Lucien closed his eyes and let the exhaustion seep into his bones.
The Samsara Crown had drained him thoroughly. Even after removing it, its echo pressed against his mind like a fading stormfront.
When he finally opened his eyes, the world returned in pieces.
His summoned monsters had cald too. Their leaders had corralled them into stillness. The only persistent noise was the violent, rhythmic pounding against the Stygian Shell.
The lake still raged.
Lucien’s gaze landed on a particular group. His tal Gargoyles.
Dozens of them stood in silent formation. Their shiny hide caught the silver light of the garden. They waited like statues, perfectly obedient.
Lucien called out to them with a thought.
[Co.]
A low hum of tal answered. The gargoyles lifted from the ground, wings beating once before they descended in a semicircle around him.
Lucien exhaled.
"...Alright. Let’s finish this."
The nearest gargoyle tilted its head. Its eyes glowed with soft crystal-blue, awaiting command.
Lucien lifted a hand.
[Help harvest the plants before the black-robed woman picks everything clean.]
In an instant, they launched into motion.
Gargoyles glided over the plant beds and clusters. Their tal claws moved with surgical grace. They clipped each plant at the root without disturbing the soil, gathering them into neat bundles.
They were unaffected by the conceptual penalties.
And even if they were hard?
Lucien smiled faintly.
’They can just rest inside my core.’
He was done hiding.
Everyone had witnessed the resurrection. Everyone had seen his monsters. Subtlety held no purpose now.
And in a place where breath itself tried to kill them, Lucien wasn’t foolish enough to conceal the power that had just saved all their lives.
He cast his Divine Sense outward.
Colors blood around each practitioner.
Calm blues. Soft greens. Fading pinks.
He waited for one ugly color... greed, malice, envy... to flicker toward him.
But none appeared. Not even a flicker.
Instead... their colors pulsed brighter. Purer. As if his act had stripped away suspicion and left only gratitude.
Lucien blinked in quiet surprise.
"Still clean..." he murmured.
Only the black-robed faction defied his sight. Divine Sense bounced uselessly off their black robes.
Even so... he felt no hostility from them.
Lucien lowered himself onto the terrace stones.
Marie slipped down beside him with her arms drawn around her knees.
They watched the gargoyles’ skillful harvesting.
"You should’ve done this earlier," she said with a teasing grin.
Lucien smiled back. "Well... I’m doing it now, aren’t I?"
Marie leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially...
"I get a share, right?"
Lucien stared at her. After a short pause, he smiled.
"I’ll give you sothing better later. Once these are refined, their value will multiply."
Marie’s eyes glowed instantly.
"You’re the best, Luc!"
"Always have been."
"Show off."
Eirene approached and sat on his other side. Her expression was composed but clearly impressed.
"...I will definitely be buying from you later, Brother Luc," she said lightly. "Once you refine these into pills."
Lucien chuckled, stretching his tired legs.
Each ti a gargoyle plucked a plant, a faint ting echoed in his consciousness.
His smile deepened.
He couldn’t help but laugh under his breath.
"Still auto-collecting... good."
The gargoyles returned in rotations, dropping off armfuls of plants beside him, then gliding back into the garden to gather more. Their movents were efficient like sacred guardians tending to a shrine.
Seeing the gargoyles operate, the other factions cautiously resud their own harvesting.
No complaints. No envy. Just focused cooperation.
A strange awe settled over them all.
Lucien’s monsters followed him like loyal soldiers yet none of them attacked the others.
He is a man who could summon armies and resurrect the dead... but who chose not to dominate.
The others stared at him with deeper respect.
For a rare mont...
The Silver Garden felt peaceful.
If not for—
KANG—!!
KANG—!!
KANG—!!
The lake hamred endlessly against the Stygian Shell.
But within the garden’s circle of soft clattering gargoyle claws and quiet murmurs...
Lucien felt the weight of resurrection finally begin to fade.
Peace settled around him.
He leaned back slightly against the terrace stones and let out a quiet breath.
’Just a few minutes of rest... before the next disaster starts.’
•••
The Silver Garden that was once overflowing with luminous flora now lay stripped bare. What had monts ago resembled a celestial sanctuary now looked emptied, harvested down to its bones.
