NOVPUBThe appearance of the monster today indeed made Kevin and the others feel that humanity was facing a threat, but they had never imagined it would be so severe.
Their gaze was fixed on Martin, waiting for him to continue.
"That monster was not an alien life form, but a Supernatural Monster from an Alternate World.
And due to the cyclical changes of our world, such monsters have invaded our world more than once throughout history."
Kevin and the others were visibly shocked. Today’s events had continuously challenged their understanding. Monsters like that had invaded Earth in history?
Facing the monster, even modern military forces struggled so much. How did ancient societies with their military capabilities manage to withstand such invasions?
Their thoughts then turned to the mysterious man before them. Could it be...?
"In history, humanity went through an incredibly difficult time.
Without superpowers, without scientific weapons, they were at the mercy of the Alternate World’s monsters," Martin narrated slowly, his mental images seeping into their minds.
It was a tragic song of humanity.
Each time the dimensions intersected, invading monsters from the Alternate World would treat humans as their prey.
Humans could only hide and scurry like rats in the sewers, barely surviving until the intersection ended and the monsters disappeared, allowing them to continue their existence.
Kevin and the others felt their hearts tighten. They could actually see those harrowing, desperate images.
Young boys and girls became delicacies. Unborn babies were torn from their mothers’ wombs and savored by the monsters as exquisite snacks. Bloodshed and darkness...
"Later, human pioneers learned from these monsters, trying generation after generation, with many dying tragically due to backlash or loss of control," Martin continued.
Superpowers were not dead objects to be trifled with. Reckless contact followed by loss of control could lead to a fate worse than death.
Some were even eroded and transformed into monsters themselves.
In the vision, a man was slowly mutating, tears streaming down his face. "Kill me!" he screamed. "Do it while I still have my consciousness.
I don’t want to become a monster and devour my own kind! Please, kill me..."
A man nearby, teeth clenched, thrust a knife into the mutating man’s heart. Watching his former companion smiling and crying as he took his last breath, the man let out a cry of despair and sorrow.
Amidst this intense narrative, Kevin clenched his fists tightly. Chelsea instinctively grabbed his arm, while Henry was already gritting his teeth in resolve.
Martin’s story continued: "As the predecessors fell, the successors continued; as they fell, the next ones took up the mantle.
They stubbornly walked through the vast darkness, stubbornly sought hope on a path where none seemed to exist.
When their bones broke, they bound them; when their torches went out, they lit them again."
The atmosphere was heavy with a sense of foreboding as Martin continued his narrative. The intensity of his words captivated Kevin, Chelsea, and Henry, drawing them into the stark reality he painted.
"Finally — humanity’s first superhuman was born!" The trio saw a faint but resolute flame of red, steadfast in the darkness.
A silent, profound emotion swelled within them. More and more flames ignited, symbolizing the rise of the first generation of extraordinary human beings, who traversed monster-infested lands to unite.
"We come together not to abandon our families, not to seek utopia, nor to desire a superior life," the voices of the pioneers echoed mightily. "We come together for a belief — to unite!"
Their words crescendoed, lifting the spirits of Kevin, Chelsea, and Henry to an all-time high, their blood boiling with a magma-like fervor.
They felt an overwhelming urge to join this grand and somber struggle.
"Together, to protect our families; together, to continue our lineage; together, to change the tragic fate of humanity!"
A great organization was born, its members vowing to fight against each monster invasion, generation after generation.
The tragic imagery of lone warriors battling against monstrous adversaries in scenes painted with blood and fire evoked a palpable despair.
The last standing knight charging into the flames only to be engulfed symbolized the ultimate sacrifice.
"If there’s an abyss on humanity’s path forward, we’ll fill it with our bones; if there’s a desert, we’ll water it with our blood," Martin’s voice intensified.
"This is Divine Shield — humanity’s greatest defiance against the darkness!"
Standing up, Martin’s hands revealed the emblem of Divine Shield, radiating a crimson glow representing both flame and blood.
In the dimness, the glow illuminated the trio’s faces, mirroring their tumultuous emotions.
"Superpowers are destined to be held by a few due to innate aptitudes," Martin explained. "To minimize our impact on society in times of peace, we live as ordinary people, hidden among the masses.
But now, the calm has been shattered. A new intersection of dimensions is imminent, and you have already seen the vanguard of the monsters from the Alternate World."
His gaze solemn on the trio, he continued solemnly, "During my journey here, I’ve been observing this place in a special way. Your bravery and kindness are commendable."
Their heartbeats accelerated, sensing that their lives were veering towards an unimaginable direction.
"Kevin, Henry, Chelsea," Martin called their names, his eyes ablaze with a passionate light. "Are you willing to join Divine Shield and fight for the protection of humanity?"
