The sudden crack of thunder sent a shockwave through the night, startling pedestrians on the nearby streets. Confused murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"Did you hear that? A thunderstorm?"
"But the sky's completely clear!"
"Maybe it was an explosion? Should we call the police?"
Blake, standing amidst the smoldering remains of the spider demon, exhaled slowly. His ice-blue eyes flicked toward the charred corpse, the air still tingling with residual electricity.
After a beat, he chuckled dryly.
"So, that's what happens when your luck hits rock bottom. Clear skies… and it still gets struck by lightning. Absolutely tragic."
Ding!
---
Congratulations, Master!
Quest complete.
Reward: +20 Luck Points.
Current Total: 45 Luck Points.
---
Blake glanced at the notification, feeling the subtle surge of luck settle within him. He made a mental note:
Lesson learned—being unlucky in this world is downright fatal.
Shaking his head, he sheathed Frost Whisper and turned to leave. But just as he stepped out of the alley, an amused voice chimed in his mind.
"If you hadn't stepped back, Master, you would've been caught in that blast."
Blake smirked. "I'll admit it—good call, Sia."
The voice carried a hint of pride. "It's my duty to protect you, Master."
Blake let out a small chuckle. "You're starting to sound smug."
"I have no idea what you mean," Sia replied way too innocently.
Rolling his eyes, Blake gave one last glance toward a dark corner of the alley before vanishing into the night.
Unbeknownst to Blake, two pairs of eyes had been watching him from above.
Perched atop a rooftop, a blond-haired young man adjusted his stance, his Kuoh Academy uniform barely rustling in the night breeze. He studied Blake's departing figure with a mix of curiosity and appraisal.
"President, his speed is impressive," he remarked, his tone even. "Though… his attack power leaves much to be desired."
Rias Gremory stood beside him, her long, crimson locks cascading down her back like a river of fire. Arms crossed, she observed Blake with an intrigued expression.
"Indeed, Yuuto. His speed might even surpass yours," she mused. "But his offensive strength is lacking. That's to be expected, though. He's just an ordinary human skilled in swordsmanship. Nothing more."
Yet her tone wavered at the last part, as if she didn't fully believe her own words.
Yuuto Kiba, the Knight of her peerage, studied his master's expression. "You seem… regretful, President."
Rias hesitated. "It's just a shame… despite his heritage…"
She trailed off, her gaze momentarily distant.
Yuuto didn't press further. If Rias wasn't ready to say more, there was no point prying.
Instead, he simply nodded. "Shall we go, then?"
"Yes."
With a flick of her wrist, a glowing red teleportation circle materialized beneath them. But before stepping through, Rias cast one last glance at the alleyway.
Her curiosity about Blake Silva had only deepened.
Back in his small rented apartment, Blake wasted no time.
First: a quick shower to wash off the blood and grime.
Second: a simple meal—stir-fried noodles, because he was too exhausted to make anything fancy.
Third: collapsing onto his bed, still damp-haired, staring at the ceiling.
The battle against Andreu had been a wake-up call.
Sure, his speed was solid. His Perceptual Distortion had given him a clear edge. Against humanoid enemies of similar strength, he could probably win without much effort.
But against beasts like Andreu?
That was a different story.
He clenched his fist. "I was helpless against its natural defenses. If it weren't for my luck manipulation, that fight would've dragged out. And if it were a mid-class devil instead…"
He exhaled. Yeah, I'd be dead.
In a world crawling with gods, devils, and supernatural monsters, mid-class threats were everywhere.
> If I want to survive, I can't just rely on dodging. I need power. Real power.
And more importantly—
Lia.
His younger sister had sacrificed too much for him. He refused to be weak in a world where strength dictated survival.
And then… there was the Silva family.
Blake's jaw tightened. "They'll get what's coming to them."
Just as the air in the room started to feel dangerously heavy, a familiar, cheerful voice snapped him out of it.
"Master~ if you want to grow stronger, I have a suggestion!"
Blake rubbed his temples. "You always have a suggestion."
Sia ignored his dry remark. "Use the system's dimension-hopping feature! Exploring alternate worlds increases your chances of triggering quests."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "The one that resets weekly? Meaning I either use it or lose it?"
"Exactly! It would be such a waste to let it sit there."
Blake considered it.
It was true—dimension hopping meant exposure to new enemies, new opportunities, and new rewards.
But at the same time…
"I'm exhausted," he admitted. "Diving into an unknown world while half-asleep sounds like a great way to die."
Sia huffed. "A fair point, Master. Then we'll save it for tomorrow."
Her tone softened. "Rest well."
Blake sighed but smiled slightly. "Yeah. Tomorrow."
As exhaustion finally claimed him, only one thought remained clear in his mind—
No matter what comes next, I'll carve my own path.
And with that, he drifted into sleep, unaware of the curious red-haired devil who had set her sights on him.
---
Re Worked