CHAPTER 9: The Man Without Limits
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Morning had fully settled.
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The estate was quiet.
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Too quiet.
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Lucius walked through the corridor.
Each step was steady. Controlled.
But his mind—
Was anything but calm.
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Devox.
A man without a Talent System.
A man who stood outside the rules.
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"…Interesting…"
Lucius murmured softly.
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Behind him—
Soft footsteps followed.
Elara.
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"…Young Master, the training grounds have been prepared."
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Lucius didn't stop walking.
"Good."
A brief pause.
"…Take me to him."
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Silence.
Then—
"…Yes."
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They changed direction.
Deeper into the estate.
Away from the noble halls—
Toward something more grounded.
More real.
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The training grounds.
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The air shifted.
Sharper.
Heavier.
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CLANG—
CLANG—
CLANG—
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The sound of metal echoed in the distance.
Lucius's eyes sharpened.
"…So this is where they train."
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They arrived.
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A massive open field stretched before him—
Scarred.
Worn.
Marked by countless battles.
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At the entrance—
A large engraved stone stood.
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VALHALLA
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Lucius paused.
"…Valhalla…"
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Elara stepped forward slightly.
"…Yes, Young Master."
Her voice carried quiet respect.
"…This is what the training grounds are called."
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Lucius's gaze lingered on the name.
"…Why?"
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A brief pause.
"…Because this is where warriors are made."
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Silence.
Then she continued.
"…Long ago… before the Talent System existed…"
"…this was where the knights of the Venus Household trained."
"…Not just knights… but warriors who relied only on their own strength."
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Swordsmanship.
Aura.
Mana.
Blood.
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"…It is said…"
"…those who train here…"
"…gain more than strength."
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Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Confidence."
"…Resolve."
"…The will to stand against monsters."
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A pause.
"…Whether they possess a Talent System or not…"
"…everyone trains here…"
"…to surpass their limits."
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Silence.
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Lucius looked ahead.
Knights trained relentlessly.
Sweat.
Pain.
Effort.
No shortcuts.
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"…Good."
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He stepped forward.
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And then—
He saw him.
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At the center—
A man stood.
Tall.
Broad.
Still.
Completely still.
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"…That's him."
Elara's voice dropped.
"…Devox."
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Lucius walked forward.
Step by step.
Until—
He stopped before him.
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Silence.
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Then—
Lucius bowed his head slightly.
"…Sir Devox."
"…I greet you."
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The knights nearby froze.
Surprised.
Because this—
Was not the Lucius they knew.
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Devox slowly turned.
His eyes met Lucius's.
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A long silence passed.
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"…Isn't this the young master…"
His voice was deep.
Calm.
Heavy.
"…who once said…"
A faint pause.
"…'I don't want to train because I don't want to disfigure my handsome face.'"
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The knights murmured quietly.
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Lucius didn't flinch.
"…That's me."
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Simple.
Honest.
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A pause.
Then—
"…But I've changed."
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His gaze sharpened.
"…I want to elevate this household."
"…I want to become stronger."
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His voice remained calm—
But firm.
"…so that the Black Sun Knights will someday shine again."
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Silence.
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"…As the young master of the Venus Family…"
"…and the second son…"
His eyes burned faintly.
"…I will set an example."
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A pause.
"…So please…"
He bowed again.
"…teach me."
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Silence.
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The entire training ground—
Fell quiet.
Even the wind—
Seemed to stop.
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Devox stared at him.
Long.
Carefully.
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"…Fine."
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He lifted a sword.
Plain.
Unremarkable.
Yet—
Heavy.
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"…If you can land a single hit on me…"
A pause.
"…I will teach you."
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Lucius's eyes sharpened.
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"…And not just that," Devox continued.
"…I will pass on my swordsmanship."
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A brief silence.
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"…All Things Being Equal Sword Arts."
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The reaction—
Immediate.
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"…That technique…"
"…Is he serious…?"
"…That's the Commander's personal art…"
"…No one has ever been taught that…"
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Lucius observed their reactions.
Shock.
Disbelief.
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"…So it's valuable."
A brief thought.
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Then—
He exhaled.
