Chapter 478: Equals?

In the span of time that took a person to blink 2 or at the very most 3 times Aiden and Number 3 traded several exchanges already. Each of their hits carried a tremendous amount of their pure physical strength, able to crush even the sturdiest of rocks. 

Still, both parties were still completely fine and healthy, as they continued clashing against each other, blocking, evading, and returning the many strikes they each gifted to the other one.

From the naked, untrained eye not much would have been visible, only two blurry hazy silhouettes as they flashed around the battlefield, sometimes crossing dozens of steps seemingly in an instant. 

Their attacks slowly, but surely escalated, as, after some time, afterimages of their clashing shadows dotted the landscape for several seconds before being wafted away by the gentle summery breeze. 

Time kept passing, soon the small seconds adding up together and leaving several minutes behind them without any obvious victor of their countless swift rounds of clashes could be made. 

Still, while they were engrossed in their own little world, from amidst the fainted crowd small minuscule movements could be seen. The resident Guptans were slowly returning to their senses, muffled, painful groans could be faintly heard amidst the continuous, rhythmic bangs, and battle sounds.

Closest to the makeshift battle arena, the previously defeated quartet of Aiden's servants were amongst the first wave that woke up. Roas, being the stout, and most sturdy of them all, was the pioneer amongst the many, that sat up, and began to tend to their aching temples. 

However, before he could look up and scan the arena, a surge of energy rippled across the air, followed by a loud burst of sound. Agitated by the violent noise, he darted towards its direction, only to turn wide-eyed with the utter shock and disbelief of what was revealed in front of his dark, bead-like eyes.

At around a hundred or so yards away from them two strange-looking humanoid figures were locked in a standstill. Their bright, golden auras enveloped and shrouded most of their features, leaving only their vague outline, their hazy silhouette for the distant crowd to glean at. 

Their hands were interlocked with the other, they tried to push against the other, however from what it seemed, none could gain ground against the other, forcing them to this draw.

Yet, both being of the same nature, after all, like mother like son as the saying goes… none could overcome their stubbornness and give in to the other.

Once again, time kept passing while no substantial movement could be seen from the duo, no change occurred in their duel that suddenly took a weird turn. 

The only difference was that even more of the lying crowd returned to their senses and began to join those that enjoyed this clash of titans. From the servants they were all back on gathered up, sitting a bit of distance away from the event while engrossed in their mental discourse.

'Will Master win in the end? Could the girl be even stronger than him?' Thuk's excited voice resounded in their minds.

'[Goblin] What are you saying, brother Thuk?!' Hearing the blasphemous words, Gob couldn't hold back and immediately exploded with a tone matching his devout reverence. 'How could Master possibly lose? He is the strongest, he is the Lord, not just plane, but also the most powerful being ever on the old one!'

'[Goblin] I do agree with little Gob on this one.' Glohn joined in, sounding thoughtful. 'The woman may be powerful, even stronger than all of us combined, but I don't think she could contend with the Young Master for long. Remember she is still new and is just exploring her limits, while the Young Master has many more cards at his disposal.'

"But… From here it looks like they are equal… Look, neither of them could overcome the other!" Thuk added again, bringing their attention to the current standstill. 

"[Orc] They are still just testing each other." Suddenly, Roas gruff, hoarse voice filled the mental channel. "They barely used any of their energies or any abilities." 

He sighed, stopping for a moment, before adding one more sentence in the end.  "[Orc] They are truly enjoying themselves…"

—

Just like how Roas have correctly summarized, in truth both Number 3 and Aiden were simply getting a feel for the other. From their many small skirmishes already, they had a rough understanding of the other. At some point, they slowly began to raise the stakes and utilized their [Mystic Martial Arts] talents, adding more speed, more power behind each of their punches and kicks.

Yet, as if they were one of the same, their gradual increase instinctively matched the other, keeping on this dance, this mysterious duet to dominate the other. 

"What say thou? Ready for the next round? Or are you perhaps still tired?" Breaking the several minute-long silence, Number 3's deep tone of voice thundered in the field, sounding sneering yet the robust volume washed away most of the carried intent and emotion.

"Let me see your limits, woman!" Aiden's tone matching in tone and power came almost instantly. He sounded excited, carrying that borderline crazy battle fever even through his words.

With his words, his aura began to expand and grow in strength. The golden luster that formed a thin outline around his body began to gain some width, pooling more of the host's power and forming an even heavier domain. 

In response, Number 3 did the same, her aura also exploded with a surge of newly injected power, giving her a thicker crust of energy, hiding herself behind a thicker layer of energy, matching the boy's actions perfectly.

Suddenly, seemingly as if they were simply following a script of a play both of them vanished from their spot, only to reappear a dozen or so steps away from each other in the next instant. Both of them grinned at the other, clearly enjoying how they followed the same tune.

As the crowd focused on their figures, most of them were waiting for their Young Lord to do something and finally reveal his justified dominance over the female.

Yet, it was Number 3 who acted first of the two. Slowly, she began to move her head in a circle on her neck, looking as if she was about to do something unexpected.

Her grin stretched wider, curving higher as she began to move her shoulders as well, exercising the same movements. 

Realization hitting Aiden, he revealed a surprised smile, but kept his stance, not making any attempt to block her. More than anything she wanted to see if she was truly able to do something so quickly, and mayhaps force him as well to bring forth more of his own potential in the process.

He watched his Master as she exercised before he began to follow and repeat the same movements as well. He couldn't help but wonder. 'Could she really do it? I am still unable to after so long, yet she got used to her body so fast?'

Her peculiar movements slowly but surely traversed downwards, reaching her shoulder blades, before, upon the shocked gazes of the crowd, the pair of resting wings showed signs of movement as well!

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