CHAPTER 134: CHAPTER 134 - CHANGES

Finally... the MONSTERDEX finished updating.

With a final pulse of light, the book flew to Lucien’s side.

His eyes lit up.

He flipped it open, eager to see what had changed.

Page after page turned beneath his fingers until he stopped...

For a moment, he paused, letting everything he’d observed sink in.

Then slowly, he turned the book back to the first page.

The landscape painting.

At first, it seemed the same. But no. Something... feels different.

He could feel it. A strange connection sparked between him and the page.

When his hand touched the surface, realization struck.

He could... edit it.

The landscape bent to his will.

The climate. The terrain. Even time inside the book. He could shift them all.

Lucien pulled his consciousness back into his real body.

He called out his MONSTERDEX.

"Summon." He brought his pets outside.

Peek, Aboo and their chick fluttered out and nestled against him. He chuckled as he stroked their feathers.

’Sigh... I need another name again. Damn it.’

He had summoned them first as a precaution. He didn’t know how his edits might affect his companions.

Taking a breath, he touched the painting again.

His fingers traced the page like a brush across canvas and with every stroke the landscape shifted.

Mountains rose. Rivers curved. The skies dimmed and brightened. They were all shaped by his imagination.

Lucien’s grin widened.

"This... this is perfect. I can create habitats for each of my pets. A place they’ll truly love."

He turned to the next page.

Another change revealed itself.

An illustration of three nests. Lucien’s eyes lit up as he realized what it was.

Egg Incubator.

And it had three slots.

"Perfect," he whispered. This was exactly what he needed. Now he could hatch his two eggs without worry.

He placed his eggs onto the page and they slipped seamlessly inside. His two eggs settled into two of the nests. Almost instantly, the drawings shimmered and quivered as though the eggs themselves were alive within the parchment.

Lucien’s face gleamed.

"What kind of pets will hatch from these eggs...? I can’t wait."

His attention returned to the first page.

Ever since the update, something there had been calling to him.

The MONSTERDEX quivered in his hands as if inviting him.

And then it happened.

Light burst out and it swallowed him whole.

In a blink, the world shifted. Lucien gasped as he found himself standing in a place that was unfamiliar... yet strangely familiar.

Recognition struck.

He was inside the landscape.

Not just his consciousness but... his entire body.

He turned slowly. The scenery was breathtaking like stepping into a painting too vivid for words. Every detail pulsed with life.

"Damn... this will make editing habitats so much easier. My pets are going to love it here."

He inhaled deeply. The air was thick with divine energy, invigorating his lungs.

This place was more than beautiful. It was paradise.

He stretched his hand out toward the far corner. Lucien willed a change.

A volcanic terrain erupted into existence. Its molten glow painted the place.

"Good. This will be for Korrak and Vyrran. Now they can mate in peace."

And so he set to work, reshaping the land with care.

He sculpted each section with care. He was determined to give his pets their own havens. A sanctuary where they would be comfortable even in his absence.

•••

The next day...

Lucien woke feeling refreshed.

Today, he would see off his friends and allies. After parting with them, it was his turn to escort Vivian and her group back to the Academy.

The journey was simple yet pleasant. Before long, they arrived.

With a final hug to Vivian, Lucien took his leave and returned to his territory.

He descended directly into Grandville. He took the chance to observe his city.

Guards patrolled the streets with discipline. The former brainwashed people now walk with clear eyes and confident steps. Even the assassins carried themselves differently.

They are no longer the shadows bound by compulsion but proud subjects of Lootwell...This time by choice.

They greeted Lucien as he passed and he greeted them back with big smile.

He made his way toward the Market District.

There, he saw people from his other territories coming and going. Their faces were bright as they waved to him.

With Constella linking the regions, travel was easier than ever and restocking supplies no longer burdened their days. Their lives had shifted from monotony to belonging. They were part of something greater now.

At the gates, he paused to take in the sight. Carriages, wagons, chariots and mounts poured in and out. Merchants and travelers alike came, eager to witness the rising city with their own eyes.

Actually, some were drawn by the steady passage of airships over the borders. Others followed rumors of new construction.

