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CHAPTER 6: Between Two Worlds
Light.
That was the first thing he felt.
Not warmth.
Not comfort.
Just—
Light.
---
It wrapped around him.
Soft.
Weightless.
Yet—
Unavoidable.
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Lucius's vision blurred.
The cavern—
The corpse—
The blood—
All of it began to fade.
Like fragments of a dream slipping away.
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His body felt… strange.
Lighter.
Yet distant.
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"…Tch…"
A faint sound escaped his lips.
Even that—
Felt delayed.
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The glow intensified.
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It wasn't just around him anymore—
It was everywhere.
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A silent force pulling him away.
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So this is… the exit…
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His thoughts moved slowly.
Not because he was weak—
But because something was interfering.
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Something deeper.
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Then—
Darkness flickered.
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For a brief moment—
The light distorted.
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"…?"
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Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly.
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Something was wrong.
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The transition—
Wasn't stable.
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The light pulsed again.
Stronger.
But this time—
Something else moved within it.
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A shadow.
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Faint.
Barely visible.
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But there.
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Lucius's instincts sharpened instantly.
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…What is that?
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The space around him twisted.
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The light—
And the darkness—
Overlapping.
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For a moment—
He felt it.
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A presence.
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Not the Skarn Tyrant.
Not a monster.
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Something else.
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Something deeper.
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Something—
Watching.
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"…Hah."
A weak breath left his lips.
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Even now—
Even like this—
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Still not done with me?
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The shadow shifted.
Closer.
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Lucius tried to move—
But his body didn't respond.
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Not fully.
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…I can't interfere.
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The light surged again.
Brighter.
More forceful.
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Trying to pull him out.
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But the shadow resisted.
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Two forces.
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Clashing.
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Silently.
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Lucius's vision flickered.
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Fragments appeared.
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Not the dungeon.
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Not reality.
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Something else.
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A void.
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Endless.
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Dark.
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Silent.
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"…So…"
A faint smile touched his lips.
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There really is something behind it.
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The shadow moved again.
Closer now.
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For a moment—
It almost took shape.
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Almost.
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Then—
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CRACK.
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The light surged violently.
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Everything shattered.
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The void disappeared.
The shadow vanished.
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And the pull—
Intensified.
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Lucius's body felt like it was being dragged through space itself.
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Fast.
Uncontrollable.
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His consciousness flickered.
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Fading—
Then returning—
Then fading again.
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"…Annoying…"
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But even then—
His mind stayed clear.
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I'll remember this.
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The light swallowed everything.
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Then—
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Silence.
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Cold air.
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Reality returned—
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But this time—
He wasn't alone.
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Figures stood before him.
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Blurry.
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But familiar.
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"…Lucius—!"
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"…Young Master!"
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The moment his body fully emerged from the light—
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His legs gave out.
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Thud.
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He collapsed.
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Unconscious.
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"…Call the healer! Now!"
"…Young Master—!"
"Elara, step back—he's not breathing steadily!"
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One Week Later
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Darkness.
Then, the slow, rhythmic ticking of a clock.
Lucius's eyes fluttered open. The ceiling was white—plaster, not stone. The air was dry and smelled of lavender and medicinal herbs.
Home.
He tried to sit up, but a sharp, stabbing heat flared in his chest. His ribs felt as though they had been knit back together with rusted wire. His mana veins felt hollow, like dry riverbeds.
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His body felt heavy.
Weak.
But—
Alive.
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The door opened.
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Footsteps.
Firm.
Measured.
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"…Lucius."
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His father.
Demitri De Van Venus.
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Lucius turned his gaze slightly.
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For a moment—
He paused.
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His father—
Wasn't calm.
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His brows were furrowed.
His eyes—
Sharp.
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But beneath that—
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Worry.
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Clear.
Unhidden.
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"…You've woken up."
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His voice was steady.
But tight.
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Silence filled the room.
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Then—
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"Why?"
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A simple question.
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But heavy.
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"Why did you enter the dungeon… without my approval?"
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His presence deepened.
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"You know your condition."
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"Weak physique."
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"Unstable body."
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"And yet… you still went."
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A pause.
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"…Do you have any idea—"
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His voice faltered slightly.
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"…how worried I was?"
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Lucius remained silent.
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Then—
Demitri spoke again.
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"…I know our Venus family is collapsing."
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A bitter truth.
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"…We were once Dukes."
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"…Now… only a County."
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Silence.
Heavy.
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"…But that doesn't matter."
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His voice lowered.
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"…Not compared to you."
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A step closer.
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"…Don't push yourself like that again."
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His eyes—
Softened.
