Heroes Return

"Don't worry, I'm just dealing with some megalomaniacs." Lin Jie patted Xiao Zhan on the shoulder. "I don't like excessive scheming. For me, it's easier to just eliminate the known troubles."

"..." Upon hearing Lin Jie's words, Xiao Zhan fell silent: "Alright, then I'll leave the matter of dealing with the Truth Council to you. I'll contact Glasses, and if there's any trouble, have him come to your aid."

"Oh." Lin Jie simply gave a casual reply upon hearing their words.

Lin Jie had no interest in listening to the reasons or justifications of the Truth Council members. His reason for wanting to eliminate them was simple: their actions would disrupt his current life and potentially affect the early stages of the game he was eagerly anticipating release. After all, who would be working on a game in an office during a major disaster?

Therefore, Lin Jie must eliminate them before that can happen.

What clash of truths? What exchange of beliefs? Sorry, Lin Jie has already passed that adolescent phase. He's not interested in anyone's beliefs or the ideologies they spout. Because Lin Jie has his own direct standards for distinguishing right from wrong.

However, just as Lin Jie was about to leave the room, Thirteen suddenly sat up in bed.

After dealing with the Force Master, Thirteen collapsed onto Xiao Zhan's bed, exhausted, and fell asleep. After several unsuccessful attempts to wake him, Xiao Zhan didn't wait for him and immediately began interrogating the Force Master.

However, as their conversation ended, Thirteen suddenly stood up. Not only that, but his gaze seemed to linger on something for a long time.

"What's wrong with you?" Both Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan couldn't help but show puzzled expressions when they saw Thirteen's gaze.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about some old things." Thirteen sighed helplessly.

"You've remembered some ancient things? By the way, didn't you grow up in an orphanage? You've only just turned twenty, right? What ancient things?" Lin Jie asked Thirteen with some doubt.

"Never mind, I shouldn't talk to you about these things. I have some things to attend to and I'd like to take my leave first." At this moment, Thirteen gave Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan an elegant smile and then walked outside.

Just as Thirteen turned around, a strange cross symbol flashed in his eyes, and a bitter smile crept into Thirteen's expression.

Watching Thirteen leave, Xiao Zhan couldn't help but nudge Lin Jie: "This guy won't be like the guy with glasses last time, will he? Is he being controlled by something? Remember that mysterious symbol I mentioned before? That thing must have had some effect on Thirteen."

"Possibly." Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Lin Jie couldn't help but nod. In his previous perception, although Thirteen was still Thirteen, his temperament had undergone a tremendous change.

“In that case, I’ll bring him back to you first. Anyway, don’t let him leave the building.” Lin Jie rubbed his forehead with a carefree expression. “Lately, I don’t know why, but I feel like there are more and more things happening. And they’re all troublesome things. Speaking of which, you seem to have a lot of advanced technology. I’ll hand him over to you after I bring him back.”

“Leave it to me. Because of its unique characteristics, the comical technique seems capable of accomplishing many unexpected things.” Xiao Zhan also spoke to Lin Jie, “After hearing the information from the Force Master, I think I also need to make some preparations. After all, this time it seems there’s big trouble ahead. By the way, I will pass this information on to the Hero Association.”

"This is your own business, you don't need to ask me, right?" Lin Jie said casually, and then walked outside. In the end, Lin Jie stopped Thirteen in the lobby on the first floor.

"So you guys found out after all!" Seeing Lin Jie blocking his way, Thirteen couldn't help but sigh: "I'm really not good at acting and pretending to be stupid."

"Hey, who exactly are you? Why are you controlling Thirteen?" Seeing Thirteen's expression as if he already knew, Lin Jie asked without hesitation.

"I'm not being controlled. I am just Thirteen." Thirteen said to Lin Jie, "Forget it, these things are a waste of time. But one thing I'm sure of is that I am indeed Thirteen."

"Hey! The Thirteen I know doesn't have your kind of weathered and melancholic air."

“If you could recall a thousand years of memories in one go, you would probably feel the same way.” Thirteen sighed helplessly: “The symbol that Xiao Zhan asked about just now was actually a hint given to the Force Master by that person, and this hint is what made me recall it.”

"Recall? What exactly did you recall? The descent of the gods?" Lin Jie asked Thirteen in confusion.

