Chapter 59
Underground, which the White Tiger had dug, was under its home, beneath a large tree the largest in the whole forest, because this beast was the strongest.
But even so, Lucas was able to defeat the White Tiger. Ezra, who had released the materials from the sealing scrolls, looked around the large underground base.
Aris looked around and sighed as Ezra threw him a tool.
They didn't speak much, knowing very well they would be fighting for the next several hours.
Both started moving quickly, using mana wherever a tool was needed.
Creating the lab had taken a lot of time, but the achievement was still reasonable.
Soon, Ezra started complaining, "Okay, why am I wasting my time doing this? Where is that kid? He should be helping."
"Don't think that way. I can't see, but I can understand. Just by being near him, Lucas really has something serious he's doing," Aris said, knowing very well about Lucas's condition and hoping for the best.
He used too much mana, more than he thought. I knew he just wanted to test his power, but he could have won if he didn't use that sphere, he sighed inwardly, thinking.
Ezra was still bothered.
They had already finished, and all the metal and rooms that should be in the base had been created at a breaking speed.
The lab had a metal door, with light stones illuminating the different passageways.
Right now, they were in a large area where tubs and other equipment were to be placed.
Ezra then spoke, "At this rate, we won't get this done today. I don't care about him doing something—I need him here so we can start that process already!" he shouted.
"Stop being an idiot and acting like you're so important. I'm waiting for it—do you see me shouting and crying like you?" Aris spoke.
"Who can ever understand the thoughts of the strong like you? You are just weak. A minute gone isn't coming back, and he's growing stronger. I need to… huh, never mind."
Aris shouted, "Then tell me, weak one, so I can understand!"
Ezra looked at him and said, "You don't know. You will never understand the feeling of looking at someone you defeated and realizing he was just playing with you. At the very least, he shouldn't have allowed me to win—it would have been better. But I won, looking at his almost-dying body on the day we fought. And today, he's showing me that if he wanted to, he could have killed me in the blink of an eye."
Ezra started to break down as his aura oozed out. "I want to grow stronger, I want to train harder, I want to become even better. He can't best me. I should—and I will—become the strongest."
Aris couldn't understand him.
The eyes of someone who would rather die to prove he's the strongest than live with the shame of defeat were incomprehensible.
The pain in his eyes couldn't be understood, but the drive in them was clear.
He wanted no one to become greater than him… why?
Aris couldn't understand and began questioning himself.
Is the reason he's calling me weak because of my drive? That I could fold if I entered a situation that would break me? Then I must be weak. Aris lowered his head before standing tall the next second.
No. I am going to become the greatest swordsman, Aris spoke inwardly, as Ezra was still angry but also happy, because he didn't like to submit to people weaker than him.
"Just wait, Lucas," Ezra said.
"Wait for what?" A voice came from another door, and both of them looked in that direction.
Lucas stood there, flawless, with a change of clothes.
He seemed healthy and okay.
Aris scanned him using Ore and found that the once-shattered Mana Core was even more brilliant than before, seemingly fully healed.
Aris smiled, looking his way. "You're back… Did you fix your problems?"
Lucas nodded with a smile as he looked at Ezra. "What should I wait for?"
Ezra smirked, "To beat your ass."
Lucas chuckled, "You already did."
Ezra said, "No, I didn't. You were holding back even more than I know."
Lucas smiled, looking around. "You guys did a great job. Rest for today. And Ezra, don't think I'll be slowing down. Aris, you too—don't fall behind for long."
Lucas loved the challenge because he used it to push himself even further.
The guys left the room with smiles, while Lucas started focusing on his part.
He spent most of the time doing everything that needed to be done and connecting what should be connected.
By the next day, he was in one of the large rooms, having used a summon spell to bring items from his previous lab, which also included his mother.
He looked at the improved lab, which seemed more modern than the era he was in.
Lucas smiled, relieved that his lab wasn't being watched.
Even with the White Tiger protecting this place, he wanted it safer, so he started placing even more runes and seals.
The lab contained 1,000 runes and seals, all focused on protection—sealing the place from anyone not allowed by him, and others focusing on escape, to move the lab to a different location.
There were also attack-focused runes, but if a 5-Star or above reached it, their attacks would be useless.
That's why Lucas focused on concealment and protection.
At the end, he looked at the tub before him.
The sun was rising outside, its light not reaching here, but Lucas could feel it.
He looked at the tub where his mother was inside.
"Another year without you is more painful than you know, Mom. I don't want you to die before smiling at me one more time, nor do I want that. But it's something I can never forget. So, Mother, get well soon. Your son is this close to finding the solution to your condition," Lucas said, sighing as he stepped back and went to find the boys so he could start the operation and finish it as quickly as possible.