There was a whirlwind of emotions within Lucas, ranging from triumph and anger to sadness, as he stood and watched Michael slowly turning to face him. He noticed the range of emotions Michael’s face went through in the short period of time before they locked their eyes. Lucas was patrolling the city for two days, fixated on not letting Michael escape him. And now, he had found him, his actions leading to this point vindicated, the vengeance for that fateful night when Michael betrayed everything nearly at hand. He looked to his party, boosted by the addition Chen, the Illusionist. He caught Lucas eye during the battle at the prison and ensuing talk, when the man revealed he was Conjurer of Tricks level 34, was enough to seal the permanent placement of the man into the party. His utility proved massive and he was almost a picture – perfect example of the support class. Bringing his thoughts back to present, Lucas was pleased to see that his party members were already stepping back, as they discussed when the search began. Lucas was adamant Michael was his and his alone and the party was respecting his wishes. He then refocused on Michael, seeing the man eyes darting from place to place, trying to find an escape route.

“Well, old friend, aren’t you glad to see me?” Lucas asked, taking a step forward, sword in hand.

Michael was almost thrown into the panic and he turned his back and started sprinting. Lucas sighed and started running himself, outracing Michael in less than five seconds. He turned to face Michael, activating “Mana Punch” and slapping his former friend. Michael fell hard on the ground and immediately focused his stare on Lucas. Lucas put a big smile on his face before speaking.

“No, no, there is no running this night, at least not while I’m alive. Stand up and fight, Michael”

“Why are you torturing me? I’m aware to whom I served, as you can see I was on my way to correct mistakes I made” Michael responded, his face radiating pure agony.

“Mistakes? I was shattered after that night, and you dare call it a simple mistake” Lucas shouted.

Michael got back up to his feet, his rifle now in hand. Lucas was ready, however, and as soon as rifle fired, his “Dodge” got him out of the way. He immediately repositioned himself and took a few steps towards Michael and activated “Spin strike”, circling around Michael and striking him at his thighs. Lucas was not willing to relent and immediately chained “Stinging cut”, leaving Michael thrashing on the floor, pain from his flank burning his whole body. Lucas backed off and started talking.

“Feel that pain? That is just a small part of what you did to me. I would die for you, Michael and you wanted me dead. And for what? Because some old fuck said so”

Michael’s pain was subsiding and he got back up to his feet, before responding.

“Unchecked power is dangerous. I mean, look at you, toying with your prey instead of landing a clean kill. I was just mislead that the General is any different than the rest”

“I am toying with you, because I want you to feel broken and hopeless. To unravel you to your base instincts of survival. I mean, that was the state I was in, hunted by your unit like a beast.” Lucas responded angrily, all of his body and mind screaming for another bout. He obliged his instincts and activated “Infused piledriver”, aiming at the knees of his former friend. His sword pierced and Lucas felt flesh, bones and tendons shredded indiscriminately. He pulled his sword and activated “Death by the thousand cuts” carefully aiming his strikes to cause minimal damage, but maximum blood loss. When he finished, Michael was once again on the ground, yelping in distress. One of his knees was nothing more than a broken mess and he was bleeding all around, his blood forming a massive pool at the ground below. When Michael got up for a third time, there wasn’t any exchange of words. Michael was focused on the Lucas, wounded animal trying to avoid his hunter. And Lucas did his best to make himself as intimidating as he could, further inducing panic in his old friend. Michael tried to retreat into the forest, but even when healthy he was no match for Lucas speed. He was in front of him time and time again, every time Michael trying to change his directions. After the tenth or so dance, Lucas was beginning to feel pity for the broken human Michael now was. He didn’t have any more desire to fight, his flight instincts flaring high and every time his escape was foiled by Lucas. As much as he tried to drown that feeling, it was just getting stronger and stronger. Even his party members were glaring at him almost accusatory, Maggie restlessly playing with her crossbow but still respecting the agreement they made. Lucas picked up his pace and found himself next to Michael, who lashed with his fists at Lucas. The attempt was pathetic, however, and Lucas simply ignored it as he raised his sword and stabbed Michael in his chest. His Strength was considerable and the gladius passed through flesh and bone both, finding its way to the heart. Michael wasn’t instantly dead, as the angle of the stab wasn’t perfect and the dying man managed to mutter one last thing before drawing his final breath.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Lucas, I’m sorry”

