Life is like a storm, Lucien thought, since you can't resist it, just endure and adapt. Not all challenges are painful, and not all outcomes are disastrous. Sometimes, even unpleasant events can bring unexpected benefits.
After all, the increase in the value of rewards alone was significant, and the probability of drawing penalties had also decreased dramatically.
Lucien quickly adjusted his mindset, focusing on Nezuko's three Dice rolls and the extra +1 Luck. This was the mark of an important supporting character.
The first draw lit up: "Farmer's Spring advertisement."
Luck hadn't favored him this time; this was only the second advertisement he'd received. The first had been an online card dealer, this time a mineral water promotion. The gacha experience remained underwhelming.
Without waiting for the advertisement to finish, Lucien rolled a second time.
"One roasted suckling pig."
This reward was more acceptable.
As the third light flashed, Lucien used his +1 Luck.
"Red Wolf's Frying Pan."
Description: A weapon wielded by the villainess in Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. It can change size by injecting power and self-repairs.
Lucien's eyes lit up. A divine artifact! Its two abilities alone—size alteration and self-repair—made it invaluable.
The frying pan materialized in his hand, about 25 centimeters in diameter, made of stainless steel. As he injected his power, it began to grow, expanding to twenty meters in moments. Weight and thickness increased alongside its size, making the enlargement fully functional.
Swinging the enormous frying pan, Lucien sent it toward a distant hill. The impact caused an earth-shattering explosion, unstoppable wherever it struck. Whether for combat or cooking, it was a perfect tool.
---
Time passed swiftly. In a blink, five months had gone by.
During this time, Lucien had secluded himself in desolate mountains and wilderness, completely detached from the outside world. Wang Xu, outside, was driven to near madness searching for him.
Previously vanished demons had reappeared, but they were no longer Muzan's creations—they were Wang Xu's. Their purpose was simple: locate Lucien.
Yet for five months, he had seemed to vanish from existence. Wang Xu grew increasingly agitated, fearing that Lucien had already left this world. He craved the ability to travel across worlds, not confinement.
---
"Boss, one hundred servings of udon noodles!"
In a bustling city snack street, a young man with spiky yellow hair, a T-shirt, beach shorts, flip-flops, and a half-mask shouted at the shop owner.
"Guest, did you say… one hundred servings?"
The owner blinked, suspecting a mistake.
"One hundred, money won't be short!"
Lucien casually tossed a wallet onto the counter. The cash inside was real, a large stack of banknotes.
"Alright, please wait a moment," the owner said, recognizing the authenticity.
Lucien sat on a stool, lighting a cigarette as he observed the lively street. Acne still dotted his face, and his randomly dyed hair was now yellow. His casual, sloppy attire gave him the perfect street-thug aura.
A mask hid his features, though facial twitches sometimes betrayed him. Despite having control over all his cells, the occasional twitch caused by the Golden Finger could still provoke others if noticed—a minor risk in crowded streets.
---
The udon arrived, fragrant and steaming. Lucien's appetite had grown with his body's demands. Five months of isolation and training had sharpened both his strength and hunger.
After eating, he picked a toothpick to clean his teeth. Watching the sweating but smiling owner count the money, he asked casually, "Boss, have you noticed anything strange these last four or five months?"
"Strange?" The owner paused, recalling recent events. He lowered his voice. "The nights aren't safe anymore. Over thirty people have been eaten by wild beasts. But where would wild beasts come from in the city? Some eyewitnesses claim demons, but who knows if it's true. Other cities report the same incidents. Be careful at night."
Lucien flicked ash from his cigarette, tapping the table thoughtfully. All demons connected to Muzan should have been gone, yet they were reappearing. His mind immediately went to Wang Xu; this resurgence was likely his doing.
Lucien could also create demons, and the more blood a demon received, the stronger it became. Over the last five months, he had honed his abilities to a level rivaling Muzan's. Now, he could become a progenitor of demons if he chose.
---
Night fell, the crescent moon hanging high above. Despite ghost stories circulating, the city remained bright and busy.
In a legitimate foot massage parlor, down a dark alley, a scream pierced the night. A scantily clad streetwalker collapsed in a corner, and before her, a grotesque Rat Demon devoured her. Its rat-like body and face were horrifying, and the human flesh empowered it. By now, it had already consumed more than ten victims in the city.
"Hey! Does it taste good?"
The alley, previously silent except for gnawing, echoed with a sudden voice. The Rat Demon froze, startled.
Overhead, clouds drifted aside. Moonlight revealed the newcomer: a human floating a decimeter above the ground, wrapped in a towel, hair spiky yellow, eyes amethyst and shining.
The demon blinked, confirming what it saw: this was no ordinary human—it was a demon. One resembling the figure the adult had sought.
"Actually, these impure humans aren't tasty. If you eat, choose clean or stronger cultivators; toxins in weak humans affect digestion," Lucien said calmly.
The Rat Demon, silent, leaped forward, claws extended to seize Lucien's head.
"Flying Finger Pistol."
Lucien flicked his finger. An air bullet shot forth, striking the Rat Demon's forehead. A bloodied hole appeared, and the force pinned it against the wall.
For small fry like this, Lucien didn't need direct contact; his Finger Pistol sufficed.
The demon lay terrified. Lucien leaned slightly forward, a faint smile playing across his lips. "Can you tell me who turned you into a demon?"
He extended his index finger. The nail grew a decimeter, crimson with Hardening, and its temperature soared instantly.
_____
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