Lucien stepped into his divine energy core. His physical body dissolved, leaving only a golden sphere hovering where he had once stood.
It had been more than a month since he entered his inner world.
The first thing he did was greet his parents.
"Mother. Father. I’ve arrived safely in the Big World," Lucien said softly. "Don’t worry... In this place, I’ll find a way to restore your bodies. And soon... I’ll create a safe place and bring everyone here."
The two figures of light before him, Luke and Cienna, nodded gently. They seed montarily taken aback by his current form... a Wolf Beastman... but quickly realized it was only the result of a skill.
[Sigh. Son, as long as you’re safe, that’s what matters most. Don’t push yourself too hard.]
[That’s right, my boy. Your mother and I can bear living like this. As long as we can still be together and as long as you’re safe... that’s more than enough.]
Lucien smiled faintly and began recounting the events of the past month. His arrival in the Big World, his battles, his eting with Marie and the reason for his current form.
The three spoke freely for a long while. It was a rare mont of peace amid Lucien’s turbulent month in this vast world.
Then, Cienna revealed sothing unexpected.
[Son, our souls have rged deeper with the Books. We can see changes within them... and we can feel sothing has shifted since earlier.]
Lucien’s brows furrowed. "Changes?"
[Yes,] Luke added. [It’s better if you see it for yourself. Sigh... Who would’ve thought those cheat books could evolve this much?]
Lucien nodded then excused himself. With a thought, he summoned his three formidable books.
Skillpedia, Magic Book, and Monsterdex. They materialized before him, glowing faintly as they hovered in the air.
The mont they appeared, Lucien felt the ripples of creation coursing through them. The Law of Creation was resonating from within.
Lucien’s eyes widened. "So that’s it..."
He extended his hand and the books responded. Their pages shimred. The words shifted and rearranged themselves into a new, intricate structure.
Lucien fell silent.
He could now... create cards.
Skill Cards. Spell Cards. Even Monster Cards.
Lucien gulped, realizing the weight of this power.
Of course, there were conditions. He could only create cards for skills and spells he had completely mastered. The higher the rarity, the greater the cost.
And for monster cards... the requirents were even stricter. It was tedious, complex, and extrely draining on his divine energy reserves.
Still, the potential was boundless.
Lucien smiled faintly. "The possibilities are endless..."
With this power, he could create a strong army imdiately even without proper training.
He spent so ti walking through his inner world. The ecosystem was thriving. Monsters of various kinds road freely and he observed the ever-growing population of slis.
He nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Soon, this place will beco my greatest strength... or maybe my greatest resource."
Then he retrieved Ashreth’s Essence from his inventory. He no longer needed it now that he had mastered the Law of Fire.
Without hesitation, he fed the essence to his dungeons. The structures pulsed faintly. Their lifespan has extended. He would be able to harvest more monsters and more drops from them.
Afterward, Lucien teleported near the Obsidian Tower. The structure floated freely within the void. Its interior glowed softly under the rhythmic light of four suspended Origin Core fragnts.
Their pulses resonated with his very soul.
Lucien felt the pull but he shook his head. "No... I can’t rely on them. Not until I’m strong enough."
He also had to return Marie’s fragnt to her.
He sighed. She had trusted him enough to entrust it to him, yet he had only responded with wariness. He had been too cautious around her.
It was ti to show sincerity.
Just then, he sensed a familiar presence outside the door.
Marie.
Lucien’s physical form reappeared in the private room where he had once been in.
He opened the door to find Marie standing there. Her aura was more vibrant. She... had broken through to Stage 8 of the Transcendent Realm.
"Hey, Luc..." she said casually. "Ms. Innkeeper told that the lady with the huge knockers ca earlier to invite us for a eting tonight."
Lucien exhaled. "Call her by her na."
Marie smirked. "Alright, alright. Eirene, then. So what do you think? Should we go with them to the ruins?"
Lucien didn’t answer imdiately. He wanted to... but wasn’t sure if it was the right move.
He looked at Marie quietly. His sharp and long gaze made her squirm.
"Hey now... why are you looking at like that? You’re being weird."
Lucien finally spoke. "Marie. Let’s be together in the future."
She choked on her words. "W–what!? Wait, what are you talking about?"
Lucien blinked. "I an... let’s travel together."
Marie coughed loudly. "O-of course! Hahaha... I already treat you as my partner-in-cri."
Lucien smirked. "Cri’s going too far. I still consider myself a good person."
"Fuck you," she shot back, crossing her arms.
Lucien gestured toward the chair. "Sit. I have sothing for you."
Marie frowned suspiciously but complied.
"What happens next," Lucien said, "don’t tell anyone. I’m only doing this because I choose to trust you."
Marie blinked. "Uh... okay? What’s with the serious tone—?"
But then, she felt the air shift.
Lucien raised his hand and the Skillpedia materialized before him.
He had decided. He wanted to invest in Marie. He retrieved several spare Skill Cards from its pages.
Without warning, he pressed one card against her forehead.
Marie gasped. Energy surged through her and new knowledge ignited within her soul.
"What is this?! I... I just learned a skill?"
Lucien grew curious about Marie’s small world. From the way she acted, it seed she wasn’t very familiar with skills at all.
Lucien didn’t stop. He pressed another card... then another.
Swordsmanship Skills.
Martial Arts Skills.
Defense Skills.
Movent Skills.
Passive Skills.
Marie’s jaw hung open. Her entire body trembled as divine patterns etched themselves into her being.
She muttered under her breath, "Motherf—... I feel like Ainz from Overlord doing mass enchantnts."
"Huh?" Lucien blinked.
"Nothing," she said quickly.
When it was over, she stood there speechless. "Holy crap, Luc... You’ve been hiding this all along? No wonder you act like so mysterious wannabe. But don’t worry—" she grinned, "I swear on the Gundam God I won’t tell anyone."
Lucien sighed in relief. "Good enough."
He hesitated for a mont, considering whether to grant her Attributes as well.
He wasn’t sure if this would interfere with Marie’s own cheat. But after a mont of thought, he shook his head.
’No... it might actually help her instead.’
Attributes were different from Laws.
Laws governed the world’s natural order... the principles that defined existence itself.
Attributes, anwhile, were the expressions of those principles... the colors of mana that shaped and transford reality.
If Laws controlled, Attributes transford.
Marie’s Law of Earth, for example, allowed her to command the earth directly.
But the Earth Attribute can let her create the elent itself, shaping raw mana into tangible earth.
Lucien looked at her. She was rough around the edges but her honesty was unshakable. Beneath her sarcasm, he saw loyalty... and values much like his own.
’Birds of the sa feather flock together, huh...?’ he thought.
"Hey," he asked suddenly, "do you want to learn other kinds of magic?"
Marie’s eyes lit up. "Do I look like I’d say no?"
Lucien smiled faintly and took out several vials filled with shimring liquid. They were the juice distilled from the rare plants that granted Attributes.
"Drink this. It’ll awaken new Attributes in your mana vessels."
Marie eyed it suspiciously. "You sure I won’t explode?"
Lucien smirked. "Not unless you start swearing mid-drink."
"Asshole."
She gulped it down anyway.
Monts later, her aura burst outward.
Her eyes widened. "I can feel them... all of them!"
Lucien smiled, satisfied. "Good. This way, we’ll have a better chance against our enemies."
Marie clenched her fists as awe and excitent glead in her gaze. "Luc... seriously... thank you."
Lucien turned slightly, hiding a faint smile. "Just don’t make regret it."
Marie grinned. "Too late."
Lucien groaned. "I really should’ve expected that."
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