Chapter 60 - Special Quest
“L-Lucas… Let me go…” Laurim choked out, flailing his arms in desperation. “W-we were… classmates…”
Facing Laurim’s pleas, Lucas chuckled and shook his head, “Yeah, no way. If I let you go now, you’ll just come back to bite me, like those dark-skinned greasy pigs.”
Greasy pigs? Dark-skinned?
Laurim’s eyes darted around, searching for his ‘reinforcement.’ But no matter where he looked, they were nowhere to be seen.
Lucas smirked as if reading Laurim’s thoughts. “Waiting for those Malekiths?” He let out an amused chuckle and mocked, “Yeah, we called them greasy pigs but they ghosted you. What a shame.”
“Let’s not make this too long, my girl is still waiting for me,” Lucas shook his head as his grip on Laurim’s neck tightened. He watched Laurim thrash desperately, kicking at the air, clawing at his armor but it was pointless.
Laurim’s face turned a sickly shade of blue, veins bulging against his skin as he gasped for air that would never come.
Just as Lucas was about to snap Laurim’s neck, a system notification appeared.
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Special Quest - Luminous Sovereign’s Offer
Laurim Foster has been marked as a "Chosen Hero of the Light." Killing him directly will trigger Luminous Sovereign’s wrath.
Task(s): Spare Laurim Foster
Reward(s):
* Radiant Spear (Legendary)
* Goddess’ Tear x1
* Fruits of Eden x5
Penalty: Relationship with Luminous Sovereign will drop to ‘Hostile’
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‘Sparing this idiot?’ Lucas sighed internally. He had read enough web novels and comics to know that sparing someone like Laurim would one hundred percent lead to him coming back for revenge.
And those ‘Legendary’ items?
Frankly, Lucas couldn’t care less. If he wanted to, he could create something the System deemed ‘Legendary’ as long as he had the right materials and knowledge. After all, he was a Mechanic.
As for the relationship dropping to ‘Hostile’? Yeah, that didn’t bother him either. In a world with complex hierarchies and ever-changing alliances, someone being hostile or friendly to you for no reason was just part of the game.
“Well, well. Looks like you really are special, Laurim.” Lucas eyed the so-called Chosen Hero with renewed amusement. “Guess I may have to treat you a little differently.”
Laurim, still gasping for air, was too dazed to process Lucas’s words. But something in his tone sent a deep, bone-chilling terror through him.
Looking up at the night sky, Lucas muttered, “Yeah, no. If I let this buffoon go, you’ll just order him to kill me later on. So, reject.”
“Hm. Rethink, huh?” Lucas feigned contemplation before shaking his head. “Nah. Your rewards are too little to let this hero go.”
Still gripping Laurim by the neck, Lucas chuckled and spoke to the air, “This isn’t how you negotiate in a hostage situation, okay? Has sitting up there too long made you forget basic mortal common sense?”
Before a new message could even appear, he continued snickering, “I mean, it’s obvious this idiot is someone you’re interested in, probably planning to make him your apostle or something. Since that’s the case… is your little apostle’s life really worth this measly amount of stuff? Surely not, right?”
“He’s a Chosen Hero of Light! Don’t try to scam me, okay?” Lucas scoffed.
“By my knowledge?” he grinned and shrugged. “Don’t you know, there’s a literal skill named Knowledge.”
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Snapping his fingers at the air, Lucas sighed, “Hey, buddy. If you’re not reconsidering, I’m going to break your soon-to-be apostle’s neck.”
‘One of them is rather jarring,’ Lucas sighed in his mind, glancing at the Constellations’ messages. But he still snickered, “Tick tock. Your hero is dying, buddy. Might wanna hurry up here.”
After a few moments, Laurim’s thrashing slowed as his hands and legs dropped limply, hanging in the air like a lifeless doll. Then, another notification appeared.
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Special Quest - Luminous Sovereign’s Offer
Laurim Foster has been marked as a “Chosen Hero of the Light.” Although angered by your impudent actions, Luminous Sovereign has no choice but to compromise in order to save his apostle’s life.
