CHAPTER 10: The First Step Beyond
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The sun stood high.
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The heat—
Unforgiving.
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Lucius stood in the center of Valhalla.
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Breathing—
Heavy.
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His body trembled.
Blood stained the ground beneath him.
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In front of him—
Devox.
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Unmoved.
Untouched.
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"…Again."
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Lucius stepped forward.
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His legs felt heavier now.
Each step—
A burden.
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But he didn't stop.
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He's not reacting…
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He's reading everything…
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His grip tightened.
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Then—
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Space twisted.
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He vanished.
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Teleportation.
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He reappeared behind Devox—
Sword already descending.
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A precise strike—
Clean.
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But—
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CLANG—
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Blocked.
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Effortlessly.
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"…Predictable."
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Lucius's eyes narrowed.
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Too direct…
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He vanished again.
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Side—
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Slash—
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CLANG—
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Blocked.
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Front—
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Strike—
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CLANG—
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Blocked.
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Again.
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Again.
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Again.
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Every angle—
Stopped.
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Every attempt—
Denied.
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Lucius's breathing grew heavier.
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His chest tightened.
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Each teleport—
Drained him.
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His mana dropped rapidly.
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"…Tch…"
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He stepped back.
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Not by choice—
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But because his body demanded it.
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Devox didn't move.
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Not even an inch.
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"…Is that all?"
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Lucius steadied his breathing.
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Pain throbbed through his ribs.
His muscles burned.
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Think…
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If I rush—I lose.
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"…Instinct Flow."
---Is already active.
I need to end this beforet it starts straining my mind...
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The world—
Shifted.
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Slower.
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Sharper.
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Clearer.
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But—
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A sharp pain pierced his mind.
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His vision flickered.
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His thoughts accelerated—
Too fast.
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Focus…
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He moved again.
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Not recklessly.
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Not directly.
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He vanished—
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Appeared—
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Then vanished again.
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Short displacements.
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Unpredictable.
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Controlled.
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Each step—
Costing him.
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His breathing worsened.
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His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
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Devox watched.
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Silently.
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"…Better."
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Lucius appeared in front—
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Sword already in motion.
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His timing—
Sharper.
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His angle—
Cleaner.
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CLANG—
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The impact rang louder this time.
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Lucius's arms trembled violently.
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But—
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He held.
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For a moment.
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Just a moment.
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Then—
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Devox shifted his wrist.
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A small movement.
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Perfect.
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Lucius's balance broke instantly.
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No—!
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BOOM—
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He was sent flying.
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His body slammed into the ground.
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Hard.
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Dust rose.
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Pain exploded through his ribs.
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"…GH—!"
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Blood spilled from his mouth.
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His vision blurred.
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His body screamed.
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But—
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He pushed himself up.
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Again.
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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 lips.
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"…Then I'll rebuild."
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A pause.
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Devox looked at him—
Long.
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Carefully.
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Then—
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"…Your technique is lacking."
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A step forward.
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"…Your control is incomplete."
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Another step.
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"…Your body is weak."
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He stopped.
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Right in front of Lucius.
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"…But your will—"
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A pause.
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"…is solid."
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Silence.
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The words landed heavier than any strike.
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Lucius's eyes sharpened slightly.
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Behind him—
The knights watched.
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Silently.
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No one spoke.
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No one mocked.
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Only—
Respect.
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"…He keeps getting up…"
"…Even after that…"
"…His body should've given out…"
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Whispers spread quietly.
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Elara stood at the edge—
Her hands clenched tightly.
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"…Young Master…"
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Her voice trembled.
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Her eyes—
Filled with worry.
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Every time he was thrown—
She flinched.
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Every time he stood—
Her chest tightened.
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"…Please…"
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Barely a whisper.
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"…Don't push yourself too much…"
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But Lucius didn't hear her.
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Or—
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He chose not to.
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He stepped forward again.
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Unsteady.
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Bleeding.
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But unwavering.
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"…Again."
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Devox watched him.
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A faint shift in his gaze.
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"…Very well."
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This time—
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Devox moved first.
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A single step.
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Lucius reacted instantly—
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But—
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Too late.
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CLANG—
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Their swords met.
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For a split second—
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Lucius felt it.
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The difference.
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Not in strength.
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Not in speed.
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But in mastery.
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BOOM—
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He was sent flying again.
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Harder.
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Faster.
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Final.
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He crashed—
And didn't get up immediately.
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Silence filled the training grounds.
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Lucius lay there—
Breathing heavily.
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His mana—
Almost gone.
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His body—
At its limit.
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Then—
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Slowly—
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He moved.
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His hand pressed against the ground.
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His body trembled.
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But—
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He stood.
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Again.
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The knights' eyes widened slightly.
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"…He's insane…"
"…That's not normal…"
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Elara's lips trembled.
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"…Young Master…"
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Lucius raised his sword.
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One last time.
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"…Again."
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A long silence followed.
