My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 640

After all, the young man had already endured immense pain—he deserved a chance to lead a better life, to find a new purpose worth living for, something far more meaningful.

Though he was allowing the young man to make the final decision, he had never truly intended to grant these people a swift death.

No, he had vowed to make them live in fear and regret, to ensure they experienced the agony of a living hell. This was the price they owed for ruthlessly taking the lives of his men.

"I don’t want them to have an easy death," the young man declared, his voice steady but laced with chilling resolve. "I want them to suffer in pain for as long as they live—because that’s what they owe me for everything I’ve endured." His eyes burned with murderous intent, cold and devoid of mercy as he fixed his gaze on Young Master Colton, looking at him as if he were already a dead man.

Duke tilted his head to the side as he studied his prisoners, his gaze cold and assessing. He shared the same sentiment—he had come down here to ensure their suffering and to see firsthand that their torment was far from over.

When he returned to City A, he wanted his men to know that those who had inflicted pain on their brothers were now enduring a far worse fate—and would continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

However, as his eyes shifted to the young man standing guard at the door, a new thought crossed his mind.

A young man like him had so much more potential than being confined to this dungeon, wasting away in a cycle of vengeance.

Duke saw something in him—a fire, a determination. Rather than being buried in this place, he could channel his hatred into something greater, using it as fuel to grow stronger, to carve out a future where he wouldn’t just survive, but thrive.

"Then we’ll keep them alive and make sure they suffer for as long as possible while we go on to live better lives. That, in itself, would be the greatest revenge you could take." Duke’s voice was firm yet measured as he looked at the young man.

"You should leave this dungeon and step into the world above. Join your friend Reeve, train, and become stronger. By doing so, you’ll ensure that the tragedy you once suffered will never happen to you again."

"More than that, you’ll gain the power to protect the weak, to prevent others from experiencing the same pain you endured. If you stay here, letting hatred consume you, you’ll only lose yourself to the abyss."

"But you’re still young—you need to go out, to broaden your horizons. If you confine yourself to this narrow space, you’ll be giving these people exactly what they want. They’ll know they still hold power over you, that they can control your emotions. Don’t let them have that satisfaction."

"So you should show them your strength—prove that you can step out of the shadows, rise above this place, and become even stronger. That way, when you return to see them again, they’ll have no choice but to bitterly laugh at themselves and drown in their own suffering," Duke advised the young man.

He wasn’t the type to concern himself with others, but as Kisha had reminded him before, this was now their territory, and these people—this young man included—were under their protection.

Beyond that, Duke understood the harsh reality: the number of survivors left on Earth was dwindling. If humanity had any hope of survival, they needed to protect and guide those who remained, ensuring they had a future worth fighting for.

As a leader, it was Duke’s responsibility to guide and inspire his people to strive for something greater.

While he knew they could never completely let go of their hatred, he also understood that allowing it to consume them would only hinder their growth.

Holding onto vengeance without progress was nothing more than self-sabotage. That was why he wanted to enlighten the young man—to give him a path forward.

"Then, what do you want me to do, Vice City Lord?" the young man asked, bowing his head. His eyes were red, a mix of emotions swirling within them.

He didn’t fully agree with Duke’s words, but something about them struck a chord. He realized that letting his enemies dictate his emotions—allowing them to control his every thought—only gave them more power over him.

And perhaps Duke was right.

Living his life to the fullest while ensuring his aggressors suffered in misery would be the best revenge he could ever hope for.

And Duke wanted to give him that chance—to carve out a future where he didn’t just survive but thrived. Find more to read at freewebnovel

"Get stronger and serve me and my wife. Become one of our sharpest blades and ensure that no one in this base suffers the same injustice you once did. Train until you’re strong enough to lead a small team—so that when my wife and I need to leave for scouting missions, we can do so knowing this place is in capable hands," Duke said nonchalantly, his gaze shifting back to the prisoners in the cell.

He made it a point to say this to all his people—not just to push them to grow stronger, but to fuel a sense of rivalry and purpose.

For some reason, he felt like this kid was paying too much attention to his wife, and he didn’t like it. _{freewebnσvel.cѳm}