"The Supreme Emperor Bone actually possesses such astonishing power!"
Grayson's pupils trembled slightly, his heart pounding with amazement as he gazed at the "Supreme Emperor Bone" that resided within him.
He couldn't help but think back. During the second Villain Simulation, Luke, the destined protagonist, had managed to escape from Shawn, a powerful saint.
Even then, Luke's strength and combat ability had been absolutely extraordinary.
In Grayson's mind, even if his simulated self had the advantage, the battle should not have been so easily won.
But the reality far exceeded his expectations.
In "Supreme Mode," his simulated self had become like a sponge—frantically absorbing, imitating, optimizing, and perfecting every move, every flaw, every thought.
Luke's battle experience was not only learned but broken down, purified, and enhanced.
It was as if he could predict the future.
Every strike, every counterattack Luke attempted was preemptively interrupted or evaded.
["This is impossible!"]
[The suppressed Luke roared, disbelief and horror twisting his face. His eyes were wide, staring at you as if you were an unstoppable monster.]
[Swish!]
[You seized the brief flaw in Luke's movements. Your indifferent eyes gleamed coldly as you summoned a massive shadow blade from the ground, slicing off Luke's right arm in an instant. His storage bag fell with it.]
But Grayson's simulated self wasn't content to stop there.
[Ignoring the victory, you pressed your attack, aiming to leave no chance for survival.]
[Luke screamed in agony, a blazing, searing flame suddenly bursting from his body, forcing you back momentarily.]
[The black cloth masking your face was burned away by the scorching heat, revealing the familiar features of "Zhao Kun"—your false identity. You deliberately wore a shocked expression.]
["Zhao family! Zhao Kun! I swear I will destroy you!"]
[Luke's furious voice echoed from within the flames. It was clear he believed you were truly Zhao Kun and blamed you for the kidnapping of Anya.]
Then, the raging flames consumed Luke's body entirely, turning him into ashes that drifted into nothingness.
But Grayson knew better.
[You immediately realized Luke hadn't died. He had escaped at the critical moment through a secret technique, just as he had during the second simulation.]
[Destiny blessed its protagonists. Killing one wasn't as simple as it seemed.]
Then came something even more unexpected.
[You felt a powerful, familiar force—luck itself—suddenly surge into your body. You had absorbed part of Luke's destiny, receiving the blessing of Destiny's Favor for the next week.]
Grayson's eyes gleamed.
"So it's like this," he murmured, a new understanding forming.
In most stories, the protagonist defeated the villain, gathered more destiny, and grew unstoppable.
But if a protagonist lost badly enough, their destiny could be forcibly stripped away, transferred to the victor.
A rare loophole, but a powerful one.
[You collected Luke's severed arm and the storage bag at your feet. Inside were various high-grade medicinal pills and a mysterious black token.]
[Without hesitation, you secured them and prepared to retreat.]
At that moment, the Supreme Mode on Grayson's simulated self began to fade like a receding tide.
And immediately, agony hit.
[It felt like your soul itself was being wrung dry. Waves of pain radiated from deep within your spine.]
["Is this the price of Supreme Mode? Pushing the body's potential far beyond its limits for a short burst of overwhelming power?"]
[You understood immediately. You took out bottles of medicinal pills from Luke's storage and devoured them without hesitation.]
The potent medicinal energy surged into his system.
But instead of nourishing his body directly, the Supreme Emperor Bone inside him greedily devoured it first, leaving him with just enough to stabilize.
Without wasting another moment, Grayson's simulated self turned and sped toward the rendezvous point where Shawn was waiting.
[You returned to the car, breathing heavily. The faint scent of blood clung to you. Shawn frowned as he caught the scent but tactfully said nothing, sensing the shift in your aura.]
Shawn started the vehicle and drove back toward the villa.
Grayson smiled slightly. Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Thanks to his deception, Zhao Kun—the real Zhao Kun—would soon take the blame for attacking Luke.
And when Luke inevitably sought revenge, the killing order would not trace back to him.
[Once Zhao Kun died at Luke's hands, the powerful ancestor of the Zhao family would have no reason to target you as he did in the second simulation.]
[This time, you would not just survive—you would thrive.]
Returning to his temporary residence in the Magic City, Grayson initiated the next part of the plan.
["Shawn," you said gravely, "can I trust you?"]
[Shawn immediately nodded, his expression solemn. He had sworn loyalty to the Lu family from childhood.]
[Satisfied, you revealed your true cultivation—level four supernatural powers.]
Shawn's eyes widened, his jaw dropping in shock.
Throughout the Ironwood Empire, everyone "knew" that Grayson—the second son of the Lu family—was a useless, spoiled playboy.
Someone who couldn't even cultivate.
Someone who spent his days drinking and wasting time with musicians.
Yet here he stood, radiating the unmistakable power of a genius—18 years old and already mastering magical powers.
[Shawn couldn't help but ask for an explanation.]
Grayson had anticipated this.
With the wisdom gained from the second simulation, he carefully fed Shawn part of the truth—a carefully crafted version designed to secure loyalty without exposing too much.
[You told him that a sinister mastermind had been targeting the Lu family for years.]
[That you had hidden your talents, acting the fool to draw out the enemy.]
[That the reason you had come to Magic City was because you had found traces of this mastermind's operations and intended to strike back.]
[You confessed that you hadn't told even your own family, not until you had more solid evidence.]
Shawn listened intently, his face slowly hardening with grim understanding.
When Grayson began naming the enemies, Shawn's expression grew even darker.
The forces mentioned were staggering:
The Grey family, one of the celestial families.
The Zhao family, powerful lords of Magic City.
Luke, the destiny-blessed protagonist himself.
And even the Li family, in-laws who had saint-level protectors.
Each one individually was fearsome enough. Together, they could crush even the Lu family.
[Shawn asked again if there was any possibility Grayson had misunderstood.]
[Grayson insisted there was no mistake. His tone was calm and unwavering.]
He said that he was prepared to enter this deadly game.
Prepared to sacrifice himself if necessary to safeguard the Lu family.
At these words, Shawn's heart shook.
His admiration for Grayson deepened.
Here was no pampered second son.
Here was a true heir—someone willing to risk everything for the family.
[Shawn swore to follow you to the end, agreeing to your final request.]
[If you fell, he would escape without hesitation and bring the truth back to the family.]
Grayson smiled faintly.
Everything was in motion now.
By transferring his own dangers onto the broader shoulders of the Lu family and tying Shawn's loyalty to the survival of the family itself, he had set the perfect trap.
A brilliant move.
Watching his simulated self maneuver so deftly, Grayson could not help but clap softly for himself.
This time...
He would not lose.
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