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Then—
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Devox lowered his sword slightly.
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"…Enough."
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Lucius froze.
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His breathing heavy.
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"…You've lost."
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Simple.
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Clear.
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Absolute.
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But—
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"…You endured."
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A pause.
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"…And that matters more."
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Lucius stood there—
Silent.
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Then—
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A faint smile formed.
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"…Not enough."
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Devox's gaze sharpened slightly.
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"…No."
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A pause.
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"…But it's a start."
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Lucius lowered his sword slowly.
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His body—
Finally giving in.
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He swayed slightly.
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But didn't fall.
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Because now—
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He understood.
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The gap.
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The path.
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And what it would take—
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To surpass it.
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Devox turned away.
"…We begin tomorrow."
A pause.
"…If you can still stand."
Lucius smirked faintly.
"…I will."
Behind him—
The knights watched.
Not with doubt.
But admiration.
"…He endured all that…"
"…And he's still standing…"
"…Monstrous will…"
Low murmurs spread quietly.
At the edge—
Elara finally exhaled.
Relief.
Worry.
Both tangled together.
"…Young Master…"
She stepped forward—
But before she could speak—
Another presence approached.
Steady.
Measured.
Refined.
The knights straightened instantly.
"…Butler Alfredo."
A man in pristine attire walked forward.
Elegant.
Composed.
His presence carried authority—
Without force.
He stopped beside Elara.
"…The Patriarch is calling for the Young Master."
His voice was calm.
Respectful.
Absolute.
Elara nodded slightly.
"…Understood."
She turned toward Lucius.
"…Young Master…"
Lucius steadied himself.
His body still screamed.
But his expression—
Calm.
"…I heard."
Before leaving—
He turned.
Facing Devox.
A brief silence.
Then—
Lucius bowed.
"…Thank you."
"…For today."
No arrogance.
No pride.
Only acknowledgment.
Devox glanced at him briefly.
"…Don't thank me yet."
A pause.
"…Survive tomorrow first."
Lucius smirked faintly.
"…I will."
---His body blurred slightly —
A faint distortion rippled through the air.
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—Step.
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Lucius disappeared.
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Then reappeared several meters away—
Instant.
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No delay.
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No visible strain.
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Silence fell.
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The knights froze.
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"…Did you see that…?"
"…That wasn't normal…"
"…No activation time…?"
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Their voices dropped to hushed whispers.
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"…Wasn't his Talent supposed to be slow…?"
"…It always had a delay…"
"…Then what was that just now…?"
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Another knight frowned slightly.
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"…Has the Young Master been training secretly…?"
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A pause.
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"…Or was he hiding it all along…?"
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They looked at each other—
Uncertain.
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Confused.
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Elara's eyes widened slightly.
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"…That speed…"
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Her gaze lingered on Lucius—
Concern deepening.
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Because she knew—
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That wasn't the same ability anymore.
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Devox remained silent.
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But his eyes—
Followed Lucius carefully.
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"…Interesting…"
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A faint murmur escaped him.
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"…So it's not just willpower…"
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Silence returned.
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But this time—
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It wasn't the same.
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Because now—
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Everyone understood.
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The Young Master had changed.
Then—
He turned.
Walking away with Elara.
Each step—
Heavy.
But steady.
—
As they moved through the estate—
Elara finally spoke.
"…Young Master…"
A pause.
"…You can't meet the Patriarch like this."
Lucius glanced at his reflection in a nearby glass panel.
Blood.
Dust.
Sweat.
"…I suppose not."
"…Please come with me."
Elara guided him quietly.
—
Moments later—
Warm water.
Steam filled the room.
Lucius stood beneath it.
Washing away—
Blood.
Dirt.
Fatigue.
His wounds stung.
But his mind—
Clear.
Devox…
A man without a system…
A different path…
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Interesting…"
—
After some time—
He stepped out.
Dressed.
Composed.
Once again—
The Young Master of the Venus Family.
—
They walked through the grand halls.
Servants bowed.
Silently.
Respectfully.
Lucius walked forward—
Calm.
Controlled.
As they approached—
Elara slowed slightly.
"…Young Master…"
"…Before seeing the Patriarch…"
"…You must show proper respect."
Lucius nodded.
"…I know."
—
They arrived.
Large doors stood before them.
Guarded.
Silent.
Elara stepped aside.
"…You may enter."
Lucius stepped forward—
But—
He stopped.
His gaze shifted.
Someone stood nearby.
A girl.
Beautiful.
Blue hair flowed softly down her shoulders.
Eyes—
Deep.
Like the ocean.
Calm.
Endless.
She stood quietly—
Yet her presence—
Was impossible to ignore.
Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Who…?"
The air felt different.
Not heavy.
But—
Deep.
Like standing before something vast.
And unknown.
The girl turned—
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
Something stirred.
Not in the world—
But within him.
Lucius didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Only observed.
Carefully.
Because instinct told him—
This meeting—
Was not ordinary.
To be continued.