Chapter 46: Lonely Path, Sweet Revenge.

Chapter 46: Lonely Path, Sweet Revenge.

If you want to read up to 20!! chapters ahead go to /cornbringer

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Don't forget to check the auxiliary chapter about Adam. It's like an info chapter.

Adam now embarks on his long awaited revenge.

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[Adam POV]

Holding on to anger, onto hate, is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

I could understand that much.

I knew Ur and Lilia meant well.

I knew they were right about many things, but that didn't make it any easier for me.

Some say that revenge and retaliation only perpetuate the cycle of anger, fear, and violence. But, I find that lacking, not everything can be forgiven, sometimes the only thing left to do is taking matters into your own hands.

I knew Ur meant well, I did. I truly did.

And I was sorry I had tried to hurt her, just because I was hurt.

That being said, I couldn't let those who had taken so much from me, from everyone get away with what they had done.

No matter whether or not I was right...

The pain and suffering they had caused were simply unforgivable.

I knew what I had to do, but I also knew that it wouldn't come without a cost, even if it was the right thing to do.

The darkness that chapter of my life, my past had left inside me was growing, and I could feel it slowly taking over.

I had to end this before I became something I wasn't.

"We got the money," Ur said, drawing me out of my thoughts with a sharp intake of breath.

I looked up to see her holding the check for our reward.

"Good," I replied, my voice flat and emotionless.

I can't do this.

I can't pretend I'm strong enough to wait any longer.

I'm not.

I can't wait any longer to end this.

Now that I know I can reach them, now that I know where to look, I can't let this be any longer.

Even if I try to win this inner conflict, my anger, my hate would simply overrule my mind.

Ur's gaze softened as she looked down at me, and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Come on, brat," she said. "Let's go home."

"Thanks for everything, but I can't do this, Ur, I tried, I really did, but I can't," I muttered, my power bursting out of control as the ground beneath me trembled, sending out invisible shockwaves of energy in every direction. Pebbles and dust scattered in all directions as the force of my power pushed everyone around me back, knocking most out of commission.

"You don't have to do this alone," Ur stepped forward and grabbed my arm, forcing me to meet her gaze. Her eyes pleading me to stay with her, to turn back towards the guild with them. I could see her body was tense, ready to spring into action if I made any move indicating I intended to proceed.

Despite the urgency in her voice, despite the worry clouding her eyes, I could see that she wasn't willing to actually fight me.

"Tell the old man I will be gone for a while," I replied, pulling my arm away from her grasp, and with a heavy sigh, I turned around.

Ur stepped forward, a fierce light in her eyes as she thrust out her hands and the air around them coalesced into shimmering crystals of ice.

However, before she could do a thing, I moved behind her, blurring in and out of sight.

He pulled up a chair next to mine and signaled for the barkeep to bring him a mug of ale. "My name is Brandon," he introduced himself.

"Adam," I replied.

Durin took a swig of ale before leaning in closer to me. "You look like you're waiting for someone," he said in a low voice.

"And that's your business how exactly?" I asked, my tone sharp and to the point.

Brandon held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "Easy there, lad. I was just making conversation. No need to get all aggressive."

I remained silent, taking a sip of my ale before turning my gaze back to the crowd of people.

"So, if I might ask, who are you waiting for?" Brandon asked, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone himself.

This guy is either someone too noisy for his own good, or just a terrible criminal with no sense of self-preservation. Then again, I was sealing most of my power.

"Just someone I have business with," I replied vaguely.

"Aye, I understand," Brandon said, nodding knowingly. "I'm here on business myself, truth be told."

"Oh? What kind?" I asked, wondering where this would go.

Brandon leaned in even closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Let's just say I'm looking for someone who owes me a debt. And when I find them, they'll regret ever crossing me."

How strange... even though the level of power I was feeling from him was below even Lilia's. There was something dangerous about him, something that made me keep my guard up.

"Well, I hope you find whoever you're looking for," I replied with a nod.

Brandon chuckled, finishing off the rest of his ale. "Oh, I will. That I can promise, lad."

As Brandon signaled for another round of ale, the door of the bar creaked open, and a figure draped in a dark purple hood stepped inside, freezing my heart as the air around me grew still.

The man I was looking for.

He was here.

He was finally here.

Silently, and still processing what was happening, I watched as the man sauntered over to the bar, his movements smooth and measured, before taking a seat on a stool.

I rose to my feet, my muscles tensing as I felt an icy pulse of anger course through me.

However, before I could take a single step, I felt something.

Brandon bared his teeth in a snarl, his face contorted with rage. With a yell, he brought the mug of ale up above his head and crushed it into pieces on the wooden floor, "There you are, bastard!"

The man in the hood merely chuckled, his voice smooth and oily. "Ah, it's you. So good to see you again. I was wondering when you would come by."

"I will kill you!" Brandon roared, drawing his blade as he rushed at the man. "I'll cut off your head and send it to your mother as a message that there are no second chances, you bastard!"

"That sounds lovely, but I'm afraid we are out of time," the man in the hood said, his voice chilling to the bone.

At this, I began to sense something in the air, something faint, yet noticeable, like the glowing embers of a fire that was never there.

Realizing something was wrong, I reacted quickly and grabbed Brandon and the Barkeep by their shoulders, yanking them out of the tavern as the air shook with a deafening boom, with the building exploding into a thousand pieces.

At my side, the barkeep and Brandon lay out unconscious thanks to some sort of spell that had affected them before I had taken them out.

"Hm, I did not see that coming," The man in purple muttered, walking out of the now-demolished building; completely unscathed. "You saved two people, how honorable of you."

"I have but one question, do you work for the Tower of Heaven?" I asked, my voice low and icy.

The man in purple smirked, his eyes flashing. "Why is that important to you?"

"It is because if you do, I will make sure your death is as painful as possible," I replied without hesitation.

"Oh, in that case, yes, I do work for the Tower," The purple man chuckled mockingly. "So by all means, do try to kill me, I wholeheartedly welcome the challenge."

"As you wish," I replied, taking a step forward.