STATUS WINDOW

Name

James Summers

Age

20

Awakening

3rd

Talent

Ethereal Champion

Title

Protector of the Weave

Level

208

MP

3.320/3.320

STR

137

VIT

100

AGI

100

SENSE

137

MIND

137

STAT POINTS

9

James stared up at the floating window. All his stats had finally passed the one-hundred threshold, though nothing had changed beyond the expected incremental augmentation.

Sometimes, James wondered what the point was of having a game-like System and then not having achievements and rewards, but then he remembered that he had recently gotten a significant one. The incentives were very much there. It was just that the threshold to get them was pretty high.

The moldy room 207 had become a second home to him. He still spent most of his time hunting and exploring his new skills, but he could find refuge here when he needed some time away from it all.

It's crazy to think that if I had been an average human, I'd probably have developed a health condition just from sleeping here a few nights. But being an Awakener has many hidden perks. Not getting sick might be one of the best. Of course, monsters are much more likely to kill us, but that's life.

Sitting up, he returned his thoughts to what he had been trying to avoid. During the road trip, he had promised he would eventually explain why he had asked to be given some time to himself, and the moment had come.

Mr. Julian had focused more on esoteric uses of their skills lately than just making them earn EXP. He gave them homework to devise new and inventive ways of using their abilities every day and then set them to the task while he exterminated another crocodilian village.

But now that job was done. The last village had fallen to the Silent Guardian, and their time was coming in the swamp to an end. As promised, the old man would take them to Miami for a few days to allow them to relax or, in James' case, to pursue revenge.

Apparently, things had gone well in New York, but they were being cautious. Mr. Bethany was not the kind of man to allow his newly built order to fall apart, and that meant allowing him and his people the time they needed to solidify everything before letting everyone come back.

James took a deep breath, steadying his nerves as he prepared to confront the past he'd been avoiding. The decision to seek revenge against his father's old teammates had weighed heavily on his mind, a complex mixture of anger, grief, and a deep-seated need for justice driving his thoughts.

As he descended the stairs to the lobby, the familiar creaks and groans of the resort's aged structure served as a backdrop to his tumultuous thoughts. He had spent countless hours pondering his next moves, aware of the delicate balance he needed to strike. Immediate and direct confrontation was out of the question; not only would it potentially put him at odds with the law, but it also wouldn't bring the acknowledgment of guilt he sought.

Mr. Julian and Lauren waited for him in the lobby. The two had repeatedly shown him he could trust them, and James felt it would be better to be open with them about what he wanted to do. If anything went wrong, they'd be forewarned.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

And while I'm confident in my abilities, those two bastards have been Awakeners since I was a kid. They might have stopped fighting actively, but that doesn't mean I should underestimate them.

"I need to talk to you both," James began, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions, "It's about time I told you why I wanted to go to Miami."

Mr. Julian nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. "Thank you for your trust, James," he said, the warmth in his voice offering comfort.

Lauren leaned forward. "Whatever it is, James, we're here for you," she added.

James took a moment, gathering his thoughts before diving into the heart of the matter. "You might remember that my father died in the line of duty during the early days of the Apocalypse." He gestured to Lauren, who nodded, understanding blooming behind her eyes. "The circumstances were always suspicious, and the only explanation we were given was that his position was overrun before support could get there. The problem has always been that several Awakeners were already working with him. And many of them came out of it alive."

"Ah." Mr. Julian said, rubbing his white beard. "I think I see where this is going, but continue, please."

James nodded, face grim. "Yes, as you might imagine, it was easy to blame them for Dad's death. But until recently, it was only speculation. However, I have found another of his old, mundane teammates who revealed to me exactly what happened that day. My father was deliberately abandoned to his death by people who could have easily saved him but decided not to."

The old man sighed. His face seemed to age ten years as his eyes were lost to the eddies of time. "I can't say I'm surprised by your story, James." He said after a minute of silence. "I have seen it repeat again and again. The early days of the Apocalypse were some of the most wretched, disgusting times I've lived through, and I fought against the Nazis."

For a moment, James was removed from his brooding. Just how old was Mr. Julian? But he shook the errant thought away. It didn't matter if he was Methuselah himself. James would welcome him with open arms as long as he would help him in his revenge.

"Then you know why I want to find them. Jeremy Hopkins and Theo Knowles are the only two left alive of the five who betrayed my father, and I won't let them go unpunished longer than I have to." Taking a deep breath, James centered himself. It wouldn't do to get too riled up before it was time to act. "They are working as consultants for the Clearsky Guild. I doubt I'll have another chance as good as this one, so I wanted to ask if I could count on you should things go awry."

