Chapter 16 – The King's Rebellion
Punk's smile widens.
"Then..."
"I'll prove it."
Without another word—
He explodes toward Lee and the others.
The air shatters behind him.
Dr. Mqara's face drains of color.
"My subject is coming to kill me?!"
"Impossible!"
Lee immediately shoves Dr. Mqara backward.
"Goul!"
Before Lee can finish—
Goul steps forward and blocks Punk's path.
The two collide head-on.
BOOM!!
A violent shockwave tears across the battlefield.
Goul's massive hand shoots toward Punk's throat.
His fingers tighten.
For a brief moment—
Punk struggles.
Then—
A brutal kick crashes into Goul's chest.
THUD!!
Goul slides backward several meters.
Punk lands lightly on the ground.
He coughs once...
Then smiles again.
"You actually think..."
"...you can defeat me?"
"Never."
He charges once more.
Goul swings.
Punk slips beneath the attack.
His fist crashes into Goul's face.
Another strike follows.
Then another.
For the first time...
Goul is forced backward.
Seeing an opening—
Punk completely ignores him.
His eyes lock onto Dr. Mqara.
Then Lee.
Then Brittne.
All three instantly become his targets.
Brittne glances over her shoulder.
"Lee!"
"He's coming after us!"
"Do something!"
Lee doesn't even look back.
"Keep moving!"
Then he snaps at Dr. Mqara.
"Now what?!"
"Your own subject has slipped out of your control!"
For the first time...
Dr. Mqara stops running.
He slowly turns around.
Punk races straight toward him.
Brittne's eyes widen.
"...Has the Doctor lost his mind?"
Even Lee keeps moving instead of returning.
Goul also starts moving following Lee and brittne .
Dr. Mqara calmly raises the remote.
Click.
Instantly—
The collar around Punk's neck erupts with crimson light.
Violent streams of electricity explode across his body.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
Punk screams in agony.
His entire body trembles violently.
The pain nearly forces him onto one knee.
Far away—
Romen's eyes widen.
"PUNK!"
He launches toward him without hesitation.
Punk doesn't answer.
Instead—
His aura explodes once more.
Another limit shatters.
This time...
His eyes slowly glow crimson.
His scream transforms into a monstrous roar.
Before Romen can react—
Punk shoots forward like a missile.
BOOM!!
His shoulder slams directly into Romen's chest.
Romen is blasted backward.
He crashes across the broken battlefield before finally skidding to a stop.
He struggles...
Then slowly forces himself back onto his feet.
His legs shake violently.
Blood pours from the wound in his chest.
Still...
He refuses to stay down.
Romen raises one hand.
"Punk..."
"Calm down."
"Do you remember why we came here?"
No answer.
Punk slowly lifts his head.
His voice sounds distorted.
Almost mechanical.
"I remember..."
"...Romen."
A chilling laugh escapes him.
"But listen carefully."
"I'm nobody's puppet."
"Not yours."
"Not the gods'."
Romen takes another step.
"But you're still Dr. Mqara's puppet."
Dr. Mqara lands beside Punk.
A proud grin spreads across his face.
He raises the remote.
"My masterpiece."
Then he points directly at Romen.
"Punk!"
"My servant!"
"Finish him!"
Without hesitation—
Punk begins walking toward Romen.
Every step shakes the battlefield.
Romen steadies himself.
His exhausted legs tremble beneath him.
Even so—
He slowly raises his fists once again.
He refuses to back down.
Far behind them—
Lee watches silently.
His expression grows unusually serious.
Brittne notices immediately.
"...Lee?"
He doesn't answer.
His eyes remain fixed on Punk.
For the first time...
Even Lee cannot predict what Punk will do next.
The battlefield falls silent.
Romen and Punk stare into each other's eyes once again.
Neither one moves.
Neither one speaks.
Only their overwhelming auras continue colliding.
The prison itself trembles beneath their power.
---
Far away from the battlefield...
Paul slowly lifts one hand.
Then the other.
His entire body shakes violently as he struggles to stand.
Blood drips from countless wounds.
He finally manages to rise...
Only for his legs to give out beneath him.
He collapses beside a massive broken rock.
Breathing heavily.
