Chapter 55: A Prince That Never Stops Working Hard [1]

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At Niflheim’s words, Louis couldn’t help but smile bitterly. It truly felt as though his life held nothing but misfortune.

“Yes, that’s right. I am screwed no matter what… but even then, I have to keep pushing forward,” Louis said. “I think I understand why I obtained an Ability like Death-Sense. It exists to let me do things that would normally kill me, only so I can keep progressing. But even so, I wonder how many deaths I will have to endure before I can reach the same level as Soma and gain the power to stand against him… How many lives will that take…”

Louis was not delusional. He knew this world was born from despair. He knew that at some point he might die again. His knowledge of the game had helped enormously, but when a game became reality, too many variables shifted and everything grew far more unpredictable.

“…?” Niflheim had refrained from reading Louis’ mind or memories out of respect for his privacy, but now she began to wonder what he was talking about. “What do you mean by multiple deaths?”

“If you can move with me once it happens, I will explain it to you,” Louis replied with a bitter smile. “For now, I will memorize Mother’s cultivation formula and attempt it in the coming days. I also have to begin training for the Second Step of Sword Breathing. And I cannot slack off on the Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras, the Five Elements Spiritual Roots born from them, or my Fake Dragon Heart Creation Method either.”

“You may be the most hard-working person in this entire kingdom,” Niflheim said. “You mastered the First Step of Sword Breathing in two weeks, and now you are eager to cultivate even more despite your current condition? This is madness. It is as though you have no regard for your own life. We only have one life, you know. You should take care of yourself.”

“I appreciate your concern, Niflheim, but I am not the type of person who has the privilege of worrying about my life,” Louis answered, his eyes sharper than ever. “Fate itself seems to work against me and everyone around me. My kingdom and everything my mother built stands in constant danger… I cannot afford to laze around. Every second, every minute, every day, every week, every month is precious time I can spend training.”

“…You’re mad.”

Niflheim, an ancient and nearly emotionless Magic Blade, could not comprehend Louis’ mindset. Not even the Dragon King in his youth, infamous as a madman himself, had ever pushed training to the level of self-torture that Louis pursued.

“I am known as the ’Mad Prince’ for a reason,” Louis said. “Now, enough rest. Two days is too much. I have wasted too much time…”

Louis released an aura that tore apart every machine binding him in place. He stood up amid rubble and destroyed equipment, exposed circuits sparking with electricity and leaking Fantasium.

The prince extended his hand toward the leaking energy and absorbed it all. His weakened body rapidly rejuvenated; even his dry lips regained color.

“I suppose I can now sustain myself by absorbing Fantasium alone…” he murmured. “So this is the power of a Spiralwalker. It’s incredible.”

“Louis?!”

“Prince Louis, what are you doing?”

“Wait…!”

Several familiar voices called out as they entered the room. Mirai, Catrise, and his father had been watching from outside the entire time and were stunned to see Louis destroy everything to free himself from the machines.

“Ah, were you waiting for me to return?” Louis asked. “My apologies. I couldn’t accomplish anything if I didn’t push myself—”

“Louis!”

“Your majesty!”

“Son!”

Unexpectedly, all three rushed forward and hugged him tightly, crying against his shoulders, overwhelmed with relief that he was alright even after the chaos he had caused.

“A-Are you okay?” Mirai asked through tears streaming down her face. “Why… why do you keep worrying me like this?”

“Your majesty, please stop. Don’t push yourself like that anymore. It’s not healthy! You’re going to kill yourself if you continue!” Catrise sobbed.

“Son… Why do this? Why go so far? Please just rest. The Academy hasn’t even started…” Gustaf sighed heavily.

“Ah…” Louis quickly realized how many people now loved and cared for him. “I… I’m sorry.”

For once he chose honesty over excuses. He simply apologized and let them know he truly felt regret for worrying them.

“But I cannot stop,” he added, shaking his head. “For a talentless man like me, there can be no rest or leisure. I must keep pursuing strength. If I pause for too long, everything I have learned will fade. I cannot stop.”

His conviction stood firm as a mountain. He was sorry for causing them pain, but he made it unmistakably clear: he would not stop, no matter what.

Training was more than a path to power; it felt like his duty. If he failed that duty, he would slowly regress into the disgusting version of himself from the Sinners Academy, a pathetic man without pride who became a monster through drugs while desperately trying to steal power from others.

Louis found that version of himself truly pathetic.

Never.

He could never allow himself to become that again.

He was constantly fleeing that terrible fate, and the only way to run faster was to train like a madman.

“Louis…” Mirai sighed. “Why…”

“You know why,” Louis answered quietly.

“Son…” Gustaf sighed, rubbing his temples. “If you are truly going to do this and there is no way to stop you anymore… then at the very least, let us help you.”

“…?” Louis raised an eyebrow.

“I can assist you with technology that could make your training more efficient,” Gustaf offered.

“Please, if you really need it, I don’t mind staying awake for weeks by your side to heal you,” Catrise said.

“And… well, I can continue sparring with you,” Mirai added with a bitter smile.

“…Thank you,” Louis nodded. “Then, Father, I need a machine to continue refining the Five Elements Spiritual Roots.”

“That’s… right, you obtained that earlier,” Gustaf recalled.

