The results of Lucien's remaining seven rolls appeared one after another.
"One smoke bomb."
"One grenade."
"One toy gun."
"One bottle of pepper oil."
"I Love a Thorn. Description: when it activates, regardless of gender, pin the target down and unleash a relentless beating."
"One Estée Lauder lipstick."
"Intermittent facial twitching."
Just as Lucien expected, these seven draws were almost entirely useless. The last one, "intermittent facial twitching," was particularly troublesome. He could not control it, and his expression would randomly twitch with an air of disdain or provocation that he never intended. Anyone who saw it might mistake him for mocking them, an issue that could easily lead to unnecessary conflict.
But the moment he remembered the Ki he obtained earlier, the irritation faded from his mind, replaced by excitement.
He finally understood the rules behind the Golden Finger's rewards. Killing a Child of Destiny, a Fated Villain, Reincarnator, Transmigrator, or Reborn typically granted four Dice rolls and one VIP Luck bonus. Important supporting characters gave three rolls and one regular Luck point. Main villains earned three rolls without any luck, and minor characters would only give one.
Leaving the thoughts behind, Lucien hurried out of the hotel. He wanted to test Ki immediately.
He located a small hill on the outskirts of town and settled in the grass, legs crossed and amethyst eyes half-closed. Following the cultivation method he absorbed earlier, he steadied his breath and reached inward.
Within seconds, he snapped his eyes open in surprise. He had sensed it almost instantly.
He closed his eyes again, sinking into the sensation with focus and patience. After ten minutes of careful concentration, he was fully certain.
He could feel his Ki.
Raising his right hand, Lucien allowed Hardening to surface. His arm shifted into hardened crystalline density. He inhaled sharply, focusing his breath, and lightning coursed across his limbs as he activated Thunder Breathing.
He understood now.
Hardening, Thunder Breathing, every technique he'd used so far—all of them were forms of Ki manipulation. Hardening converted stamina into a dense, protective substance. Thunder Breathing instantly boosted physical power by flooding the blood with oxygen. They were different branches of the same root.
Ki was stamina. Ki was life force.
And he had mastered it long before ever realizing it.
"Everything comes from the same source," Lucien murmured, gazing at his hand. "If I want to grow stronger, I need to strengthen my Ki."
Ki had no single cultivation method. Any form of intense physical training, extreme Thunder Breathing, pushing his limits, or reinforcing his will—everything contributed to strengthening his Ki. However, the most important part was control.
Lucien now realized how much Ki he had wasted in previous battles. His strength had been scattered, unfocused. With proper control, every ounce of power could strike with purpose.
His Hardening would become sharper. His Thunder Breathing would grow faster. His combat power would rise exponentially.
He braced his legs, channeled Ki into Thunder Breathing and Shave, and—
A crackling explosion of movement burst under him. Lucien flashed forward like a bolt of lightning, instantly appearing thirty meters away.
The increase in speed left him breathless with exhilaration.
"Bold demon, such petty tricks cannot stand before an expert! Great Might Heavenly Dragon, World-Honored Ksitigarbha! Great Luo Dharma Incantation, Prajna Buddhas! Prajna Paramita Hum!"
His voice rang out across the hill, and Ki surged wildly around him. A five-meter golden dragon spiraled into existence above his right hand, its body shimmering with divine brilliance. Lucien thrust his palm forward, and the dragon roared as it shot ahead like a comet.
The ground exploded in a chain of blasts. Trees shattered. A hill the size of a villa collapsed into rubble, leaving a deep ravine torn through the earth.
Lucien lowered his arm slowly. "Awkward chant or not, the power is real."
Under Ki's influence, the technique was devastating. And this was only a five-meter form. One day, he could unleash a dragon stretching hundreds or even thousands of meters. The thought alone sent a thrill through him.
He continued practicing, shifting smoothly between Ki, Finger Pistol, and his newly acquired abilities, learning the feel of each technique with growing ease.
He remained on the hill for hours, honing and refining his control.
---
Back at Butterfly Estate, ten minutes after Lucien left, three young nurses entered Tanjiro's room to check on their patients.
They immediately froze.
A heavy metallic stench filled the air. Blood dripped from the beds, pooling on the floor beneath the blankets.
A scream tore out of one girl's throat, high and trembling.
Kanao rushed in at the sound. When she lifted the blood-soaked covers and saw the decapitated bodies of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, her normally emotionless expression shattered into shock.
Soon after, Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri arrived. Even they struggled to keep calm at the sight.
"Where is Lucien?" Mitsuri's voice trembled. Panic clouded her eyes. She feared he might also have fallen victim to an attacker.
"We searched everywhere. There's no trace of Lucien-sama," one of the girls reported with a shaking voice.
"Was it a demon attack?" Shinobu asked, her usual gentle smile gone.
"It's unlikely. Demons can't move freely in broad daylight. And there was no sign of struggle," Aoi replied, swallowing hard.
Mitsuri clenched her fists. "Then who did this…?"
None of them suspected Lucien. They believed he must have chased after the culprit.
A sudden gasp echoed through the room.
Nezuko convulsed violently in her box, then jolted awake as if shocked back to life. Her eyes widened, brimming with a feral intensity and grief.
The moment Tanjiro died, her consciousness had strained against the sleep, and now she had broken free.
She stumbled forward, crouching beside Tanjiro's body, tears spilling down her cheeks. Her aura writhed like a storm.
Mitsuri and Shinobu instinctively reached for their blades.
In the original timeline, Oyakata-sama would summon all the Pillars to judge Nezuko and Tanjiro together. Their fates would be decided through that trial. But that future had already been shattered.
Nezuko screamed, her long hair whipping around her. Horns erupted from her forehead, and flame-like patterns spread across her limbs. Her presence filled the room with choking pressure.
She tore off her bamboo muzzle, exposing sharp fangs, and her nails extended like blades.
Shinobu steadied her grip. Mitsuri's eyes widened.
And Nezuko spoke.
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