Lucas had reached the vicinity of the hotel when he spotted a black sedan. He approached and opened the door. Inside, his bodyguard sat in the driver's seat, while Sofia was in the back.
"Get out. I want to drive myself," he said.
The bodyguard nodded and stepped out without question, allowing Lucas to slip into the driver's seat.
Now in control, Lucas drove north—away from the heart of Lutherville. The city lights faded behind him, swallowed by the night, as a quiet sense of satisfaction settled in his chest.
He had no more plans for the night. Frankly, he didn't need any. He had already achieved everything he came for.
Sofia.
The VIP card to the Golden Emporio Pavilion.
And the heirloom pendant that once belonged to Leon.
But more importantly, he had managed to drive a fresh wedge between House Valemont and the Hounders.
Once bitter enemies, later reluctant allies, and eventually... bonded like blood brothers.
Like oil and water forced into a fragile emulsion—held together not by harmony, but by pressure and pretense.
One spark, one shake... and it all began to fall apart.
Dramatic? Certainly. But that illusion of unity was finally cracking—and Lucas was more than happy to be the one holding the hammer.
But now, his mind shifted to something far more important.
"System, are you there?" he asked aloud.
Ten seconds passed. Then a minute. Nothing.
Lucas's expression hardened.
Transmigration without a system—and with a protagonist to face?
This felt like a suicide mission.
He sighed. But his expression quickly regained its edge. His eyes sharpened.
'System or not, I can't just sit back and let the plot unfold.' he thought.
He couldn't afford to waste time wondering about the system's existence. The most rational course of action was to trust his own abilities.
Besides, being a genius, hailing from an ancient family, blessed with rare talent—wasn't that a golden finger in itself?
---
Meanwhile, somewhere else...
"FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?! MY NECKLACE!! MY SOFIA!!"
A storm of curses echoed violently through the cavern, laced with pure rage and raw frustration.
Inside stood Leon—his clothes scorched, his body battered and burned, the worst injuries centered around his chest.
Seeing Sofia in Lucas's arms... he couldn't even begin to imagine what they had done together.
"FUCK! LUCAS, I'LL TAKE MY REVENGE, JUST YOU WAIT!!!"
These weren't empty threats. They were a vow—born of fury and a shattered heart.
---
Twenty kilometers away, after more than twenty minutes of driving, a sleek black car came to a halt in front of the grand gates of a magnificent villa.
The gates, crafted from tall black iron and adorned with delicate green leaf motifs, radiated an aura of elegance and environmental consciousness.
Four guards in all-black suits saw the car and immediately opened the gate, recognizing it as belonging to their young master, Damian.
As the vehicle glided in, it was greeted by a winding pathway flanked with lush trees. These towering guardians of nature imbued the surroundings with serenity, making the villa seem nestled within a tranquil forest sanctuary.
When the car reached the front yard, the full splendor of the villa came into view—a classic architectural marvel touched with modern elements, standing proudly amidst a beautifully landscaped garden, backed by distant mountain peaks.
It was like an oasis amid urban chaos. A place of calm, luxury, and natural beauty.
A birthday gift from his father, given just a month ago on his 18th birthday.
Lucas parked the car and stepped out, carrying Sofia in his arms.
As he entered the villa, he was met by a spacious room adorned with pristine white marble walls and lavish furnishings.
He casually tossed his car keys onto the living room table and headed straight for the stairs.
Climbing purposefully to the second floor, he entered his bedroom and walked directly into the bathroom.
---
The shower hissed to life, spraying cold water over Lucas's body from head to toe. The chill of the night air outside didn't bother him at all.
As the water washed over him, he reflected on the future—what he needed to do, what threats he had to neutralize. Especially now.
Everything had to be planned meticulously.
But his thoughts weren't just focused on Leon. There was something much greater at stake—the world itself.
This world resembled a fantasy setting, but with modern-day elements. The geography mirrored Earth's, but its political system was monarchic, not democratic.
There was no Germany, America, or Italy. Instead, nations like the Roman Empire, the United Great Kingdom of America, and the Prussian Kingdom ruled the map.
Damian resided within the Englandia Empire, specifically in the city of Lutherville.
The power system of this world was incredibly vast. The magical path alone was divided into five major realms, each with ten levels: Human Realm, Origin Realm, Spirit Realm, Heavenly Realm, and Transcendent Realm.
Currently, Lucas stood at the peak of the Origin Realm.
Ordinary magi would need decades of grueling effort just to break into the Origin Realm. But Lucas—at only 18—had done it with ease. This wasn't just a mark of diligence, but proof of his extraordinary talent.
Beyond magic, there were also Miracle Spirits—manifestations of a person's soul in physical form. These usually appeared as creatures, weapons, or unique artifacts, and were ranked from F to S class according to their power and potential.
The strongest Miracle Spirits were inspired by ancient legends and mythical beings.
Some notable examples included:
The leader of the Viking clan, who wielded God of Thunder, Thor.
The Emperor of the Qin Empire, who held the Jade Emperor.
A general of Ptolemaic Egypt, who commanded Anubis.
Lucas, now 18, was nearing the time of his Miracle Spirit Awakening Ceremony—scheduled for about a month from now, in accordance with school tradition.
Until that day, he could only guess and prepare.
"If it's not an S-class, then this reincarnation was a waste," he murmured.
---
After a while, Lucas stepped out of the shower.
He grabbed a thick white towel and began drying himself with slow, deliberate movements—unhurried, exuding calm control.
Once done, he approached the large mirror mounted on the wall, studying his reflection.
He stood at 191 centimeters tall. Diamond-shaped face. Sharp, dark-blue eyes. Thick eyebrows. Blonde hair styled in a warrior cut.
Lucas looked every bit the second heir of an ancient and prestigious family.
"But now, it's time to change," he said with a smirk, before stepping out of the bathroom.
---
Lucas leaned back on his bed, scrolling through his smartphone—not to play games, but to find a particular contact. He didn't need to search long before finding the name: Ludrik Seethern.
The low buzz of the phone vibrated softly as he tapped the call button. It didn't take long for the line to connect.
Ludrik's voice crackled through the speaker.
"Young master Lucas, what's the occasion? You rarely call," he said with interest.
"Mr. Ludrik, I need your help. Are you available?" Lucas asked.
"Of course. As long as there's enough money, anything's possible. But I doubt money's an issue for someone like you," Ludrik chuckled.
Lucas didn't laugh. "I'll get straight to the point. I want you to build something like…"
He laid out the specifications in detail. Ludrik listened carefully, nodding at each requirement.
Despite the complexity of the request, Ludrik showed no hesitation. He was clearly confident he could deliver.
"…and also, add a hand sensor," Lucas concluded.
"Consider it done. When do you need it by?" Ludrik asked.
"Tomorrow, before 8 PM," Lucas replied.
"Understood. I'll likely stop by your residence at noon," Ludrik confirmed.
Lucas nodded, satisfied. "Great. I'll send you the address. See you at my place."
"See you tomorrow, young master."
After the call ended, Lucas set his phone aside. His eyelids felt heavy.
"Tomorrow… there's a lot to be done."
And with that final thought, Lucas fell asleep.