Lucas gently placed his old friend body back on the ground, his anger and hurt currently muted. He closed his eyes and sat down next to him, his eyes tearing up. Deciding to deal with the prompts later, he dismissed them before replaying all of his memories. All those romps, those bar crawls. He was the first and only friend Lucas had. He turned back when he consoled his friend at the funeral of his parents, or when Michael jumped at two older kids when they bullied Lucas for being an orphan.

“He needed five days to recover after that. We hadn’t gone through the Initiation yet at that moment, and those kids had.” Lucas thought with a fond smile. But, whichever happy memory emerged in his head, it was followed by the one of the ambush. Of the one when Michael is actively hunting him in Camp Hearth after he came back. Of the Bruce recounting what happened to the bodies of John, Maraya and Hannah. And most of all, the look of disgust when Lucas managed to caught to him the night when the ambush happened.

“I will never be able to forgive you, old friend. But I will try my best to forgot everything bad that had happened between us” Lucas concluded, his senses returning to the real world. He was surprised to find Ted’s arm around his shoulder, him and Maggie flanking him on both sides, looks of genuine worry on their faces. Chen was standing a little bit back, but his face wore the same solemn expression, the man not daft not to realize the weight of the moment. Lucas found himself appreciating all of them, diving head first into the matter that didn’t have any influence of their lives. He finally got up to his feet, muttering his thanks to the people that were there with him and, by the looks of it, for him. He called his status and navigated to the log, eager to find himself some busywork to take his mind of the dark thoughts that plagued his mind.

“You have slain Michael Roberts, Infantryman level 25”

Lucas reread the notification multiple times, the finality of it both lifting some weight from his mind and adding some new weight. While his vengeance was finally completed, he was regretting the fact it had to come to that. He was questioning himself, wondering if he could do something differently. One part of his mind was also arguing he could be the better man and spare Michael, while the other, darker one, argued he was to merciful, that he had to torture him more. Clamping on everything, not keen to face his emotion right now, Lucas advanced to the next notification.

Quest completed:

A dish best served cold…:

You have scoured everything, finding the one who wronged you at the last moment. After the battle waged by weapons and words both, you have prevailed, the betrayer laying dead and your vengeance being completed.

Rewards updated

Rewards:

+1 level

+4500 EXP

Title: Vengeance bringer

Lucas was amazed at the awards he was given from what amounted to a personal quest and once again finding proof he was still wasn’t at his peak as he failed to notice he was one level higher. He returned to the log and, sure enough, he found the notification for the level up sitting there, right after the notification about quest completion.

“Congratulations! You are now Duelist level 42”

“Stat allocation in progress…”

“+3 Agility, +1 Perception, +1 Strength. One free point”

“Stat allocation completed”

There was just a matter of the seeing what the title he got was all about, so Lucas navigated to the titles submenu, finding his new shining title quickly enough.

Vengeance bringer

You are the one who rights all the wrongs and dish out vengeance, usually with liberal use of violence. Bearer of this title will make anyone who is a target of vengeance feel uncomfortable around him, with weaker individuals even freezing in panic.

“What a weird title” Lucas thought, making a mental note to ask Bruce about it. Lucas was finished here, so he and the rest of the party started their short trek back to the gate, Lucas recounting the tale of him and Michael on the way back. When they found themselves at their destination, another unpleasant surprise reared its head. Carmen, woman with Lucas now clashed on two different occasions, once in a prison when he freed Bruce and today, when he pushed her back when she tried to kill some of the adventurers in town.

“I thought I sent you back scurrying to your old fuck today already” Lucas opened the conversation.

“I’m here to offer you the terms of surrender.” she responded.

“Last time I checked, I hold the power here” Lucas shot back

“Well, you have to check again. There is heavies stationed at the skyscrapers right now, and they will unleash the destruction on the city if you and the rest of the rebels don’t surrender” Carmen said matter-of-factly, leaving to Lucas to made the decision.