Chapter 9: A New Name, A New Beginning
Lucen stepped out of the alley with the little thief girl at his side. The moon had begun its slow climb in the sky, silver light glinting off the soot-streaked streets of the town. He didn't say a word, just kept his steady pace as the girl followed him, her small hand clinging to his robe.
When they reached her home, they stopped in stunned silence. The house—more a shack than a home—was already ablaze, flames crackling in the quiet night. Lucen's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening.
In the slum areas, when someone died, it was custom to burn their house—an ancient superstition that in death, they could be reborn away from the squalor of their old life.
The girl fell to her knees in front of the burning ruins. Her small shoulders trembled as she cried, raw sobs tearing from her throat. The orange glow of the fire danced in her wide eyes—eyes that had seen too much already.
Lucen watched silently. This world… it's too cruel, he thought, his fingers curling into a fist. Too cruel for both of us.
As the sun slipped beneath the horizon, leaving only the glow of firelight, the girl turned to him. Her voice was soft but steady, full of something older than her years.
"You said you'd bring me with you," she whispered. "Can you… can you take responsibility for that? Can you really take care of me… for your whole life?"
Her question wasn't truly a question—it was a plea for reassurance, a quiet test of the hope flickering in her heart.
Lucen took a breath, feeling the weight of the world settle onto his shoulders. He thought of the endless battles waiting for him, the power he'd need to survive in this world. He couldn't afford to hesitate.
"System," he said quietly, his voice like a blade. "Open the skill store. Show me what I can buy right now."
A soft chime echoed in his mind, and a glowing panel appeared before his crimson eyes:
Ding!System Notification:User is now in the Murim Realm. Confirmation: User has the unique ability 'Extract,' which enables extraction of dimensional data from the timeline.System skill store has been synchronized with the current dimension's skill and talent list.
A flood of names and prices appeared, shimmering in the air:
Mount Hua Sect – 24 Plum Blossom Sword Technique – 100,000 points
Namgon Family – Rising Dragon Style – 99,000 points
Blood Demon – Blood Slash – 80,000 points
… and more, stretching endlessly.
Lucen let out a breath, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Heh… you're definitely a broken system," he muttered. "If this happens every time I change dimensions… won't I be able to learn everything with enough points?"
But then he remembered: points came from achievements—real accomplishments, not just mindless grinding. "Per level, I only get 10 points… So I need to earn them," he murmured. "I need more achievements… bigger ones."
He scanned the list again, his crimson gaze sharp and calculating. "System," he said. "Show me the most expensive skill available."
A pause—then a name shimmered into view.
Heavenly Moon Art – 10,000,000 points(Created by the first Heavenly Demon under the moonlight—born from the flaw he discovered in the Heavenly Demon Style, and blended with a mysterious sword art that vanished from history. A style thought to be for women… and then forgotten.)
Lucen's lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. "This one," he said softly. "I'll buy it."
A rush of power shimmered through his soul—like moonlight over a quiet lake. He could feel the skill settling into his blood, a promise of the strength he would one day wield.
He turned to the girl, her face streaked with tears, lit by the dying fire of her home. Gently, he reached out and brushed her hair back from her face. "I will," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "I will take care of you."
She looked up at him, a slow smile blooming across her face—fragile, but bright as the dawn. Her eyes shone with something more than gratitude—something like worship.
Lucen's expression softened. "What's your name?" he asked gently.
She hesitated, shaking her head. "My mother never named me," she whispered. "She… she said she was waiting for my father to come back and name me himself."
Lucen was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath. "My name is Lucen," he said. He paused, crimson eyes glowing softly in the firelight. "And your name… will be Diana. Diana of the dawn."
For a moment, she looked down, her lips trembling. Then she raised her head, her smile gentle but sure. "Diana…" she murmured. "Thank you."
They turned back to the smoldering ruin of her home one last time. The world was cruel—but here, in the heart of the flame, something new had been born. A name. A promise.
Lucen's thoughts were calm and resolute. "It's only been two days… and already so much," he thought. "But this is just the beginning."
As the fire died down, Lucen took Diana's hand in his, and together they stepped into the darkness—two souls bound by blood and shadow, ready to carve their place in a world that would devour the weak.
End of Chapter 9