# **Chapter 8 – A Job, A Girlfriend, or… Plot Armor?**
Lucian lay sprawled across the couch, limbs stretched out like a starfish, his face twisted in sheer agony. The kind of agony only true boredom could bring.
"I am *so* damn bored," he groaned dramatically.
Across the room, Neo sat cross-legged on the floor, casually munching on a bag of chips. He barely spared his brother a glance. "Then get a job."
Lucian turned his head slowly, eyes narrowing. "What did you just say?"
Neo smirked. "Or, I dunno, maybe find a *girlfriend*?"
Lucian recoiled as if he had been physically struck. "Excuse me?! What kind of blasphemous suggestions are these?"
Neo grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "You're always complaining about having nothing to do. I'm just giving you options. Go work, or go date someone. Maybe both. Who knows? Maybe there's a girl out there *desperate* enough to put up with you."
Lucian sat up, placing a hand over his heart like he'd been mortally wounded. "You wound me, dear brother."
"You'll live," Neo replied, popping another chip into his mouth. "For now."
Lucian took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and pressed his lips together.
Neo raised an eyebrow. "What? Nothing to say?"
"I'm invoking my right to remain silent," Lucian said with as much dignity as possible.
Neo snorted. "Oh, so now you know when to shut up."
Lucian ignored him, instead staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. Ever since the whole *book* incident, he hadn't properly tested his abilities. Maybe it was time to see how much he had changed.
Just as he was about to bring it up, his phone buzzed.
**Luna: Hell Sphere Raid. 20 min. You in?**
Lucian's entire body went rigid. His brain short-circuited.
**A Hell Sphere Raid.**
A **Hell Sphere Raid.**
The words repeated in his mind, a heavenly chorus. His eyes widened, his breath hitched, and before Neo could even blink—
Lucian *vanished.*
The couch bounced from the force of his sudden movement. The front door slammed shut. A gust of wind blew through the apartment.
Neo, still sitting with his chips, stared at the now-empty space where his brother had been.
"…What the actual hell just happened?"
He walked over to the window and peered outside. In the distance, a blur of black and silver *was still accelerating.*
Neo blinked. "Did he just break the damn sound barrier?!"
---
## **Arrival at the Meeting Spot**
Lucian sprinted through the city like a man possessed, dodging carts, pedestrians, and stray animals with unnatural agility.
"I—huff—*love*—huff—*raids*!"
By the time he reached the meeting spot, he skidded to a stop, barely stopping himself from crashing into Luna, who had just stepped out of a shop.
Luna stared at him, unimpressed. "You *ran* all the way here?"
Lucian wiped his forehead dramatically. "I would cross the world for a Hell Sphere Raid."
Luna rolled her eyes but smirked. "You might want to save your energy. We're not just doing a raid."
Lucian tilted his head. "Huh?"
"We're searching for the **Lost Lore of the Ancients**."
Silence.
Lucian stared at her blankly.
Then he sighed, drooping like a wilting plant. "Oh, great. So I get to *watch* you guys do something cool while I stand there being useless?"
Luna clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Yup."
Lucian groaned, dropping to his knees. "Noooo! Why?! I finally get excited for something, and now I'm just a glorified backpack carrier!"
Luna snickered. "Hey, maybe you'll get something useful. Or maybe…" she leaned in, smirking, "you'll just be *moral support*."
Lucian clutched his head. "*Is this the arc where I'm just emotional backup?!*"
Luna grinned. "Looks like it."
Lucian sighed deeply. "Will *plot armor* help me?"
Luna shrugged. "Dunno. You *are* the main character, so… maybe?"
Lucian groaned again. "That's not reassuring."
---
## **The Book Won't Shut Up**
Lucian sat at the edge of their meeting point, flipping open the book that had caused him nothing but headaches.
"Alright, book. I know you love to be cryptic, but just once—*just once*—can you actually tell me something useful?"
The pages glowed faintly. Words flickered onto the surface.
**Your knowledge is insufficient.**
Lucian stared. "Oh, gee, thanks. Real helpful."
The book continued.
**Your ability to grasp the truth is hindered by your lack of understanding. Seek the fragments. Seek the path.**
Lucian squinted. "Seek the fragments? Seek the path? What does that even *mean*?"
The book glowed again.
**You will know when the time is right.**
Lucian snapped the book shut. "Oh my god, you're just yapping at this point."
Luna, who had been watching from a distance, stifled a laugh. "The book's roasting you?"
Lucian glared at it. "It's *worse*. It's being *vague* on purpose."
Luna crossed her arms. "So, no useful information?"
Lucian sighed. "Nothing except 'oooh, you'll understand later, ooooh seek the fragments.' Like, bro, *what fragments?*"
Luna smirked. "Sounds like a skill issue."
Lucian groaned and flopped onto his back.
---
## **Into the Hell Sphere**
Despite his initial complaints, Lucian still felt an undeniable thrill as they approached the Hell Sphere's entrance. The swirling vortex of darkness pulsed with raw energy, its deep red hue casting eerie shadows on the ground.
Lucian grinned. "Alright, *this* part, I like."
Just as he was about to step inside, Luna placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Lucian."
He turned. "Yeah?"
Luna's expression was serious. "No reckless stunts."
Lucian scoffed. "Pfft, me? Reckless? I would *never*—"
Luna's stare intensified.
Lucian cleared his throat. "I mean, I will *try* to be responsible."
"Better."
With that, they stepped through the swirling portal.
Darkness engulfed them.
Lucian felt a rush of air as they landed inside the Hell Sphere, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on them immediately. The temperature dropped, and the distant sound of growling echoed through the cavernous space.
Then, a presence emerged.
A figure in a **butler uniform** stood in the distance, standing in front of something massive—something that looked like an ancient **gate** leading deeper into the sphere.
Lucian blinked. "Wait… Who the hell is that?"
The butler turned, bowing slightly. "Ah. Master. Welcome."
Lucian pointed. "*What.*"
The butler gestured to the darkness beyond the gate. "Shall we proceed?"
Lucian turned to Luna. "I feel like I missed *several* plot points."
Luna smirked. "That's what happens when you don't read the script."
Lucian groaned. "Damn it, book! You *knew* something and didn't tell me, didn't you?!"
The book's pages flipped open.
**:)**
Lucian nearly threw it across the room.
---
**To be continued…**