楼上的上瘾女士

News of what had happened between Artyom and Ivan spread like wildfire.

And in the space of a few hours, every single Doxon knew what had happened between the two but the main talking point was the fact that Artyom had actually held Ivan to a stalemate.

He had found an answer to the formidable lightning blessing.

He was no longer just the second-best scion who was looked past to place focus on Ivan, he was a genuine candidate.

And a candidate interested in becoming Duke.

Artyom was not undecided.

Back in his residence, he had presented his case to his father and demanded the right to compete for the title of Duke.

"I am done being looked down on. I am done being looked past. I want everyone in the Doxon family to respect and accept my legitimacy" he had told his father Elian.

The pain he felt from the branding now becoming so minimal that he could live with it.

Now it seemed more like a prod to always make him stay on the path that had been chosen for him by Hal.

Elian felt some trepidation at the thought of being against his brother and nephew but that all changed when support arrived in the form of Vaughn Doxon.

Vaughn was Elora's father to whom his daughter had been quick to take firsthand details of the conflict between Artyom and Ivan.

Giving her father a play-by-play that served to pull the man away from the state of indecision that he had been.

Vaughn felt he could trust his daughter's words.

The task he and the other elders of their family branch had given Elora was to integrate herself with the top scions of the Doxon family and she had done it so well, she was now a well-known member of the Doxon trio.

The trio of the best of the young generation the Doxon family had to offer.

If his daughter was sure siding with Artyom was the right thing to do, then Vaughn was sure it was the case.

Not to mention that from what he had heard, Mid-stage Cosmic Aurora realm Artyom holding peak stage lightning blessed Ivan to a stalemate was clear evidence of Artyom's capabilities.

He gushed about all this to Elian and buttered the father up so that he realized what a gem he now had in hand.

Vaughn also promised Elian that he could get other members of the faction to see reason and side with Artyom in support of him becoming Duke after Svetlana.

When Artyom joined the conversation and welcomed Vaughn to his newly formed faction while also ensuring him that he was more competent than Ivan, Elian realized he had no choice.

With the incredible mental capacity Artyom was displaying with the formation of many plans to one-up his cousin's faction, Elian realized this was going to happen whether he supported it or not as things were already being kicked off.

He could only try to support his son as best he could.

***

In Ivan's camp, things were not moving at such a high speed.

In fact, they had gone stale.

Many who had been on their side were showing up in hope for an explanation. To better know how to proceed with the news they had been receiving.

But while Kohen was attempting to keep their minds at ease and also keep them invested in supporting Ivan, his son was in a state of confusion.

Ivan was not sure if he even wanted to try becoming Duke anymore...

At least he knew for a fact that the way he was right now, he was incapable of holding a candle to Hal who he was now sure (no longer suspecting) was a monster.

Be it in the speed of cultivation or in the possession of so much insidious means of getting his way, Ivan was sure Hal was not to be messed with.

Artyom was his puppet.

Of that, he was convinced.

Maybe it was best he rescinds his interest in becoming Duke...

"No, I can't do that" he said out loud.

Becoming Duke was his dream.

Along with one day seeing his grandfather acknowledge him.

He was conflicted between giving up his dreams or saying 'screw it' and pushing forward.

In an attempt to clear his mind, he crossed his legs and began to cultivate. 

It helped clear his mind and he ignored all that was happening around him.

It also helped to know that there were powerful experts placed around his residence in a move to keep him safe in case of an attack.

And for hours after, cultivation was what he was focused on.

He only opened his eyes when someone grabbed his shoulder in a tight grip.

Ivan's eyelids flew open and he looked into the deep blue eyes of the intruder.

"It's time"

Hal smiled down at Ivan and chuckled at how useless the security placed around the residence had been.

There had been semi-saints patrolling but since his invisibility could hide him from their sights as well, he had practically walked up to the residence and searched all the rooms until he found the one Ivan was in with no one being the wiser.

Ivan's eyes were widened but before he could say a word which was actually not that likely considering how paralyzed he was by fear at the moment, a portal opened behind Hal and the Blue-eyed Devil pulled Ivan with him into the Portal.

Ivan was awed by the size of the space Hal had pulled him into. Not to mention the magnificence of the mansion in front of him.

"Let's get this over with, shall we?" Hal said and before Ivan could ask what he was talking about, the Devil began to deliver a beatdown.

One Ivan could not even bring himself to defend against.

*Bam*

*Bam*

*Bam*

*Bam*

Hit after hit that served to subdue a now-terrified Ivan and prime him for the finishing touch which was a torturous branding that was not dissimilar to the one Hal had given Artyom.

And just like Artyom, Ivan yelled in pain, 

"AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH" 

But within the space, no one in the Doxon Duchy palace could hear.

When the torture was over and Ivan twitched on the floor, Hal then spread his arms and the image along with the wicked look on his face gave off a sort of unhealthy, wicked mix of malevolence and Benevolence.

Nothing about the pain he had put both Artyom and Ivan through was anything other than a prospect that filled him with immense joy and satisfaction but this was not the end.

Far from it.

The two were only ever meant to be pawns.

There remained their fathers and by extension, every member of their faction.

The way Hal saw it, the faction Kirill had formed with him (Hal) as the face was Kirill's. It wasn't Hal's.

Maybe Kirill did prefer Hal to his other grandchildren because Hal was the son of his dear daughter or because Hal had shown himself to be more capable than the others, but he still wanted to control him.

And if there was anything Hal would not stand for, it would be to be tied to some shameless and annoying old man, even if they were striving for the same things. 

He would have control of the Doxon family.

But on his own terms.

Ivan and Artyom were merely the pawns to kickstart that ambition and plan into motion.

It is amazing how much people lose sight of and how much one can sneak past them when their attention is focussed on a strong rivalry (Between Ivan and Artyom) that seeks to take center stage.

Come morning, that Rivalry would have two readily participating sides, each playing a role scripted by Hal and helping his plans of taking over the Doxon family without ever actually having to contend with the powerhouse that was Kirill Doxon.