With the uneasy alliance formed, Lucifer began his new routine.
He walked to the nearest bus stop, his apartment, now a makeshift safe house, left in the care of a powerful but injured empath.
He was relieved he had taken the time to upgrade his shield.
During the bus ride, he checked the system.
[Current Funds: $2,375]
[Delivery Rank: Bronze (Needed for Silver: 49 Successful Deliveries, 10 High-Risk Deliveries.)]
He used his newly purchased walking shoes to complete small, cash-only, manual labor and messenger jobs within the relative safety of the Burnley district, avoiding the Bowery and the Narrows entirely.
The payout was small—$20 to $50 per job—but the risk was lower, and he didn't need a vehicle.
He was still training his shield every chance he got.
Delivery 1 (Grocery Run): He had to carry heavy bags of ice for a bar. "Shield Up!" He used it to help stabilize the heavy bags on his shoulders, avoiding muscle strain.
Delivery 2 (Bank Message): A simple document delivery. "Shield Up!" He activated it to shield himself from a sudden, heavy downpour that would have ruined the documents.
By the time he returned home, 12 hours later, he had completed 15 successful deliveries and earned $480.
He was utterly drained.
[Current Funds: $2,855]
[Tier 2 Force Field Activated (9/10)]
[Focus Training: 50/60 Minutes]
Lucifer found Raven exactly as he'd left her, still on the bed, flipping through his thermodynamics book.
The room was noticeably tidier, and a faint, sweet smell, like ozone and rain, had replaced the usual grime.
"Did you tidy up?"
He asked, collapsing into his chair.
Raven gently closed the book.
"A minor application of power. It helps maintain a clean mental space."
"Right,"
Lucifer muttered, too tired to argue with the logic of a world-ending demon's daughter doing light house cleaning.
He pulled a cold, cheap slice of pizza from his backpack and began eating it mechanically.
"I have something to tell you,"
He informed her. And decided to tell her about his Force Field training.
There was no reason for him to hide it from her. He could tell that she knew he had super power.
She just didn't care.
"I have to train my power, but I'm too tired to maintain focus."
Raven nodded slowly.
"I can assist."
Lucifer paused, pizza halfway to his mouth.
"How? By scaring the fatigue out of me?"
"My powers are related to emotion. If you are struggling with focus, I can temporarily suppress the feeling of fatigue, allowing your mind to concentrate entirely on your skill."
[Side-Quest Update: Raven's Assistance]
[Raven is offering to assist with the training of an ability. Do you agree?]
Lucifer didn't hesitate. A high-tier entity offering an assist? That was a deal too good to pass up.
"Do it,"
He said, sitting straighter.
He swallowed the last of the pizza, took a deep breath, and whispered,
"Shield Up!"
The moment the thin, plywood-like shield shimmered into existence around him, Raven's eyes flickered, the shadows in them briefly becoming visible.
A heavy, calming pressure washed over Lucifer's mind. The agonizing ache in his muscles, the sharp pain in his back, the buzzing fatigue in his brain—it all vanished.
His mind became a clean, empty slate, ready for the task.
He focused on the shield, visualizing it as solid steel, then diamond, then a wall of pure, unmoving energy. He held the vision effortlessly.
Ten minutes passed in what felt like ten seconds.
[Tier 2 Force Field Activated (10/10)]
[Upgrade Requirement Met: Usage. Initiate Focus Training.]
[Tier 2 Force Field has reached Max Capacity!]
[Tier 2 Force Field Upgraded to Tier 3!]
[Tier 3 Force Field Specifications:]
Duration: 1 minute 45 seconds
Cooldown: 8 minutes
Sturdiness: Tier 3 (Can shield the user from a solid punch, shrapnel, and low-caliber non-penetrating bullets. Sturdy as thick, reinforced hardwood.)
Lucifer blinked, the powerful, heavy relief from Raven's ability receding like a tide, leaving the exhaustion to flood back in. He felt the pain, but the elation of the upgrade overshadowed it.
"Thick hardwood,"
He whispered, a genuine, tired smile on his face.
"Thank you, Raven. That was… incredibly helpful."
Raven had already retreated into her passive silence, her expression impassive.
"A fair exchange for a clean bed and privacy."
Lucifer nodded, pulled his coat over himself, and slumped back into the hard chair.
He was too tired to move to the floor.
He knew his body was going to scream at him tomorrow, but his defense was now solid enough to stop a thug's knife.
"Good night, world-ender,"
He mumbled, already falling asleep.
"Good night, delivery boy,"
She replied, so softly he barely heard her.