Marco.

  A senior at Cupkel City High School. Because he had repeated a grade, he was nineteen years old. He was somewhat short in stature and looked quite frail and thin.

  It was for this reason that he was targeted by local thugs outside the school, who frequently extorted money from him. Long-term bullying had made his personality increasingly timid and self-deprecating.

  He essentially had no friends.

  All of this underwent a tectonic shift starting from a certain day.

  The story begins with Marco picking up a blue gemstone. Unquestionably, the gemstone he found was the Tear of the Nation; destiny had chosen him. It was as if the treasure possessed a consciousness of its own, actively entering Marco’s line of sight through a series of coincidences and finding its way into his hands.

  On a gloomy, rainy day.

  The moment Marco noticed the blue diamond and picked it up, a fierce deep blue light suddenly erupted. He had received the Tear of the Nation’s recognition.

  Naturally, he also obtained the power of the Tear of the Nation.

  The trajectory of Marco's life gained new direction and possibilities from that instant. He realized one thing: he was special. He was unique. He was no longer an ordinary person to be bullied at will.

  Bang!

  A thug flew out of an alleyway, his body slamming clumsily into several trash cans. Immediately after, a series of screams echoed from within the alley.

  "Aaah!!"

  "We're sorry! We won't do it again!"

  "My bones... I think they’re broken! Someone call an ambulance!"

  Inside the alley.

  A group of thugs had been beaten until their faces were swollen and tears streamed down their cheeks. The trendy, flashy hair colors and ear piercings they wore to look "tougher" were useless now.

  Marco’s frail frame was clad in a black casual jacket. With his long-accumulated rage finally finding an outlet, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

  However, the expression beneath his hood remained grim and somber.

  "Don't... don't come any closer!"

  One thug shrank back into the corner of the alley in terror, his face pale with fright. Watching the others groaning and wailing around him, his entire body shook uncontrollably.

  "Now you know what it feels like to be bullied? The feeling of fists landing on your body is quite painful, isn't it? You seemed to enjoy it before; why is it that when it's your turn to be beaten, you're such a pathetic sight?"

  While speaking, Marco reached out and ripped the earring directly from the thug’s earlobe.

  "Aaah!!" The thug clutched his ear, rolling on the ground in agony.

  Marco looked at the blood-stained earring in his hand, a look of disgust crossing his face.

  "Tch. Disgusting." He tossed it aside carelessly.

  Blue gemstones originally symbolized destiny. The Tear of the Nation was far more powerful than ordinary treasures. After receiving its recognition, Marco had gained the ability to see fragments of destiny.

  Specifically, Marco could see all possibilities within the next three seconds. Furthermore, within those three seconds, his thought process was accelerated, and his physical body became indestructible.

  Indestructible in the truest sense of the word. Within those three seconds, he was practically invincible.

  Of course, this ability was not without flaws. Corresponding to the three seconds of foresight, the ability would then enter a three-second cooldown period, during which the power could not be used.

  In the span of three days, Marco had cleaned up the thugs on several nearby streets. His personality gradually became confident during this process—perhaps even a bit overconfident. He was currently so immersed in violence that he found it hard to pull himself out.

  Fortunately, he had not yet fallen into the abyss of darkness. His morality was still acting as a restraint.

  ...

  In the park.

  "Aaargh!" Screams followed one after another. Marco was teaching a lesson to a certain gang of thugs.

  "Found him!"

  Two people arrived at the park entrance. One of them had a back as solid as a mobile iron tower; Chuck was as muscular as a bear, radiating an intense sense of pressure.

  He asked Mei: "What was that kid’s name again?"

  "Marco," Mei reminded him. "Be careful of his ability."

  "Don't worry. I'm invincible."

  With that, Chuck walked toward the source of the screams.

  Amidst a dull thud, a blond-haired thug fell to the ground, rolling to someone’s feet. Looking around at the ground littered with moaning thugs, Marco raised his eyes.

  A powerfully built young man with broad shoulders entered his field of vision. Pressure—an incredibly intense sense of pressure. Marco’s eyes showed a hint of surprise; his brow furrowed involuntarily.

  Chuck looked down at the thug at his feet and kicked him aside, eliciting another pig-like squeal of pain. He scrutinized Marco.

  Then he spoke: "It seems this, too, is an arrangement of destiny. Since the Tear of the Nation has recognized you, I will no longer interfere with its choice. However, you should come with me."

  Marco was fundamentally a good person, but if he continued down this path unchecked, he would lose himself to his power. Chuck believed it was necessary for him to properly mentor this youth.

  "Huh? Who do you think you are?" Marco’s face showed disdain.

  "Seems like this brat is in need of a lesson from a fist."

  "I dare you to try."

  The air crackled with hostility.

