CHAPTER 293: EVOLUTION

Chapter 293 – Evolution

The silence stretched again.

Sira’s smirk returned, but it was softer this time, edged with something she refused to name. She leaned back, lifting her tea once more, hiding the way her chest ached.

Because Lux wasn’t just Greed’s heir. He was carrying all of Hell’s debts, all of its fractures, on a desk no one cared about.

And no matter how much she hated to admit it... she admired him for it.

Even if it meant one day, it would break him.

Lux didn’t know how much time passed. He didn’t measure minutes when he slipped into his work mode. His mind operated in ledgers, shifts, and reports. His fingers flicked through holograms, his voice muttered percentages and reallocations. By the time he finally leaned back, a stack of notes finalized and transmitted to his subordinates in Hell’s Finance Department, he realized the clink of silver against porcelain had gone silent.

He blinked and looked across the table.

Sira sat there, her fork resting neatly on her now-empty plate, her teacup drained. She hadn’t interrupted him. She hadn’t mocked him. She’d just... waited. Her red eyes locked on him, not impatient but heavy with something sharper—something like a warning.

Her gaze said plainly ’What about vacation?’

Lux exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. "I’m done for today."

The holograms dissolved with a gesture. His system’s glow dimmed—only to flare again, a chime ringing in his ears.

[Do you want to check on your level now?]

[I haven’t shown it to you since last night. You were in the Feral State.]

Lux muttered, "Yes."

The report unfurled before his eyes.

[Name: Lux Vaelthorn]

[Level: 270]

[HP: 1,347,000]

[DP: 502,000]

[Charisma: 999 (Max)]

[Magic Affinity: 1,047]

[Strength: 798]

[Agility: 910]

+15% Resistance to Light-Based Status Effects

+10% Spell Damage vs Celestial Targets

+12% Physical Attack

+10% Magical Attack

+15% Physical Defense

+12% Magical Defense

His brows lifted slightly. Not bad. He could feel the lingering hum of power in his veins—feral state always left residue.

Then the system chimed again.

[You also still have Lord Vyrak’s Heart. Do you want to consume it?]

Lux’s eyes sharpened. "Yes."

A weight appeared in his palm, heavy and pulsing.

[Lord Vyrak’s Heart :The crystallized essence of the Lord of Pride, slain in battle.]

[Dark crimson, pulsing with faint golden cracks.]

[When consumed, the heart binds with the consumer’s soul, granting new pathways of power.]

[Properties: Opens temporary portals to other places. Grants unique passive skills linked to dominance and traversal.]

He held it up, feeling the faint heat bleed through his hand.

"Mmm," Lux muttered, almost to himself. "Looks expensive."

Then, without hesitation. "Consume."

The heart cracked, shattering into a swirl of black and gold aura that bled into his skin. It sank into him, rushing through his veins, burning like fire before cooling into something sharper, steadier.

[New Skill Acquired: Portal of the Fallen – Can open temporary gates to other known coordinates. Costs DP.]

[New Passive Skill: Constellation Guidance – When traveling under the night sky, allies cannot get lost. Critical hit chance increases at night.]

Lux clenched his fist, testing the pulse of new energy. A grin tugged his lips. "Convenient."

Across the table, Sira tilted her head. "Now I see why they say you’re a threat," she stated.

Her tone wasn’t mocking. It was thoughtful.

Sira didn’t say anymore. Her mind turned over the truth she’d just witnessed.

Greed had always been wealth—coins clinking, ledgers inked, vaults filled until nations bent under the weight.

Lust had always been the subtler weapon—seduction, charm, whispers in council halls, the power to disarm kings with a smile and stitch alliances between bedsheets.

But Lux... Lux was different.

He carried both, yes—but now he had something more. A privilege beyond coin and contract, beyond charm and diplomacy. He had the ability to expand, to reach into realms that were never meant to be his, to fold power into himself until even the old hierarchies couldn’t contain him.

He wasn’t just the heir of Greed and Lust.

He was evolution.

And that made him something far worse than a rival or a nuisance.

He was more than a threat.

He was the kind of danger that rewrote rules, that turned every alliance into a risk. A creature who could bankrupt you in the morning, seduce your strongest ally by noon, and open a portal to burn your city by night.

Even for a daughter of Pride, it was terrifying to admit it— but thrilling too.

He was more than a threat. He was becoming inevitable.

Lux caught her look and, for once, said softly, "Thank you."

Her smirk curved, faint but real. "Just be careful."

She rose, brushing crumbs from her lap. "I’ve finished eating. Now I want to know more about this... housewarming party."

Lux arched a brow. "You want to know?"

"Yes." She smirked. "Also—we’ll need wine, won’t we?"

"Of course."

He gestured to Lyra, who stepped forward immediately. Lux reached into his dimensional space, pulling out stacks of mortal bills until they filled a leather pouch. He counted swiftly—$100,000.

"For the party costs," he said, handing it to her. "Also, give Fenrir and Veyra ten thousand each. Just in case they need cash." Mortal currency was useless in Hell, but here? It kept doors open.

Lyra bowed. "Yes, sir."

Sira crossed her arms, her smirk sharp. "I’ll manage the party with Lyra, then."

Lux eyed her warily. "Manage?"

She smiled, sweet as poison. "Of course. Who else?"

"Fine." He sighed. "Just check their social media first, okay? At least understand what mortals are doing. Make it non-infernal."

Sira winced, rolling her eyes, but finally muttered, "Fine."

Lux smirked, finishing his water. "Good girl."

She narrowed her eyes, but her smirk betrayed her.

Lux pushed up from his chair, stretching. "So... I guess I need a bath. And to send out invitations. Mira. Fiera. Maybe a few more."

He paused, grimacing faintly. "Wait... I don’t have that many friends here. Less than a week on this plane. Not exactly social hour for a CFO on vacation."

Sira was halfway to the door with Lyra when he called after her.

"Sira."

She glanced back.

"Make it intimate. Exclusive. I don’t have much friends."

Her smirk deepened, pride glowing in her eyes. "Let me guess. All girls?"

Lux’s grin was shameless. "Yup."

She shook her head, hair sliding over her shoulder. "Typical."

And with that, she left, Lyra in tow, already whispering commands to the servants.