Lucifer left Stark Tower, the weight of Natasha Romanoff's surveillance heavy on his mind.
He knew this coast-to-coast delivery wasn't about the package; it was a test.
He needed to be stronger, but he also needed to know exactly what he was carrying and what traps Natasha might have laid in the logistics.
He decided to split the remaining hours of the night.
Lucifer returned to the apartment and immediately retreated to his desk.
Raven was already there, patiently waiting by the counter, reading a cookbook.
"I need two hours of uninterrupted focus,"
Lucifer told her, placing the encrypted data card on the table.
Raven nodded, her expression serious.
"Shield Up!"
Lucifer activated the Tier 5 Force Field, and the familiar, heavy calm settled his mind.
He then concentrated all his will and his newly unlocked passive skill, Fundamental Insight, on the data card.
He wasn't trying to brute-force the encryption; he was trying to understand the logic of the security.
The encryption was military-grade, designed by Stark himself—complex, layered, and seemingly flawless.
But under the lens of Fundamental Insight, Lucifer saw not lines of code, but the architecture of the system.
He saw the subtle, mathematical stress points where Stark, in his arrogance, had assumed total superiority.
Crucially, he saw a hidden, layered backdoor.
It wasn't a flaw; it was a security feature designed by Stark for his own use.
However, Lucifer realized that Natasha's team, focusing on the external shell, would likely miss this internal bypass, making it the perfect route for S.H.I.E.L.D. to track the package without Stark knowing.
[Fundamental Insight Application Successful: Identified Primary Encryption Layer (Stark) and Secondary Tracking Layer (S.H.I.E.L.D. Black Door).]
Lucifer couldn't hack the system, but he understood its fundamental weakness: The package was a decoy for tracking, not the true prize.
Whatever was on that card was designed to lead S.H.I.E.L.D. on a wild goose chase.
He carefully copied the key information required for the delivery and left the card otherwise untouched, knowing any tampering would alert Natasha instantly.
He now understood the test: They wanted to see if he'd break the tracking, not the encryption.
With the nature of the trap understood, Lucifer turned his attention to his defense.
He would not rely on stealth alone for a coast-to-coast mission under surveillance.
"Raven, change of plan,"
Lucifer said, his voice hard with renewed purpose.
"Forget the two-hour limit. I need to hit Tier 6 before dawn."
Raven, recognizing the urgency in his tone, abandoned her cookbook.
"Very well. But this will require constant suppression. It will be painful when I release the effect."
Lucifer just nodded.
"Shield Up!"
He spent the next five hours in a cycle of pure agony and achievement.
The moment the shield cooled down, the full, crushing exhaustion of the past weeks—the fight with the terrorists, the emotional strain, the non-stop deliveries—slammed into him.
But the moment Raven reapplied her power, the pain vanished, replaced by perfect, almost blissful focus.
He focused on durability, imagining the carbon composite of Tier 5 fusing with something stronger, something that could withstand heat and pressure—titanium, then depleted uranium, then finally, a liquid metal alloy.
When the final notification flashed, Lucifer was slumped on the floor, sweat dripping from his chin, his mind barely conscious enough to register the achievement.
[Current Funds $301,980]
[Tier 5 Force Field Activated (10/10)]
[Focus Training 60/60 Minutes]
[Tier 5 Force Field has reached Max Capacity!]
[Tier 5 Force Field Upgraded to Tier 6!]
[Tier 6 Force Field Specifications:]
Duration: 3 minutes
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Sturdiness: Tier 6 (Can shield the user from sustained heavy artillery, focused plasma bursts, and the epicenter of a localized explosion. Sturdy as dense, self-repairing liquid metal alloy.)
Raven immediately released the suppression.
The wave of fatigue and pain that hit Lucifer was staggering.
He groaned, unable to move for a full minute.
Raven knelt beside him, a flicker of concern in her eyes.
"You pushed too hard. That was unwise."
"Tier 6,"
Lucifer gasped, forcing a tired smile.
"Liquid metal alloy. Worth it."
He struggled to his feet. It was just before dawn.
"I leave in one hour,"
He said, moving toward the kitchen for a necessary cup of black coffee.
Raven followed him, her expression a mix of approval and worry.
"You have your new shield and knowledge of the trap. You are prepared."
Lucifer poured the coffee.
"Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go fly across the country with a package S.H.I.E.L.D. is tracking."
He looked at her and grinned faintly.
"Stay safe, Raven. Don't let your 'normalcy' involve any explosive cooking."
Raven met his gaze, the corners of her mouth twitching.
"Go, Lucifer. And try not to attract any more dangerous attention until I finish mastering the soufflé."
Lucifer arrived at the airport. True to Stark's word, 'Natalie' (Natasha Romanoff) was waiting, impeccably dressed and holding a stack of travel documents.
"Mr. Morningstar,"
She greeted, her voice cool and professional.
"Your flight is pre-boarded. Private jet, courtesy of Stark Industries. First class security."
Lucifer gave a practiced, easy smile.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Natalie."
As he walked onto the plane, he felt the full weight of the surveillance. Cameras in the terminal, eyes on the tarmac, and he was certain, a dedicated tracker on the data card in his pocket.
The flight to San Francisco would be the ultimate test of his professionalism—and his ability to look like a clueless but efficient delivery boy while carrying a high-value decoy, shielded by a liquid metal alloy Force Field, all while sitting next to the world's greatest spy.
Lucifer settled into his seat, the Tier 6 Force Field waiting on a short five-minute cooldown.
Little Spoiler: Harley Quinn is cute step sis
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