Lucien watched as the very last stem snapped free under a tal Gargoyle’s precise claw.
Nothing remained.
Yet despite the fact that most of the herbs had ended up in the hands of the black-robed faction and in Lucien’s own auto-collect system, no one complained.
No one even looked irritated.
Because in the Ruins, there was only one rule:
If you had the strength to harvest it, you deserved it.
And every practitioner present accepted that truth without resentnt.
Just then—
A scraping sound echoed.
Lucien blinked.
Three of his tal Gargoyles crouched low and began scooping up shimring Silver Soil by the armful, treating the glittering earth as if it were a treasure equal to the herbs themselves.
Lucien stared for one heartbeat...
...and then chuckled softly.
"...Good job."
He hadn’t given the order.
But of course the gargoyles recognized value when they sensed it.
If he wanted to cultivate these rare plants inside his Divine Energy Core, he would need Silver Soil. It’s the dium that fed the garden’s unique properties.
Even a handful was enough. With a sample and its essence, he could mimic and recreate this place inside his own inner world.
’As expected of my pets.’
He allowed them to continue.
Others watched with awe bordering on reverence.
Within minutes, the Silver Garden was truly barren. A sacred field reduced to a quiet courtyard stripped of all miracles.
Lucien rose slowly.
"Everyone... we should retreat. The garden is empty."
As if the Ruins agreed—
KANG—!!
KANG—!!
KANG—!!
The lake slamd harder against the Stygian Shell. Each impact carried sharper intent. Sothing inside was clawing for freedom.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed.
"The lake hasn’t cald even once... Whatever follows will not be gentle."
Everyone tensed.
Before they departed, the Scarlet Sect approached.
Raven stepped forward first, still pale but undeniably alive.
He bowed low.
"Brother Wolf... I owe you my life."
The Senior Sister bowed beside him. Though white streaked her hair and faint lines marked her once-youthful face, her smile was warm and steady.
"The Scarlet Sect will rember your kindness," she said softly. "From this day onward."
Raven imdiately held her arm, worried.
"S-Senior Sister, please rest. You shouldn’t strain yourself."
She rolled her eyes. "I lost a few decades, not my ability to stand."
Raven flushed but for the first ti, he didn’t argue.
Instead, he fumbled in his storage ring and turned his head to Lucien.
"Truly... don’t worry about her lifespan. We possess treasures that restore longevity. She’ll recover."
He glanced at her with rare sincerity.
"And I... will ensure she does."
Lucien nodded.
The Senior Sister’s expression softened, and Raven’s eyes returned that softness with a sincerity Lucien hadn’t seen before.
Their old bickering had vanished. In its place was sothing quieter and deeper. A bond forged through sacrifice.
Lucien smiled.
"Take care of each other."
The other disciples bowed deeply before making their way out.
Next ca the Sskavyrn duo.
They clasped forearms with Lucien, a gesture of warriors acknowledging one who they deed worthy.
"You broadened our understanding today, Brother Wolf," the first said gravely.
"We will safeguard what we witnessed," the second promised.
With a final bow to Lucien and the Verdant Veil, they departed.
Eirene turned to her people.
"Everyone, please withdraw first. Leave the influence of the garden imdiately."
They obeyed without hesitation, retreating swiftly beyond the garden’s influence.
Eirene remained behind with Lucien and Marie.
The Verdant Veil practitioners were reassured by everything Lucien had demonstrated, no longer feared for Eirene’s safety. With him here, they would be fine.
The black-robed faction stayed as well.
Beyond them, the lake continued its furious assault on the Stygian Shell. Each impact rang like a warning bell for the next challenge to co.
Lucien stood in the barren field.
Marie stepped closer, voice hushed.
"So... what now?"
Eirene crossed her arms. Her eyes narrowed at the trembling lake.
"We proceed," she said. "The plants were never my goal."
She turned to Lucien.
"Brother Luc, do you have any thod to acquire the Key?"
Lucien hesitated.
Subconsciously, his gaze drifted to the leader of the black-robed faction.
Then away again.
The lake behind the barrier churned like a caged beast starving for release.
Eirene spoke again.
"The Key of Slumber... I must obtain it."
Lucien exhaled deeply.
’Of course it wasn’t over.’
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