  Chuck stood tall, his presence overwhelming, his Armored Chariot power coiled and ready to strike. In Marco’s eyes, however, a vision flickered—he saw the exact speed and power Chuck would deploy two seconds into the future.

  Marco knew instantly. This man was just like him, a special existence.

  But his own power was second to none. Marco’s aura didn't yield an inch to Chuck’s.

  Suddenly, Marco saw another future.

  An ordinary-looking girl walked up from the side. Simultaneously, clones of that same girl appeared from every direction.

  Possibilities! Countless, infinite possibilities!!!

  Marco’s pupils shrank.

  He had never seen a person possess such a terrifying number of simultaneous possibilities; it was as if she held infinity within her. It was impossible to accurately predict her next move.

  Compared to this girl, Chuck’s three-second future was a singular, glaringly obvious result: he would simply charge forward and throw a punch.

  In those endless variations, Marco saw the girl give him a faint smile before her fist shattered the earth, instantly terminating that predictive vision. In another possibility, she merely glanced at him, and his entire body exploded into a mist of blood, ending that vision as well.

  In those brief three seconds, Marco saw countless versions of his own death and countless ways this world could be destroyed. This person's power was beyond comprehension!

  Before her, everyone was an ant. The strength he took pride in was utterly meaningless in her presence.

  "Huff!"

  Marco snapped back to reality, taking a deep breath. The three seconds had passed, and his ability entered its cooldown. Chuck hadn't moved yet, and neither had he.

  Crunch, crunch.

  The sound of footsteps.

  Marco’s face went pale instantly. He turned his head and saw the "ordinary" girl from his vision. In that moment, he looked horrified.

  It felt as though time itself had frozen. Every step she took radiated an infinite pressure that hammered directly at Marco’s heart and brain.

  Thump-thump!

  Marco’s heart gave a violent jolt.

  "Aaah!!!"

  Finally, Marco couldn't take it anymore. He stumbled back two steps and let out a terrified shriek, fleeing the scene in the most pathetic, fear-stricken manner imaginable—a far cry from the confidence he had shown Chuck.

  The more one knows, the more one understands their own insignificance. Especially when he was still just a kid.

  Chuck said confidently, "It seems my presence is even more oppressive than before."

  Mei expressed her agreement.

  "It is indeed a bit stronger."

  ...

  "Huff! Huff! Huff!"

  Amidst ragged, frantic gasps, the terrified Marco ran headlong, fleeing blindly. He wanted only to escape that person as quickly as possible.

  So, such a terrifying powerhouse existed in this world?

  The visions of the future he had glimpsed earlier kept flashing through his mind—endless ways to die, the world being destroyed over and over again. Power like that could truly be called divine.

  Marco was at a loss. His mind was a blank; he couldn't even process a coherent thought. He ran with all his might until he reached the underpass of a bridge, where he curled into a ball, trembling.

  Like an ostrich, he thought that if he buried his head, others wouldn't see him.

  It was destined to be futile.

  Soon, the sound of footsteps approached.

  Marco’s body gave a violent shudder. Looking up, he saw Mei and Chuck approaching. In a panic, he turned to continue his flight.

  "No! Don't come any closer!!"

  Bang!

  In the confusion, Chuck flickered forward and landed a heavy punch directly into Marco’s abdomen. Marco’s eyes bulged, his mouth fell open, and his face contorted in extreme pain. He slumped to the ground, unable to recover for a long while.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "I don't have the patience to waste words with you. This is the most effective way. So, can you calm down now?"

  "Huff—"

  The silent pain hammered at his brain. After a long while, Marco finally felt a bit better. He took a deep breath, clutching his stomach as he stood up.

  However, seeing Mei standing right there, he couldn't help but retreat a few steps. Instinctively increasing the distance between them gave him a small, fleeting sense of security.

  His gaze met Mei’s for a fraction of a second before he jerked his eyes away. He looked at Chuck, his expression wary.

  "What... what exactly do you want?"

  "This is the first lesson I’m giving you."

  As he spoke, Chuck opened his hand. The Tear of the Nation had somehow found its way into his palm. Without a hint of greed, he tossed it back to Marco.

  "Never carry the treasure that is the source of your power on your person. While the ability granted by a treasure is difficult for others to steal, if the treasure is taken and recognizes someone else, your power will be revoked. Find the safest place you can think of and hide it. Let no one know where it is."

  Catching the Tear of the Nation, Chuck’s action instantly earned him a degree of Marco’s trust. At the very least, they weren't here to steal the diamond.

  Chuck spoke again: "As I said before, I will not interfere with the choice the Tear of the Nation made. But you are coming with us. You have no room to refuse."

  There was technically a choice, but the price was for Marco to abandon the gem's power and return to a normal life. However, having tasted the flavor of power, Marco was unwilling to make such a choice.

