The prison complex of Hangman’s row was old and crumbled castle in the pre – System Earth that the System dragged from who knows where during the stretching and terraforming Earth’s landmass during the initiation, while humans were off to the tutorials. Loremasters later called that process “Reimagination” and speculated that it had something to do with mana streams. None of that mattered to the humans that settled the shadows of the skyscrapers eventually growing it into the settlement that is Camp Hearth now, pragmatically deciding to use the space as holding cell for the worst of the worst to limit the civilian casualties when some of inmates decided to try to escape, which happened pretty regularly, seeing as one of the marks from battles past prompted Lucas into this stream of thought while awaiting his opponent to show op. Crazy latex lady, as he took to call her, was definitely more than a match for her, especially in the straight up fights where she had the range of her whip and enough mobility to prevent Lucas from outright outmaneuvering her. That left ambushes and surprise attacks as his only avenues of attacks, but Carmen, as he learned her name was when he inspected her with “Eye for details” moved carefully, sending her whip behind every corner before emerging and avoiding cramped up spaces where she would be at a disadvantage. What she couldn’t do, however, was hide her presence, no matter how hard she tried, and that gave Lucas a good idea where she is at every moment, an advantage he liberally exploited. Inmates, agitated by what was happening, where howling, threatening and when spotting Carmen catcalling. Guards, same unit that hunted Lucas through the town where staying their best to calm them down and at the same time to stay away from the way of two powerful opponents that were ducking it down. Once again cursing Michael, Lucas rued the decision to come back.

“At least I got my stash” he thought as he looked at his belt pouch that held a lot of health and stamina potions, and three flashbang potions, a bright yellow liquid held in a bottle that blinded everything when broken. He sensed that Carmen finally came around, searching everywhere but the cramped area where Lucas now awaited her. Predictably, whip came first, bending in unnatural way to round the corner, but Lucas prostrated himself. Changing his pose back to crouch, he muttered “Infused piledriver” when he spotted Carmen. Slamming into her, he felt his sword rending flesh as he passed through the thigh, but missing vital parts. Carmen screamed, immediately sending her whip after Lucas who activated “Dodge” to do quick sidestep and tried a “Guiding strike”. His sword was intercepted, however, by the whip and it changed course enough for him to miss. “Tripping swipe” was all he heard before finding himself on the floor as the whip tripped him. Second swipe was already on his way, whip now full of thorns that Lucas would bet on having poison. And he wasn’t in a mood for poison, so he rolled out of the way to the cheer of the inmates who were cheering the fight on. Carmen threw him calculated look before going into her flurry attacks, just as she did every time they face off. And just like before, Lucas was forced to back off, taking extreme care to avoid thorns when they show up on the whip. What he could guess from the skill was that it rotated all the other skills Carmen had, but he couldn’t find any pattern. So he retreated, his now exposed forearm a good reminder that he could always get hit with a nasty attack. He retreated through the door that had “RESTRICTED” written on them, finding himself in a wing with just a few cells. And in one of them, he spotted a familiar face. The town Loremaster, an old head that Lucas was so fond of proving wrong when he started ranting about him not studying enough, sat on of the benches, not even bothering to look at the commotion. Lucas made a decision on the fly, barricading the door with everything heavy he could find, including a guard desk and weapon locker. He heard knocking on the door, but his improvised barricade held.

“Why are you here?” Lucas asked without preamble.

“Lucas, the foolish young. Came here to gloat? I hope they at least pay you well” the Loremaster said with a flat voice.

“Who pays me what?” Lucas confusedly asked

“Our new overlords, of course. You know they fashion themselves as some kind of United Nations?” Loremaster said, this time a bit of emotion, namely anger, heard in his voice.

“A what? You know I don’t know those fancy words” Lucas responded, smile inadvertently spreadin through his face. He forgot for a moment how much he liked to annoy the old Loremaster.

