CHAPTER 8: Questions Beneath the Night
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The door closed behind him.
Soft.
Final.
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Lucius stood still for a moment.
Silent.
Unmoving.
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Then—
He exhaled.
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"…So this is my room."
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Dim candlelight flickered gently against the walls.
Shadows stretched.
Danced.
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Simple.
Clean.
Noble—
But not extravagant.
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A reflection of the Venus household itself.
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Once powerful.
Now—
Declining.
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Lucius walked forward slowly.
Each step measured.
Controlled.
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His body still ached.
A dull, persistent pain lingered deep within his ribs.
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A reminder.
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You nearly died.
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"…Tch."
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He didn't sit immediately.
Instead—
He walked toward the window.
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Night had already fallen.
The sky—
Dark.
Endless.
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Stars shimmered faintly above.
Cold.
Distant.
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"…Another world…"
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He murmured softly.
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Then—
A knock.
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"…Young Master."
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Elara.
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"Enter."
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The door opened quietly.
She stepped in carefully, carrying a stack of books.
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"…The books you requested."
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Lucius nodded slightly.
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"Leave them there."
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She obeyed without hesitation, placing them neatly on the desk.
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A brief pause followed.
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"…Young Master…"
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Lucius glanced at her.
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"You shouldn't pressure yourself too much."
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Her voice was soft.
Careful.
Genuine.
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"…You've only just recovered."
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Silence lingered.
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Lucius looked at her for a moment—
Then nodded faintly.
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"…I know."
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A simple answer.
But not entirely true.
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Elara hesitated.
Then bowed slightly.
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"…Then I'll take my leave."
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"You may."
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She turned—
Then paused.
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"…Please take care of yourself."
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And then—
She left.
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The door closed.
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Silence returned.
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Lucius stood there for a while.
Then—
He moved.
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Slowly.
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He sat down.
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The room felt quieter now.
Heavier.
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"…A fantasy world…"
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His voice was low.
Thoughtful.
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Magic.
Swordsmanship.
Mana.
Aura.
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All of it existed—
Even before the monsters came.
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"…Which means…"
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Humans weren't always dependent on the Talent System.
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They had their own power.
Their own path.
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Then—
Everything changed.
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"…Dungeons…"
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Gates.
Monsters.
Chaos.
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A world thrown into disorder.
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"…And that's when the gods interfered…"
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The Talent System.
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Given.
Not earned.
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Power—
Granted to humanity.
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"…And with it…"
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They survived.
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But—
At a cost.
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Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly.
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"…Limitations."
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The Talent System gave strength.
Growth.
Structure.
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But also—
Boundaries.
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A Rare Talent user…
Could never truly surpass a Divine one.
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No matter how hard they tried.
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"…So the ceiling is predetermined…"
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A cage.
Disguised as power.
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Silence.
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Then—
A thought crossed his mind.
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"…What about those who refused it?"
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His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
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"…Or those who never awakened it…"
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People who didn't follow the Talent System.
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People who relied only on—
Swordsmanship.
Mana.
Aura.
Magic.
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The old ways.
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"…Do they still exist?"
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A faint curiosity.
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A dangerous one.
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Because if they did—
Then that meant—
There was another path.
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A path outside the system.
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Lucius leaned back slightly.
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"…I'll ask Elara tomorrow."
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He glanced at the window.
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"…It's already midnight."
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A pause.
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"…And I need rest."
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But—
He didn't move.
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Instead—
"…Status."
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A familiar panel appeared.
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Status Window
Name: Lucius van Venus
Title: Overlord of the Abyss
Level: 3
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Talent System:
• Teleportation (God Tier)
• Law of One (God Tier)
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Skills:
• Basic Sword Mastery – Lv 1
→ Effect: Enhances fundamental sword techniques, improving balance, precision, and efficiency in combat.
→ Backlash: None
• Instinct Flow — Lv 1
→ Effect: Enhances reaction speed, timing and combat awareness. Allows the body to respond instinctively in battle.
