"Back at last."
Brandon White let out a quiet laugh as he watched the Pokémon gather around him, drawn in by his return. He reached out and gave each of them a gentle pat on the head.
Not just the Pokémon before him—Brandon turned his gaze skyward and spoke softly:
"Don't worry. My strength is more than enough to handle any danger that comes."
The words settled into the air, and a peculiar consciousness that had been watching over this world all along—one that had never stopped paying attention—rippled with a quiet warmth. Joy. Then it faded, dissolving back into stillness.
World consciousness, Earth's will—what one called it didn't truly matter.
It simply cared about Brandon White. And it felt happiness at his safe return.
Even now, though, he still couldn't quite fathom why the Earth's consciousness paid him such singular attention and bestowed upon him such favor.
Was it solely because he possessed the potential to lead Earth's civilization toward a higher stage?
Or was it something to do with his identity as a crossover traveler?
"You're finally back."
A gentle, lilting voice rang out across the space. The moment Brandon heard it, the corner of his mouth curved into a smile. He turned and said:
"Welcome back."
"It's been a while, Godly One—though, well, it hasn't actually been that long."
Zhixin waved at Brandon cheerfully, then tilted her head with a curious expression:
"Godly One, were you just saying goodbye to someone?"
"The World Consciousness. You wouldn't be able to sense it."
Brandon shook his head.
"The technological side and the mystical side are fundamentally different. For you, That Being simply doesn't exist. But for me, it's a presence of absolute clarity."
"It isn't merely the intelligence born from the Earth itself—it is the convergence of the will of every living thing, every civilization, on this planet..."
Zhixin genuinely could not comprehend the World Consciousness. At the very least, the Angel Civilization had never once sensed anything of the sort. No planet—including theirs—possessed such a thing.
But at the same time, she could be entirely certain that the World Consciousness was real.
She simply couldn't understand it. And the reason for that was nothing more than the difference in their systems.
Brandon lifted Lapras into his arms. The little Pokémon clutched at his fingers and refused to let go, its soft, babbling voice carrying what sounded like a quiet reproach—as though scolding Brandon for having left without it.
"Once you've grown strong enough to protect yourself, I'll take you along next time."
"For now—grow well."
Brandon gave Lapras a gentle scratch on the head as he spoke.
"What did they say to you?"
"Me?"
Showing off the Angel Civilization's charm. Dowries and the like...
The moment those words crossed her mind—the things Shifu and Yan-neechan had said—Zhixin felt heat rush to her cheeks.
There was no way she could possibly say something like that out loud.
"Shifu said that if you ever need the Angel Civilization's technology, you can simply ask."
"Divine Body technology included?"
Brandon regarded Zhixin with idle curiosity.
"It's possible, yes—though the current state of Earth's civilization probably can't bear the cost of the resources needed to upgrade a Divine Body, can it?"
"And Earth's civilization is walking the mystical path, isn't it?"
Zhixin waved her hand, unbothered. If Brandon needed Divine Body technology, the Angel Civilization wouldn't mind sharing it—even Fourth-Generation Divine Body knowledge. The only condition was that it not be passed on to anyone else.
But Earth's civilization, as things stood, did not possess the resources required for Divine Body upgrades. In truth, with the existence of spiritual energy already present, they didn't need to walk that road at all.
"Just kidding."
Brandon shook his head, then spoke in an unhurried tone:
"Wait until they develop spiritual energy technology on their own. Then we can talk."
"Once you have the first step, everything after becomes straightforward."
"If we hand all of this to them now, it would actually slow down the pace of their own development."
Meanwhile, in the outer districts of Vantora City.
"Second Sequence—Luo Yang. I know who you are."
"Beast-type ability: Mutant Black Ape. You possess formidable strength and defensive capability. If not for speed being your greatest weakness, you could almost pass for First Sequence."
"You went up against Vantora City's Dragon Emperor Skyler Quinn in a test of raw power and were put down with a single punch."
"You believe your strength is unmatched among those at your level—yet you've forgotten that the very first batch of First Sequence holders never once competed with you at the same tier."
"From the moment of the first spiritual energy revival, they surpassed everyone else entirely."
A young man clad in a black combat uniform smiled as he spoke, looking down at the younger man blocking his path.
The instant his words fell, he clenched his right fist. Vast spiritual energy wrapped around his knuckles like a sheath, and he drove the blow forward at Luo Yang with full force.
Luo Yang met the strike head-on, balling his own fist and swinging back. When it came to raw strength, he was supremely confident that no one surpassed him.
And besides—
"I've told you how many damn times already—my ability is Titan. Not Mutant Black Ape, you piece of—"
"BOOM—"
The moment their fists collided, a thunderous detonation erupted outward. Countless waves of displaced air surged in every direction.
Mid-battle, Luo Yang's voice rang out across the sky:
"Why did you kill her?"
"Because she possessed a First Sequence talent. And because she was weak. Weak enough that even I, at the time, could have killed her without any difficulty."
Zhao Feng spoke with perfect calm.
"Someone who carries a talent like that, yet has already surrendered the courage to keep living because of their own failings—who doesn't dare face this world. A talent like that, wasted on someone like her, isn't merely a tragedy. It's a sin."
"She didn't deserve such a talent. She didn't deserve such power."
"She didn't deserve it—so you do?"
Luo Yang listened to Zhao Feng's words and spat back with undisguised contempt.
Negativity and despair could be altered through countless means. Death was always the worst possible choice. And beyond that—it wasn't as though that girl had been determined to end her own life. It was Zhao Feng who had killed her. Zhao Feng who had stolen away her ability to keep breathing.
"Of course."
"Whether it comes down to knowledge, capability, or the contributions I make to this nation—I surpass her in every regard. When a more direct path exists, why waste time coaxing a child?"
"In this era, the thing least of all that can be afforded to waste is time."
"Rather than spend that time nurturing someone whose mind hasn't matured—someone easily distracted by pleasure and play—it's far better for me to inherit her ability directly."
"I, and I alone, am capable of making full use of a First Sequence talent."
Zhao Feng spoke with an even, unhurried tone. He saw no flaw whatsoever in what he had done.
"You've likely already guessed that my ability is connected to plunder and consumption. And that is, in fact, exactly the case."
"But my ability has its limits. I cannot plunder without restriction. Because of that, every single act of plunder is extraordinarily precious to me."
"A First Sequence talent was the optimal choice."
"I have never once considered revealing this ability to the nation, because the nation could never possibly sanction what I do."
"And no First Sequence holder would ever willingly allow themselves to be plundered."
"The only one I can rely on is myself."
His fist surged with force, and Luo Yang was blown flying. Zhao Feng continued, his voice carrying across the open sky:
"Someone like me—someone who possesses the ability to plunder—is destined to be feared by every ability user in existence. I will be resented and rejected by all of them."
"Because in this era, no one is willing to lose their own ability."
"Especially those with decent talent."
"I can understand their feelings. Because now that I have gained such formidable power, I can no longer bear to look back on the weak version of myself that once existed. It's difficult to even imagine how desperate I would feel if I were reduced to an ordinary person again."
(End of Chapter)