LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 10: Chapter 10
Chapter 10: System Sacrifice
The rain poured relentlessly, washing the city streets in a muted gray. Luca sat alone in his office, staring at the flickering light of his desk lamp. The heist had been a bittersweet victory. While the Moretti Family's coffers were fuller than ever, the cost had been steep. Carlo's death weighed heavily on Luca's mind, but he knew there was no room for hesitation in his world.
The Crime Lord System had propelled him to heights he never imagined, but the whispers of its darker side had grown louder.
System Alert: Sacrifice Protocol Initiated.
The notification appeared abruptly, its cold, unfeeling text stark against Luca's vision. His breath caught as he read the details.
Protocol Description:
The system's power requires balance. A life must be forfeited for continued access to advanced abilities. Designation: Gabriel Ricci.
Luca's heart dropped. Gabriel.
---
Gabriel Ricci was more than just a trusted ally. He was Luca's closest confidant, someone who had stood by him even in his darkest moments. They'd grown up together on the same streets, surviving by wits and fists. Gabriel had always been the voice of reason, the calm to Luca's storm.
Luca slammed his fist on the desk, the lamp wobbling precariously. "Why him?" he growled, as if the system could hear his rage.
Response: The sacrifice is determined by the system. No substitutions allowed.
"No!" Luca shouted, his voice echoing through the room. His hands trembled as he gripped the edge of the desk. "There has to be another way."
The system remained silent, its interface unmoving.
---
The following day, Gabriel entered the office, his usual easygoing grin plastered on his face. "Morning, boss. You look like you didn't sleep a wink."
Luca forced a smile, hiding the storm raging inside him. "Busy night. What's the update on the Vipers?"
Gabriel dropped into a chair, resting his boots on the edge of the desk. "They're regrouping, but our heist hit them hard. Word is they're cutting back on their operations to recover."
"That's good news," Luca said, his voice hollow.
Gabriel tilted his head, studying Luca. "You alright? You've got that look you get when something's eating at you."
Luca waved him off. "Just the usual. You know how it is."
Gabriel chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Don't let it get to you, boss. We're winning, and that's what matters."
Luca's chest tightened. The guilt was unbearable. He had to find a way to save Gabriel.
---
That night, Luca consulted the system again, desperate for answers.
"Is there a way to cancel the sacrifice?" he demanded.
Response: The system's functions are immutable. Sacrifice Protocol is non-negotiable.
Luca clenched his fists, his mind racing. He could warn Gabriel, tell him to leave the city and disappear. But he knew Gabriel would never abandon him or the family.
System Alert: Sacrifice Deadline – 48 Hours.
The countdown clock appeared, ticking down second by second.
---
The hours passed in a blur. Luca threw himself into work, overseeing operations and planning the next moves against the Vipers. Gabriel was by his side the entire time, as loyal and unshakable as ever.
Each moment felt like a knife twisting in Luca's heart. He couldn't look at Gabriel without hearing the system's cold decree.
On the second night, Luca stood on the rooftop of the Moretti Family's headquarters, staring out at the city skyline. The rain had stopped, but the air was thick with tension. Gabriel joined him, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"You've been acting weird lately," Gabriel said, leaning against the railing. "What's going on?"
Luca hesitated, the words catching in his throat. He wanted to tell Gabriel everything—the system, the sacrifice, the impossible choice—but he couldn't.
"Just thinking about the future," Luca finally said.
Gabriel laughed, a deep, genuine sound. "You? Thinking about the future? That's a first."
Luca managed a weak smile. "Someone has to."
---
The next morning, the system issued its final warning.
Sacrifice Deadline: 12 Hours Remaining.
Luca paced his office, his mind torn between his loyalty to Gabriel and his reliance on the system. Without its power, the Moretti Family would crumble, and the Vipers would seize control. But losing Gabriel felt like tearing out a piece of his soul.
The system chimed again, offering a cryptic message.
The strength of a leader is measured by their willingness to make sacrifices. Proceed with conviction.
Luca slammed his fist into the wall, the pain a fleeting distraction from the turmoil inside him.
---
That evening, Gabriel was ambushed.
The attack came out of nowhere as Gabriel and a few enforcers returned from a routine operation. A black van screeched to a halt, and masked gunmen opened fire. Gabriel and his men fought back fiercely, but the ambush was overwhelming.
By the time reinforcements arrived, the gunmen had fled, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Gabriel lay on the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
Luca arrived moments later, his chest heaving as he sprinted toward his fallen friend. "Gabriel!" he shouted, dropping to his knees.
Gabriel's eyes fluttered open, a weak smile tugging at his lips. "Hey, boss… Looks like I messed up."
"Don't you dare say that," Luca said, his voice cracking. "We'll get you out of here. You'll be fine."
Gabriel chuckled, coughing up blood. "Always the optimist… You've got to keep going, Luca. The family needs you."
Tears blurred Luca's vision as Gabriel's breathing slowed. "You're my brother," Luca whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Gabriel's hand gripped Luca's weakly. "You've got this… Don't stop…"
With those final words, Gabriel's hand went limp, and his eyes closed.
---
The system chimed softly, the sound almost mocking.
Sacrifice Complete: Gabriel Ricci.
Reward Unlocked: Enhanced Tactical Insight.
Luca stared at the notification, his grief quickly turning to rage. He wanted to tear the system from his mind, to destroy the power that had cost him so much.
But he couldn't.
Gabriel's sacrifice had to mean something. Luca stood, his expression hardening. He would use the system, no matter the cost, to destroy the Vipers and secure the Moretti Family's future.
The pain of Gabriel's loss would never fade, but it would fuel Luca's resolve. The system's power was a double-edged sword, but Luca would wield it to the bitter end.