Chapter 16: Kael versus Johnny Part 2
The young man's words were more than enough to affect Johnny's mental fortitude. His mind was practically weak for a soldier.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Johnny responded in defense while defending from the young man's relentless attack with his knife.
*Clang! *Cling!
"It seems like I'll have to make you remember!" Kael suddenly threw a kick towards Johnny's stomach.
Caught off guard by the sudden leg kick, Johnny received its full brunt, making him stumble a few steps backward.
"Rustfall was once the most prosperous continent in all of Noverra," Kael began, recounting its history. "However, due to its location at the very center of the other four continents, Nexus chose to turn it into the main source of resources for the advancement of human civilization."
"No!" Johnny could already expect where the story was going.
"Then, when the citizens of Rustfall noticed what Nexus was doing to their home, the soldiers, whom was supposed to protect them, turned their guns against them and protected the scums of Rustfall!" Kael snickered. "Hilarious, isn't it?"
"We were fooled too!" Johnny argued, as memories of his dreary and humiliating days as a soldier in Rustfall came flooding back inside.
"Fooled?"
Kael stabbed with his dagger, which Johnny parried with some difficulty.
"You guys practically took advantage of it!"
The world of Noverra was unforgiving for everyone, especially for the citizens of Rustfall.
Ever since the continent of Rustfall became a hotspot for mining, deforestation, industrialization, and other industries that could bring damage to the environment, the citizens of Rustfall have found it hard to continue living without having to suffer from the polluted air, tainted meat, contaminated water, and the ear-piercing noises every single day.
And as if that wasn't enough, the wages for every job were barely enough to survive on, while the prices of basic goods were outrageously high to the point that a single wage could only afford a single meal for the entire day.
With such unfair treatment, riots, protests, and strikes frequently took place everywhere throughout Rustfall. Until finally, the premonition of a civil war sparked debate among the leaders who caused the entire mess.
And the solution they all came up with was to use the army of Rustfall to prevent anyone from disagreeing with them, and in exchange, they'll receive more than the appropriate pay for their service.
If in the other four continents, being called a soldier was honorable and respected, but in Rustfall, it was an insult and a sin.
Honestly, Kael wouldn't have brought this up if Johnny hadn't ridiculed him by calling him a dog. "Since you started it, don't blame me for doing the same!"
Throughout his life, he never lost an argument.
"You'll never understand!" Johnny's eyes slowly started becoming red as he slowly lost control of his rationality.
Kael was surprised at seeing such an overexaggerated reaction from Johnny, causing him to take a step back. "Is there something wrong with his mind or something?"
"You!" Johnny pointed his knife at the young man. "I don't know who you are, but you're going to pay for what you've said! Ahh!"
This time, it was Johnny who started aggressively attacking Kael.
*Clang! *Clang! *Cling!
"This is unbelievable!" Kael was confused. He just said a few lines, and that was all. He didn't expect Johnny would start becoming wild like this. He was like an animal. No wonder he is a gang boss, his strength is no joke at all. If it wasn't for his unstable mind, he might even consider recruiting this person to his group.
"Time for the next trap!" Kael muttered as he took out a lighter from his pocket, lit it up, and threw it to the ground.
*Whoosh!
A huge fire instantly engulfed the place where the lighter landed and quickly surrounded Johnny at the center.
Naturally, Kael knew this wasn't enough to stop Johnny. The latter's previous version, he might have, but the crazed state, he's highly doubtful about that. This is only meant to buy him some time to distance himself and wait for Lawrence's backup.
"This is not enough to stop me!" Johnny roared as he jumped out from the wall of flame.
Upon landing, Johnny immediately surveyed his surroundings to find the young man, but to his frustration, there was no longer any sign of the latter.
Seeing that his escape was successful, Kael couldn't help but sigh in relief. "Thank goodness!"
"Pst!"
"Hello…" Kael narrowed his eyes as he heard someone calling out.
