He sat against the wall of the shack, eyes open, mind racing while Liam breathed softly beside him. The silver thread of Morningstar's Spark pulsed faintly under the skin of his wrist like a second heartbeat — cold, alien, and undeniably powerful.
The deal was done.
He had accepted help from the Devil himself. There was no going back now.
By morning, the new power had already begun to show its effects. When Ethan stood up and tested Shadow Step, the burst felt noticeably smoother and stronger. His aura responded faster, wrapping around his legs with brighter intensity.
System Notification: [Morningstar's Spark (Minor) activated] [Aura growth speed +25%] [Fate Correction resistance +15%] [Hidden Quest "Whispers from Below" updated – Next fragment location revealed: Abyssal Market (Undercity)]
Ethan allowed himself a small, tired smile. The boost was real. But he knew better than to trust it blindly. Lucifer didn't give anything for free.
He spent the next few hours quietly preparing.
First, he used some of the copper coins to buy better food — actual meat and fresh vegetables instead of stale bread. Liam's eyes lit up when he saw the meal, though he was still too weak to eat much.
"Brother… where did you get all this?" Liam asked between small bites.
"I found a way," Ethan replied simply, ruffling his little brother's hair. "Just focus on getting stronger. I'll handle the rest."
After Liam fell back asleep, Ethan slipped out into the slums to test his enhanced abilities.
He moved through the narrow alleys like liquid shadow. Shadow Step chained seamlessly with Flowing Footwork, allowing him to change direction mid-burst without losing momentum. The Morningstar Spark made his aura resonate deeper — every movement now left a faint trail of silver-blue light that faded quickly.
He was getting faster. Stronger in the only way that mattered right now: movement.
But as he practiced, he felt something else — a subtle pressure from the world itself. Distant guards seemed to glance in his direction more often. A street thug who normally ignored him suddenly stared too long. The system kept flashing faint red warnings:
Fate Correction Attempt Detected… Resistance Successful.
The world was already trying to erase the anomaly.
Ethan returned to the shack as the sun began to set. He was covered in sweat but felt more alive than ever.
That was when the air grew cold again.
Lucifer Morningstar appeared without warning, lounging on the only rickety chair in the corner as if it were a throne. He looked perfectly at ease in the filth.
"Still moving, I see," Lucifer said with a lazy smile. "Good. I do hate investing in quitters."
Ethan tensed but didn't draw his dagger this time. "You're back already?"
"Merely delivering a small… gift." Lucifer stood up gracefully and flicked his wrist.
A small black box materialized in the air, wrapped with a blood-red ribbon. It floated gently toward Ethan.
"Consider this my way of saying 'welcome to the game.' Open it."
Ethan caught the box warily. It felt unnaturally light. He untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Inside lay three items:
Ring of Silent Steps (Rare) Effect: Greatly reduces sound made during movement. +20% stealth in dark or crowded areas. Synergizes with Shadow Step and Flowing Footwork. Vial of Morningstar Blood (One Drop) A single crimson drop floating in clear liquid. Effect: Permanently increases maximum MP by 50 and grants minor resistance to holy/light-based attacks. (Warning: Side effects unknown.) A folded black card with elegant silver writing: "When the time comes, you will know what I want. Until then — don't disappoint me, little anomaly."
Ethan stared at the gifts, feeling the raw power radiating from them.
Lucifer watched him with genuine curiosity. "The ring will help you reach the Abyssal Market without drawing too much attention. The blood… well, that's insurance. And the card is simply a reminder that our deal is very much alive."
He stepped closer, voice dropping into a more serious tone.
"Use them wisely. The Abyssal Market is not a place for the weak or the careless. You will need every advantage. And remember — the world is watching. It doesn't like when extras start collecting gifts from the Devil."
Lucifer's form began to fade into shadows once more.
"One final thing," he added, his voice echoing as he disappeared. "Keep moving. The more you defy the script, the more interesting you become. And I do so love interesting stories."
With that, Lucifer Morningstar vanished completely.
Ethan stood alone in the shack, holding the black box. The new ring slid onto his finger as if it belonged there. A warm rush of power flowed through him as the Ring of Silent Steps bonded.
System Notification: [You have received Lucifer's Gifts] [Ring of Silent Steps equipped] [Vial of Morningstar Blood stored] [Anomaly Resonance greatly increased]
He looked down at his sleeping brother, then at the silver thread on his wrist and the new black ring on his finger.
Power had come at a price.
But for the first time since arriving in this world, Ethan felt like he wasn't completely alone in his fight.
The hardship continued.
The Abyssal Market awaited in three nights.
And somewhere, the Devil was watching with a smile.
Ethan clenched his fist, the blue-silver aura glowing brighter around his legs.
He would keep moving.
He would keep farming.
And he would use every gift — even those from Hell — to make sure neither he nor Liam vanished from this story.