CHAPTER 423: LIF AND DEATH DUEL

Inside a luxurious room, Aden opened his eyes on a bed, feeling a pounding headache. Looking around only made the pain sharper.

"Where am I?" he muttered to himself. He couldn’t figure out where he was at all—the headache was so terrible it didn’t even let him think.

The last thing he remembered was going to his room with that woman, but suddenly he blacked out in a strange way, and after that, nothing.

"Huh? Why am I naked?" He suddenly noticed he wasn’t wearing any clothes.

The pillows around him were ripped, and he could hear the sound of a woman crying. Turning his head, he saw that same beautiful woman, naked under a blanket wrapped around her body, weeping.

"What happened?" Aden suddenly felt uneasy. But before he could react or even think, the door to the room burst open with force.

"Darling!" A strong male voice echoed. Aden saw a handsome man rushing in, and the crying woman quickly stood up, still wrapped in the blanket, and ran into the man’s arms, sobbing harder.

Not long after, more people entered one by one—mostly the guests he had seen earlier at the birthday party. Mornak and other powerful and influential figures were there too.

Everyone’s expression darkened when they saw the scene. It wasn’t hard for them to guess what had happened.

From their faces, Aden realized something was wrong.

"H-he dragged me here and raped me! No matter how much I begged him to let me go, he said if I resisted, he would kill my husband—sob sob." The woman cried louder, explaining everything with fear.

Everyone’s expression turned even darker at her words, even Mornak seemed angry. Though such incidents weren’t uncommon in this city, and even this bastard himself had done plenty, tonight was different.

Tonight many powerful figures had gathered for the ceremony, and this bastard dared to commit rape in such a situation.

Mornak looked around at the others. It was hard for him to stop himself from killing Aden right there. His entire reputation might be tarnished because of tonight.

Meanwhile, Aden’s headache eased a little, but hearing the woman’s words twisted his face in disgust. He didn’t remember doing anything like that.

"You bastard! How dare you touch my wife!" Daniel’s furious voice thundered, killing intent spilling out as he released the aura of a peak Rank B Awakened.

He charged at Aden, clearly intending to kill him. But before he could do anything, Mornak appeared between them, blocking Daniel.

"Honored guest, I understand your anger, but killing each other in this city is forbidden," he said firmly.

Aden, who had been shaken, sighed in relief seeing his friend intervene to save him.

"You understand my anger? This bastard raped my wife! I came here tonight to show you respect, but who would’ve thought you’d just turn out to be trash!" Daniel said with mockery and scorn.

The faces of the other guests shifted too. They were already angry about what had happened, and now, seeing Mornak’s defense of Aden, they grew even angrier.

Mornak frowned at this scene. All of these bastards were neck-deep in dirty deeds themselves, yet they acted self-righteous over a single rape? Hypocrites.

Still, Daniel wasn’t wrong either. If he were in his place, Mornak would’ve killed Aden too. But Aden had done him a favor before, and he couldn’t let harm come to him.

"Honored guest, as I said, I understand your rage, and I’ll make sure you’re compensated."

"Compensation? You think my wife is some prostitute?" Daniel roared back in fury.

Mornak growled coldly inside. Everyone here had seen that woman willingly leave with Aden, had seen all the flirting she did with him. If such a woman wasn’t a prostitute, then what was she? But he couldn’t say this aloud, especially with Marinatte present, whose face was twisted with anger.

"I demand a life and death duel." But before Mornak could say anything, Daniel’s voice rang out.

Everyone’s expression shifted again. Even Mornak looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected this.

He wanted to immediately refuse, but with what had just happened, it wasn’t easy to do so. He turned his gaze to his friend.

Aden, who had been quietly watching until now, burst into mocking laughter. His laughter filled the room as he stood up, exposing his naked body.

"So what if I raped her? It’s an honor for your wife to even get the chance to experience my little dragon! You want a fight? No problem! But if I kill you, your wife will be mine." He spoke loudly and clearly.

The truth was, he really didn’t remember raping her. He didn’t even remember sleeping with her. How could he possibly forget being with such a beautiful woman?

But he had no evidence to deny it either. Plus, before entering the party, he had taken powerful drugs. Maybe that was why he couldn’t remember what happened.

Even so, he thought it was a shame. He would’ve liked to remember her resistance. Forgetting such a scene was truly disappointing.

Still, it didn’t matter. Now that his headache had faded, he checked Daniel’s aura and saw that he was only at peak Rank B. That was why Aden confidently accepted the duel, he was sure of his victory.

Winning would mean he could enjoy that woman again.

"Perfect! Tomorrow, I’ll see you at the life-and-death arena, bastard trash! I swear I’ll kill you with my own hands." Daniel growled coldly, then grabbed the woman’s hand and left with her.

The others made way for them as they left, and some even looked at them with sympathy. But Marinatte’s expression was strange—she felt the whole thing seemed fake. Still, she said nothing.

After Daniel and the woman left, Mornak turned his gaze on Aden.

"Why are you looking at me like that? That trash should be honored his wife slept with me! But the bastard dared to anger me. Tomorrow, I’ll kill him with my own hands, and after I’m done with his wife, I’ll hand her to the guards so they can enjoy her too."

"I don’t care, just put some pants on. That thing is in plain sight," Mornak said, pointing at Aden’s very tiny "thing."

That was when Aden noticed the mocking and laughing looks from the others. Quickly, he covered himself with the blanket.