Compared to a collective, an individual is insignificant, both in spirit and substance.
No matter Lucius's personality, as an ordinary human, he was powerless against myths and the faith of humanity.
Perhaps even the beings called gods in this world shared that same helplessness.
On the empty plain, the sound of flowing water suddenly emerged.
At first, it was a gentle trickle, like a small stream. Within moments, it swelled into a roaring surge.
From beneath the loli demon's feet, a black tide gushed forth, rapidly spreading across the steppe.
With a light tap of her foot, she leaped into the air, hovering above the head of the giant wolf Lucius had become.
In the next instant, the black tide surged higher, engulfing everything in her sight.
The desolate, vast steppe transformed into a turbulent black ocean, evoking images of the Biblical flood cleansing the world.
The giant wolf, swallowed by the tide, struggled to escape, but tendrils of black water coiled around it, binding it in place.
The original white wolf was pierced through by blades formed from the black tide, skewered like a hedgehog.
According to humanism, the collective will of humanity holds unimaginable power, capable of twisting and reshaping everything into the form it deems fit.
But now, beneath the raging black tide—
Curses, hatred, hopes, prayers—all were consumed.
In this mental space, every impurity was swept away by the black waters, leaving only the purest power behind.
As the tide receded, it revealed a muddy landscape and Lucius, his form gradually returning to normal.
The loli demon landed softly, her bare feet stepping unhesitatingly onto the sodden ground.
Her slightly furrowed brows betrayed a hint of inner conflict.
Moments later, her figure faded into illusion.
Cough, cough. Lucius grabbed the sealed bottle beside him, unable to suppress a couple of coughs.
Though he'd never experienced drowning, the sensation of his mind being warped by a vast collective consciousness felt a thousand times worse than suffocation.
It was as if he'd been plunged into the ocean depths, his body exploding and dissolving into the water.
"Hey, I'm talking here—"
He glared at the sealed bottle, his expression tinged with hostility.
"You said something about 'my turf'—"
"Since when did my mental world become yours?"
This was absolutely unacceptable!
"Ha—?" The loli demon's delicate face flashed with an imperious look.
She crossed her arms, giving him a dead-eyed stare laced with disdain.
"Aren't you just my designated bottle opener?"
!?
Setting aside the issue of status, Lucius did notice a significant improvement in his physical condition upon waking.
As for how it stacked up in this world's power scale…
Without practical experience, he couldn't say for sure.
Beyond physical enhancement, he sensed a new power within him, one he'd never felt before.
Magic, curse power, spiritual energy… it went by many names, but they were essentially the same.
Moreover, he felt something else—a budding ability taking shape within him.
"Could it be something like an Authority?" Lucius mused, sensing the ability with a thoughtful expression.
Authorities, in truth, were less like personal power and more like permissions granted by the mythological system.
Like skills in a game, they only worked within the right context.
But the power forming inside him didn't feel like an Authority.
Though still in its infancy, Lucius sensed its immense potential.
And it wasn't born from myth but shaped by his own personality and needs.
"Thanks for earlier," Lucius said softly, glancing at the bottle after assessing his condition.
He'd had a hunch, but he hadn't realized how terrifying the collective faith of humanity could be.
Without any resistance, his personality and memories had been nearly warped entirely.
If the loli demon hadn't purged the excess from the faith, he might no longer be human but the wolf god itself.
"We have a deal," The demon said with a serene smile, warming the heart. "Human and demon, each taking what they need."
"In life, I grant you power. In death, you grant me freedom."
"But if you really want to thank me—"
"How about letting me out of this bottle now?"
The demon blinked playfully, her delicate finger tapping her pink lips, her expression utterly charming.
"No way."
Lucius remained unmoved.
No matter what, he had to hold the line—it was the basic principle for surviving in this world.
"Tch." Her dark golden eyes flashed with ferocity as she tossed her pale blue hair, baring her menacing side. "Then why the hell are you thanking me?"
Super fierce!
Her reaction confirmed one thing—
Though she could project part of her consciousness into his mental world, controlling him to break the seal was impossible, at least for now.
Of course, he couldn't rule out the chance she was lulling him into complacency.
So, he decided to amend their deal.
The agreement to "free you when I'm about to die" only held if he was truly facing death.
Now that he was in a world of supernatural powers, walking the path of strength with the potential to chase immortality—
The original terms were a bit too harsh.
How about loosening them with a new condition?
If one day his power grew enough to easily forge a cage to bind her—
Then he'd also set her free from the sealed bottle—Mozlis.
"Now that you've successfully merged this power, what's your next move?" The loli demon, now named Mozlis by Lucius, seemed momentarily deflated by yet another rejection.
But she quickly bounced back, her carefree demeanor returning as she strategized for him. "You should go after the Sword of Mars next, right?"
"True," Lucius nodded lightly.
With his thirst for power, he wouldn't easily pass up a chance to gain more. Any retreat was only because his current strength wasn't enough.
Unbeknownst to him, as he acknowledged his desire for the Sword of Mars, the pale-haired demon lowered her head slightly.
No matter what happens, don't forget—I'm your final trump card.
To avoid making him wary, she swallowed those words.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a sweet smile spreading across her face.
***
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