System?
What?
Could this be Lockhart's treasure?
After Lockhart finished speaking, doubt flickered through the minds of the imprisoned Mephisto and Dormammu. Their attention immediately fixed on Lockhart's dull-eyed soul.
Before them stood two Lockharts—one with vacant eyes, the familiar Lockhart in his soul state. The other, body radiating colorful light and gaze piercing to the core, was the Lockhart who had just spoken.
Mephisto had a vague theory about Lockhart's current state, but he couldn't be certain.
Lockhart stared intently at his other self. This time when he called the system, no light screen appeared before him. This likely confirmed that the system still existed within his original soul.
Lockhart's feelings toward the system were complicated.
When it came to gratitude, he certainly owed it thanks. Without the system's help in traveling between worlds, even his accomplishments in the Harry Potter world would have been limited by that reality's constraints. He could never have reached his current position.
After all, the Marvel world and the Harry Potter world were fundamentally different.
One encompassed the multiverse with countless powerful beings—some who had existed since the universe's birth and would persist even beyond its death.
The other merely featured more magical elements, with almost no true immortals. At best, wizards might live a few hundred years longer than normal, but death remained inevitable.
How could these worlds be compared?
In the Harry Potter world, no matter how talented Lockhart might be, the limitations of that reality meant he would eventually die.
This was the simple truth.
For this reason, Lockhart genuinely felt grateful to the system.
Yet simultaneously, he remained cautious. As the saying goes, nothing in this world comes for free.
When Lockhart made friends, created his own domain, and trained students like Ian and Wanda, he always had his own objectives.
He joined Kamar-Taj, obtained valuable magical resources, and developed his own power—all with purpose.
Students like Jean, Wanda, and Melamemi were developed through considerable investment of resources. What he wanted in return was their loyalty—the assurance that they would complete critical tasks even at the cost of their lives.
This was why he trained his students.
Since Lockhart himself operated this way, what then was the system's purpose in cultivating him?
It couldn't possibly be doing so without purpose. That would be absurd.
In fact, the system's extraordinary lottery ability suggested it could create formidable individuals at will—if it chose to do so. Of course, such powerful beings would merely be the system's puppets.
What the system could bestow, it could just as easily reclaim. There would be no true autonomy.
This was why Lockhart had tried his best to avoid becoming overly dependent on the system. When he had no choice but to rely on it, he endeavored to establish transactional relationships.
The evil god's soul, true spirit, original power—these were valuable to the system. There might even be a premium on what he was asking for, but Lockhart didn't mind. Consider it his expression of gratitude.
However, meeting the system face-to-face could reveal its true intentions. For Lockhart, this was crucial. It would determine whether their future relationship would be as allies or enemies.
Obviously, the system had previously concealed itself deep within Lockhart's soul, leaving no trace. If there was a breakdown in their relationship now, it would bode ill for Lockhart.
But he had made preparations and paid an enormous price. Finally, he had found an opportunity to meet the system while ensuring his own safety.
Silence!
After Lockhart finished speaking, his other soul remained silent, maintaining its dull state. This disappointed him.
He spoke again, this time with a subtle hint of menace in his voice:
"I'm only asking for a meeting."
"Having known me for so long, you should understand who I am and what I want."
"We've cooperated successfully before, and I hope we can continue to do so."
"As a gesture of sincerity, I offer you these two incarnations of evil gods and their original power."
Dormammu and Mephisto, hearing themselves treated as mere objects—greeting gifts to be handed over—seethed with rage. Yet they maintained their composure.
Lockhart wasn't hiding his intentions from them, probably expecting their demise. They realized that Lockhart knew little about the treasure within his soul—he couldn't even tell whether it was friend or foe.
Additionally, sacrificing an incarnation, while costly, remained within acceptable limits for them. So they suppressed their fury and waited for the coveted treasure to reveal itself, even if it meant their temporary defeat.
They believed that as long as they didn't truly die, opportunity would eventually come. After all, neither of them was a god who dominated the world.
And though Lockhart possessed the potential for godhood, he had just sacrificed his dream world, significantly diminishing his prospects. How could someone who had sabotaged his own future possibly keep such a treasure?
Suddenly—
Their eyes widened as a purple-gold light emerged from the center of Lockhart's soul. The light didn't assume human form, but instead coalesced into a luminous sphere.
A sigh emanated from it.
"Host, I'm curious."
"Why sacrifice your dream world?"
"It was not only your most powerful tool but had become your core foundation."
"Such opportunities are exceedingly rare."
Though the system's voice maintained its familiar mechanical quality, it now carried unmistakable curiosity.
"Was it merely to meet me?"
"You are indeed in a remarkable state now."
"Understanding your own identity and leveraging the concept of 'existence' to achieve condensation."
"Your level of sophistication has touched the edge of the Eternal!"
Before Lockhart could respond, Dormammu and Mephisto began breathing rapidly.
The Eternal One!
Was this a realm comparable to the creation gods of the multiverse?
Though they didn't fully comprehend it, merely hearing the name stirred something profound within them. They sensed its immense significance.
The system paid no attention to Dormammu and Mephisto's status. In its perception, they were merely sustenance.
What value did additional food have when one wasn't starving?
Its focus remained solely on Lockhart.
Lockhart's choice puzzled it deeply—as it did Dormammu and Mephisto.
Why would someone abandon godhood when it lay within reach?
It seemed utterly foolish!