"That's unfortunate. And I really wanted to get that information out of you. Oh well, I guess I can get it after I've beaten you guys up." Lucas said as the thugs surrounded him.

And then he moved.

One moment he was standing five paces away. The next, he was directly in front of Scar, his hand wrapped around the man's throat, lifting him a solid six inches off the ground.

Scar's eyes bulged. He clawed at Lucas' arm, but it was like trying to move an iron bar.

"Still think I'm faking?" Lucas asked conversationally.

Knuckles roared and charged, his fist pulled back for a haymaker. Shadow didn't even look at him. His free hand shot out, catching Knuckles's punch mid-swing. The impact echoed down the alley.

Knuckles stared at his fist, trapped completely in Shadow's grip. Then Shadow squeezed.

The sound of grinding knuckles filled the air. Knuckles screamed.

Shadow released both men, letting Scar drop gasping to the ground while Knuckles clutched his hand, whimpering.

Twitchy had frozen completely, his eyes wide with terror.

"Wait! Wait,! Mr. Shadow. We know we were wrong. It's just that were so hungry and since you took all of our money last time..." The leader started.

"Are you saying that you guys committing crimes is my fault?" Lucas said with a raised brow.

"No, no, no, no. Not at all. In fact, it's quite the opposite. We are very grateful to Mr Shadow for teaching us right from wrong." He responded.

"If you guys really knew right from wrong then you wouldn't be out here robbing memorials." Lucas said

"The last time, I told you three things," Lucas continued. "Do you remember?"

Scar coughed, trying to get his breath back. "You... you said..."

"One: It.would be nice if you left the lady alone but since there is no lady here. You can just step away from the memorial. "

The thugs had moved so far from the memorial by the time Lucas had finished, they might have been Wally West.

"And second: leave all your money behind."Lucas continued.

"Wait, your robbing us again." One of the criminals said in disbelief.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I?" Lucas asked.

"But aren't you supposed to be the hero? Can't you see we're on the brink of starving here. Can't you give us a pass this time." The leader said.

"Being a hero doesn't pay the bills. Enough talk, hurry and drop the money." Lucas said.

"Please," Scar rasped. "We're sorry. We won't do it again. Please, just don't take our money."

"Yes," Shadow agreed. "I agree that you won't do it again. But sorry doesn't quite cover it this time, does it?" He crouched down, bringing himself eye-level with Scar. "I'm going to need compensation."

"We don't have much," Knuckles said through gritted teeth. "Just a few coppers."

"Empty your pockets," Shadow commanded. "All of them. And your boots. Check the boots too...I know you hide money there."

The three men scrambled to comply, pulling out coins, small bills, even a few brass rings that looked stolen. Shadow watched impassively as they piled their meager wealth on the ground.

When they were done, he looked at the pile critically. "Is that everything?"

"Yes!" Twitchy said. "I swear, that's all of it!"

Shadow studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I believe you." He scooped up the coins and valuables, leaving only enough for each of them to buy a single meal. "Consider this a collection fee. For giving me so much trouble."

He stood, looking down at the three of them. "Now, I want you to replace everything you took from this memorial. Every coin, every offering. You'll purchase them with honest money...work for it if you have to. You have two days."

"Two days?" Scar protested. "How are we supposed to..."

"Two. Days. If this memorial hasn't been properly restored by then, I'll come find you again. And next time, I won't be nearly as pleasant." Lucas said.

Seeing that the thugs were still hanging about, Lucas said: "What are you waiting for? Scram!"

"Yes sir." The leader said.

The thugs slowly walked away but as soon as they were far enough away, they absolutely booked it out of the alleyway.

[Ding!]

[Achievement Unlocked!]

[Achievement: Villain Hunter]

[Conditions: Repeatedly target fellow villians]

[+40 Villian Points]

[<Warning! Repeated attempts at going against the system core values may result in loss of system!>]

Free points! Nice! I don't like that warning though!

Seeing that the thugs had left, Lucas released a sigh of relief and left the alley.

Once he was two streets over and certain no one was watching, Lucas ducked into another recessed doorway.

The mask dissolved, the illusions fading as the obsidian surface returned to solid form. He slipped it back into his pocket, and his appearance returned to normal.

He checked his pocket watch.

Twelve minutes.

"Damn, damn, damn!" Lucas broke into a full sprint.

As he ran, he felt the weight of the coins he'd taken from the thugs. They weren't his to keep this time.

This money belonged back at the memorial, supplementing whatever the thugs managed to scrape together over the next two days.

I'll drop them off. After the exam. he thought. Anonymous donation.

The academy gates came into view ahead. Lucas pushed himself faster, his enhanced agility allowing him to maintain a pace that would have left his old self gasping for air.

As he rushed to the gate, he reviewed everything he knew about the Arvsen Forest from the game.

In the game, Arvsen had been the first major challenge zone or "dungeon" as it is much more commonly known.

Despite being the first dungeon in the game, it wasn't one you would actually fully conquer until mid game.

It was a sprawling woodland that stretched for miles beyond the academy's protected grounds.

The trees there grew thick and twisted, their canopies so dense that sunlight barely penetrated to the forest floor. Luminescent fungi provided most of the light, casting everything in an eerie blue-green glow that played tricks on the eyes.

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