“Yes. I want you to help me refine them. I need a method that will expose me to those elemental energies,” Louis explained. “Burning with the strongest flames, drowning in the coldest waters, being pierced by the highest-quality steel, being beaten by the hardest wood, and being constantly crushed by the heaviest boulders, or mountains.”

“T-That’s… so you’re technically asking me to kill you?!” Gustaf asked in alarm.

“No. I can live through it. That’s exactly why I can keep growing stronger,” Louis replied. “You said you wanted to help me, right?”

“But that’s insanity, Louis…” Gustaf sighed. “No, there must be a better, more efficient way to expose you to the Elemental Energies without such terrible torture.”

“Father, if you see me smile at the end of every training session, why do you worry about my suffering? Do I look upset?” Louis asked, his aura surging. “I hate pain, and I hate suffering… and yes, it is painful and horrible, but… the feeling once it’s over and I obtain the power I have craved my entire life… it makes everything worth it…”

In that moment, Gustaf finally saw his son for who he truly was.

Louis had never been fully human.

The boy had always been strange, with different likes and desires.

It wasn’t merely a mental illness born from being a Sinner, nor solely from his recent Spiral.

It was because that boy was the son of a dragon.

Benladra had always told Gustaf that dragons were the bravest species across the Four Converged Worlds.

They were reckless and loved combat above all else. Even Benladra, so kind and gentle, had enjoyed fighting and training.

But Gustaf had preferred to remember only her “nice” side—the side everyone knew—while pushing aside her wrathful aspect, her overwhelming power, and her reckless thirst for battle.

Dragons were simply not human. And though Louis was half-human, he was clearly far more dragon than human, just as his mother had been half-dragon and half-ice giant.

“Technically, because you are also half ice giant, perhaps… that desire comes from there too,” Gustaf sighed. “The races of Yggdrasil, especially the strong ones, are all well known for loving battle and training. I’m sorry, son… Maybe I never truly understood you until now.”

“It’s fine,” Louis said. “Ice Giant, huh? Now that’s a bloodline I’ve never tried to awaken… but how can I even tap into it? I have none of their features, so I assume I inherited nothing from it.”

“Well, I think you did. Deep within, I can feel something,” Catrise said. “Hmm… Usually it is not possible for humans from Earth to refine and materialize Mana Cores. But… perhaps I could help you.”

“What? Is it possible then?” Louis asked.

“We can try,” Catrise replied. “Once you obtain a Mana Core, it might become possible for you to further channel your Ice Giant heritage.”

“Will my skin turn blue?” Louis wondered. “Well, not that I would care, but… it would be quite a striking change.”

“Well, who knows? Only one way to find out,” Catrise smiled. “I will find the books where I read how Mana Cores work and how to create one, then I’ll bring them to you, Prince Louis.”

“Ah… thank you,” Louis nodded. “Catrise, you have always been by my side. I truly appreciate everything you have done for me. I will make sure to reward you.”

“Oh please, there is nothing you have to do,” Catrise said with the gentlest smile. “I do everything for Prince Louis because that is what I promised your mother… and because I truly love you like my own son. I cannot bear to see you suffer so much to gain power that should have always been rightfully yours. You don’t know how much it frustrates me to watch you train so hard… when dragons are supposed to be born with such magnificent power… and yet you were denied all of it. Fate can be so cruel…”

“I have thought about it many times…” Louis sighed. “But perhaps… it is better this way. Every ounce of power I gain comes from my own hard work. And that makes it all the more worth it.”

“Hah… well, if you say so,” Catrise smiled.

“Also, I think I need new clothes. This hospital gown is simply not suitable,” Louis said, glancing down at himself.

“A-Ah! Yes! Right away, Master Louis!” Catrise nodded and hurried back to the castle to fetch a proper set of clothes.

“I will prepare something for you,” Gustaf said. “A machine to help you train your Five Elements Spiritual Roots. However, I need some time. And perhaps to run some tests. Would you allow me? It shouldn’t take longer than a day.”

“Hm… okay,” Louis agreed. “Let’s do that right away so we don’t waste time.”

While the tests scanned his body and the Five Elements Spiritual Roots forming within him, Louis constantly practiced his Sword Breathing Technique, slowly refining the Sword Energy flowing through his body.

He also continued developing his Fake Dragon Heart. The heart beat rapidly, killing him with its immense pressure, but thanks to Death-Sense, Louis endured it for a few minutes before stopping the creation process and waiting until the next day.

At night, while everyone slept, Louis remained awake. He sat cross-legged on the terrace of his room, receiving the Heavenly Energy that flowed even in darkness.

Slowly the heavenly energy reached his body. He absorbed it using the Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras, but instead of fully assimilating it, he let it course through him and gradually meld with his Mana.

Using the Holy Dragon Spirit Soul Vein Formula, Louis attempted to refine Heavenly Divine Essence. Mana, usually deep blue, slowly transformed into bright pale light.

Ashes emerged around his body, turning into small particles of light. He converged them into a brighter, stronger radiance than before and fused it into himself.

Through this process, Louis was slowly assimilating Heavenly Divine Essence using the Ashes-to-Light and Despair-to-Hope Reversal Technique he had learned from his mother.

And just as he had hoped…

“It works?!”

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