Task(s): Spare Laurim Foster
Reward(s):
* Radiant Spear (Legendary)
* Ring of Luxion (Legendary)
* Randomized Legendary Skill Book x 1
* Goddess’ Tear x3
* Fruits of Eden x10
Penalty: Relationship with Luminous Sovereign will drop to ‘Hostile’
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“Not even denying it, huh?” Lucas smirked as he accepted the quest. However, his hand remained clenched around Laurim’s neck.
Ignoring the messages, Lucas stared at Laurim before his smirk widened. “Since I can’t kill this pest, I might as well have some fun torturing him for a bit! I’m sure your place has some panacea that can heal him instantly, right?”
He released Laurim’s neck, letting him drop to the ground in a shuddering heap. But before Laurim could even think about escaping, Lucas immediately grabbed his head, fingers digging into his scalp.
Grinning wickedly, Lucas muttered, “I once saw on some website that electrocution was the most painless form of execution. I wonder if that’s true!”
"Take this! Judgment Knights of Thunder!"
The blue streaks on Lucas’s armor pulsed, crackling with energy as they concentrated into his palm. Then, he gripped Laurim’s skull tightly.
A moment later.
CRACKLE!
Jolts of electricity shot through Laurim’s body, sending violent convulsions through his limbs!
Laurim’s agonized screams ripped through the battlefield. His body glowed an unnatural shade of red as his temperature skyrocketed. His veins bulged, his flesh swelled, and his skin began to blister, on the verge of rupturing from the sheer heat.
A nauseatingly sweet, burnt scent permeated the air.
Laurim thrashed around, his body jerking uncontrollably. Then, all at once, a wet stain spread down his pants, soaking him from front to back. Blood spurted from his mouth as he gagged and coughed, his entire body failing him in sheer agony.
Seeing that Laurim had suffered enough, both inside and out, Lucas finally let go of the miserable man and dusted off his hands as if ridding himself of filth. “Buddy, this is the second time you soiled your pants.”
He looked up at the night sky and scoffed. “Hello. I let this man go already. Good?”
A system notification instantly appeared.
“No, you won’t, or rather, you can’t.” Lucas wiggled his finger and pointed at Laurim, whose head was charred and smoking, yet still faintly twitching. “Look, he’s still alive. His heart’s still beating. I didn’t kill him.”
A smirk tugged at his lips as he shrugged, “And besides, I accepted your offer, didn’t I? But it only said I had to spare him, which meant I couldn’t kill him. Since I only beat into a pulp instead of slitting his throat, it technically meant I spared him. No?”
As if the system itself agreed with his reasoning, another notification popped up.
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You have received:
* Radiant Spear (Legendary)
* Ring of Luxion (Legendary)
* Randomized Legendary Skill Book x 1
* Goddess’ Tear x3
* Fruits of Eden x10
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Letting out a satisfied hum, Lucas smiled. “See? Even the almighty System says I did nothing wrong.”
Ignoring the messages, he glanced at Laurim’s barely recognizable face. He bent down and whispered, “Well, Mr. Hero, looks like you got your wish. You’re still alive. But I wonder how much of that little ‘chosen one’ pride you have left?”
Laurim barely managed a weak, raspy breath. His charred lips trembled, but no words came out.
Lucas straightened up and turned away, waving his hand dismissively. “Eh, you’re someone else’s problem now. Toss him in some ditch.”
Just then, a brilliant beam of light shot down from the night sky, enveloping Laurim’s barely conscious body. The sheer intensity of it forced even Lucas to squint slightly. Moments later, as quickly as it came, the beam vanished, along with Laurim.
“Well, saves me the trouble,” he shrugged.
As he turned his gaze back to the battlefield, his eyes finally settled on the remaining members of Laurim’s group, the ones he had nearly forgotten about.
They stood frozen in place, surrounded by Lucas’s mechanical soldiers. But that wasn’t their biggest concern right now. Their faces had gone deathly pale with terror. Some had collapsed onto their knees, too weak to run, while others trembled violently. The sight of Lucas electrocuting Laurim was still fresh in their minds. And now, his gaze was on them.
Lucas rubbed his chin in thought before instructing, “Break their kneecaps and one of their arms. Then, toss them somewhere far from here.”
A wave of pure horror washed over Laurim’s remaining followers. “W-Wait!” one of them stammered, only to be silenced as Lucas’s mechanical soldiers moved toward them.
Ignoring the erupting screams and cries, Lucas propelled into the air and headed back to his base.