Before the two could answer, James hurried to clarify, "Just to be sure, I'm not asking you to participate. This is my revenge. But the two might have reached C-rank after all these years despite no longer being active. Removing them might be difficult. So an escape plan would be useful."

Lauren exhaled sharply, exasperation and affection coloring her response. "James, you're an idiot if you thought for even a second that I wouldn't help you," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We've been through too much together for you to go at this alone. Whatever you need, I'm in."

The tension that James hadn't realized he was holding seemed to lessen at her words, a grateful nod his only immediate reply.

Mr. Julian took a longer moment to respond, his gaze shifting from James to the world outside the broken window before settling back on the young man before him. "Revenge," he mused, the word heavy between them. "It's a sentiment I've shared before and one I've acted upon. But let me share this with you, James: it left me hollow. It solved nothing beyond adding more hurt to the world."

James shifted uncomfortably, the old man's words echoing fears and doubts he'd been wrestling with in his quieter moments.

"However," Mr. Julian continued, breaking into his thoughts, "I agree that such individuals must be checked before being allowed to continue within our society. They pose a danger not just to others but to the stability of what we are trying to rebuild."

He paused, letting his words sink in before adding, "I will help you, James. Should you be on the brink of death, I will intervene. But," he held up a finger, emphasizing his next point, "I want you to study your targets seriously. Decide objectively if they truly deserve to be 'removed' as you put it, or if this is simply about wanting to hurt them for what they did."

James nodded after a moment of hesitation, where he considered the old man's words and the implications of his actions. "I understand," he said firmly. "And I agree. I'll do my due diligence. This isn't about mindless vengeance. It's about accountability, about ensuring that justice, in some form, is served."

The resolve in his voice seemed to satisfy Mr. Julian, who nodded in approval. "Good. Then, you have my blessing to proceed. Remember, James, the path of revenge is a dark and treacherous one. Make sure you're ready for whatever lies at its end."

Lauren reached across to squeeze his hand in solidarity and support. "I've got your back, James. Always."

----------------------------------------

The truck rolled smoothly out of the Everglades, the dense foliage and oppressive humidity giving way to open roads and the first vestiges of civilization. They had left the abandoned resort behind with more melancholy than James expected. Despite being barely livable and in the middle of a swamp infested with monsters, James had appreciated it.

He sat in the passenger seat, his body thrumming with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. The thought of finally confronting his father's betrayers filled him with a jittery energy he struggled to contain. He knew he had to remain calm and approach this with the same level of strategy and focus he'd applied to every challenge thus far. But it wasn't easy. The weight of years of grief and unanswered questions pressed heavily on him.

James was briefly distracted from the task ahead as they left the park's confines, and their phones chirped back to life, signaling the restoration of their connection to the outside world. A deluge of notifications flooded his screen: texts from his grandparents, filled with affectionate nagging to call them and assurances that they were enjoying themselves, brought a smile to his face despite the tension knotting his stomach. It reminded him of the life that awaited him beyond this quest for revenge, a life filled with people who loved and supported him.

His friends' messages were a mix of excitement and teasing, eager to reunite in New York and share stories of their own adventures. James took a moment to respond, to assure them and his grandparents that he was okay and that he'd be in touch soon.

With his immediate correspondence handled, James focused on the task that would bring him to Miami. Pulling up the Clearsky Guild's website on his phone, he navigated to the staff section with practiced ease. His heart rate picked up as he scrolled through the names and faces.

There they were. Jeremy Hopkins and Theo Knowles. Their smiling headshots on the guild's website belied the darkness of their past actions, presenting them as esteemed consultants rather than the betrayers James knew them to be. Seeing their names, knowing they were still here, happily living a successful life as part of this organization, made it all the more real. Revenge was no longer a distant concept; it was near, within his grasp.

James locked his phone, the images of Hopkins and Knowles seared into his memory. He turned to look out the window, the Miami skyline faintly visible in the distance. The city was alive, vibrant, and oblivious to the drama that was about to unfold within its borders.

He felt Mr. Julian's reassuring presence, a steady force at his side, and Lauren's unwavering support, a constant in the ever-changing chaos of his life. Their presence grounded him.

James took a deep breath as the city welcomed them with open arms, steeling himself for what was to come.