Lucien Vale stretched his arms lazily as morning sunlight poured into his room.
"Ahh—this body is amazing."
He said it out loud.
Very loudly.
A maid outside the door nearly dropped her tray.
In his past life, even breathing too deeply made his chest ache. Now? His lungs felt limitless. His muscles responded instantly. His heart beat with power—not mana, not bloodline, just life.
And Lucien enjoyed every second of it.
If I'm going to live again, he thought with a grin, I'm not wasting it sulking like the old Lucien.
He swung his legs off the bed and walked straight to the mirror.
Same sharp eyes.
Same noble face.
But the gaze staring back was different.
Confident.
Playful.
Alive.
"Alright," Lucien said, pointing at his reflection, "let's do this properly."
SYSTEM UPDATE — RULE REVISION
A familiar chime echoed.
" Bonding System Rule Adjustment Acknowledged "
" Master Bond Fighting Style Rule: NULLIFIED "
A new panel appeared, clean and absolute.
EIDOLON BOND — UPDATED RULES
MASTER BOND
No fighting style granted
No external technique inheritance
Only direct multiplication and refinement of:
Talent
Bloodline
Physique
Attribute
Stability and compatibility reach maximum
"Power must be forged by the user."
Lucien laughed.
"Good. I don't want hand-me-down techniques anyway."
He cracked his knuckles.
"I'll make my own."
A SOCIAL STRATEGY
Lucien wasn't stupid.
Bonding required touch.
Touch required proximity.
Proximity required… people.
In the original novel, Lucien was isolated, arrogant, and hated, he recalled.
That's why no one mourned him.
This time?
He'd do the opposite.
"Being loud helps," he muttered.
"People remember you."
DUKE VALE'S ESTATE — BREAKFAST HALL
Lucien entered the dining hall like he owned the place.
"Good morning!"
Silence.
His father, Duke Alaric Vale, paused mid-sip.
His elder brother frowned.
Servants froze.
Lucien pulled out a chair and sat casually.
"What? Did I say something weird?"
The Duke studied him carefully.
"You're… energetic today."
Lucien grinned. "Near-death experience. Really motivates a man."
That earned a few confused looks—but also curiosity.
Good.
Curiosity led to interaction.
Interaction led to bonds.
FIRST CONTACT
As a servant refilled his cup, Lucien casually reached out.
"Thanks."
Their hands brushed.
A soft pulse echoed in his mind.
" Initial Bond Registered "
Lucien kept his expression neutral.
So easy, he thought. And they didn't even notice.
He didn't need trust yet.
Just contact.
FUTURE VISIONS — POWER NAMES
Lucien already knew what awaited at awakening.
He had read the novel.
But now, with the system, the power would be… different.
He could almost see the future status screens.
FUTURE — HIGH-RANK EXEMPLARS (FORESHADOWED)
Talent:
Sovereign of Absolute Zero (SSS Rank)
Eternal Frost Prodigy (S Rank)
Heaven-Splitting Storm Child (SS Rank)
Bloodline:
Primordial Dragon Heir (SSS)
Divine Beast — Ba'astara (S)
Ancient Vampire Progenitor (SS)
Physique:
Mythic Godbody (SSS)
Divine Beast Physique (S)
Infernal War Vessel (SS)
Attributes:
Ice — Absolute Domain of Frost (SSS)
Fire — Solar Cataclysm Flame (SS)
Void — Oblivion Singularity (Hidden)
Lucien's lips curved upward.
"Flashy," he whispered.
"I like flashy."
PERSONALITY SHIFT
Later that day, Lucien walked through the estate gardens, greeting knights, chatting with guards, even joking with servants.
This alone caused ripples.
"The young master smiled at me," one maid whispered.
"He asked my name," another said in disbelief.
The original Lucien would never.
This Lucien?
Extroverted.
Observant.
Intentional.
Power doesn't grow in isolation, he thought.
It grows where people gather.
LONG-TERM GOALS (LOCKED IN FATE)
Lucien knew the path ahead—chapter by chapter.
Chapter 30: Academy begins
Chapter 50: Rank D
Chapter 75: First Boss (Human)
Chapter 100: Rank B
Chapter 150: Second Boss (Human)
Chapter 200: Rank S
Chapter 300: SSS — Strongest Human
Chapter 300: Demon King defeated
Chapter 350: Transcend Path begins
Beyond: Demon God
And this time?
He wouldn't just survive the story.
He'd outgrow it.
Lucien looked up at the sky, hands in his pockets, smiling brightly.
"Alright, world."
"Let's make this interesting."