Chapter Fifty-Two: I Was Never One for Sentiment, Yet the Mortal World Vexes the Heart

At this moment, Lando’s feelings were indescribably complex.
Anger? There was a trace of it.
Sorrow? That too, perhaps.
Since arriving in this world, Locke had been the one who spent the most time with him. The two had started off wary and hostile, gradually becoming friends—a rare and treasured memory for Lando.
When he left so decisively back then, he’d already made up his mind to secure a testing slot for Locke. Later, after learning the truth about the Four Kings and suspecting Locke might be one of their descendants, he thought the plan was almost certain to succeed.
Now, as he looked at the long sword in his hands, his mood was surprisingly calm—far less tumultuous than he’d expected.
“Am I truly such a cold person?” Lando murmured to himself, puzzled.
After a long while, he suddenly chuckled.
“Was I always a man without feelings? And yet, the world’s troubles never cease to disturb.”
“A man without feelings! And yet, the world’s troubles never cease to disturb!”
Lando’s eyes gradually turned cold. Initially, upon learning that Prince Sandy was coming for him, he’d hesitated—should he log off, or simply slip away?
In his view, once the Silver Tower descended, with Sandy’s talents, entry into the Silver Tower Academy would be a foregone conclusion. There was no need to risk their lives now. What if they became schoolmates in the future? Wouldn’t that be awkward?
Now, though, he had no thought of escape. He wasn’t sure how much was for Locke’s sake, but a large part was surely because he was unsettled inside and needed to do something—anything—to find release.
He unwrapped the white cloth from the sword. It was a greatsword, surprisingly light for its size, with a green gem set in the hilt and elegant, flowing lines.
Lando lightly brushed the blade, and faint ripples of wind magic shimmered outward.
Without hesitation, he extracted the soul from the sword.
[Wind Prince (Blue): Mastery of Swordsmanship (Blue), Control of Wind Elements (Blue), High Affinity for Life Energy (Green), Listening (Green), Fragmented Destiny (Green)]
After a moment’s thought, Lando willed the name stored in his system to change. [Wind Prince (Blue)] became [Wind Prince Locke (Blue)].
He placed this soul deep within the system, quickly checked his remaining soul essence, then once again turned his attention to the swirling vortex, which was drawing ever closer.
…
As Prince Sandy’s army marched swiftly, he suddenly ordered a halt.

The adjutant rode forward and asked, “Your Highness, what are your orders?”
“Build a fire, prepare food, and rest,” Prince Sandy replied succinctly.
“Yes, sir!” The adjutant didn’t question him and immediately set about the preparations.
Though the King’s army was all but invincible, the soldiers were still flesh and blood. Proper rest was essential for peak performance.
Prince Sandy dismounted and stood in place. When the adjutant brought him food, he waved it away.
Even after the soldiers had finished their rest and reassembled, Prince Sandy remained silent.
Without the prince’s command, the soldiers stood quietly at attention, as if this were perfectly natural.
A long time passed before a voice suddenly broke the silence: “With green hills at your side and clear waters around, you’ve chosen a fine place for your grave, haven’t you, Prince Sandy?”
The soldiers behind Sandy erupted with anger, their killing intent surging.
Prince Sandy said nothing, first sizing up the newcomer. When his gaze fell on the long sword in the stranger’s hand, his eyes narrowed sharply, then slowly relaxed, though a trace of grief lingered.
He produced a crystal orb and held it before him, but it showed no reaction.
“Has the demon’s aura been suppressed?”
Lando was perplexed by what he saw.
“How did you manage this, demon? I can sense destiny both gathering upon you and rejecting you.”
Lando replied, “Destiny has chosen me, and yet not fully.”
Prince Sandy said earnestly, “Destiny is with me.”
What a conceited prince!
Lando found him amusing, but he hadn’t come for conversation—he’d come to kill. He raised his sword. “That man was my friend, in a manner of speaking. You killed him, didn’t you? I’ve come to avenge him.”
Prince Sandy retorted, “Though he died by my hand, it was because of you. And besides, he was also… my friend.”
Lando frowned, unable to make sense of this, but it hardly mattered now.

Prince Sandy gazed at Lando, offering no further explanation. Nothing else mattered—so long as he slew the demon before him, all would be resolved.
Boom!
A thunderous roar erupted between them. Both had drawn their swords and attacked without warning. Howling winds tore up the earth at their feet; even the soldiers assembled nearby were nearly knocked off their feet.
The shadow of an ancient giant ape flickered behind Lando. His strength surged, and with a single blow, he sent Prince Sandy flying.
Just as he landed and prepared to press the attack, flames ignited around Prince Sandy, swiftly engulfing the world. An invisible force pinned Lando in midair, holding him fast.
The giant ape roared; Lando summoned his strength and shattered the bonds. When he regained his senses, the world had transformed into a realm of fire, with Prince Sandy at its heart, like a god governing creation.
“So this is… the King’s Domain?”
“So you recognize it,” Prince Sandy said coolly. Though he’d been knocked aside, he remained composed, and his King’s Domain began to transform the army behind him.
One look told Lando he was outmatched.
He glanced at his system’s class tab: [Arcanist (Arcane Furnace 99%)]. His arcane furnace was fully constructed, but he was stuck at the ignition stage. Stuck wasn’t quite right—rather, the soul essence required to ignite the arcane furnace was far greater than he’d anticipated. The reserves he’d just scrounged together were barely sufficient, and he was reluctant to spend it all at once. After all, there were other ways to ignite the furnace—no need to go all in. That was his reasoning at the time.
But now…
Escape?!
The thought was instantly dismissed.
“Well! If that’s how it is, I might as well be extravagant.”
With a single thought, he poured all his soul essence into the Arcanist class. At the same time, the arcane furnace constructed within him flickered to life.
Igniting the arcane furnace was not about channeling fire magic; it was an act of true combustion. The furnace absorbed all elements from the void, breaking them down and releasing unimaginable energy.
Suddenly, Prince Sandy sensed a radical change in Lando. He was like a massive black hole, devouring everything around him.
The transformation was abrupt, and as soon as it began, it was complete.
At last, Lando himself seemed to become a colossal furnace, drawing endless elements into orbit around him, and radiating raw power in every direction.