The wick flailed its tiny limbs, squirming like a bug caught between fingers. Its wings flared and dimmed, casting flickers of orange across Lex's hand.
Mirielle stared at him, confused. "Why did you catch it?"
Lex looked at her with that same gentle smile. "...I don't really know? There was this old game where you had to catch insects. I guess I wanted to try it."
She blinked. "Catch insects? Game? So you just caught it because you were curious?"
"Yes."
She frowned. He looked completely serious.
For a second, she wondered if maybe he'd lost it—if staying quiet for hours had finally melted his brain. He had dragged her through ruined streets, smiled like a creep, threatened to chop her limbs off… and now this?
Just... catching glowing creatures because it seemed fun?
She didn't get it.
Then again, she reminded herself, none of this was real. The way he smiled and the voice he used were all fake. Every word, every tone.
Still, watching him now, crouched a little with his head tilted like he was studying a strange bug, she had to admit—
He sold the act well.
Lex tilted his hand slightly, letting the wick hang upside down for a moment. It squirmed harder, trying to slip free, but he kept his grip firm.
Mirielle crossed her arms, still wincing from the pain in her legs. "You're not going to let it go, are you?"
"No."
"Why?"
He looked up at her, still smiling. "Dunno."
She stared at him for a moment, but didn't press further. If holding onto that thing helped him keep it together, even a little, she wouldn't argue.
Her gaze shifted to the street.
A group was approaching—maybe twenty or thirty people. Some carried weapons, while others carried makeshift backpacks and scavenged gear over their shoulders. They looked rough, tired, and careful.
However, what surprised her was that multiple wicks were following them.
'Those people... Did they just come back from their aspect selection?' Mirielle thought.
She didn't know how much time had passed since their aspect selection ended, but judging by the group's looks, it hadn't been long, a day at most. The group members were talking among themselves, but their voices were low and hushed.
Mirielle tensed and wanted to cry for help, but she stopped when Lex stared at them.
'No... This guy is too unpredictable. Nothing says that they will help, and even if they did want to, I would be long dead before being rescued,' she thought as she looked at Lex's sword.
'Once I get the opportunity, I will seduce someone and escape... But not right now.' she thought as she was trying to make a plan to escape.
The group passed them, glancing their way but not stopping.
Mirielle glanced at the wick in Lex's hand. Its wings were still struggling, flaring and dimming, casting flickering light across Lex's fingers.
"Change of plan. We will follow them," as he put the wick into his pocket like a toy.
"What? Why?" Mirielle looked at him, confused.
Before she could even question further, he started to move.
The group had already moved ahead, and Lex followed, keeping a fair distance behind.
Mirielle was quiet, her eyes scanning the group. The group consisted mostly of men in their 30s to 40s, but there were a few women, too. Most of them were carrying backpacks or bags made from the hide of an unknown animal, and some were carrying weapons but all of them seemed tired.
After following from a distance, they watched the group slip into a building and pull the door shut behind them. Lex came to a stop across the street, eyes lingering on the entrance for a second.
It was a squat, two-story brick thing, with graffiti on the walls and boards nailed over the windows. A sign was above the door, but the words were faded and hard to read.
He stared at it for a moment, then turned away without a word.
Mirielle glanced at him as he walked toward another building nearby—a smaller place, hunched and half-collapsed. The roof sagged, and one of the walls looked like it had cracked clean down the middle.
Lex knelt and lowered her gently to the ground.
"You want to stay here?" she asked, glancing around.
The place looked like it could fall apart if the wind picked up.
"Yes," he said, still using that gentle tone. "But don't worry, I'll be quick."
Mirielle frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly. It was clear he was warning her not to try anything, even if he'd said it like a promise.
Lex smiled at Mirielle—just enough to be polite, not enough to mean anything—then turned and left before she could say a word. No point waiting for a response, he already knew wouldn't matter.
The moment he was out of sight, he picked up his pace, putting real distance between himself and Mirielle.
"Will be too slow to gain their trust and join them," he muttered. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford, not with how little time he had to waste.
With a genuine smile, he glanced at his coins.
[Coins: 34,532]
"But with enough coins, anything is possible."
The thought should've been comforting, but right now it just tasted bitter. If he'd known he'd stumble across Two for One, he wouldn't have accumulated so damn many and even refrained from buying any blessing.
"... Whatever. Even though I will have to delay my next blessing, it will be worth it if I can craft the perfect shell," he thought as he looked at the building. His lips curled slightly at the thought—a little patience now for a bigger payoff later.
-------------------------------------
[STATUS]
Name: ???
Coins: 34,532
Current Location: Floor 0
-------------------------------------
[Aspects]
[Aspect: Die to Begin – "Live in the past. Die in the past."]
[Aspect: Game Master – "The victor rewrites the rules. You are the victor. You are the rules."]
-------------------------------------
[Blessings]
Poison Resistance, Strength, Agility, One-Man Army, Better Yesterday, Titan Nemesis.
-------------------------------------
"The list of my blessings is a bit too shabby. Shall we correct this?" he muttered.
[Welcome back, Administrator. 5 coins have been deducted to use your privileges.]
[What do you desire?]
His fingers didn't hesitate. He already knew what he wanted.
[Endurance Blessing: 500 coins.]
[Stamina Blessing: 500 coins.]
The moment they popped up, he confirmed both without a second thought. Usually, he wouldn't really bother with those blessings as it mainly focused on survival. However, he had a plan, and soon enough, another screen followed right after.
[Notice: Synergy Detected.]
[Merging Condition Met: All four core physical blessings acquired. Initiate fusion?]
[Warning: This is a permanent decision. The blessings used will be lost forever and cannot be reacquired individually.]
Lex smiled at the window before him. The Game occasionally offered a merge when the right combination of blessings, traits, or conditions was gathered.
But such opportunities came with risks. Merging didn't guarantee that the previous effects would carry over—sometimes, they were lost entirely. Moreover, they couldn't even be gained once merged, making the choice extremely risky.
Lex didn't blink.
"Yes."
[Congratulations! You have successfully fused all four core physical blessings.]
The screen flickered away, and then it hit.
A heat surged through him, deep, pulsing, alive. His muscles locked up briefly, tightening like cables pulled too tight. His breath was caught, as if all his life, he had been suffocating. Veins rose against his skin, throbbing, and for a moment, it felt like something was being boiled out of him, cell by cell.
The effect was way more intense than when he'd bought them individually, but he didn't show it.
Then, the feeling passed. The tension melted away, and his muscles relaxed. He took a long, deep breath, exhaling slowly.
Clenching his hand into a fist to familiarize himself with his new strength, he chuckled quietly.
[Name: Vigor]
[Stars: LOCKED]
[Effect: Increases the user's Strength, Stamina, Endurance, and Agility by 60%.]
[Activation Condition: Must be a player. Must be a living creature.]
"It feels much better. Although my body still feels heavy compared to my previous run, I can't complain."
He then turned his attention to the building before him.
"Let's try this out."