Chapter 81: Second Demonica Moonburgh Inside his apartment, Noah collapsed onto his couch. He was exhausted beyond usual; he had been pushing himself beyond his limits for the past hours. Every muscle ached with fatigue that came from genuine physical exertion rather than mere mental strain. I’ve been technically working for the whole day. Monster hunting, customer service, when did my life become this complicated? Sigh...Even with a system, I still gotta work hard. The peaceful surroundings of his modest living space felt surreal after hours spent in magical realms fighting beetles and selling bread to demons. Noah’s strength made standing it easier than it should have been, but fatigue ran deeper than physical exhaustion. I need to shower first, then sleep. Tomorrow I need to head to work, I also need to work out in the dojo once again... I’m really working hard. The thought carried wry amusement mixed with genuine concern. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢 His old life had involved sitting at a computer for twelve hours straight, surviving on energy drinks and ramen cups. ’Some changes come with unexpected complications...well, not that I’m complaining.’ He thought, reading his status, that made all the hard work worth it. Steam filled the small bathroom as hot water washed away the grime of his adventure. Beetle ichor, demon realm dust, and the particular exhaustion that came from constantly operating outside his comfort zone all disappeared down the drain. After his shower, he had realised that he was still wearing the clothes that he had bought from the demon. I left my clothes inside the shop...I will collect it tomorrow. Noah dried off and put on some comfortable clothes, his reflection showing someone who looked the same but moved differently. His agility and strength were noticeable. Twenty strength. Twenty agility. Still getting used to what that actually means. It seems like I need to head to the park to check out my strength and agility. His bed welcomed him with a comforting hug. ... Noah woke up the next day with a huge smile spreading across his face as familiar text blazed across his retina. [Your daily income has been rewarded: Demonica Moonburgh Card] [Your reward is in your inventory. You can use the card and the reward will be summoned.] Another Demonica Moonburgh. This is perfect. His eyes lit up with the enthusiasm of someone who’d just discovered their favourite restaurant was offering free dessert. Getting another cultivation plant meant accelerated development, enhanced mana sensitivity, and most importantly, faster progression toward the elusive Level 5 Mana Control threshold. Two plants feeding on iced tea should double the enhancement effects. Maybe even push me over the edge today. Excitement propelled him out of bed with energy that made his usual morning routine feel sluggish by comparison. The shower passed in a blur, breakfast became an afterthought, and within minutes, he was stepping through the portal into his shop. Time to see what two Demonica Moonburghs can accomplish together. Inside the shop, Moon pulsed with gentle energy from its corner position, still glowing with the effects of yesterday’s iced tea feeding. The sight filled Noah’s heart with satisfaction. One plant had already proven its worth, and now he was about to double his cultivation advantages. Noah opened his inventory, a wide smile on his face. The interface materialised before him, displaying various accumulated items, including the new Demonica Moonburgh Card. Here we go. He selected the card with his hand. [USE CARD] [YES|NO] Noah did not hesitate, pressing ’yes’ immediately. Not a second had passed after his click before the Demonica Moonburgh appeared on his wooden table. Beautiful. Useful things are always beautiful. This specimen was identical to Moon in every respect: the same pink leaves, the same delicate branches that swayed without any breeze, and the same effect of producing the magical air. Twin cultivation plants. This is going to boost my training by a large margin. He smiled brightly. I will gift Valeria and the others some of them. It seems like I’m going to keep the demonica in my daily income for a while. The new plant, Noah, immediately called it "Star" to distinguish it from Moon, which pulsed with the same gentle rhythm as its predecessor. Together, they created a harmonious energy pattern that filled the shop with mana thick enough to taste. The increase in mana density is somewhat noticeable. And I haven’t even fed Star any iced tea yet. Noah retrieved a bottle from his shelf. If one plant feeding had accelerated his development significantly, two plants should show some good improvement. The bottle’s cork released with its satisfying pop, immediately filling the shop with the intoxicating aroma of liquid mana with a hint of peach. Star’s leaves began vibrating before the iced tea even reached its soil. It knows what’s coming. The iced tea disappeared into the dark soil of Star, and transformation began immediately. Star’s entire body erupted into brilliant luminescence, its leaves swaying through the spectrums of colours. Noah did not stop, feeding Moon a glass of iced tea. Together, Moon and Star created a light show that made Noah stare in amazement. This is incredible. The enhancement is nearly double what I felt yesterday. Noah’s mana sensitivity spiked dramatically, making the energy flows around him visible rather than merely sensible. Level 5 Mana Control isn’t just possible now...it’s inevitable. Before he could settle into meditation position, the familiar chime of his door announced an unwelcome interruption. Noah’s eyes immediately identified the visitor. Of course, she shows up right when I’m about to make a breakthrough. Lola swept through the entrance with grace, her ruby eyes sparkling with mischief and her signature smile already deployed at maximum intensity. "Hi Noah...I heard that you missed me...So I decided to come visit you, hehe." Here we go with the teasing routine. Noah’s reaction was notably subdued compared to their previous encounters. Days of exposure to her charm offensive had built considerable immunity to her supernatural charisma. "You were gone?" he shot back with indifference. "I didn’t notice."