→ Backlash: High mental strain over prolonged usage; over-reliance may dull conscious decision-making.
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Strength: 5
Agility: 10
Mana: 11
Sensitivity: 6
Endurance: 6
Available Stats points: 0
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Lucius stared at it.
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Silent.
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Then—
A faint frown appeared.
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"…This…"
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His voice lowered.
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"…is not how a main character should be."
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Weak.
Fragile.
Incomplete.
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Even with God Tier Talent System—
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He was still—
Nothing.
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His hand tightened slightly.
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"…I need to become stronger."
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Not just stronger.
Smarter.
Better.
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His gaze hardened.
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"…I need to protect this family…"
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A pause.
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"…And uncover the truth behind this world…"
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The Talent System.
The gods.
The structure.
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Everything.
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Then—
His eyes darkened slightly.
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"…And that thing…"
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Silence.
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The memory resurfaced.
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That moment.
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After clearing the dungeon.
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That presence.
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That—
Shadow.
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"…What was that?"
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Cold.
Unknown.
Watching.
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Not a monster.
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Something else.
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Something—
Wrong.
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Lucius exhaled slowly.
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"…I need answers."
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Then—
"…And I need power."
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Silence.
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He closed his eyes.
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Just for a moment.
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Then—
Darkness.
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Morning came quietly.
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Light seeped through the curtains.
Soft.
Warm.
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Lucius opened his eyes.
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"…Morning already…"
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His body still hurt.
But—
Less.
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Manageable.
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He stood up slowly.
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"…Elara."
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A moment later—
A knock.
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"…Young Master?"
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"Come in."
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She entered.
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"…You called?"
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Lucius looked at her.
Direct.
Focused.
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"I have a question."
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"…Yes?"
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"…Is there anyone…"
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A pause.
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"…who doesn't rely on the Talent System?"
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Silence.
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Elara froze.
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Just for a second.
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"…You mean…"
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"…someone who uses only swordsmanship… mana… aura… and magic?"
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Lucius nodded.
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"…Yes."
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A pause.
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Then—
"…There is."
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Lucius's eyes sharpened.
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"…Who?"
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Elara hesitated slightly.
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"…His name is Devox."
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A brief silence followed.
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"…Devox?"
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"…Yes."
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Her voice lowered slightly.
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"…He is the Head of the Black Sun Knights… of the Venus Household."
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Lucius's eyes narrowed.
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"…And his Talent System?"
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A pause.
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"…He doesn't have one."
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Silence.
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Lucius's gaze sharpened instantly.
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"…Explain."
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Elara nodded slowly.
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"…Devox never awakened a Talent System."
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"…Or perhaps…"
"…He refused it."
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Lucius didn't interrupt.
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"…Instead… he chose the old path."
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Swordsmanship.
Aura.
Mana control.
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"…Through sheer discipline… and countless battles…"
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"…He rose."
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Her voice carried a hint of respect.
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"…He became strong enough to rival those with high-ranking Talent Systems."
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Lucius's eyes darkened slightly.
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"…Without limits…"
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"…Without a ceiling…"
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Elara nodded.
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"…But…"
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A pause.
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"…The path is far more dangerous."
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"…No system support."
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"…No automatic growth."
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"…No protection."
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Lucius understood immediately.
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"…Meaning every step…"
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"…is earned."
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"…Yes."
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Silence.
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Then—
A faint smile appeared on Lucius's lips.
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"…Interesting."
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Very interesting.
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Because that meant—
The system wasn't absolute.
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There were cracks.
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Paths outside it.
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"…Devox…"
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Lucius murmured softly.
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"…I'll need to meet him."
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Because if he could learn both—
The Talent System…
And the Old Path—
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Then—
There would be no limits.
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At all.
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Lucius turned slightly.
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"…Prepare for today."
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Elara blinked.
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"…Yes, Young Master."
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But his eyes—
Were no longer calm.
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They burned.
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Quietly.
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Because now—
He had seen it.
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A possibility.
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A way—
To break everything.
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To be continued.
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