  He asked: "And the reason?"

  Chuck replied: "This is the choice of destiny. Whether it's the Tear of the Nation's recognition or our meeting, every result guides you and me toward fulfilling a certain mission."

  Marco didn't understand. "What mission?"

  Chuck turned slightly and, with a gesture Marco found completely incomprehensible, pointed toward Mei.

  "Her safety is tied to the survival of the world. We must exert all our strength to protect her life until destiny provides new instructions."

  "Huh? What did you say?" Marco was stunned.

  He looked at Mei, then back at Chuck, his face filled with total disbelief. He pointed a finger at himself and then at Chuck: "The two of us? Protecting her?"

  "Yes."

  "......"

  Marco’s expression turned bizarre. He wondered if Chuck’s brain had short-circuited, so he asked again to be sure: "Are you certain she needs our protection?"

  "Mei is just an ordinary person. She isn't like us; she hasn't been chosen by any treasure yet. She’s exactly like you used to be—completely incapable of defending herself."

  "???"

  Marco couldn't hold back anymore. He pointed at Mei and yelled at Chuck, "Incapable of defending herself? She could blow up the entire world on her own! Do you hear me?"

  What did incapable even mean here? He had never seen anyone as powerful as Mei. Compared to her, they were just ants on the ground. She could wipe them out with a single glance.

  Protect her? What a pathetic joke!

  It was clear this big oaf had no clue how strong she really was.

  But Chuck didn't listen to a word. The giant man spoke with absolute confidence: "What are you talking about? This is the destiny that was arranged for us. It can never be wrong."

  This guy... there was definitely something broken in his head.

  Marco was speechless. He wanted to know where Chuck’s ego came from, making his judgment so stiff and impossible to change.

  "What about her opinion?" Marco looked at Mei with a flicker of fear.

  Mei acted sweet and kind. "I don't mind having one more person to protect me."

  As a spectator, she was enjoying the show and didn't mind being the center of this storm.

  With no other choice, Marco had no room to say no.

  "Sigh." He let out a deep breath, feeling sick with worry about his future.

  ...

  On the street.

  Cars zoomed past with the loud blaring of horns.

  Arthur, looking like an elderly gentleman with a cane, spoke: "I have lost most of my power and memories. I still don't know why. The only thing I know is that one person is extremely dangerous, and their existence threatens this world."

  After failing to stop Mei, Arthur had been badly injured. When he woke up in the universe, he only knew that Mei was a high-risk target.

  But exactly how strong was she?

  He didn't know.

  Driven to kill all unstable things in the universe, he had found Clarence—a man loved by destiny.

  The perfect candidate.

  Clarence tried to remember the girl from the museum. No matter how he looked at it, she seemed like a normal human, as average as anyone else.

  "Whether she is a threat to the world has nothing to do with her own strength. Maybe she is powerful, or maybe she is just a normal person. You will have to investigate that yourself."

  Clarence asked Arthur: "Why don't you do it?"

  "My power is too weak now, while you still have room to grow. I will give all my remaining strength to you. You only need to do one thing."

  "Kill this unstable factor?"

  "Exactly."

  "Deal."

  Clarence had no reason to say no. He already hated Chuck; the girl was just a bonus. As he spoke, a car drove by, blocking Arthur from view.

  When it passed, Arthur had already vanished.

  Clarence felt that destiny was truly strange. He was a criminal wanted by many nations and a thief, yet he was going to be a savior.

  He couldn't help but laugh.

  "This world is really too much fun."

  ...

  On the school sports field.

  Clack!

  The baseball soared high into the air. The batter had hit a beautiful home run.

  Marco continued attending school as usual. Standing at the edge of the field, he asked Mei: "Your power is so great, calling you a god wouldn't even be an exaggeration, would it?"

  “......”

  Mei did not answer. She neither confirmed nor denied it.

  When she was in a good mood, she would speak a few words to people. Although at her level there was no real reason to lie to Marco, that didn't mean she felt any need to explain anything to him.

  The universe is under no obligation to make you understand it. That was roughly the sentiment.

  Marco truly couldn't fathom it. "What is your goal? Or do you just find this interesting?"

  He asked several questions in succession. After a while, Marco ceased his pointless behavior; Mei treated him as if he didn't exist. It wasn't until the baseball game concluded and a winner was determined that she finally spoke up.

  "I am a traveler."

  In all honesty, the treasures of this universe held little value to her. They couldn't be brought back to Hyperdimensional Space, nor could they be exchanged for Tokens in the faith marker marketplace. Their real value was limited.

  Having just obtained a batch of faith markers from the Star Spirit King’s trials, Mei had no intention of doing any heavy lifting here. Her arrival in this universe was purely accidental. This was merely a leisurely and pleasant vacation.

