First, it was Mera. Then it became the emperor Bismarck, and only a few weeks ago, it was his masters.
Whenever Ashton achieved a new strength, someone stronger than him waited to put him in his place, yet every single time, he exceeded his limits, getting stronger with every fight.
That's why he knew it was just another one of those times when he would have to exceed the limits of his strengths and turn the tables on Kro'Han. At least, that's what he thought as Kro'Han's attacks rained on him.
But then, at one point, the attacks stopped. Ashton could barely look up to see the guardians had intervened between them, a scene that surprised both Ashton and Kro'Han.
After all, the guardians were programmed not to attack a Precursor, so it was surprising to see them coming to Ashton's rescue.
"Is'Kai... this is her doing, isn't it?" Kro'Han smiled bitterly as he stepped back. "Fine, let's do something she wouldn't expect me to do-"
However, before he could do anything to the guardians, Ashton unleashed his ultimate trump card, the "Revenge" skill. The damage he had endured throughout their battle surged within him, amplified to a cataclysmic magnitude as he returned the punches Kro'Han had generously delivered him.
"Take this!"
With a triumphant roar, Ashton directed the unleashed energy towards Kro'Han, a blinding torrent of force that engulfed his foe. The ground quaked as Kro'Han collided with the surface, forming a colossal crater.
But Ashton wasn't done yet. He delivered another strike, giving it all he had, creating a second crater even more massive than the first.
Dust and debris filled the air, shrouding the battlefield. Battered and bruised, Ashton struggled to maintain his footing, yet his eyes were fixed on the dust cloud where his uncle had fallen.
As the dust began to settle, Ashton's heart pounded in his chest, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He watched, hoping that was it.
For a moment, it seemed as though the unthinkable had occurred—that Kro'Han had been defeated! Ashton's final, desperate gambit had succeeded!
But then, a figure emerged from the crater's centre. Kro'Han's once-immaculate attire was now tattered and scorched. But apart from that, he was fairly unaffected.
The wounds inflicted upon him, even by the amplified "Revenge" skill, appeared to be nothing more than superficial scratches.
"It seems," Kro'Han declared, his voice resonating like a distant thunderclap, "that your 'Revenge' has done little more than mildly inconvenience me, Ashton."
Ashton's body trembled, not from fear but from sheer exhaustion. He had given everything and pushed himself to the brink, but it still hadn't been enough.
Kro'Han brushed his fingers across the shallow wound on his cheek, examining the trickle of crimson that stained his fingers. His smile did not waver, and he gazed upon Ashton with amusement.
"It has been ages since I last beheld the sight of the hue of my blood," Kro'Han mused. "You have shown exceptional tenacity, my dear nephew. Your determination is indeed commendable."
Ashton found himself at a loss for words. He had hoped that his final, desperate attack would have been enough to defeat his uncle or at least make him retreat, but neither happened.
"But it seems you have reached the limits of your strength, dear nephew," Kro'Han said, taking a step forward. "So what will you do now? Join me or-"
"You already know the answer," Ashton retorted, even though he knew what would happen following his response.
"So be it," Kro'Han's eyes narrowed, and his amusement faded into a cold, steely expression. "This'll be the end for you."
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