Chapter Fifty-Five: The Heart of the World

The Special Operations Squad is a unique team tasked with critical missions upon entering new worlds. In worlds on the verge of collapse like this one, they are responsible for placing world node stabilizers at precise locations to anchor the world, ensuring its stability and preventing further catastrophic losses.

Professionals as they are, as each team confirmed the completion of their tasks, the disaster that had swept across the entire world quickly subsided and faded away. This brought a sigh of relief to Sico in the command room of the battleship.

However, Moritz grew increasingly agitated, unable to contain his frustration. He asked, “What’s the situation in the observation room? It’s just a small area—how can they not find a single person?”

Sico, troubled by his friend’s impatience, tried to reassure him. “Don’t worry. Isn’t no news the best news? Perhaps he’s trapped in some secret realm.”

Sico’s reasoning was sound: they had located Lando’s world teleportation bracelet. Even if he’d died unexpectedly and the bracelet was taken, as long as it remained in this world, they could track it down. The current situation left only two possibilities: either the bracelet had left this world, making it impossible for the battleship’s locator system to find it—necessitating the use of a special locator back home; or the bracelet had been taken into a secret realm, some of which had powerful interference that could thwart their search.

Sico’s words calmed Moritz, though the unfolding events evoked a strong sense of déjà vu. Hesitantly, he said, “Do you think he might be…”

“Might be what?” Sico asked, perplexed.

Moritz fell silent before replying, “No, it’s nothing. I’m just considering applying for permission to use the special locator when we return.”

When the world was shifting, Lando had chosen to stay; this meant he couldn’t leave the world until they breached its membrane. Thus, the reason they couldn’t find him now was becoming clear.

Moritz recalled the unusual information he’d sent to Lando last time and swallowed the words he’d been about to speak.

…

In a mysterious and uncanny space, Lando stumbled forward in a daze, the brightness ahead growing ever stronger. He didn’t know how long he’d been walking when, suddenly, he stepped into another realm.

Bathed in the white radiance of the space, Lando jolted awake.

Everything that had just happened filled him with inexplicable dread. It was as if he’d been caught in a lucid dream—fully aware, yet unable to control himself, compelled only by instinct.

He dared not act rashly, and began to examine the new space he’d entered. The ground beneath his feet appeared to be a flat surface. Darkness stretched endlessly in all directions, save for a massive glowing white orb not far ahead, emanating gentle light. It was this light that had awakened him.

Excitement and exhilaration grew on Lando’s face. This matched exactly what Professor Moritz’s information had described: the place between worlds, with the white orb at its center—the Heart of the World.

Suddenly, something felt off; there seemed to be something incongruous within the white orb.

Once suspicion arose, more anomalies revealed themselves.

The Heart of the World is not present in every world, but those that possess one are situated within the interstitial space between worlds. To reach this space, one must traverse the World Corridor.

Opening the World Corridor typically requires special methods and an arcanist at least of the third stage, advanced in mental construction. Normally, it had nothing to do with a novice like Lando. Yet, perhaps due to absorbing most of this world’s destiny, his unique talents, and the shattering of the world membrane, Lando had managed to pass through the World Corridor and enter the space between worlds.

Normally, within the World Corridor, one would witness the history of the world, never be lost in confusion; and in the interstitial space, aside from the power emanating from the Heart of the World—the white radiance—no other force should exist. Yet Lando distinctly felt another energy: a black-red force, hidden amid the white glow.

At this moment, Lando had to admire Professor Moritz’s foresight—he’d anticipated such a situation. Without the information Moritz had provided, Lando would have been utterly lost, unaware of what to do, possibly missing a momentous opportunity. (Moritz: ...???!!!)

If one can seize the Heart of the World, it’s akin to possessing a unique world, offering unimaginable support for Lando’s future endeavors.

Though this Heart of the World seemed a bit odd, the immense benefit before him left no reason to sit idly by and let the chance slip away.

There is a time limit to remaining in the interstitial space, determined by the strength of the Heart of the World itself.

Just as he was about to step forward, a sudden thought struck him, and he quickly turned to his system…

[Sun Prince (Purple): Broken Destiny (Purple), Sacred (Purple), Grace (Purple), Source of Life (Blue), Fire Element Control (Blue), Listening (Blue)]

[Sacred (Purple): Innately possesses sacred power. All attacks initiated by oneself are greatly enhanced, all attacks received are significantly weakened, and effects against dark or evil creatures are doubled.]

[Grace (Purple): Innately possesses the power of grace; innate talent is at the racial limit, and all qualities are significantly improved.]

[Source of Life (Blue): Possesses powerful vitality, continuously replenished.]

Lando immediately felt the loaded [Child of Destiny (Blue)] was utterly weak by comparison.

He glanced at the soul placed deep within his system, [Wind Prince Locke (Blue)], and clicked his tongue. “Look at that—‘Sun Prince’ right out of the gate, and you’re just ‘Wind Prince.’ Both are heirs to the Four Kings, but you seem so much weaker.” (Locke: ...)

Though Lando still didn’t understand the system’s naming rules, it didn’t stop him from mercilessly mocking his departed friend.

He decisively tried to equip [Sun Prince (Purple)]—but couldn’t. Lando slapped his forehead, remembering he was still just a blue-grade soul, a little weakling.

With a dark expression, he extracted the destiny power and injected it entirely into [Child of Destiny (Blue)]. Without further hesitation, he began walking toward the Heart of the World.

Step by step, as Lando advanced, the black-red glow started to surge, entwining around him, bringing waves of disorientation.

Meanwhile, the white radiance constantly drove away the black-red glow, and Lando could clearly feel a sense of kinship emanating from the white light.

Suddenly, Lando thought: could the Heart of the World be regarding him as the world’s chosen child of destiny?

How ironic!

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