Chapter 24: Ice
Fast!
Far to fast!
The moment Aaron realized an attack had been launched he couldn't even react!
However, there wasn't any fear or even concern in his eyes, in fact a small smile crept its way onto his face right before the impact.
BANG!
"Nooo!!!", Veronica shouted as she saw the spear pierce through Aaron's head.
The Baron and Amber were just as stunned! That attack was too fast, even the Baron wasn't sure he could evade it from such close distance.
"Hahahahaha! Little bastard that's what you get for being so arrogant!", Elder Mao laughed as he saw part of Aaron's head shattering!
Aston's silver spear had vanished just as quick as it had appeared, the speed at which it retracted was just as fast as when it had extended.
Seeing that the attack had struck Aaron's head, a viscous smile appeared on his face.
"I-is he dead?", one of the Barons guards asked.
"He has to b-", another started but was soon interrupted.
"T-T-There's no blood!!!!", one guard suddenly noticed.
"What?!", The Baron, Veronica, and Amber suddenly looked over towards Aaron.
Elder Mao however had been the first to notice, he found that he still couldn't move! As he refocused his attention on Aaron his eyes widened in astonishment!
Aston had also noticed that Elder Mao had still not retreated. In fact he was still locked in the same position! He quickly turned his sight towards Aaron as well.
The moment everyone's gaze landed on his head silence descended!
Ice!
His head was made of Ice!
No blood could be seen and Aaron even had a smile on his face!
Stunned at what they were seeing all of them simply couldn't utter any words but the silence was soon broken.
"Wheeeee...damn that was fast! Hehehe, that could have been bad had it been anyone else, good thing I scanned them earlier", Aaron began mumbling to himself. He had noticed that no one present would be able to injure his elemental body so he had been quite lax. However the speed of Aston's attack had truly shocked him.
'Perhaps I should really start training to make it a reflex like Crocodile. That way even if someone has a high enough cultivation, I'd still be able to evade. I should really work on my Six Styles and Haki as well', Aaron quickly thought to himself.
"M-Monster! How are you still alive?!", Elder Mao suddenly shouted.
He could only stare in horror at the scene in front of him. Aaron was literally missing part of his head! Yet he was able to speak! He simply stood there as if he hadn't been attacked at all!
Aaron simply stared at him before smiling.
Once again, in front of everyone something that defied common sense occurred. Aaron's head had actually started growing back! It was as if his entire head was made of ice! Thick white mist could be seen around the forming ice. Within just a moment his head was back to normal as if nothing had happened. The only thing different was a thick layer of frost on the side of his face.
"How could you call anyone with this face a monster? See perfectly back to normal, Hahahaha!", Aaron laughed as he stared at Elder Mao. However even though he laughed a cold glint had appeared in his eyes. He hadn't planned on killing anyone but now twice these people had aimed to take his life. Even if he was easy going by nature he simply couldn't restrain the anger that had begun churning in his heart.
"Ice Qi!" , Aston who had been just as stunned exclaimed as he noticed the biting cold being emitted from Aaron. However he still couldn't understand what had occurred.
"How?!", he suddenly shouted at Aaron.
"How were you able to evade?!"
He simply couldn't understand! His bloodline's ability allowed for attacks that moved at speeds that even Peak Earth Realm cultivators would have trouble evading without warning.
Baron Morgan, Veronica, Amber and guards quickly perked their ears after hearing Aston's question. They too wanted to know how Aaron wasn't dead! That attack had surely hit its mark yet he simply shattered as if he was made of ice! They hadn't heard of any techniques that allowed for such an unimaginable thing!
"Evade? Why would I need to evade? You were never able to injure me to begin with. However, to think you would actually so blatantly aim to kill me.", Aaron's voice began turning colder as he spoke.
"Impossible! I saw my attack clearly hit you!", Aston raged as he questioned Aaron.
However, all of a sudden without warning everyone suddenly felt the air temperature plummet! Before they could react a thick white mist enveloped the entire manor!
"Arghhh!!!", Elder Mao suddenly screamed in pain.
Everyone from the Baron down to his servants stared in horror as they looked at Aaron.
