BXBX NOVEL Chapter 131: The Return at the Critical Moment
"You\'ve seen what happened to him, haven\'t you? If you continue to oppose me, your fate will be exactly the same as his."
At this moment, Ritchie had been utterly incapacitated.
Not only had his shadow been completely torn apart, but all his items and life-saving skills had also been neutralized by Kean.
Despite their fear, Emma and Claire looked at Kean with a hint of derision in their eyes.
In their minds, Kean could never compare to Jeremy.
Jeremy would never stoop to such despicable acts.
"Why are you looking at me with those expressions?" Kean growled angrily.
Emma and Claire remained silent, unwilling to engage with Kean in any conversation.
"It seems you\'ve made up your minds to defy me to the end! Don\'t blame me for being ruthless, then! I\'ll savor dealing with both of you slowly." Kean threatened, his voice dripping with malice.
Kean first approached Emma, drawing a dagger from his pocket and slowly tracing it along her cheek.
"Are you truly not afraid? Do you not fear that I might kill you right here and now?"
He asked in a low, sinister voice, dripping with malice.
Emma remained silent, her eyes filled with defiance and hatred as she stared back at Kean. Her refusal to respond only served to enrage him further.
In a fit of fury, Kean raised his dagger and aimed it directly at Emma\'s neck, ready to strike with lethal force.
But just as the blade began its descent, a voice pierced the tension-filled air.
"Hold on! Master Kean, do you have any idea what you\'re doing right now? Do you comprehend the consequences of your actions?" Benjamin\'s voice rang out abruptly, cutting through the silence.
Startled, Kean turned his head sharply to look in the direction of Benjamin\'s voice.
Not only did Benjamin confront Kean alone, but he was also accompanied by Howard and Ella. Howard\'s gaze was filled with contempt as he looked at Kean.
In Howard\'s eyes, Kean could never measure up to Jeremy. The only area where Kean and Jeremy even remotely compared was in their combat abilities.
However, in terms of personal qualities, the difference between Kean and Jeremy was as vast as night and day.
Ella\'s expression as she looked at Kean was equally complex.
On one hand, she was Kean\'s fiancée, which obligated her to support him. On the other hand, Kean\'s current actions deeply unsettled her, even directly infringing upon her own interests.
"I know exactly what I\'m doing!" Kean retorted defiantly. "This is revenge. I must settle the score for Jeremy\'s betrayal and the arrow he stabbed in my back!"
Kean showed no signs of worry despite the arrival of the three figures.
He believed there was no need to fear them, as none of them posed a significant threat to him.
"When did Jeremy ever betray you? Why am I unaware of this?" Howard\'s voice cut through the tension, cold and unyielding.
Howard had always favored Jeremy more. After witnessing the events of today, he was even more inclined to side with Jeremy.
In his mind, Kean had little room for growth and was almost a lost cause.
"If he didn\'t betray me, then why didn\'t I obtain the divine artifact that should rightfully have been mine during the last trial?" Kean\'s voice was laced with bitterness.
"The competition for the divine artifact is open to anyone who has awakened the corresponding talents. Jeremy emerged victorious in that competition, which only proves that his abilities surpass yours. It doesn\'t imply any betrayal."
Howard responded, his tone now openly hostile. It seemed as though he was deliberately trying to provoke Kean.
Benjamin and Ella both sensed the tension escalating and found Howard\'s words to be somewhat inappropriate.
Determined to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, Benjamin intervened.
"Regardless of the circumstances, you must show respect while you are in Moonlight City! The two individuals before you are of great importance, and you absolutely cannot threaten their lives." Benjamin declared, his demeanor exuding authority.
For a moment, Kean was genuinely taken aback by Benjamin\'s commanding presence.
However, he quickly regained his composure and sneered, "Your attempts are destined to fail. My patience has been completely exhausted. I will either exact revenge on Jeremy, or I will take it out on his friends—namely, the three of you standing before me."
Kean\'s voice had grown hoarse with rage.
It was evident to everyone present that his anger was at a boiling point.
Ella stepped forward and addressed Kean, "Have you not considered your own future and the precarious position of the Lannisters within the Federation?"
Ella astutely zeroed in on the most critical issue: the future of both Kean and the Lannisters.
Kean\'s expression shifted slightly upon hearing her words, yet he seemed unwilling to abandon his course of action.
