Second Gift

Gifts were one of the most widely used yet least understood phenomena in the world. Despite their prevalence, their true nature remained elusive, even to the most advanced researchers.

There was some basic knowledge about Gifts, of course. People knew that Gifts granted extraordinary abilities, often allowing individuals to bypass the usual limitations of the power system. But how Gifts accomplished this defied explanation and continued to baffle scholars.

Still, research had uncovered a few key insights. It was understood that Gifts could vary greatly in strength—some were immensely powerful, while others were surprisingly weak. Gifts were often tied to bloodlines, like the Kagu family's legendary Gift, God's Eyes.

Most individuals, however, couldn't unlock the full potential of their Gifts until they reached <Ascendant >-rank. Only at that level did they truly begin to grasp the depth of what their Gifts could do. It was also noted that <Radiant >-rankers, who had undergone a transformation at the soul level, could perform abilities that mimicked Gifts.

One thing was absolutely clear among researchers: no one could possess two Gifts.

While there were rare cases like Tiamat, who split his power into three different wills, each will functioned as a single, divided Gift. It was not the same as possessing two distinct Gifts in one person—a feat thought to be impossible.

But of course, Lucifer Windward was the protagonist, right?

I had forgotten that.

I had forgotten that he was Earth's greatest blessing, the true hero destined to stand above all others. 

And in my arrogance, I thought I could defeat him—thought I could crush his pride.

Now, I was being shown my place.

God's Eyes.

Inarguably one of the most powerful Gifts to ever exist. Scholars ranked it among the four greatest Gifts in history: Yin-Yang Body, Nirvana Flames, Empyrean Order, and God's Eyes.

Simply put, it was an overpowered ability—perhaps even more so than Yin-Yang Body, the Gift that had allowed Ren to almost surpass Lucifer in the original novel. And, as fate would have it, Lucifer's second Gift was none other than God's Eyes, an ability once thought to be exclusive to the Kagu family bloodline.

Lucifer's control over God's Eyes was still unstable, fickle at best, and overall, I was much stronger than him. 

But the real problem was the synergy between God's Eyes and Yin-Yang Body.

It wasn't enough that Lucifer was the only person in the world with two Gifts—both of his Gifts worked together with near-perfect harmony. With this combination, he could counter Grade 6 movements without even using a Grade 6 art of his own. And when he did activate his art, he could overwhelm his opponent completely.

I had underestimated just how terrifying that power could be.

Like how he had barely managed to counter my God Flash: Absolute by adjusting the trajectory of his Frozen Zenith at the very last second.

This wasn't good.

The full activation of Lucent Harmony placed a heavy toll on my body, which was why I only used it when I intended to finish the battle. But now, not only had Lucifer survived my most powerful attack, he had unlocked his second Gift—God's Eyes—just in time to keep up with me.

On top of that, using the light magic variant of God Flash: Absolute had drained me more than I anticipated.

'Unfair bastard,' I cursed internally, feeling the serene energy of Luna's will beginning to waver.

Lucifer stood before me, a newfound confidence in his posture, his emerald eyes gleaming with clarity. He had found his footing again, and the power he radiated felt more focused, more controlled.

He knew it too.

Lucifer's grin widened as his confidence surged. The synergy between his two Gifts, Yin-Yang Body and God's Eyes, was unmistakable. He stood straighter now, his body moving with a fluidity that made his earlier attacks seem almost clumsy in comparison. His emerald eyes locked onto me, glowing faintly as he assessed my every move.

I could feel the weight of his gaze, sharper than ever. God's Eyes allowed him to track even the smallest movements of mana, analyzing my stance, my breathing, and even the subtle flickers of aura around me. With this newfound precision, he wasn't just relying on instinct or brute force anymore—he could see the paths of battle unfold before they even began.

And I knew that.

He raised his sword, the remnants of Frozen Zenith still swirling faintly around him, ice and flame coiling together in perfect harmony. The mana in the air crackled with tension, and I could feel his intentions even before he moved.

But I wasn't about to back down.

With a deep breath, I steadied myself. My body ached, the toll of activating Lucent Harmony wearing on me, but I couldn't afford to show any weakness. I tightened my grip on my sword, letting a new surge of mana flood my core.

Lucifer shot forward in a blur, faster than before, and I barely had time to react. I swung my sword to meet his, but this time, there was something different—his movements were more precise, as if he could predict every counter I would make.

God's Eyes.

Our blades clashed, the force of the impact sending sparks flying. I gritted my teeth, pushing back with everything I had, but Lucifer's newfound clarity allowed him to maneuver effortlessly around my defenses. He was in control now.

"You've pushed me further than anyone ever has, Arthur," Lucifer said, his voice low but filled with that familiar arrogance. "But this is where it ends."

His sword flared with ice and lightning, a deadly combination as he brought it down in a sharp arc. I dodged just in time, the blade grazing my side as I spun away, feeling the sharp sting of mana searing my skin.

But I wasn't finished yet.

"You think God's Eyes will save you?" I spat, my voice steady despite the pain. "You're not invincible, Lucifer."

With a sharp exhale, I drew on the last reserves of my mana, preparing to counter his next move. I had to be faster, smarter. God's Eyes might allow him to see my attacks, but that didn't mean he could stop me if I pushed him beyond his limits.

Lucifer grinned, clearly enjoying the challenge. "We'll see about that."

In an instant, we were back at it, our swords colliding again and again, the force of our blows shaking the very ground beneath us.