There was an unmistakable air of arrogance in Julian's tone. Few could command the kind of loyalty and authority he did.
As the final preparations fell into place, the tension in the air grew heavier, like the calm before a storm.
The night before the confrontation, Jack gathered every ally he could muster and threw a grand feast at a hotel. Dozens of tables were set, and the room buzzed with energy.
Strong liquor flowed freely, and the men pounded their chests and swore they'd give it everything they had.
At first light the next morning, Jack led his crew toward Vermilion Mountain.
The contrast between their modest setup and Julian's side was stark. Julian's men arrived in a fleet of luxury cars. There were a few BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and even high-end models like Ferraris and Bentleys. They were decked out in flashy gold chains, puffing on expensive cigarettes.
They looked down on Jack's group like they were nothing more than a bunch of villagers and students, hardly worth their time.
But Jack didn't care. He had a plan and was ready to show his opponents what he was capable of.
Soon, Julian arrived. The entrance was now a sea of cars, and the men Julian had brought with him were all fired up, exchanging greetings and flexing their confidence.
Julian moved through the crowd with ease, exchanging words and laughs, every bit the imposing figure. As he mingled, his gaze flicked to Jack's side.
Compared to his well-fed, well-dressed crew, Jack's team looked underwhelming. A mix of old and young, some looking like they hadn't eaten well in weeks. Only a few dozen seemed like they could hold their own in a fight.
Julian was slightly worried that Jack's people might not make it out alive if things turned violent.
With that, Jack raised his hand and roared, "Let's take them down!"
To everyone's surprise, Jack's men didn't charge forward. Instead, they began to retreat quickly.
Julian's side erupted in laughter, mocking Jack's crew for being a bunch of clueless fools. Their laughter, however, was short-lived.
Jack's men brought out many massive iron frames welded together and rolled forward. Strapped to them were enormous boulders. With a deafening roar, the boulders were launched into the air, raining down on Julian's men like a hailstorm.
Caught completely off guard, Julian's crew was pummeled. The boulders crashed and sent the men sprawling, bloodied, and screaming.
Jack's men, meanwhile, fought fiercer with every moment. They pushed the catapults forward, targeting the densest clusters of Julian's forces. The open field offered no cover, and Julian's men were utterly defenseless against the onslaught.
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