Chapter 406 92.2 - Hidden Currents

Chapter 406 92.2 - Hidden Currents

Everyone has their regrets.

Things that they wanted to do but weren't able to?

Wrong choices. Wrong time. Wrong acts.

In the end, it is always something that is wrong.

For some people, it is engraved in their lives.

For Lucas, who had lived his whole life under the shadow of other people, there were countless of those.

The moment when he first lost to Julia.

The moment when he collapsed from overworking and understood it was his limit.

The moment when he lost in the duel against Damien.

The moment he died for the sake of the other people and received nothing.

Those were all regrets.

He had seen all of his future regrets and promised himself he would change them.

To change the future that was awaiting him. To become the star of the light.

Yet, aside from those future regrets, there was always one thing that had been haunting him.

A person.

"Lucas."

White hair tied at the back of his neck.

Cold blue eyes piercing one's own existence.

A pressure that even breathing is hard before it.

A presence for which the world needs to show respect.

Fergus Middleton.

His father.

"Yes, father."

He was one of the strongest beings of his generation. Someone who reached the pinnacle of the world.

Someone who stood at the top of many monsters, many demons. Blade Demon.

Someone who earned such a nickname.

Yet, for Lucas, the existence of Fergus meant something different.

He was the reason Lucas was like this. From the moment he was born, Lucas was always subjected to the ideal of a perfect heir.

Julia was not that different.

The two were raised by constantly being compared to each other, someone else.

If one asked Lucas what his biggest regret was, that would be the fact that he had never once heard praise from Fergus' mouth.

Not even once.

No ounce of acceptance.

For Fergus, only results mattered, and Lucas wasn't able to show any good results at all. At least, the results he had shown had always fallen short compared to the ones that Julia had.

As a swordsman, Julia was superior. Her talent was slightly higher than his, and that slight difference was all that mattered.

At the end of the day, he never was able to get any sort of compliment.

Even when he died, he felt like Fergus was disappointed in him.

As Lucas stood before his father, Fergus Middleton, the weight of years of unspoken expectations hung heavy in the air. Fergus's presence alone demanded respect, his stature and cold blue eyes piercing through any facade.

Lucas swallowed his nerves, bracing himself for whatever words his father would impart.

Even now, he couldn't stand in his presence completely devoid of anything.

"Lucas," Fergus's voice was deep and commanding, cutting through the arena's lingering cheers. "You did well today, choosing the heir of 'those.' You've shown that Middletons are not to be trifled with."

Lucas inclined his head slightly, a mix of relief and pride swelling within him at his father's acknowledgment.

"Then, why did you lose? Why did you challenge him despite knowing that the probability of you losing was high?"

His eyes peered through Julia as he asked this question.

That evoked something inside Lucas since this was the same question that his father asked him when he was the one challenging Damien.

Julia met her father's gaze with unwavering resolve. "Father, to retreat from a challenge simply because the odds were against me would mean I lack as a swordsman. A Middleton does not back down from a worthy opponent."

Fergus frowned slightly, his expression reflecting sternness. "As a hunter, it is your duty to retreat when the situation calls for it. What you did was reckless, even foolish."

Julia stood tall, her voice steady and unyielding. "A hunter may choose the most strategic option, but as a swordsman and as a noble of Middleton blood, I refuse to cower in the face of adversity. A friend once taught me that true strength comes from facing the strongest opponents, not from avoiding them."

It was clear who was the person Julia was implying.

After all, there was one clear guy who boldly announced that he wanted to be a hero.

Ethan Hartley.

"Heh....."

Lucas watched in astonishment as his father's expression softened ever so slightly. A rare smile bloomed on Fergus's face, a sight that stirred a mix of surprise and longing in Lucas's heart. It was a smile he rarely saw, one that hinted at approval and pride.

'Why? Why are you showing that smile? I said the same words, too...At that time, I said the same words too. But you didn't smile at me.' He couldn't comprehend. Yes, maybe he lost brutally against Damien at that time. Maybe he thought so highly of himself.

But so did Julia. She also lost against him, and she couldn't win.

Then why?

Why was the reaction different?

Why couldn't it be him?

"Well said," Fergus murmured, his voice carrying a hint of admiration. "No matter how formidable your adversary, a Middleton never bows before the strong."

He paused, his gaze completely focused on Julia.

"And what you displayed in that duel, challenging the [World of Dreams] of the Arkwrights, it was a testament to your spirit and determination. The fact that you were able to shatter it and go against it at this age."

Fergus stopped, looking at Julia.

"You are the greatest talent that I have ever seen."

CLICK! The moment Lucas heard these words, he felt like something inside him had snapped.

'I see....' Something...He came to the realization of something.

The visions of Julia brilliantly fighting against Damien started playing in his mind.

The way she had completely gone against him.

The fact that she would win if her body didn't hold her back.

And then it was another vision.

The memory of Ethan being able to use a skill that he would be using when he graduated from the academy.

The memory of Ethan going against Kellan Stormrider, who could even go against Lucas himself.

The memory of everyone chanting Ethan and everyone watching the scene with pride.

And then, the memory of the look his father gave him just now. 'No matter what I do, it won't be enough for you, will it?' It felt like everything was against him.

'No matter what I do, I will never be able to surpass you. Is that what you are saying?'

It felt like he would never be good enough.

'No matter what, this world will reject me until the end?'

Regardless of his efforts and the time he put into mastering that illusion blade, Julia could do better in just a matter of seconds.

This world was such a place.

'If this world is such a place. If this world is rejecting me, then what's the point of putting in all of this effort?'

What was the point when he was destined to achieve nothing?

At that moment, he felt something dark inside him awakening.

'Right. What is the point of this world existing if it is rejecting me?

This world... it doesn't deserve to be saved,

It deserves to be destroyed.'