“Dumb to the very end. It doesn’t matter anymore. I am to die today as the enemy of humanity”

Lucas was dumbstruck. That’s the same reasoning Michael gave to him as the reason for betrayal that still stung Lucas.

“Stay back, I’m getting you out” Lucas told the Loremaster, deciding he needs the answer.

“And then what, foolish young? Every centimeter of this complex is littered with guards”

“Leave them to me” Lucas simply said as he activated “Guiding strike”, replicating with the lock on the cell what he done to the horn of the King back in the dungeon. And in good moment to, as loud bangs cleared the obstacles that Lucas planted on the door. Through the splinters, Carmen emerged and instantly her whip went flying through the air. Lucas opted to activate “Punch parry”, repelling the whip. But before he could retaliate, Carmen recovered and once again tripped him. Just after that moment, she registered that Loremaster was free and with a snarl she charged at him. Lucas took that moment to activate “Infused piledriver” with a mental command, spinning and slashing at the charging Carmen, missing her with sword but still knocking her off her path. She retaliated with her flurry of whip strikes, Lucas once again forced back.

“Run” he yelled at the Loremaster , reaching into his pouch and throwing one of the flashbangs at the floor, closing his eyes. Under his eyelids a bright flash erupted and he instantly ran, catching up to the old Loremaster. Few of the guards tried doing their jobs, but they quickly met the business end of Lucas’s sword, rest of them content to pacify the rest of the inmates that were growing restless seeing one of them free and on the way out. Carmen was just behind them, her whip already lashing at Lucas. He once again parried it with his fist, but that slowed him just enough to once again get in the range of swing aimed to trip him. And that she did, yelling at the guards at the same time to stop the Loremaster. Lucas was prepared, however, and dropped another flashbang as he was falling, immediately blinding the whole room. He got up and continued his sprinting, taking Loremaster as a sack and throwing him over his shoulders. The rest were slowly getting back to their senses, but Lucas was gaining with every step, especially now that he wasn’t getting slowed down by the slow step of his companion. To his credit, Loremaster was very still, making Lucas job that much easier. They were finally back at the courtyard and there a swarm of troopers awaited them.

“I’m sorry for this” he yelled to the Loremaster before throwing him over the wall, using every last ounce of his Strength. The old man yelled in surprise and you could hear slight undertones of fright, but he went out of view speedily. Lucas then focused on evasion of the attacks guards send his way, aiming for a good angle to jump over the same wall he threw the Loremaster over. Unfortunately for him, Carmen soon caught up and seeing no other way, he used up his last flashbang, still surprised how he managed to catch her three times on the same trick. Everyone went blind and although Carmen this time swinged wildly with her whip, blind strikes weren’t much of the problem for Lucas. He activated “Infused piledriver” that slammed him at the edge of the wall, and with a quick jump, he was over it. He spotted his companion and went over to him.

“I need some answers” he simply stated to the Loremaster.

“You are finally ready to learn something?” Loremaster teasingly responded back.

Lucas rolled his eyes in response, letting the old man get his time to shine. They heard commotion and guessed search party were sent out to found them, so they once again jumped over the wall, this time one marking the borders of Camp Hearth and quickly retreated into the forest surrounding the Camp Hearth, a place that started getting to familiar to Lucas which was the feeling he wasn’t particularly keen to posses. After going somewhat deep into the forest, Lucas caught some game while Loremaster settled the camp.

“I’m looking forward to the proper bed” Lucas commented.

Old man hadn’t responded to him, still fiddling with the meat that was now being cooked at the fire.

“Do you even know my name, Lucas?” he suddenly asked, startling Lucas. In truth, he never tried to learn it, content with calling him old man for most of the time. He told the Loremaster that much.

“My name is Bruce”

“Okay. I still need some answers”

“And I need some food and some sleep. Tomorrow” Bruce told Lucas, who was visibly frustrated, but didn’t press the issue. They ate in silence and without further ado, old man put Lucas on guard duty and went to sleep. Lucas sighed and set himself up for his duty.