"Kael! It's me, Jayem!"
Finally, Kael spotted Jayem hiding behind a bush a few meters away from him.
"What are you doing here?" Kael hurriedly approached while still making sure that Johnny wouldn't accidentally find him. Right now, the latter was crazily running around from place to place trying to look for any traces of him.
"First of all, I can't believe you just fought that crazed guy in a close-combat," Jayem was amazed at what he just witnessed when he watched Kael fighting against Johnny.
"You should be more amazed by Johnny," Kael turned his attention back to Johnny.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that guy would be that strong," Jayem nodded in agreement. At first, he thought he could easily handle Johnny, but after witnessing how strong the latter was, he no longer felt confident, especially in his current state. He still might have a chance, though, if he were in his peak condition.
"You still haven't answered my question," Kael expressed his concern.
"I prepared a fourth computer," Jayem replied as he began scratching his cheeks.
"You know you're in danger, right?"
If Johnny suddenly pulled himself together and thought of returning to Noverra, then Jayem's life would be in danger because the former had already found out that he was not Arnold, the person he had ordered to follow them.
"That's why I'm leaving right after giving you this," Jayem handed Kael an item wrapped in a thick piece of cloth. He slowly started unwrapping the item, and soon it revealed a slightly rusted sword.
"A sword…" Kael couldn't help reminiscent his first life. He might be a merchant in his first life, but his primary weapon was a sword. "Where did you get this?"
"Johnny had this in his office. I simply took it out when I entered Avalon earlier," Jayem explained. It was right after he finished setting up the computers that he found this sword in the corner of the room, its cloth that wrapped it covered by a lot of dust. He prepared it just in case they needed it. And right now it's proven that his plan was correct.
"Thank you!" Kael expressed his appreciation. Now, with this sword in hand, he is confident that he can finally defeat Johnny.
"Hang in there. I'll call for backup," Jayem comforted Kael. He already realized that Lawrence didn't come with the latter. He doesn't know where Lawrence is right now, but that fellow has to get here as soon as possible to help Kael.
"You don't have to." Kael is no longer worried about Johnny.
"No! I promise you, I'll be quick!" Jayem muttered before finally disappearing as bluish particles of light replaced where he previously stood.
"I…" Kael wasn't even able to finish his sentence. "I guess I'll just let him be,"
There's nothing wrong with calling for backup, even though he doesn't need it anymore.
Kael brandished the sword and hovered it in front of him. "You're just like me—you used to be a strong and powerful weapon."
As if responding to Kael, the rusted sword glimmered through the brightness of the sun.
"It seems like you feel the same way as I do!" Kael smiled delightfully.
With the newly acquired sword in his hand, Kael decided to stop hiding and reveal himself to Johnny once more.
"There you are!" Johnny smiled mockingly. "Tired of acting like a dog with tail tucked between your legs, are you?"
"You do realize this isn't a professional match, right?" Kael pointed his sword at Johnny. "That means I can do whatever I want."
"Excuses!" Johnny snorted.
Kael took a step closer. "I don't like the idea of killing someone who doesn't even know my name. So let me fix that." A cold smirk formed on his face. "I'm Kael Falsheart."
"Kael Falsheart?" Johnny thought deeply, and yet he couldn't remember ever meeting someone or offending anyone with the name Kael Falsheart in the past.
"I currently don't have any personal vendetta against you, but you still have to die since you're blocking the path to my goal." Kael was talking about Johnny potentially posing a threat to him because of the latter's personal grudge against Lawrence and Jayem. "I don't feel the slightest apologetic about that. So, I'm not sorry at all! Blame yourself for standing in the way!"
Kael brandished his sword in preparation for the next round of his fight against Johnny.
"Johnny!" Kael roared.
"Yes?!" Johnny responded in rage.
"Eating sugar?"
"Screw you, Kael!"
With that, both Kael and Johnny lunged forward and continued with round two of their fight.