CHAPTER 13: One Month of Transcendence
The room was silent.
Heavy.
The air itself seemed to hold its breath as Lucius stood alone, his eyes fixed on the flickering blue light that only he could see.
"…Status."
The interface manifested with a low hum in his mind.
[Status window]
Name: Lucius van Venus
Title: Overlord of the Abyss
Level: 16
Talents: Teleportation [God Tier]
Law of One [God Tier]
Strength: 17
Agility: 20
Mana: 26
Sensitivity: 13
Endurance: 11
Available Stat Points: 6
Skills: Poison Immunity [max]
[Advanced sword mastery lv.5]
→Effect: Enhances fundamental sword techniques, improving balance, precision, and efficiency in combat.
→ Backlash: None
[ Instinct Flow Lv.4]
→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.
[Aura Lv.1]
→Effect: Allows the user to enhance attacks and defense using internal energy.
→ Effect 2: Slight increase in physical strength and pressure output.
→ Limitation: Unstable control at low levels.
[ All Things Being Equal]
→ Effect 1: Temporarily equalizes physical and skill disparity between user and opponent based on current ability limits.
→ Effect 2: When activated, the user and the target are dragged into a separate space known as the White Void, where the environment favors the user and grants a 50% increase to all stats.
→ Condition: Requires intense focus and high mana consumption.
→ Backlash: Severe strain on the body if overused. If the opponent is significantly stronger than the user, the White Void may shatter.
Lucius stared at the numbers.
To the world, Level 16 was a respectable start for a young noble. But to him? It was a crawl.
…I still need to get stronger.
The Academy was a month away.
In that place, genius was the baseline. Monsters in human skin would be walking the halls—descendants of the Seven Houses, each carrying bloodlines that defied logic.
"…I don't know what kind of monsters I'll face there."
He paused.
"…Or what kind of people."
His fingers traced the air, allocating the points.
[+2 Strength]
[+2 Endurance]
[+2 Sensitivity]
The change was violent.
It wasn't a gentle glow. It was a searing heat that raced through his marrow. His muscles tightened, knitting together with new, dense fibers. His skin felt more durable, as if a thin layer of invisible chainmail had been woven into his pores.
But the Sensitivity boost was the sharpest.
Suddenly, he could hear the heartbeat of a mouse behind the wall. He could feel the shift in air pressure as a bird flew past the window.
Hah.A faint, cold exhale.
"…Not enough."
He turned toward the door.
Elara.
The door opened instantly. She had been waiting—always waiting.
"…Yes, Young Master."
"Prepare for my seclusion."
Elara froze. Her fingers curled into her skirt, a flicker of genuine fear crossing her face.
"…Seclusion? But Young Master… your body just recovered. Is it really necessary?"
Lucius walked toward her. His footsteps were silent now, a predator's gait. He reached out and placed a hand on her head.
The gesture was small. Human.
"…Don't worry."
A ghost of a smile touched his lips.
"…I will be fine."
Elara's face flushed, her worry replaced by a momentary, stunned silence. She bowed her head, hiding her eyes.
"…Understood. I will make the preparations."
She hurried out, leaving Lucius with his thoughts. He turned back to the window, his eyes darkening as he summoned the quest log.
[Quest window]
Reach: Level 50
Conditions: Required to enter the [Unknown Dungeon] within Venus Territory.
Reward: ???
"…Level 50."
The "Question Mark" dungeon. The one his father, a veteran Count, couldn't even enter.
Interesting.
Knock. Knock.
"Young master. The Patriarch is calling for you."
Butler Alfredo's voice was like aged leather—tough and reliable. Lucius dismissed the panel with a thought. It vanished into the void.
The Main Hall was a cavern of cold marble.
Lucius stepped forward, his boots echoing against the floor. He stopped before the tall, broad-shouldered man looking out over the lands.
He bowed. Deeply.
"…Father."
"No need for formalities," Demitri said. He didn't turn around. His gaze was fixed on the distant peaks of Valhalla.
"…I've noticed something, Lucius."
