America: The Cremator

Chapter 102 Lucas's Contract!

This tough guy who once dominated the heavyweight boxing world is now kneeling on the ground in an extremely contorted position.

His left arm bent backward unnaturally, revealing the stark white broken bone. His sports jacket was torn open with a huge gash, revealing his ribs and pulsating internal organs.

There was a wound on his abdomen that almost severed him at the waist. Blood mixed with dirt and solidified into a dark red lump. He looked like a discarded, broken doll, utterly devoid of dignity.

Hearing footsteps behind him, he struggled to raise his head, his cloudy pupils refocusing. When he saw that it was Su Long, his chest heaved violently, and he gasped for breath like a broken bellows.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Suron. I still—acted on my own."

Surong strode forward, quickly unscrewed the lid of the "Raphael" jug at his waist, and aimed the spout at Lucas's most fatal wound on his chest, preparing to pour the wine: "Don't speak yet, you're badly injured, I'll treat you."

Lucas turned and collapsed to the ground, coughing violently. Large mouthfuls of blood mixed with pieces of internal organs gushed from his mouth, staining the soil in front of him red.

He raised his still-intact right hand and pressed down hard on Su Long's wrist, which was holding the wine pot. His voice was dry and hoarse: "No need for treatment. I know my own body very well."

He gripped Surong's arm, his voice trembling, and said haltingly, "Mr. Surong, I didn't go to the wrong place—I succeeded, Amy—Amy is here, she was the one who was taken away by that monster."

"That monster—took Amy into the church, and I followed it, encountering so many monsters along the way—but unexpectedly, I finally collapsed outside the door—"

Before he could finish speaking, he coughed violently again, as if he were about to cough up his lungs.

After a short while, he used the last of his strength to fumble in the inside pocket of his sports jacket and take out the small photo frame.

The glass of the picture frame was shattered, but the photo inside was intact. In the photo, Lucas was wearing a suit and holding Amy, who had pigtails, with a bright smile on his face.

Lucas stared at the photo for a moment, his rough thumb gently rubbing against his daughter's face.

A moment later, he handed the photo frame to Su Long, saying in an almost pleading tone, "Please—keep this safe."

Su Long silently took the photo frame and carefully put it into his shirt pocket.

Lucas watched as Suron finished doing all this, then raised his right hand, bit the edge of the sterling silver knuckle duster on his finger with his teeth, and slowly peeled it off.

Tears mingled with blood streamed down his face, and his voice trembled as he lamented, "I'm sorry, I watched it go in with my daughter, but I was powerless to stop it—"

"I am the most useless and cowardly father in the world — I am the most disgusting animal in the world."

"I should get up, I should go find her—but I'm too tired, too hurt, I can't walk anymore—"

"Amy is suffering inside, but all I can do is sit here like a stray dog."

"Mr. Surong, please, I beg you—you are a capable and kind man, please, I beg you to defeat that guy and bring Amy final relief—"

"She is my beloved daughter, such a kind child, she is only seven years old—she shouldn't have to go through this. If God exists, He wouldn't bear to let this child suffer like this—"

Lucas made his final plea through tears.

Surong reached out and gripped the pair of cold, pure silver knuckle dusters tightly. Looking into Lucas's eyes, which were on the verge of death, he solemnly said, "Alright, Lucas, I promise you."

Lucas's tense body instantly relaxed, and he said gratefully, "Thank you—thank you—"

Then, his gaze slowly shifted to the pocket on Su Long's chest. He paused for two seconds, then reached out his blood-stained hand, pulled the photo frame out again, and hugged it tightly to his chest.

He forced an awkward smile and said softly, "I'm sorry, Mr. Suron—I've changed my mind. Let me take this photo with me. Let me deceive myself for a moment, as if Amy is still by my side—"

After saying this, the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, his pupils lost focus, his gaze fixed on the direction of the church door, and his breathing gradually stopped.

He did not close his eyes until the very last moment.

Su Long sighed softly, slowly stood up, and flicked his finger. A cluster of golden primordial fire landed on Lucas's body, and the flames spread silently, instantly enveloping his battered body.