Looking at the outsider’s expressions, Lucien’s lips curved into a smile. Their expectations had not only been met... they had been surpassed.

Lucien made his way to the Merchant’s Guild.

He stopped at a distance as he quietly observed from a gap.

Inside, Kael was hard at work.

Papers stacked. Quills scratched. Messengers rushed in and out. He was buried in responsibilities yet handled them with focus. Every issue that came his way, he fixed without hesitation.

Lucien smiled faintly. He didn’t dare interrupt, not wanting to break Kael’s flow.

Instead, he used INSPECT.

The results made him nod with satisfaction.

Kael had grown immensely. With the notes Lucien had given him, he can now wield advanced space magic spells. His confidence showed in every movement. He was no longer the hesitant Kael of the past.

Though he had already mended ties with his family, Kael had chosen to stay in the border city. Lootwell had become his home. This is a place where he enjoyed mingling with traders and living among the people.

Satisfied, Lucien moved on.

The market was alive with energy.

"It’s quite peaceful out here..." he muttered with a small smile.

Just then...

A group in white robes passed through the crowd. Their eyes scanned the area, ready to help at the first sign of danger.

One of the youngest members suddenly darted forward. She rushed to a weary traveler and offered him a flask of water.

The man blinked in surprise then his face softened with gratitude as he drank.

The child trotted back to the leader of the group. Clara.

She then lowered her head expectantly. Clara smiled and gently patted the girl’s head before stepping toward the traveler herself.

"Esteemed guest," she said warmly, "might you be interested in hearing the words of God?"

The silence that followed hung in the air.

Lucien sighed. He shook his head with a faint chuckle and quickly slipped away from the scene.

...

Lucien wandered aimlessly through the streets.

He had come so far.

It had only been about two months since he regained the memories of his past life yet so much had already changed. Even his body had started to grow taller.

His territories now ran smoothly on their own.

Wealth was no longer an issue. The land itself continuously generated income. More importantly, no one was left behind. His subjects were thriving and now capable of standing on their own even outside of Lootwell.

Sebas had reached Tier 8 and Elunara had advanced to Tier 9. Together they served as Lootwell’s guardians. Surprisingly, they worked well with one another.

The Beacons of Light had flourished too.

Anya’s cooking had surpassed Sinep’s. She could even make Slime Gel taste delicious.

Seren had become a cornerstone of the Crafting Division. She’s now overseeing the castle’s airship project.

Robin and Ronan shone in Guardville. Robin’s skill now allowed him to slip unnoticed even into monster habitats while Ronan’s twin blades struck with ruthless efficiency.

Elias showed the makings of a future lord as he supervised Grandville itself.

Everything was growing. Everything was moving forward.

And yet... shadows remained.

His greatest enemy, Harold, had vanished without a trace. Not even the Spatial Compass could find him. Wherever he was hiding, he was beyond Lucien’s reach.

And then there were the Golddusts.

A shiver crept down his spine.

"What if something like that colossal hand exists in their territory too?"

The thought alone made his blood run cold.

Lucien’s fingers brushed the Gargoyle Ring unconsciously. It’s now his greatest trump card.

"The future is uncertain... I should prepare too."

His mind churned restlessly.

’What if the world’s original fate hasn’t changed at all? What if destruction is still inevitable?’

The image of the colossal hand flashed in his memory and a cold weight settled in his chest.

’If such a monstrosity existed once, what if there were other dungeons hiding similar horrors?’ He had no way of knowing.

At last, he came to a decision.

He would train. He would use this time to delve deeper into Space Magic. Something was calling to him, a pull toward the 4th floor of Lootwell Dungeon.

"I guess... this marks the start of my training arc."

With that resolve, Lucien withdrew from the bustle of his city.

For the first time, he admitted a hard truth. He hadn’t truly worked to grow stronger. Victories had come because of his cheats, not his own effort.

Without them, he was nothing.

A wry smile tugged at his lips. "I’ve heard some cheats have expiration dates... what if mine does too?"

Uncertainty gnawed at him.

But beneath that doubt, a fire began to burn.