Silence filled the hall, heavy as lead.
"…You've changed."
Demitri turned then. His eyes were sharp, searching—piercing through Lucius as if trying to read his very soul.
"…Are you still my son, Lucius?"
Lucius's heart hammered against his ribs. Does he know? Can he see the soul that doesn't belong here?
He forced his breathing to remain steady.
"…Yes, Father. It's still me."
He lowered his gaze, playing the part of the repentant son.
"…I just reflected. I saw the knights. I saw my brother,
Julius.....the 'Sword God' of our family who awakened a
Divine tier Talent. I saw him carrying the weight of our
name while I, with my 'Unique tier' Teleportation, did
nothing but hide."
His eyes snapped back up, burning with a fake, yet believable fire.
"…I decided I won't be the reason this house falls."
Demitri watched him for a long, agonizing minute. Then, a heavy hand landed on Lucius's shoulder.
Firm. Warm.
"…My son."
Demitri's voice was thick with an emotion he rarely showed.
"…I'm here for you. From now on… "i won't question you." I won't restrain you. Do whatever you must."
Lucius exhaled. The tension in the air broke.
"You're going to the Academy," Demitri continued. "Take Elara.
Nobles are allowed one attendant. She knows your habits. Listen to her."
"Thank you, Father."
Lucius bowed and left. As the doors closed,
---
Silence remained.
---
"…Why are my sons so stubborn…"
---
Demitri sighed.
---
Then laughed slightly.
---
Behind him—
Alfredo stood calmly.
---
"…Perhaps…"
---
"…they take after you, sir."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
---
Both laughed.
---
Back to Lucius—
He changed his clothes.
---
Simple.
---
Comfortable.
---
Prepared.
---
The door opened.
---
"…Young master…"
---
Elara stood there.
"…Everything is ready."
---
A pause.
---
"…Please take care"
---
Lucius nodded.
"…I will."
Then—
He walked past her.
Toward the path ahead.
Outside—
---
Guards stood.
---
Silent.
---
Respectful.
"…Young Master."
---
They bowed.
---
Lucius walked forward.
---
Toward the cave.
---
The place of seclusion.
---
Behind—
---
Demitri watched.
---
From afar.
---
"…Take care, son…"
---
A faint whisper.
"…Your father will handle everything."
The Cave of Seclusion.
It was a natural hollow deep within the Venus cliffs. Dark. Damp. Silent.
The guards sealed the entrance with a massive stone slab, leaving Lucius in absolute pitch-blackness.
Day 1. Day 10. Day 20
Time lost its meaning.
Lucius sat cross-legged, his breathing the only sound in the dark. He practiced the new sword art he had "borrowed" from Devox: [All Things Being Equal]
But it felt clunky. It felt like wearing someone else's shoes.
"…why?"
His aura flickered, turning erratic. His mana veins began to throb—a sign of Mana Deviation. The pressure of his own growth was threatening to tear him apart from the inside.
Focus. What am I missing?
His eyes snapped open in the dark.
"…Wait."
He had Swordsmanship. He had instinct. He had aura. He had teleportation.
He had been trying to use them one after another.
Step. Slash. Teleport. Slash.
"…Then why not… combine them?"
A faint, dangerous smile formed on his face.
The air in the cave began to hum. It wasn't just mana; it was the space itself beginning to vibrate.
"…Create something that's mine alone."
He stood up. He didn't reach for his sword. He reached
for the Concept of the sword.
"…Status."
The panel appeared, but this time, the "Skills" tab was glowing white-hot.
[Warning: Law of One is a God- tier Fusion function.]
[Do you wish to proceed with the fusion of Talent and Skills]
•Talent: Teleportation [God- tier]
•Skills: [Advanced sword mastery lv.5]
[ Instinct Flow Lv.4]
[Aura Lv.1]
[ All Things Being Equal]
This may result in the loss of your talents and skills—do you wish to continue?
"Proceed."
The darkness of the cave was swallowed by a blinding, blue light.
To Be Continued...