Chapter 108: The Ritual of Exchange
Level 2
Strength: SSS, 1299
Endurance: SSS, 1299
Dexterity: SSS, 1299
Agility: SSS, 1299
Magic: SSS, 1299
Development Ability: Luck SSS
Compared to his time at Level 1, his Limit Break count had increased by one.
999 -> 1099 -> 1199 -> 1299. Lucian could feel that his upper ceiling had expanded. By the time he hit Level 3, he would likely be able to reach 1399.
And just like last time, he didn't need to manually train for it. He would naturally and effortlessly reach his maximum capacity, automatically completing the Limit Break process.
"I have some business to attend to. I'm heading out."
Lucian announced, rising from Lexington's lap.
"Goodbye, Commander. Let's play together next time."
Lexington smiled, uttering some rather suggestive words.
"Ahem. It is a maid's solemn duty to dedicate her all to her Master."
Belfast cleared her throat, her cheeks flushed a rosy red as she spoke.
"If it's big brother, I also..."
Unicorn giggled while hugging U-chan. "Next time, I'll compose a song especially for big brother. You have to come listen to it, okay?"
It was true what they said—a soft bed is a hero's tomb. They were making Lucian want to throw his responsibilities away and just keep the party going.
Forget it, forget it. Definitely next time.
Lucian sought out Hephaestus. At the moment, she was back in the Danmachi world.
Although the Divine Court was fascinating—and the new concepts Lucian brought had her fully engrossed in entirely new domains of forging—she hadn't forgotten her original purpose for descending to the Lower World, nor her responsibilities to her Familia.
Because of this, Hephaestus spent the majority of her time in Orario.
When Lucian teleported over, Hephaestus was in the middle of instructing Tsubaki on blacksmithing.
The Hephaestus Familia hadn't been stationed in Orario for very long, and Tsubaki hadn't had many opportunities to test her blades in the outside world. Thus, she was currently still a Level 1.
However, now that they were in Orario, she had significantly more opportunities to test her weapons in the Dungeon. Tsubaki would likely reach Level 2 in a few months.
Within the Falna system, Level 1 and Level 2 were entirely different realms—this held true for both combat prowess and the domain of blacksmithing.
For crafting-focused classes like Blacksmiths, their absolute core lay in Development Abilities. These abilities essentially manifested their forging talents into tangible, quantified skills.
Only by acquiring "Blacksmith" as a Development Ability could one forge high-tier equipment and Magic Swords. Therefore, possessing this Development Ability was the primary dividing line between high-rank and low-rank blacksmiths.
Of course, this rule didn't apply to the Crozzo bloodline with their Spirit Blood, nor to a blatant cheat like Lucian.
"Lady Hephaestus, your little boyfriend is here to see you."
Having grown completely accustomed to Lucian's sudden appearances, Tsubaki teased her goddess as a greeting.
While the rest of the Hephaestus Familia was unaware of Lucian's Divine Court, his general air of mystery—combined with his intimate relationship with Hephaestus—gave him a highly unique standing within the Familia.
Hephaestus's face flushed slightly, but she didn't deny the remark.
Observing Hephaestus's expression, Tsubaki blinked in surprise. The next second, she watched her goddess walk straight up to Lucian and dive directly into his arms.
Wow... she's not even trying to hide it anymore.
Hadn't Lucian only joined the Familia a month ago?
Why did they already act like an old married couple?!
"See you later, Tsubaki."
Lucian waved a quick greeting before leaving with Hephaestus.
Watching their retreating backs, Tsubaki's jaw practically dropped to the floor. "Is this humble smith just falling out of touch?" she muttered to herself.
"What brings you here?"
Once they were back in her room, Hephaestus asked with a warm smile.
"Status update."
Lucian replied, smoothly taking off his shirt and lying face down on the bed.
"I've told you before, you can just update it yourself." Hephaestus smiled, pulling out a fine needle.
"You say that, but your hands aren't stopping," Lucian shot back playfully.
"Quiet, you."
Hephaestus lightly smacked his bare back before beginning the update process.
A drop of divine blood fell, and Hephaestus swept her hand across Lucian's back, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.
The divine blood activated the Falna, projecting the glowing text of his status into the air.
"Your Limit Break has an extra use?"
Hephaestus asked in surprise. "Don't tell me you get an extra limit break every time you level up?"
"Take a guess?"
Lucian chuckled lightly.
"Have you completely figured out the limits of humanity and the mechanics behind Limit Breaks?"
Hephaestus ventured a guess.
"Spot on. As expected of my Goddess."
Lucian praised her before explaining, "Setting aside the ultimate ceiling of the Falna system itself, an individual's innate talent naturally possesses its own upper limit."
"A Limit Break essentially expands the capacity of the human body's potential, while leveling up improves the quality of the vessel itself. But at the end of the day, it's still bound by a mortal frame."
Lucian, however, was now effectively functioning as a Demigod. He was no longer an ordinary mortal.
Logically speaking, the number of times he could break his limits should be astronomically high.
The reason he could only trigger Limit Break three times—and why his Endurance stat at Level 4 was actually lower than Bell's at the same level—was because Lucian's Limit Breaks were all-encompassing.
When he triggered a Limit Break at Level 2, the hidden attributes from his time as a Level 1, as well as his baseline stats from before he even became an adventurer, also underwent a transformation. This unleashed potential was categorized as a "Latent Ability Parameter."
The reason Bell's upper limit could stretch so impossibly high was due to his past life. The Excellia accumulated from his heroic deeds in his previous incarnation had fundamentally altered the very essence of his soul.
But without opening the path to the Demigod Realm, none of that would matter much. Even the evolution of a soul would eventually hit a hard ceiling.
As for why Liliruca could only barely manage to level up? It was likely because the curse of Fianna from her past life had been shouldered by Finn. Or perhaps, it was because a portion of her soul had merged into the earth alongside the souls of her fellow knights, even generating an area that produced unique resources.
"This Development Ability... Omnipotence?"
Hephaestus read out the new Development Ability option available to Lucian, her voice tinged with shock.
"Then I'll choose Omnipotence."
Lucian didn't care much about the specific manifestation of Development Abilities.
Whether it was Blacksmith, Mixing, Mystery, or Mage... he could easily replicate all of their effects entirely on his own through magic formulas.
Take his "Luck" for example. Its rank as a Development Ability had already hit the absolute ceiling, but his actual luck attribute far surpassed the parameters the Falna system could even quantify.
"Truth be told, I've already deduced the cultivation system for the realm beyond Level 10."
Lucian stated as Hephaestus finalized his status update.
"If you've systematized it, does that mean others can walk this path as well?"
Hephaestus asked, deep in thought.
"Exactly. But I don't plan on spreading this system to the public."
As Lucian spoke, he remained shirtless. He flipped over and pinned Hephaestus beneath him, continuing, "I plan to integrate this system and establish it as the exclusive cultivation method for the Divine Court."
"It's a system of your own creation. Whether or not you spread it is entirely up to your own desires." She snapped back to reality, taking in Lucian's bold movements as a soft blush crept across her cheeks.
Lucian leaned down, pressing kisses against her neck, and then... the two of them completed the ritual of exchange once more.
Whether the ritual was real or metaphorical remained to be seen.
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