His entire body was covered in a thick layer of ice, as a cold white mist billowed off bringing with it a icy chill! The temperature had dropped so low and at such speeds that the water in the air had frozen! They ice crystals shimmered in the light as the Sun's beams landed on them. The ground 50 ft around Aaron as well as all the trees, grass, and building had begun to frost over!
"W-What sort of profound Art could he be be cultivating?!?!" , The Baron who was unable to maintain his emotion's anymore shouted. Only those legendary Peak-Platinum cultivation techniques could display such power!
Elder Mao was no better, half his body had completely frozen over the moment Aaron released his power. However he was too shocked by the power Aaron had displayed to dwell on his injuries!
'This-This is impossible!!!!", he suddenly screamed.
"Impossible! Only our sects Frozen World Art could display such power! Who are you?!?!?!", he continued screaming all while restrained. The speed and the sheer cold Aaron exuded as he released his power was something he had only witnessed the Grand Elder and Sect Master display!
However, little did Elder Mao know that this was simply the tip of Aaron's abilities. He wasn't using Ice Qi like they believed nor was he evoking the elements with some profound skill.
He was Ice!
How could any skill or technique that used Qi compare to him?
"W-What!?" Aston was shocked as he heard Elder Mao! To think this brat would posses such powerful Ice Qi Arts!
However Aaron didn't respond he simply reached his arm out and placed his hand on Elder Mao's chest.
"W-What does he plan on doing?!", one of the guards shouted.
"Bastard! You dar-!!!" Elder Mao began hollering however he couldn't get a another word out after that. It was too late.
Frozen!
He had been completely frozen!
In front of The Baron, Veronica, Amber and everyone else present, Aaron had completely frozen Elder Mao!
"H-H-He actually killed and elder of the Deep Wave Sect!!!", Baron Morgan screamed in horror. This was the Deep wave sect! They had 3 Domain Realm experts and countless Sky Realm Elders! Yet this young man actually dared to kill an elder in broad daylight!
"A-Aaron!", Veronica was just as shocked as she stared at Aaron. She didn't think Aaron could be so overbearing!
Amber however had an expression opposite her Father and sister, her eyes were basically shining as she stared at Aaron.
Just like that! That annoying Elder had been dealt with!
She didn't even know who Aaron was but she had already been awed by his prowess and decisiveness! To think he would be so powerful at such a young age!
The guards looked on in horror, some of them gulping and thanking The Heavens that Aaron had no animosity towards them. This little bastard was insane! He actually dared to kill and Elder of the Deep Wave Sect!
"Bastard!!! You'll pay for that!!!", Aston was seeing red! To think Elder Mao would actually be frozen solid by this brat! He stealthily took out a talisman and infused some Qi into it causing it to shatter into small particles of light. The light vanished just as fast as it had appeared without anyone being aware.
"Agh~...Threatening me even now. At first I hadn't planned on killing anyone but you two both made moves towards my life. How could I possibly let you off without punishment?", Aaron sighed as he turned and began walking towards Aston.
"What are you planning?!", Aston shouted and immediately begun circulating his Qi.
"H-He's not planning on killing Young Master Henderson is he?!", a guard noticing Aaron's target had changed suddenly said.
"That would make him and enemy to The Duke and possibly The Kingdom!", another replied.
"Aaron! Stop! Don't kill him!", Veronica suddenly moved and ran towards Aaron as she shouted for him to stop.
Aaron hearing her, paused for a moment.
"Veronica you know I wouldn't do this if they hadn't gone for my life. Even I have my limits.", he replied calmly. Even though he was angry he was never the type to let it control him, he could still keep a level head.
"I know but Aston is different! He's the only son of Duke Henderson and the Heir to his title. If you kill him it'll be much worse than killing and Outer Court Elder!", Veronica spoke trying to convince Aaron to not be rash.
"Young friend, I can see that you are a friend of my daughter's, please heed her words. If you truly came to help than you've done more than enough.", Baron Morgan also spoke, trying change Aaron's mind.
Aaron thought for a moment, he had truly only come to help and hadn't planned on injuring or killing anyone. Even the disciples from earlier were simply restrained. Taking a deep breath the frost surrounding his body began to slowly dissipate.