He quietly looks at his trembling hands.
A faint, broken smile appears on his face.
"For the first time..."
"...I understand."
"We're fighting impossible odds."
He glances back toward the battlefield.
He wants to return.
He wants to help.
But deep inside...
He already knows.
Nothing will change.
Not in his condition.
His eyes slowly close.
The collar around his neck has stopped glowing.
Its control has vanished.
Paul simply sits there.
Broken.
Silent.
Like a hero who has already accepted his own death.
---
Back on the battlefield...
Punk suddenly lunges.
He grabs Romen by the head with one hand.
Then—
He violently kicks him away.
Romen crashes across the ground before coming to a stop.
Punk doesn't even look at him.
Instead—
He slowly turns toward Dr. Mqara.
This time...
His laughter sounds completely natural.
No mechanical distortion.
No empty expression.
Just laughter.
Dr. Mqara laughs proudly in return.
"Excellent!"
"My greatest creation!"
Then his expression becomes commanding.
"Punk."
"Kneel."
"Bow before me."
"One knee."
"Now."
Punk hears every word.
He doesn't move.
It's as if something inside him refuses to obey.
Dr. Mqara's smile disappears.
"What are you doing?!"
He repeatedly presses the remote.
The collar erupts again.
Electricity tears through Punk's body.
Punk cries out in pain.
His body drops onto one knee.
Dr. Mqara walks closer.
Step by step.
Until only inches separate them.
He looks down at Punk.
"I don't need strength."
"I need obedience."
"Bow."
Punk's body begins moving.
Slowly...
Painfully...
His knee presses against the ground.
His upper body starts lowering.
But—
Something stops him.
His muscles tremble violently.
They refuse to move any farther.
Nearby—
Romen slowly opens his blurred eyes.
He watches the scene in stunned silence.
"Punk..."
"No..."
"PUNK!!"
His voice echoes across the battlefield.
Still...
Punk says nothing.
His entire body shakes.
Then—
His roar erupts across the prison.
"NOOOOOOO!!"
"NEVER!!"
"I WILL NEVER BOW!!"
The prison trembles.
Cracks spread beneath his feet.
Punk slowly rises.
Against the remote.
Against the pain.
Against the commands.
He stands.
A smile slowly returns.
Then he begins laughing.
Softly at first.
Then louder.
Then uncontrollably.
"You think..."
"...you can control me?"
"You think..."
"...you can make me obey?"
His laughter grows louder with every word.
"There's something inside me..."
"...that no one..."
"...NO ONE..."
"...can ever control!"
His crimson eyes lock onto Dr. Mqara.
"I would rather die..."
"...than bow before anyone."
Dr. Mqara instinctively takes a step backward.
Fear is written all over his face.
For the first time...
His own creation terrifies him.
Punk slowly lifts his head.
A murderous smile spreads across his face.
Dr. Mqara turns—
And runs.
Punk disappears.
BOOM!!
He instantly appears in front of Dr. Mqara.
Romen's eyes widen.
"...He's free."
"This time..."
"...he's acting on his own."
Dr. Mqara desperately changes direction.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Every escape route is blocked.
Punk is always standing there...
Smiling.
Then—
He reaches forward.
His hand wraps around Dr. Mqara's throat.
Dr. Mqara desperately claws at Punk's arm.
He can't breathe.
"P... Punk..."
Romen staggers forward.
"Punk!"
"Stop!"
But Punk doesn't even acknowledge him.
He laughs quietly.
"You've had enough fun..."
"You've enjoyed controlling everyone..."
"Now..."
"...I'll see you in hell."
His grip tightens.
Tighter.
Tighter.
Crimson energy gathers around his hand.
A violent pulse erupts.
BOOM!!
A small explosion flashes across the battlefield.
Punk releases his grip.
Then calmly steps backward.
Nothing remains.
Dr. Mqara's body has completely disintegrated.
No bones.
No blood.
No trace of him.
Only drifting ashes scatter into the wind.
Silence consumes the battlefield.
Romen stares at Punk in complete disbelief.
For the first time...
Even he doesn't know who is standing before him.
Punk slowly takes another step backward.
The smile never leaves his face.
Chapter ended.