There were no screams, no struggles, only pure light and heat.

Just before his body completely turned to ashes and scattered, Su Long saw that on that weathered face, the corners of his mouth seemed to be slightly turned upwards, carrying a relieved smile.

The pale blue system characters suddenly flashed before Su Long's eyes.

[Burning the body of legendary boxing champion Lucas Crown unlocks a new entry—Peak of Boxing☆]

Almost simultaneously, Su Long felt a slight heat in his palm. He raised his hand and saw that the pair of pure silver knuckle dusters lying quietly in his palm were emitting a faint glow.

[A new relic has been acquired; you can name it.]

Did it inherit its master's will and transcend the boundary between the mortal and the sacred?

Surong never expected that he would witness the birth of a new sacred object. He looked at the pair of brass knuckles and spoke silently.

"Let's call him Lucas."

The next moment, a brand new entry appeared on his attribute panel.

【Lucas's Contract☆】

Su Long took a deep breath and looked up at the church. The heavy wooden door of the church had been opened at some point, and a figure dressed in a black nun's habit slowly emerged in front of the altar deep inside the church.

Her face was hidden in the shadow of her headscarf, with only a pale and stiff chin visible, and she exuded a nauseating aura of resentment.

Standing beside her was the girl from the photo, Amy.

The ghost nun stretched out a withered, claw-like hand and grabbed the girl's slender neck, then suddenly exerted force in front of Su Long.

"Gaba".

A crisp cracking sound echoed in the deathly silent church as the girl's cervical vertebrae snapped instantly, her head drooping at an extremely twisted angle onto her shoulder.

Then, as if playing with a toy, the ghost nun straightened her neck and broke it again.

She stood there in the church, showing Suron the broken toy in her hand.

The crisp sound of bones breaking and contemptuous laughter echoed continuously in the church, repeatedly stimulating Sulong's fragile nerves.

The intertwined sounds seemed to mock the exorcist who was always a step behind, and also seemed to mock the impulsive and incompetent father.

In an instant, an uncontrollable rage surged from the depths of Su Long's heart to the top of his head, and his eyes instantly turned red.

He told himself to calm down and use the limited resources to upgrade "Sirius" and "American Dream," which was the safest way to fight.

The voice of reason echoed in my mind, but it was so faint that it was instantly drowned out by the overwhelming torrent of emotions.

He glanced at the 50 experience points remaining on the system panel.

Consumes 10 experience points!

Consumes 30 experience points and one mithril coin!

[Peak of Fist Techniques☆] → [Peak of Fist Techniques☆☆] → [Peak of Fist Techniques☆☆☆]

Consumes 10 experience points and one mithril coin!

【Lucas's Contract☆】→【Lucas's Contract☆☆】→【Lucas's Contract☆☆☆】

Two brand-new panels unfolded before him.

[Peak of Fist Technique ☆☆☆]

Type: Blessing Description: The host will become a person born for boxing, with boxing skills surpassing the limits of the era and species. When hitting an enemy with punches and hand-to-hand combat, randomly inflict one of three effects on the enemy: [Stun], [Slow], or [Weakness]. These effects can stack and last for 30 seconds.

Comment: Punch, and punch again!

【Lucas's Contract☆☆☆】

Type: Blessing Description: It once belonged to a fallen warrior, a desperate father; you will inherit his legacy. Use flames to purify and save! When your punch hits an enemy, randomly grant yourself three effects: [Fearless], [Berserk], and [Armor Break]. These effects can stack and last for 30 seconds.

Evaluation: Use the Flame Fist on your enemy!

Su Long quickly finished reading the entry, let out a long breath, and told himself:

Yes, Surong, you made the right choice, that's exactly how it should be!

Go on!

Use Lucas's skills, use Lucas's power, to fight, to smash this utterly despicable monster to death with every punch!

He gripped the pair of brass knuckles named "Lucas" tightly in his hands, loosened his muscles, and with a snap, a burst of brilliant golden flames erupted, instantly engulfing his fists and entire arms.

It's time to unleash the Flame Fist on the monsters who despise life!