"If you truly intend to kill Jeremy\'s friends here and now, you may indeed achieve the revenge you seek. However, this will create a significant hindrance to your future power growth." Ella continued, her voice steady but urgent.
"Not only will Jeremy become your mortal enemy, but others will also be reluctant to collaborate with you. Partnering with a ruthless individual is fraught with peril."
After highlighting the potential personal repercussions for Kean, Ella turned her attention to the broader consequences for the Lannisters within the Federation.
"You must be acutely aware of the Federation\'s immense fury regarding your current actions. Should Jeremy withdraw from his collaboration with the Federation because of you, the Federation will undoubtedly direct their wrath towards the Lannisters."
She paused momentarily, allowing her words to sink in before proceeding, "While I acknowledge the considerable power and influence of the Lannisters, can they truly withstand the full force of the Federation\'s anger? Even if they manage to endure, will there be any further opportunities for the Lannisters to enhance their influence?"
Ella\'s words brought a stark clarity to Kean, making him realize the dire consequences of his current actions.
Nevertheless, Kean found himself in a precarious position, caught between a rock and a hard place. Even if he chose to abandon his plans now, Jeremy would still view him as a mortal enemy, and the Federation would continue to harbor hostility towards the Lannisters.
Kean\'s expression showed a flicker of hesitation and inner conflict.
After a few moments of intense deliberation, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.
"There\'s no need for further persuasion. I\'ve made my decision! No matter what, I will proceed according to my plan."
With a resolute glint in his eyes, Kean lunged forward, thrusting his dagger towards Emma\'s throat. He was determined to eliminate the person most important to Jeremy, believing it to be a crucial step in his quest for vengeance.
At that critical juncture, a brilliant white light suddenly materialized in the midst of the group.
As the light subsided, Jeremy\'s figure emerged, standing before everyone.
The sight of Jeremy caught everyone off guard, their faces registering varying degrees of surprise.
Jeremy, however, paid no attention to the surrounding reactions. His gaze was fixed solely on Kean, cold and unwavering.
"Have you finally decided to stop hiding? Since you\'re here, let\'s settle this once and for all!" Kean\'s voice was filled with a twisted sense of satisfaction upon seeing Jeremy.
For Kean, this confrontation was the culmination of his desire for revenge.
While eliminating Jeremy\'s friends could be considered a form of retribution, it would not bring him the same sense of fulfillment as facing Jeremy directly.
Kean\'s ultimate satisfaction would come from eliminating Jeremy himself.
Jeremy cast a cold glance at Kean, not intending to waste words on him.
In Jeremy\'s eyes, exchanging any words with Kean would be a sheer waste of time.
Jeremy had fully recovered his peak condition and felt no pressure in confronting an opponent of Kean\'s caliber.
"Jeremy! You need to think further ahead. If you kill Kean, the troubles you\'ll face afterward will multiply!"
Just as Jeremy was about to launch his attack, Benjamin\'s voice rang out from behind him.
Benjamin admired Jeremy greatly and was willing to offer his support. However, from Benjamin\'s perspective, the idea of Jeremy eliminating Kean was something he could not condone.
Jeremy paid no heed to Benjamin\'s warning.
He merely charged toward Kean with astonishing speed.
Although Jeremy had regained his peak physical state, he had exhausted all his weapons and tools in previous battles.
This time, he would have to rely solely on his bare hands to defeat Kean.
Kean, naturally, was extremely wary as he faced Jeremy\'s swift approach.
As he prepared for battle, Kean simultaneously confined Jeremy\'s three friends in a miniature prison. "If I can defeat you, I will obliterate you completely! If I can\'t, I\'ll use your friends to threaten you! Either way, you will be the ultimate loser!"
In his mind, Kean had already devised a foolproof strategy.
No matter what actions Jeremy took or how formidable his strength was, Kean believed that he alone would emerge victorious in the end.
Kean\'s plan seemed flawless, but the moment he faced Jeremy head-on, he realized he had vastly overestimated his own capabilities.
Despite Jeremy not using any tools or special abilities.
He was still able to dominate Kean in direct combat. Their first clash left Kean utterly astonished. He quickly came to the conclusion that under Jeremy\'s relentless assault, he wouldn\'t be able to hold out for long.