Finally… the MONSTERDEX finished updating.
With a final pulse of light, the book flew to Lucien's side.
His eyes lit up.
He flipped it open, eager to see what had changed.
Page after page turned beneath his fingers until he stopped...
For a moment, he paused, letting everything he'd observed sink in.
Then slowly, he turned the book back to the first page.
The landscape painting.
At first, it seemed the same. But no. Something... feels different.
He could feel it. A strange connection sparked between him and the page.
When his hand touched the surface, realization struck.
He could... edit it.
The landscape bent to his will.
The climate. The terrain. Even time inside the book. He could shift them all.
Lucien pulled his consciousness back into his real body.
He called out his MONSTERDEX.
"Summon." He brought his pets outside.
Peek, Aboo and their chick fluttered out and nestled against him. He chuckled as he stroked their feathers.
