Chapter 60: His Motto
"Make them fear you, living in your shadow forever." — Nero Adams
°°°
For a fleeting moment, a dark thought crossed Nero’s mind: ’I wish I could crush his limbs, torture him.’ But he quickly chastised himself. That would be too easy, too quick. He wanted Barak to suffer, to feel the weight of defeat. Today, he had crushed him, but Nero understood that someone like Barak would eventually rise again. This was only a setback.
Nero’s aim wasn’t merely a one-time victory; he sought to completely obliterate Barak’s spirit. If Barak hadn’t provoked him, perhaps he could have lived a relatively peaceful life. But now, having earned Nero’s ire, there was no turning back. The greatest revenge he could exact was to make Barak live in constant fear, forever in the shadow of his power. For Barak, this method was the most appropriate—an ongoing reminder of his failure and a psychological torment that would haunt him long after.
Nero’s strategy was meticulously calculated.
Suddenly he was brought out of his reverie by the voice of his teacher.
"Congratulations, Nero!" Balrog exclaimed, beaming with pride. "Your mastery of the Law is impressive. I knew you had it in you."
His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he continued, "Your strategy was brilliant. You didn’t just win; you demonstrated a deep understanding of your opponent’s psychology. You made Barak doubt himself, and that’s what led to your victory."
As they spoke, Barak was being carried off to the infirmary, having lost consciousness from the intensity of the fight and the psychological burden of everything that happened today.