Chapter 48: Did I Create an Evil Eye?

“Is it really that powerful…” Lu Mingfei narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the Eye of God in his hand. Although he could sense the force concealed within it, that power didn’t seem to reach a truly transformative level for him.

“Why don’t you try using your dragon transformation?” the little devil murmured.

“Alright.” Lu Mingfei nodded lightly, swiftly igniting the dragon bloodline within him. The features of dragon claws, scales, and horns surfaced rapidly on his body, and the ferocious will unique to dragons appeared in his mind.

Though the transformation was quick, he hardly felt any adverse effects. The dragon’s savagery did little to disturb his mind.

Beside him, Lu Mingze’s expression turned from curious to incredulous as he watched his brother transform. He muttered to himself, “How did my brother’s mental strength increase again? And by so much? Wasn’t he still weaker just yesterday? Did he do something last night?”

But that couldn’t be! I was watching him in secret the whole time. If he had done anything, wouldn’t I know? He was sleeping all night—and even smiling in his sleep, as if lost in some wonderful dream.

Even if he’s a monster, he can’t possibly grow stronger just by dreaming while asleep, can he?

“Brother, when did you get stronger again?” Lu Mingze couldn’t help but ask.

“You want to know?” Lu Mingfei smiled radiantly, his expression open and sincere, with not a hint of mockery or deceit, as though he truly meant to tell the truth.

“…Yes.” After a brief hesitation, Lu Mingze nodded.

“Well, since I learned the art of the Dream Devourer, I’ve used it in real battles to understand the rules of the mind, refining and improving myself, making myself stronger,” Lu Mingfei explained calmly.

Lu Mingze could understand all this—after all, he’d seen his brother practicing on dogs. Strengthening his control over mental power was only natural.

“When I gained enough control, I started trying to communicate with Fene—someone from another world. You know, I told you before, she’ll be your sister-in-law one day.” Lu Mingfei’s smile shone with gentle happiness.

“…”

Meanwhile, Lu Mingze’s face contorted with pain, the very opposite of happiness. The more sincerely and earnestly his brother spoke, the more he beamed, the worse Lu Mingze felt.

Oh, family, who could understand this heartbreak?

“Just last night, I succeeded in finding Fene in my dream by transforming with the Dream Devourer. We embraced on deserted streets, counted stars under a brilliant night sky, and lit the path to our futures for each other in the endless darkness. Oh, it was wonderful!”

Lu Mingfei laughed as he spoke, his eyes shining with genuine joy, utterly devoid of pretense or affectation.

Yet in the little devil’s eyes, he only seemed more deranged.

Found Fene in a dream? Who are you kidding—you just used your Dream Devourer on yourself!

Deserted streets? That’s just your brain’s CPU running out of power, forcing you to conjure up a single Fene!

Counting stars? Do you think love is so blissful? Plenty of people are tormented by romance!

Then the little devil watched as the look of happiness faded from his brother’s face, replaced by a proud, dismissive disdain. With a tone that was half exasperation, half boast, Lu Mingfei muttered, “Eh, you wouldn’t understand anyway—you’re just a little kid.”

The little devil: ???

Lu Mingfei paid no heed to his reaction, turning inward to feel the changes within himself. After last night’s beautiful encounter, he felt his spirit had grown even stronger; controlling his dragon form no longer seemed so difficult, and he could even retain his reason while fully transformed.

Maybe I really have grown.

He smiled slightly, picked up the still-incomplete Eye of God, and tried to infuse it with his own spirit—the dragon’s will that awakened with his transformation.

As that draconic will poured into the Eye, the purple, lightning-infused gem darkened and took on a more sinister cast. The dragon’s spirit filled the final gap in the Eye, making it more whole and powerful.

This isn’t the Eye of God anymore, is it? I should give it a new name… Let’s call it…

Dragon Pearl!

Yes, Dragon Pearl!

It was inspired by the Eye of God, but in truth, it dispensed with some of the original structure, blending in the dragon’s will and authority. Calling it the Dragon Pearl was most fitting.

Let’s show Fene!

With this thought, Lu Mingfei boasted in his mind, “Fene, look at this. It’s a new weapon I created by modifying and improving the Eye of God. The Drag—”

“An Evil Eye?!” Fene’s sudden exclamation cut him off, but she quickly regained her composure, coughed twice, and apologized, “Sorry, I may have overreacted just now.”

“Uh… What’s an Evil Eye?” Lu Mingfei changed the subject naturally.

“An Evil Eye is similar to the Eye of God; both grant the user great power. But the Evil Eye isn’t bound to just one person—anyone can use it, though those who aren’t compatible will suffer severe side effects, even dying in a short time.”

Fene paused for a moment, then continued, “The Eye you made looks too much like an Evil Eye, both in appearance and element. It’s not like a normal Eye of God at all, but much more similar to the Evil Eye. That’s why I mistook it.”

“I don’t know much about Evil Eyes, and my information may not be entirely accurate, since they’re a product of the Fatui’s secret research. But I’d guess that an Evil Eye is basically a reconstructed Eye of God built with elemental power, stripped of the useless parts, and completed with a god’s power and authority—just like what you’ve done.”

Lu Mingfei was taken aback, then quickly understood, following up, “So, you’re saying my dragon will is considered divine power in your world? Or, in other words, the dragons in your world are akin to gods?”

“Pretty much.”

“Is the power of the gods really that strong?”

“It is. To most beings in our world, gods are as far above us as the stars, though there are even greater forces beyond them—those are truly beyond comprehension.”

“Hmm… Then, that person who attacked you the other day—how strong is she? Could she threaten you in the real world?” Lu Mingfei asked with some concern.

“Maybe…” Fene’s voice was small, and suddenly she didn’t feel so safe. She sensed that the enemy must be one of the Fatui’s Harbingers. If she made a move in the real world, Fene would have little hope of resisting.

“Don’t be afraid. My Dream Devourer can pull you into the dream world, and you could even drag in the thing you fear most. If she really comes, just tell me to use the Dream Devourer, and I’ll pull her in and finish her off!”

“No… Let’s just kill her now! If once or twice isn’t enough, then three times! If three doesn’t work, then five, and if five doesn’t work, then ten, a hundred times if necessary… until she’s finished for good!”

Lu Mingfei clenched his fist, his gaze stern and confident.