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"…I don't want to lose you…"
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A pause.
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"…like I lost your mother."
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The room fell silent.
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"…I still have you."
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"…And your brother."
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"…Let me protect you."
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"…That is my duty… as your father."
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Lucius's gaze shifted slightly.
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For a moment—
Something stirred within him.
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Not his.
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But—
Left behind.
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The emotions of the original Lucius.
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"…I understand."
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A quiet response.
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But firm.
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"…I'll be more careful."
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A pause.
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"…I promise."
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Not just to him—
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But to the one who owned this body before.
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I won't waste this life.
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Demitri watched him.
Long.
Carefully.
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Then—
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"…Good."
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A faint exhale.
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"…Rest."
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He turned—
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"…And next time…"
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A pause.
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"…Tell me."
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Then he left.
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The door closed.
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Moments later—
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It opened again.
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"…Lucius."
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Julius.
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He stepped in.
Arms crossed.
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"…You really went."
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A sigh.
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"…You're insane."
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Lucius didn't respond.
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Julius leaned slightly against the wall.
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"…I get it."
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"…Your determination."
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"To overcome your weak physique."
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A pause.
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"But your Talent…"
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"…It's only Unique Tier."
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Silence.
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"…And the backlash."
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"It takes too long to activate."
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"You're risking your life every time you use it."
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Lucius listened.
Quietly.
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"…You don't need to rush."
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Julius continued.
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"You can grow slowly."
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"…You're still young."
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A pause.
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"…Don't die for nothing."
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Silence.
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Then—
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"…Rest properly."
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And he left.
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The door closed once more.
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Lucius lay still.
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Then—
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A faint smile appeared.
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"…Unique Tier…"
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So that's how they see it.
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Teleportation—
Delayed.
Limited.
Weak.
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But—
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Mine isn't.
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"…System."
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His eyes sharpened.
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You're the reason.
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You removed the delay.
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You refined it.
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"…So this is the difference."
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His gaze deepened.
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Not Unique…
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"…Something beyond that."
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He slowly sat up.
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"…Status."
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Status Window
Name: Lucius van Venus
Title: Overlord of the Abyss
Level: 3
Talents:
• Teleportation (God Tier) – Allows movement through space with near-instant activation and reduced delay.
• Law of One (God Tier) – A mysterious Talent capable of combining or unifying abilities, though its limits remain unknown.
Skills:
• Basic Sword Mastery – Lv 1 – Grants fundamental understanding of sword usage, improving control, precision, and efficiency in combat.
• Instinct Flow – Lv 1 – Enhances reaction speed and allows the body to respond instinctively during battle, increasing survivability in close combat.
•Strength: 4
•Agility: 6
•Mana: 9
•Sensitivity: 6
•Endurance: 5
Available Stat Points: 5
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Lucius stared at the panel.
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"…Five."
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No hesitation.
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"…Mana."
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His current weakness.
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"Strength."
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For survivability.
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"And agility…"
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For movement.
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[+2 Mana]
[+1 Strength]
[+2 Agility]
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Suddenly, the "hollow" feeling in his chest vanished. It
was like a cool spring of water had been poured into his
veins. His heartbeat, once sluggish and erratic, became a
steady, powerful drum.
He sat up. This time, there was no pain.
A porcelain water pitcher sat on the bedside table. As he
shifted, his elbow caught the edge. The pitcher tipped—it
was inches from shattering on the floor.
Instinct Flow.
Before Lucius could even "think" to move, his hand
blurred.
Snap.
He was holding the pitcher perfectly level, halfway to the
floor. His fingers had clamped onto the rim with a grip
strength he didn't possess an hour ago.
But his head throbbed. For a split second, his mind went
blank—cold and robotic. The "Instinct" had taken over, but
it had temporarily pushed his personality aside to do it.
A double-edged sword, Lucius thought, setting the pitcher down.
Sharper reactions, but at the cost of control.
The door opened again. Elara rushed in, her eyes wide.
'Lucius closed the panel'..
"Young Master! You shouldn't be out of bed! Your mana
exhaustion—"
Lucius stood up. He didn't just stand; he rose with a fluid
grace that made Elara freeze mid-sentence.
"…I'm fine," he said. The air around him seemed to hum
with a faint, invisible pressure.
"But—"
"Prepare the way, Elara. I'm going to the library."
Lucius stepped past her. He didn't limp. He didn't stumble.
His eyes were fixed on the hallway ahead. The answers
weren't in this bed.
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"…Library."
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Knowledge.
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The Library awaited.
And with it—
Answers.
That was the next step.....
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To be continued.