Veronica and Baron Morgan sighed in relief after noticing Aaron had listened to them.
"However, this doesn't mean he can just simply leave" Aaron suddenly said.
Veronica and Baron Morgan jumped at his words but it was to late.
Fwsssh!
"Argghhh!!!!" Aston suddenly cried in pain.
Like Elder Mao before him, he right arm went flying! It had been cleanly cut off!
Just at that moment a voice reverberated across the sky!
"YOU DARE!!!!!"
Aaron and the rest were stunned by the sheer volume behind the voice. They all looked up and saw a bright light quickly headed in their direction! In less than a blink of an eye, a titan of man appeared in the sky!
"He's Flying!", one of the Barons servants suddenly shouted.
"S-Sky Realm!!!", the barons guards gasped as they stared at the man. A Sky realm cultivator was a true expert! Their power was something that most people could only aspire to.
The man was at least 7.5 ft tall and over 280 lbs of pure muscle. He wore pitch black armor that gleamed with a dark gold light. On his head and face was short black hair and stubble, he appeared to have a light tan, and was missing his right eye. On his back a massive 6ft long Claymore!
"Ashur! Kill this bastard!!!", Aston howled in rage as he gripped his severed arm. Aaron had to die no matter what! He didn't care if he belonged to some Noble family or whatever his background was!
"It's One-Eyed Ashur! I can't believe he actually came!"
"To think he would actually come himself! That kid is definitely dead!"
"No!", Veronica shouted after hearing the guards speaking. She knew of Ashur's reputations and wanted to say something but her father quickly grasped her and pulled her away from Aaron.
"Don't go any closer! We can't bear this burden!", Baron Morgan said as he grimaced. He knew of Ashur, he was one of the Duke's three top warriors! He had been famed across the entire continent for his ferociousness!
"B-But Aaron...", Veronica was starting to go short of breath as she listened to her father. She didn't want to get her family into trouble but she didn't want to just abandon Aaron either. She was struggling in her heart when Aaron spoke.
"Veronica, it's fine listen to your father. I don't want to bring you any trouble", he said as he looked at her with a gentle smile.
"B-But...", she stuttered.
"It's fine", he replied. Seeing her worry about him caused his heart to warm.
"You speak as if you can escape.", Ashur suddenly spoke.
"No one knows for certain what will happen.", Aaron responded with a smile.
Just as Ashur was about to respond he was stunned to see Aaron begin rising into the air! In front of everyone Aaron had suddenly shot up and was now standing in mid-air staring at Ashur.
"W-WHAT?!?!?!"
"H-H-H-He's Flying!!!!!"
"Is he at the Sky Realm!?!?!?!"
"No! Absolutely not! He cant be older than 15, 16 at most!"
The guards were losing their minds! This freak had shattered their beliefs time and time again!
"A-Aaron!!!", Veronica covered her mouth the moment she saw Aaron take to the sky. This was her first time seeing Aaron fly so she was just as shocked as everyone else.
"Veronica! Just what kind of monster is your friend!", Duke Morgan shot a look of disbelief at his daughter. Sky Realm! This was the sky Realm they were talking about! How could one possibly achieve such cultivation at such a young age!
Aston was raging in his heart the moment he saw Aaron fly!
'Bastard! Who are you?! How could you be so powerful!', he screamed in his heart!
He had always thought himself to be exceptional! Different from the rest! But Aaron completely shattered his pride! He had been bested over and over again by him!
".....There's no Qi", Ashur was the only one who kept his cool. Studying Aaron he noticed that no Qi was being emitted however he felt a strange presence emitting from Aaron's body. He couldn't quite tell what it was but it made him heighten his guard.
"Elliot! You can trust Veronica!", Aaron suddenly shouted towards Elliot who had been standing far towards the back and been laying low. All though he appeared confident on the surface he was actually quite nervous. After scanning Ashur he was sure the only option left was to flee, he couldn't take Elliot with him so he could only hope that Veronica would convince her father to let him stay.
'Agh~...To think I would run into such a monster.", Aaron sighed as he once again stared at the panel in front of him.
[Status]
Name: Ashur Tiglath
Age: 37
Level: 15 (Late Sky Realm)
Qi: 16,224
Bloodline: None