The Lucas Wykes Betrayal: Chapter References

If you’ve spent any time reading The Beginning After the End, you already know that not all villains are created equal. Some are masterminds, others are monsters—but then there’s Lucas Wykes, a character who managed to earn the fandom’s hatred in a very different way. What makes Lucas stand out isn’t just what he did—it’s how early he showed just how ugly the world of TBATE could get.

Let’s break down both of his major “betrayals,” why they hit so hard, and why fans still debate whether he was pure trash or something more complicated.

1. The Dire Tombs Incident — When Cowardice Became Unforgivable

The first time Lucas truly crosses the line happens during the infamous Dire Tombs raid. Up until this point, he’s mostly just arrogant and annoying—but here, he shows his real face.

What happened?

• The party encounters a monster far above their level (the Elderwood Guardian).
• Panic sets in—and Lucas makes a choice.
• Instead of fighting or coordinating an escape, he attacks his own teammates to slow them down.

Yeah, he literally turns them into bait.

This moment is brutal not because of scale, but because of intent. There’s no manipulation, no grand plan—just raw selfish survival instinct.

Why this moment works so well:

• It shatters the illusion that academy nobles are reliable allies
• It shows how deadly the world is without needing a war arc
• It builds early emotional tension for Arthur Leywin

Arthur (under his “Note” identity) stepping in afterward only makes it worse—because justice doesn’t really happen. Lucas gets off lightly thanks to family influence, and that leaves a bitter taste that lingers for dozens of chapters.

Does Arthur’s Mother Find Out About King Grey? The Truth in TBATE

2. Xyrus Academy Invasion — From Coward to Traitor

If the Dire Tombs showed us Lucas at his weakest, the Xyrus Academy arc shows him at his worst.

By this point, Lucas has fully embraced resentment and inferiority. Instead of improving himself, he chooses the easy route: betray everyone.

He aligns himself with Draneeve, a servant of Alacrya’s Vritra forces, and helps orchestrate one of the most chaotic events in the early story—the invasion of Xyrus Academy.

What makes this betrayal different:

• It’s premeditated, not panic-driven
• It involves outside enemies
• Innocent students are directly put in danger

And then there’s his obsession with Tessia Eralith. Instead of treating her as a person, Lucas sees her as a trophy—something to use against Arthur. That alone tells you everything about how far gone he is mentally.

The Moment Everyone Remembers: Arthur’s Execution

Let’s be real—this is the scene.

When Arthur finally arrives and confronts Lucas, there’s no long speech, no hesitation, no cliché redemption moment. It’s cold, fast, and personal.

Arthur doesn’t just defeat Lucas—he crushes him completely.

Depending on whether you read the novel or the manhwa, the tone hits slightly different, but the impact remains the same.

• Novel: more psychological weight and internal rage
• Manhwa: visually intense and shocking in its brutality

Either way, it’s one of the first moments where Arthur stops feeling like a typical reincarnated hero and starts resembling the king he once was.

Chapter Reference Table (Quick Guide)

So… Was Lucas Pure Evil? (The Fandom Debate)

This is where things get interesting. Lucas is one of the most universally disliked characters, but not everyone agrees on why.

View #1: “He’s Just Garbage”

• A narcissistic noble brat
• A coward with zero loyalty
• Someone who never tried to grow

From this perspective, his death wasn’t tragic—it was satisfying.

View #2: “He Was Shaped Into This”

Others take a more nuanced stance. Lucas grew up in the Wykes family, a household defined by toxic hierarchy and obsession with power. Being a half-elf child with a slave background didn’t exactly earn him respect.

• He developed a massive inferiority complex
• He craved validation at any cost
• He broke under pressure instead of adapting

Does that excuse him? No. But it does explain him.

Why This Arc Still Matters in TBATE

Even though Lucas isn’t a long-term villain, his role is incredibly important.

He represents something the story does really well: not all threats are world-ending. Some are just human—and that’s worse.

• The danger of corrupt noble systems
• The emotional limits of Arthur’s morality
• The idea that not everyone deserves redemption

And honestly, that last point is what sticks.

Final Thoughts

Lucas Wykes isn’t the smartest villain, the strongest, or even the most important. But he is one of the most memorable.

Because we’ve all seen characters like him before—the entitled prodigy, the insecure rival, the guy who thinks he’s the main character. TBATE just takes that archetype and pushes it to its extreme.

And when that happens, the result isn’t redemption. It’s collapse.