Kevin clenched his teeth, his facial muscles trembling slightly. Suppressing the turmoil within him, he spoke in a deep voice, "I am already a man seeking redemption.
Being able to contribute to the protection of humanity..." He stood up, his chest heaving like a bellows. His body quivered, not out of fear, but out of sheer excitement.
His reply, bursting forth from the depths of his soul, hammered through his boiling blood and finally erupted from his throat with a forceful shout: "I am willing!"
The other two, unable to contain their excitement, stood up instinctively. Mimicking Kevin’s action, they pounded their chests and exclaimed loudly, "I am willing!"
In Martin’s perception, their spirits at this moment were at their zenith, solidifying to their utmost. Providing them with the seed of spirit power now would ensure a quicker integration and growth in the future.
Martin nodded, "Welcome to Divine Shield. Now, I will give you the Seed of Magic, which will awaken your superpowers."
The so-called Seed of Magic, essentially the seed of spirit power, was adapted in translation due to cultural differences between the East and the West.
As he spoke, three tiny, luminous orbs, the size of fireflies and pure white in color, slowly emerged in his hand. They circled above his palm before floating towards Kevin, Henry, and Chelsea.
"Grasp it," Martin instructed.
After a brief exchange of determined looks, they reached out and caught the light orbs in front of them. Upon contact, a wave of invisible force swept out like a gust of wind.
Their hair fluttered, and in the ruins around them, tables, chairs, and cups shifted slightly, while scraps of paper and curtains fluttered wildly.
Immediately afterward, three distinctly different auras burst forth. Spirit power, a miraculous force emerging from the unity of body and soul, varied according to the individual’s inner nature.
Martin’s aura was vast, mysterious, and majestic. Anna’s was calm and upright, barely manifesting any aura upon her awakening.
Kevin’s was solid and firm, like the silent Earth; Henry’s was covert and sharp, like a thunderclap in silence; Chelsea’s was gentle and healing, like a soft autumn breeze caressing the fields.
"With the Seed of Magic, you are now Neophyte Superhumans at Magic Level 0.
When you expand the Seed of Magic to its limit and give birth to your own ’specific abilities,’ you will become true superhumans, reaching Magic Level 1," Martin explained calmly.
As Martin’s voice faded, Kevin and his companions felt a profound transformation within themselves, as if they were no longer the people they used to be.
Is this what it feels like to be a neophyte superhuman? Their perception, strength, reflexes, and control seemed to have increased exponentially.
"Next, we need to discuss the aftermath," Martin said calmly, causing the expressions of the three to become serious.
They remembered the Eldorian army that was still surrounding them outside.
An otherworldly creature was already enough for them to desperately seek capture, and now with such a significant turn of events, those people would probably be even more eager.
If the Eldorian army knew that they had developed superpowers, then...
Kevin and Henry were lone wolves, so it didn’t matter much for them.
But for red-haired Chelsea, who still had parents and siblings in the Islands Republic of Veridion, the situation was different.
"Don’t worry," Martin assured them, understanding their concerns at the moment. "I’ve already set up a barrier. They can’t detect what happened here."
"And before the attack, I made sure that the survivors in the town were unconscious. No one will know you’ve been in contact with me, and no one will know that you’ve become superhumans."
Hearing this, the trio sighed in relief.
"You can be assured, we will keep the secret," Kevin said, nodding.
Martin smiled slightly and continued, "According to normal procedures, I should leave you in a state of unconsciousness like the others to clear you of any suspicion after I leave."
"But I hope you can play a bigger role, so I have two arrangements for you to choose from."
As Martin spoke, the three listened intently:
"First, I can arrange for you to appear to have witnessed more of the event than other people.
After this incident, Eldoria will undoubtedly establish a special department to deal with super events."
Without even using his Power of Wishing, Martin was certain this was Eldoria’s first experience with super events. Their handling of the situation had been far from adequate.
"Using this information as a starting point, you’re likely to be closely monitored by them and gradually assimilated."
"Once you’ve gained some trust, you can slowly ’develop’ superpowers. Although you can’t avoid various experiments and blood tests, your status will definitely rise sharply in the future."
Eldoria would soon realize that current weapons were not very effective against these creatures.
If such a creature appeared in a city, especially near Eldorian elites, how would they respond? Use heavy artillery?
Thus, the importance of superhumans would become evident. The elites, concerned for their own lives, would surely treat superhumans well, even revere them.
Martin explained all these things to Kevin, Henry, and Chelsea, who gradually began to understand.
After a moment of hesitation, Henry couldn’t help but ask, "May I ask... why do it this way?" It seemed to him somewhat like espionage.
...
