My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 247

"Ha... ha... ha..." Alex tried to act tough and loud, but his facade was crumbling. His face contorted in pain, and he could barely utter a word as agony ravaged his body. Every inch of him ached, especially his hands, which he could barely feel anymore. He knew they were broken and feared they might be beyond saving.

"Do I need... a concrete reason... to teach your mutts some... basic manners?" Alex said, looking up at Duke defiantly, a mad grin spreading across his face. "I hate you... and that’s all I need..."

Hearing Alex’s words snapped Duke’s last thread of reasoning. He instantly drew the gun tucked in his trousers, pointed it at Alex’s head, and released the safety. After a tense moment, Duke shifted his aim and pulled the trigger without a second thought.

Bang!

Thud-

After the loud ’thud’ following the gunfire, everyone turned to see one of the prisoners on the floor, swimming in his own blood. Everything had happened so quickly that everyone was caught off guard.

Duke crouched down and used his gun to lift Alex’s chin so they could look each other in the eye. Then, Duke flashed Alex his most charming smile. "If you think this taunting will make me end your suffering, you’re hugely mistaken. I will torture you day after day until you feel the same pain my people felt before they died at your hands. I will make you experience hell on earth."

Duke emphasized each word in a slow, low voice, each syllable dripping with menace. It wasn’t just a threat; it was a promise of what he was about to do. Anyone who heard him would think Duke was the real psychopath between the two. Duke never issued threats—only warnings or declarations of his next actions.

"Even if you are at death’s door, I will revive you and continue to torture you until I am done with you. Before that, I will make sure you know how painful it is to die a hundred times," Duke said sinisterly. His ocean-blue eyes were deep and dark, like an abyss. When Alex saw them, he trembled in fear, knowing Duke’s words were not an empty threat. He knew he would truly suffer such a demise.

He thought that if he taunted Duke enough to snap his thread of reasoning, Duke would kill him out of anger and release him from this hellhole. Oh, how mistaken he was. The realization that this was just the beginning of his suffering was enough to shatter his mentality.

Alex thought he was prepared for the day Duke would get a hold of him if he failed to dominate him. But he didn’t realize just how unprepared he truly was. If he had known, he might have stayed in his lane, perhaps even joining Duke’s entourage to keep himself safe, enjoying his privileges from the shadows. Alas, there is no cure for regret in this world.

He couldn’t go back to correct his mistakes, and now he couldn’t bear the thought of what awaited him.

Alex’s eyes slowly dimmed as he succumbed to his fate, eventually turning vacant.

"Tsk! I thought you had more guts to challenge me," Duke sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "But it turns out, you’re just a pussy who likes playing the owner of the mountain while the tiger is away. This was just the first day and you’re already this broken?" Duke dropped Alex’s chin in disgust before he stood up and gave the gun to Tristan.