  "A traveler?" Marco tried to grasp the meaning of the word.

  "It's time to go."

  As Mei’s words fell, a loud, chaotic noise filled the sky. A shadow descended from above, and the wind pressure from the rotors made Marco struggle to keep his footing. The students on the field looked up in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.

  "A helicopter?"

  "What’s going on!"

  Chuck’s head poked out from the helicopter. He shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice mixing with the roar of the rotors, as he dropped a rope ladder down.

  "Get on! We're leaving!"

  Marco boarded the helicopter in a daze. He asked Chuck, "Where are you taking me?"

  "Sidra."

  "Sidra?!!" Marco gaped at him. "That’s outside the country!"

  "Is there a problem?"

  "A huge problem!" Marco said hurriedly. "I still have to go to school!"

  Mei looked perfectly relaxed, appearing like a tourist no matter where she was. No one was more at ease than her. She casually handed Marco a pair of binoculars. Marco was confused.

  Mei reminded him, "Look outside the school."

  Marco raised the binoculars and saw a ring of special agents surrounding the school. At this moment, they could only look up at the sky and watch helplessly.

  Chuck didn't care. "You'll get used to it; it's quite normal."

  After all, while he called himself the Child of Destiny and traveled the world protecting treasures, in the eyes of world governments, he wasn't much different from Clarence. He was an extremely dangerous individual. His actions were entirely self-initiated, and governments did not approve.

  In short, both he and Clarence were disruptors of conventional social order.

  Marco was in despair. "Does this mean I can't go back to a normal life?"

  Chuck replied, "The moment you picked up the Tear of the Nation, your life ceased to be conventional. This is a cause for celebration; it was your choice."

  Whoosh—

  The helicopter soared through the sky. Mei leaned against the side of the cabin, whistling a melodious tune. Beside her, Marco held his head in his hands, his face a mask of despair, having lost all hope for his future life.

  "Ah... I don't want to leave the country!!!"

  ...

  Click!

  In a dim meeting room, a middle-aged man in a black suit showed slides to the people present. The room contained high-ranking government officials as well as certain specialized professionals.

  On the screen, photos of Chuck, Clarence, and their associates appeared in succession.

  The man in the suit began his introduction: "This man is Chuck, and this is Clarence. These two are the primary figures in the recent museum incident."

  Then, photos showing the severe damage to the museum were displayed, along with very clear surveillance footage capturing many combat sequences.

  "As you can see, both of them are special individuals possessing powers that transcend logic. Piercing through walls is effortless for them. Based on the intensity shown in the footage, we can confirm that conventional firearms cannot inflict fatal wounds; ordinary bullets cannot pierce their bodies."

  The images switched again.

  "It can be confirmed that their power stems from certain special artifacts or gems—for instance, the recently missing Tear of the Nation. This is exactly why the Tear of the Nation became their target."

  "According to specialists, as long as one receives the recognition of a specific special treasure, one can obtain this power that transcends logic. As for how that recognition is achieved, it remains currently unknown."

  "Just know that these individuals are extremely dangerous!"

  The briefing concluded, and the lights in the meeting room were turned on.

  Seated at the table was a tall, slender woman with graceful curves. Her short black hair brushed her shoulders, and beneath her wheat-colored skin, muscles were subtly visible. Her mature face radiated a charisma that was both alluring and tough.

  Samantha. A highly experienced freelance mercenary.

  She smiled at the lingering slide images, her expression showing genuine interest: "I see. To think such fascinating things exist in this world. What do you want me to do? Eliminate them?"

  "That is not the primary goal," the man in the suit said. "What we want are the special treasures in their possession—the Tear of the Nation, as well as the treasures that granted them this power."

  Samantha was indifferent. "As long as the money is right, anything is negotiable. I just don't understand—doesn't your country have people like them? Wouldn't it be easier to have like-minded individuals deal with their own kind?"

  "......"

  Silence said everything. Samantha understood.

  "So, essentially, you don't have any 'dogs' like them in your hands."

  "That is not for you to say. You take the money, then complete the job. They travel across nations with no fixed residence; official personnel cannot act freely in foreign countries, but you have no such constraints."

  "Of course, no problem."

  Freelance mercenaries were essentially illegal criminals, yet they were professional soldiers; even if something went wrong, there would be no direct link back to the government. To avoid international disputes, this was a common tactic. They had worked with Samantha many times before.

  Click.

  The projector automatically displayed the next slide—it was a photo of Mei.

  Samantha glanced at it and asked the man in the suit, "Who is this?"

  "We currently have no data on this individual. Like Chuck, she is likely a foreign national who entered the country illegally. She appears to be an ordinary person; at the very least, she showed no combat ability in the museum and was even threatened at gunpoint by Clarence's companion. Perhaps you can use her as a point of breakthrough."