NOVPUB
Chapter 124: 124:Mocking them
After getting healed, Berat tried to stand up.
The moment Berat staggered to his feet, Kael let out a slow, mocking clap.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Each sound echoed, thick with ridicule.
"Look at you," Kael sneered, tilting his head. "All that big talk, all that woof woof woof—and you can barely fucking stand?" He ran his tongue over his teeth and grinned. "You sure you don’t need another potion, big guy? Maybe one for your pride?"
Berat spat to the side, his nostrils flaring in rage. "I’m going to rip that fucking mouth of yours off your face!"
Kael cackled. "Oh, that’s cute. Then come on, Captain of the North. Let’s see what you got!"
Berat roared and lunged forward, swinging his sword with all his strength.
But it was too slow.
Kael stepped to the side, effortlessly dodging. The blade cut through empty air, and in the same motion, Kael slammed his elbow into Berat’s ribs. Crack. Berat gasped, stumbling back as pain exploded in his side.
"Is that it?" Kael taunted. "I thought you were supposed to be the big bad mercenary leader. You hit like a drunk grandma."
Berat growled and charged again, this time aiming for Kael’s legs. But Kael simply hopped over the strike, landing lightly before spinning and kicking Berat in the ass, sending him tumbling forward.
The crowd roared with laughter.
"You see that? Lord Kael just kicked his ass,literally!"
"That’s embarrassing as fuck!"
Kael wiped a fake tear from his eye. "Damn, Berat. I almost feel bad for you. Almost." He cracked his neck. "Let’s make this fun. Try to land one hit on me, and I’ll let you go. Sounds fair, yeah?"
Berat was seething, his face red with fury. "You bastard!" He lunged wildly, swinging over and over—left, right, overhead, thrust. Kael dodged every single one like he was taking a leisurely stroll, sidestepping and weaving with ease.
The worst part? He wasn’t even trying.
"Missed."
"Missed again."
"Ooooh, close! Oh wait—nope. Missed."
Kael laughed louder with each failed strike, making a complete joke out of Berat in front of everyone. The once-cheering Northern soldiers were now shifting uncomfortably. Some looked angry. Others looked nervous.
Berat, panting heavily, took a shaky step back. His hands trembled. His face was drenched in sweat.
Kael sighed. "Gods, this is getting boring. Let’s wrap it up, yeah?"
Before Berat could react, Kael vanished—only to reappear right in front of him. His fist crashed into Berat’s stomach. Boom. Berat’s body folded over Kael’s knuckles, all the air in his lungs forced out in a violent gasp.
"Not done yet," Kael whispered.
He grabbed Berat’s collar, lifted him, and headbutted him straight in the nose.
Crunch!
Blood splattered everywhere. Berat let out a strangled cry, but Kael wasn’t done. He slammed Berat down onto the ground, straddled him, and rained down punches.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
With every hit, Berat’s face swelled, bruises forming instantly. His nose was crooked, his lip was split, and his left eye was already starting to shut.
Kael grabbed a handful of Berat’s hair and lifted his head slightly. "Still better than me, yeah? Say it. I fucking dare you."
Berat groaned, barely conscious.
Kael grinned. "That’s what I thought."
He stood up, wiping blood off his knuckles, and turned to the crowd. "So! Who’s next?"
Silence.
Kael clicked his tongue. "Come on! You bastards were cheering for him a minute ago. What happened? Lost your balls?"
A soldier gritted his teeth. "You fucking—"
Kael pointed at him. "You. Get your ass over here."
The man hesitated, but Kael’s smile widened. "Scared? You should be but let me give you a boost."
"If anyone here can injure me, free booze on my name until I stay here so come one man, show some balls."
Another soldier stepped forward. "Fuck this guy! Let’s take him together!"
More voices joined in.
"Yeah! Fuck him up!"
"This bastard humiliated one of our own!"
Kael’s eyes shone with excitement. "That’s more like it!" He spread his arms wide. "Come on then! All of you! Let’s dance!"
The bonfire burned brighter as the fight erupted.
The moment Kael invited them, the tension exploded.
"Get him!" one soldier roared, and five men surged forward at once, weapons drawn.
Kael grinned, eyes gleaming with pure madness. "Fuck yes."
The first swung a sword at his side—Kael twisted, the blade slicing nothing but air. Before the soldier could recover, Kael kicked his knee backward.
Pop.
A sickening crack echoed, and the man collapsed, screaming.
Another came from behind, trying to drive a dagger into Kael’s back. Without looking, Kael stepped into the attack, catching the man’s wrist and snapping it like a twig. The dagger dropped, and Kael jammed it straight into the man’s thigh. Blood gushed as the soldier howled.
"Two down," Kael laughed, wiping sweat from his brow. "You fuckers need to do better than this!" 𝘯𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Three more lunged at once. One swung a mace; another tried to go low with a spear. The third came at Kael’s blind spot.
Kael was gone before they even reached him.
"Where—?!"
Boom.
Kael kicked the spearman’s gut, sending him flying back and crashing into two others. The impact sent them sprawling. The last one standing barely had time to react before Kael grabbed his wrist and flipped him over, slamming him onto his back so hard he coughed blood.
The soldiers hesitated now, glancing at each other, their confidence cracking.
Kael spat on the ground. "This all you got? Fucking pathetic." He cracked his knuckles. "Come on! More! More! Give me a fight worth my fucking time!"
Gare and Baret watched from the side.
Baret scratched his head.
"Lord is really insane... Why is he fighting them for fun?"
Gare crossed his arms. "He’s proving a point. He’s showing them that no matter how much they talk shit—" He gestured to the battlefield, where Kael was now stomping someone’s face into the dirt. "—he’s still the strongest here.*"
Another soldier tried to run at Kael with a warhammer.
Kael dodged, grabbed the hammer mid-swing, and ripped it out of his hands like it was made of twigs.
"Mine now," Kael taunted, twirling it.
Before the soldier could react, Kael smashed it into his ribs. Crunch. The poor bastard went airborne for a second before landing hard, groaning in pain.
Kael laughed like a lunatic. "HAHAHAHA! THIS IS FUN!"
The remaining soldiers were pale now. Their bravado had completely vanished.
One dropped his weapon and raised his hands. "I-I’m done! I yield!"
Another followed. "Fuck this, I’m not dying tonight!"
Kael clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Aww, come on. You bastards were so tough before." He sighed and shrugged. "Oh well."
Then his grin twisted.
Kael turned his gaze toward the crowd, eyes locking onto a particular group—the ones who had insulted him before.
He pointed at them.
"You lot..."
The men stiffened.
Kael’s smile widened, full of malice. "Don’t think I forgot your shit-talking. Now... which one of you is man enough to back it up?"
Silence.
Kael took a step forward. The men took a step back.
"That’s what I thought."
He cracked his neck and gave them a crazed grin. "Next time, think twice before talking shit about me but..."
Kael smiled widened,"There won’t be next time cause I don’t let things go."
The air was thick with tension. The soldiers who had laughed at him earlier now feared him.
And Kael?
He was loving every second of it.
