Chapter 18: Revenge is sweet when served cold

Zac leapt high, narrowly avoiding the jaguar’s snapping fangs. He caught a hanging vine and swung himself a few meters away.

Before he could even turn, the jaguar was already in front of him. It twisted aside with its canines slicing through the air where his neck had been a moment ago.

[It’s been an hour. Why are you still playing with it? Just kill it and be done.]

"I came into the portal to train. If I just overpower every monster with my stats, what’s the point of coming?"

Ever since leaving the banana forest, he had been doing the same thing. Picking fights with a strong monster and forcing himself to adapt.

Only when the monsters slowed down did he finish them and take their mana stones before moving on to the next.

[See the jaguar is getting slower.]

In a flash, he slipped behind it and slit its neck. The beast collapsed, its body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

He then retrieved the mana stone and stored the carcass in the inventory before leaving the portal.

The sky outside had already turned dark. He glanced at the VSB.

"8 p.m. I could still make it home before dinner."

The guards at the entrance noticed him. "Hey, kid, how was your haul?"

"Not bad. Fought a few monkeys."

"The golden monkeys?"

"Yeah. You know about them?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Bastards gave me one hell of a time just over some damn bananas."

"Yeah! They sure get wild when it involves bananas."

"Alright, see you."

He gave them a brief wave and headed home.

***

"Mom, I’m back!" Zac shouted as he stepped inside. His mother hurried over, pulling him into the living room.

"Didn’t I say I’d be back before dinner? See? I kept my promise."

"You did," she said with a faint smile.

"So, where’s Carrie? I brought her something."

"She... went to bed." Zac paused, noticing the slight tremor in her voice.

"What? This early? It’s only nine. She usually stays up till ten."

"She’s not feeling well, Zac. That’s why she slept early."

His expression hardened. "What happened?"

"Nothing serious. Just a stomach ache."

"Really? Talk about perfect timing. I have something that will make her run in no time." He reached into his inventory and pulled out a bunch of bananas while walking towards Carrie’s room.

His mother stepped in front of him with a nervous face, stopping him in his tracks.

Zac frowned. "What’s going on, Mom?" You’re acting kind of strange today." He moved past her and walked straight into Carrie’s room.

Carrie is sitting on the bed, staring out the window at the moon.

"Aren’t you sleeping, Carrie? Mom said you’re sick. What happened?" He held out the bananas. "Ta Daa... Look what I have got for you. It’s your favorite bananas, and you know what? These are special bananas I got inside the portal."

She glanced at them, then quietly turned her head away.

Zac’s smile faded. He sat beside her and gently turned her face toward him.

The moment he saw her clearly, his body went rigid. A red handprint stood out against her cheek.

"Who did this?"

His voice rang through the house like cold iron.

For a moment, both Carrie and Martha froze, seeing the anger in his face.

Carrie opened her mouth, but Zac caught the look Martha gave her. "It’s nothing, brother," Carrie said quickly. "Just... a fight at school."

"Really?" His voice dropped, heavy.

"It’s true. Just... a fight between friends."

Zac didn’t look convinced. "Weren’t you saying your classmates treat you well? That you’re friends with all of them?"

Carrie’s lips parted, but no words came out. Before she could falter, Martha stepped in.

"You know how kids are these days. They fight one moment and make up the next. Let’s not get involved. They’ll sort it out themselves."

Zac stood there for a second, his gaze shifting between them.

"Fine."

He placed the bananas in Carrie’s hands. "Eat this. You’ll feel better." Without another word, he turned and left, shutting the door behind him.

Martha sat down beside Carrie. "Don’t tell your brother what happened. He already has too much on his mind. We don’t need to give him more to worry about, okay?"

Carrie lowered her head and nodded. Martha stayed for a moment, then quietly left the room.

After Martha went to bed, Zac quietly slipped into Carrie’s room and saw that she is still awake. "Brother? Why are you here?"

He sat beside her, his fingers brushing gently over the red mark on her cheek. "What really happened, Carrie?"

"I told you... it was just a fight between us girls."

He gave her a long look. "You’re a terrible liar, you know that?"

"You’re a good girl, right? Good girls don’t lie to their brothers."

She hesitated. "But... Mom..."

"This stays between us," he said softly. "I won’t tell her. Just tell me."

The words broke whatever she was holding back. Carrie threw her arms around him and started crying.

Zac held her, one hand resting on the back of her head, letting her cry it out. He didn’t rush her, just stayed there until her sobs slowly faded.

After a few minutes, she pulled back, wiping her eyes and nose, and told him everything about Lily and Peter.

Zac listened without interrupting.

When she finished, he gently laid her down. "Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. You just forget everything and sleep."

His eyes drifted to the bananas on the side table. "You didn’t eat it?"

"I was going to..."

"Try it now."

She picked it up, peeled it, and took a bite.

Her eyes widened instantly. "This is so good! Where did you get it? I didn’t know bananas could taste like this."

He smiled faintly. "A gift for being brave and standing up for Mom. I have plenty. So eat as much as you want."

He placed a bunch of bananas beside her and stood up.

"Sleep well."

Carrie nodded, still holding the banana.

The moment he was outside, his face darkened with a murderous hint.

"That bitch."

"How dare she?"

"I’m going to kill her in the most painful way I can."

His hand tightened at his side as he moved toward the exit.

[Are you going to kill her now?].

"Yes."

[Then what? Get arrested, branded as a killer, and locked up inside the prison.]

"I don’t care."

[Maybe not. But what about your mother and sister?]

He suddenly stopped moving.

[Lose yourself to anger, and everything ends. Have you forgotten what your bloodline means? Fall into despair once, and there’s no coming back.]

Zac stood still, jaw clenched.

"...What are you suggesting?"

[Think of a plan before making a move. Haven’t you heard the phrase ’revenge is sweet when served cold’.]

"Fine."