"…I accept."
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No hesitation.
No fear.
Only—
Determination.
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"…Good."
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Devox raised his sword slightly.
"…Then come."
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Elara stepped forward.
"…Young Master…"
Her voice carried worry.
"…Please don't push yourself too much…"
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Lucius paused.
Then—
He smiled.
Not arrogantly.
Not recklessly.
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But calmly.
"…Don't you trust me?"
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Elara froze.
A brief silence passed.
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"…I do…"
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A soft answer.
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Lucius turned away.
"…Then watch."
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"…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
→ Enhances fundamental sword techniques, improving balance and precision.
• Instinct Flow — Lv 1
→ Enhances reaction speed and combat awareness.
→ Backlash: High mental strain with prolonged use.
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Strength: 5
Agility: 10
Mana: 11
Sensitivity: 6
Endurance: 6
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Lucius stared briefly.
Then—
"…Instinct Flow."
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Activated.
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The world—
Slowed.
Sharpened.
Clarified.
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But—
A sharp pressure pierced his mind.
A faint sting followed.
His vision flickered—
Just for a moment.
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…So it's not free…
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He moved.
Fast.
Precise.
A clean strike.
Perfect form.
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But—
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Devox didn't move.
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Not even slightly.
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Yet—
The air around him felt heavy.
The knights nearby stiffened unconsciously.
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Pressure.
Not from mana—
From experience.
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CLANG—
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Blocked.
Effortlessly.
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Lucius's eyes widened.
"…Too slow."
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Devox's voice echoed.
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Then—
He moved.
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Not fast.
Not flashy.
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Just—
Inevitable.
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BOOM—
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Lucius's vision blurred as his body was thrown backward—
Crashing violently into the ground.
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Dust erupted.
Pain exploded through his ribs.
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"…GH—!"
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Blood spilled from his lips.
He coughed.
Again.
And again.
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His chest burned.
His body screamed.
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But—
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He stood up.
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"…Again."
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Silence.
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"…You'll break."
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Lucius wiped the blood from his mouth.
"…Then I'll rebuild."
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A faint smile appeared on Devox's face.
"…Good."
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Elsewhere—
Julius stood at a distance.
Watching.
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"…He's changed…"
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Lucius stood again.
Even after the impact.
Even after the pain.
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Julius clenched his fist slightly.
"…Then as the older brother…"
"…I need to become stronger."
"…I won't let my younger brother surpass me."
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He turned.
Walking away.
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Inside the main hall—
Their father sat quietly.
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"…Father."
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"…Don't worry too much about Lucius."
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A pause.
"…He has changed."
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Silence.
Then—
"…Yeah…"
"…I've noticed."
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"…Let him do whatever he wants."
"…Don't restrain him."
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A pause.
"…Even if he's about to die…"
"…Don't interfere."
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Silence.
Then—
A faint chuckle.
"…That brat…"
"…He used to say he had a more handsome face than me…"
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A small smile appeared.
"…Alright."
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Julius nodded.
"…I need to return to the Academy."
"…I left in a hurry…"
"…but now…"
A faint smile.
"…I don't need to worry."
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"…Take care of yourself…"
"…and my younger brother."
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"…And if he wants to come to the Academy…"
"…don't stop him."
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"…Bye."
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He left.
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Silence remained.
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"…Do my sons think I'm that weak…?"
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Then—
He laughed.
"Hahaha…"
"…Let's see what happens."
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Back at Valhalla—
Lucius stood.
Again.
And again.
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Each time he fell—he rose again.
Each time he bled—he endured.
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Instinct Flow strained his mind.
Pain accumulated.
His vision blurred.
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But—
He didn't stop.
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Because now—
He understood.
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There was something beyond the system.
Something real.
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And standing before him—
Was proof.
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Lucius smiled.
Faint.
Bloody.
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"…I'll surpass you."
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Devox's eyes sharpened.
"…Then survive first."
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Lucius stepped forward.
Unsteady—
But unwavering.
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And in that moment—
Something began.
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Not just training.
Not just growth.
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But—
A path.
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A new one.
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One that would break—
Everything.
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To be continued.