NOVEL NEXT Chapter 223: Club Brawl
The lizard-man stumbled back, clutching his snout after Xavier's fist cracked against it. His scales shimmered under the neon lights, bleeding faintly from where the knuckles hit. The music dipped for a second, people around gasped, and then two more of his kind pushed through the crowd—thicker, meaner, their eyes narrow slits glowing yellow.
One of them jabbed a clawed finger at Xavier's chest.
"Why the hell did you punch him? He just bumped into you. He's drunk, can't you see?"
Xavier tilted his head, smirk tugging at his lips. He swirled what was left in his glass, like none of this was worth a damn, then downed it in one go before setting it back on the bar with a sharp clink.
"I'm drunk too," Xavier said, voice calm, almost casual. He pointed a thumb at the lizard-man still groaning on the floor. "My fist must've just bumped into his face. Accidents happen. It's all good now. You boys should let it go and get back to doing… whatever the fuck you were doing."
The one on the left snarled, sharp teeth bared. "You think you're funny, human?"
Xavier leaned in, his smirk not fading. "No. I think I'm generous. Gave him a free wake-up call. Do you want one too?"
That was the spark. The bigger lizard swung without warning.
Xavier slipped aside like he'd been expecting it, caught the creature's wrist mid-swing, and twisted. A wet crack rang out and the alien shrieked as Xavier slammed him straight into the table, shattering glasses and bottles everywhere.
The second lunged at him with claws, but Xavier's elbow shot up, catching him under the chin, snapping his head back. The alien stumbled, but Xavier didn't stop. He grabbed the back of his head and smashed it down into the bar counter. Blood smeared across the surface as the body dropped.
The crowd roared, some cheering, others backing away.
The first lizard—still dazed from Xavier's initial punch—tried to stand. Xavier stepped over, grabbed the alien by the collar, and slammed him into the nearest pillar. "Still drunk?" he muttered before tossing him aside like trash.
Now the dance floor was chaos. Other drunks joined in, fists flying, bottles smashing, the whole club exploding into a frenzy. Angel sat at the bar, hiccupping still, eyes wide, her face flushed—not just from the alcohol anymore, but from watching Xavier move like a storm in human skin.
The dance floor lit up like a warzone. Neon lights flashed across broken glass, spilled liquor, and bodies already on the ground. The first three lizards weren't alone—five more of their companions surged from the far side of the club, their scaled bodies pushing through the crowd, hissing and cracking their knuckles as if they had just been waiting for someone to make a scene.
The tallest one pointed straight at Xavier. "You just fucked with the wrong brood, human."
Xavier rolled his shoulders, tugged at the sleeves of his casual jacket, and cracked his neck like this was stretching before a workout. He tilted his chin toward Angel, who was still perched on the stool, hiccuping but watching like her life was tied to his fists. "Sit tight. Don't spill your drink."
The lizards charged.
The first swung a broken bottle at his head, but Xavier ducked, drove a fist into the alien's gut, and followed with a knee to the jaw that lifted him clean off the ground before he crashed onto a table. Another came from behind, wrapping arms around Xavier's throat. Xavier stomped hard on his foot, snapped his head backward into the alien's face, and then flipped him over his shoulder straight into the crowd.
Three more tried to dogpile him at once. Xavier grinned. "Finally."
One came swinging low, claws slashing. Xavier grabbed him mid-motion, spun him around like a shield just as the other two attacked. Their fists tore into their own man's ribs instead. Xavier shoved the body at them, sending all three stumbling back, then launched himself forward with a kick that shattered a chair and sent splinters flying.
By now, the crowd was screaming, some filming with their holo-devices, others scrambling away from the chaos. The DJ had long abandoned the booth, but the track still blasted, turning the fight into a twisted dance.
A heavier lizard, built like a tank, stormed forward. He grabbed a metal stool and swung it at Xavier's head. The steel cracked in half as Xavier blocked with his forearm and countered with a hook straight into the alien's throat. The tank coughed blood and crumpled.
Another tried a sneak attack with a knife, lunging for Xavier's side. Xavier twisted his body just enough so the blade slashed air. He seized the lizard's wrist, slammed it onto the bar until the knife clattered away, then drove his elbow into the alien's temple.
Bodies piled, groaning, bleeding, scattered across the floor. But the brood wasn't done. The original lizard—the one Xavier first punched—forced himself up again, face swollen, eyes burning with rage. He roared and rallied the rest who were still standing. Together, half a dozen of them surrounded Xavier, circling like predators ready to tear flesh.
Xavier stood in the center, calm, lips curled into that dangerous smirk that always preceded a massacre. He raised his fists, then dropped them, almost taunting. "Well? Don't keep me waiting."
They all lunged at once.
The floor erupted in chaos. Glass shattered, tables flipped, bottles exploded mid-swing, neon lights reflecting in every shard. Xavier moved like a machine, dodging, striking, throwing, breaking. Every alien that touched him was put down within seconds—throats crushed, jaws broken, bodies slammed against walls, left twitching on the ground.
Angel leaned her elbow on the bar, swaying slightly from the alcohol, watching him dismantle an entire brood like he was born for it. Her lips parted, a strange mix of awe and desire flickering across her face, as if the chaos made Xavier glow brighter than anything she had seen in her life.
Within minutes, the Galaxy Club's luxurious dance floor was reduced to a wreckage of broken furniture, flickering lights, and unconscious bodies. Only Xavier stood tall in the middle, adjusting his jacket as if brushing off dust after a stroll.
He turned back toward Angel, his voice calm as ever despite the carnage. "Now… what were you saying before all this?"