A Message in Severed Head

Lucas stood over the bodies of the three men, his eyes cold and calculating. The once-vibrant area now seemed muted, and still, the air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat.

Without hesitation, he bent down and severed the short man's head, setting it aside with a grim expression. The lifeless eyes stared blankly, a stark reminder of the brutality of the world Lucas now navigated.

Turning his attention to the two bodyguards and the headless corpse of the short man, Lucas's mind raced. "Let's see if what the system said about being able to absorb humans is right," he muttered to himself, curiosity and determination mingling in his tone.

"System, I want to absorb the two of them and leave the short guy's head."

[Affirmative! I'll take care of the messy details for you.] The system's response was brisk, almost too eager.

Lucas took a deep breath and began to cultivate, channeling his focus through the Divine Thunder Cultivation Manual. As he did, he could feel the system at work.

The corpses began to wrinkle and desiccate rapidly, their life essence being drained away. It was a macabre sight, one that Lucas watched with detached interest.

He could sense the mana flowing into him, richer and more concentrated than what he'd absorbed from the hobgoblin. It felt heavier, more potent, and it coursed through his veins, invigorating and empowering him.

After what felt like an eternity, but was only a few minutes, the process was complete. The bodies had been reduced to mere husks, crumbling away to ash. Lucas opened his eyes, feeling a surge of power within him. He quickly checked the status of his Zeus Mask.

[Zeus: One Star Magic Warrior (8%)]

Lucas smiled, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. "Not bad," he muttered to himself. Absorbing two people had yielded impressive results, significantly boosting his power. He couldn't help but wonder, his thoughts racing with anticipation, "What would happen if I absorbed the entire gang?"

The notion sent a thrill down his spine. A plan began to form in his mind, intricate and deadly. His smirk widened as he picked up the short man's head, contemplating the next steps. "You've caused enough trouble," he said to the lifeless head, almost as if it could hear him.

As he rifled through the short man's belongings, he was pleasantly surprised to find a spatial pouch. "Well, well, what have we here?" Lucas murmured, his tone laced with amusement.

He examined the pouch, noting its modest size. "It's not large, but it should be enough to carry some equipment and money without raising Lucy's suspicions."

He carefully packed the pouch, making sure to take only what he needed. As he worked, he spoke to himself, the solitude of the forest his only companion. "I'll need to be careful. Can't afford any mistakes now," he said, his voice steady but filled with a quiet determination.

With his loot secured, Lucas straightened up, his eyes hardening with resolve. The forest around him seemed to hold its breath, the silence only broken by the distant rustling of leaves.

He looked towards the town, his destination clear in his mind. "Time to put this plan into action," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

As he made his way out of the forest, his steps were purposeful and silent. The weight of his new power settled within him, a constant reminder of what he was capable of.

---

In the morning, the townsfolk began to go about their daily routines, preparing for work. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the cobblestone streets. Vendors were setting up their stalls, and children were playing before the day's chores began.

However, the usual hustle and bustle was interrupted by shouts of horror. "What on earth is that?" cried an elderly woman, her face paling as she pointed to the town center.

"Look! In the middle of the square!" a man yelled, dropping his basket of goods.

A crowd quickly gathered, their expressions a mix of fear and curiosity. In the center of the town, a gruesome sight awaited them. A head was impaled on a pike, its lifeless eyes staring out blankly. Beneath it, a white paper flapped in the gentle breeze, stained with blood.

"Oh my gods," whispered a young mother, covering her child's eyes. "Who would do such a thing?"

An older man stepped closer, his hands trembling as he read the message aloud. "Within 7 days, come to the goblin village if you want to find me," he recited, his voice shaking with a mix of fear and disbelief.

The townspeople recognized the head immediately. Murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. "Isn't that...?"

"Yes, it's him," confirmed a burly blacksmith, his voice grim. "The notorious troublemaker. About time someone dealt with him."

"His behavior has been a blight on this town for years," an elderly woman said, nodding her head. "But to end up like this... who would dare?"

Despite the fear evident in their expressions, there was a glimmer of satisfaction in their eyes. "He had powerful backing," a merchant whispered to his companion. "Yet someone still managed to bring him down."

"Serves him right," another voice muttered from the crowd. "He terrorized us for far too long and now he was gone"

While some townsfolk were visibly shaken, others couldn't hide their relief. "Maybe now we can have some peace without that piece of shit," a shopkeeper remarked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Who do you think left the message?" a young man asked, glancing around nervously. "Are they a friend or another foe?"

"Doesn't matter," the blacksmith replied, his jaw set in determination. "Whoever it is, they've given us a chance to see justice served."

As the townspeople dispersed, their conversations lingered on the sight they had witnessed. Fear and curiosity mixed with a cautious optimism that perhaps, just perhaps, their days of living under the troublemaker's shadow were over.