Do you really think this is just a simple matter of the gods descending?

"Hey, is it really that simple for you to use such an awesome phrase as 'the descent of the gods'?" Lin Jie asked Thirteen with some doubt.

"You'll find out when the time comes." Thirteen gave a helpless bitter smile. "But I'm sorry, I have to leave now. I have some missions to complete."

"Mission? What mission? Would you mind telling me?" Lin Jie was puzzled upon hearing Thirteen's words.

"Forget it, talking to someone like you will only make things more complicated," Thirteen said calmly. "But let me remind you anyway. Give up on being a hero this time. No matter how strong you are, you'll eventually face an unsolvable situation. No amount of effort will help, so I suggest you focus on protecting the people who are important to you. No matter how strong you are, you can't protect everyone in the world."

"Hey, are you suddenly playing a guessing game with me? And do you think I'd let you go?" Lin Jie couldn't help but say, "If it's your right arm, I'll consider having Xiao Zhan give you an injection too."

"Sorry, I've never liked getting shots since I was little." Hearing Lin Jie's words, Thirteen shrugged: "Can you let me go? I really have some missions to complete."

"Aren't we companions?"

"Huh? We've always been companions."

“If you’re a fellow traveler, then tell us. Since you’re not planning to hide anything from us about what you’ve been thinking, then just tell us everything.” Lin Jie said to Thirteen again, “I don’t like playing guessing games.”

"I'm sorry, but precisely because you're comrades, I can't tell you this. Remember my previous advice: protect your loved ones. Don't try to protect everyone; that's impossible. Even if you're Zero!"

"Hey! I don't remember telling you who I am."

“I just found out myself,” Thirteen said calmly. “I also know that you seem to be searching for the power of miracles in order to use it to resurrect a woman, or rather, a female demon. I really do know about the relationship between Xiaoxi and Solomon.”

"Hey! Did you wake up and suddenly become a Western journalist?" Hearing the other person's words, Lin Jie's face showed a puzzled expression: "And the kind of super awesome journalist?"

"I don't know. I woke up and it seems like I know everything I want to know. I can even recite the latest antimatter research formula now." Thirteen shrugged again: "It's not just about you. Now I can know a lot of things just by thinking back."

"...Who exactly are you?" Lin Jie finally asked after hearing Thirteen's words.

“Me? I am Thirteen, I was in the past and I will be in the future.” Hearing Lin Jie’s words, Thirteen couldn’t help but sigh: “I have been searching for the answer to my unlucky constitution, but I never thought that the real answer to my unlucky constitution is actually within myself. How ridiculous.”

"Alright, enough with the small talk. Are you really not going to explain things?"

"Then let's do it." Thirteen stood calmly in front of Lin Jie.

The next second, Lin Jie's hand reached for Thirteen, but when he looked at his hand again, he was surprised to find that he had only grabbed a pillar. Almost simultaneously, Thirteen also ran out of Xiao Zhan's building.

However, Lin Jie was unconcerned about this situation. As his divine sense expanded once again, Lin Jie locked onto Thirteen's direction. But the moment Lin Jie locked onto Thirteen, Thirteen actually noticed Lin Jie's lock and grabbed onto a nearby street lamp.

At that moment, all the streetlights on the highway transformed into living monsters and began attacking the people around them. Almost simultaneously, Thirteen touched the mobile building again, and the entire building instantly came to life.

"Thirteen! You shouldn't have summoned monsters to attack ordinary people!" Seeing Thirteen's actions and his sudden burst of power, Lin Jie became even more certain that he absolutely could not let Thirteen escape this time.

But just as Lin Jie swiftly dispatched the monsters, ensuring that the ordinary people were unharmed, Thirteen drew a circle on the ground, which then turned into a black hole, and he jumped right in.

The black hole had already disappeared by the time Lin Jie appeared.

……

On the other side of the Earth, Thirteen reappeared in the same spot.

“This feels so strange. I seem to know everything, and it seems I can do anything I can think of.” Thirteen looked at his hands in confusion. “But this is for the best. It’s time to go see Solomon.”

Chapter 28

“Alright, I think I should do something now. Maybe this power can help me do these things.” As he said this, Thirteen’s expression turned serious: “Solomon, it’s time to go find you.”

……

Meanwhile, in H City, Lin Jie said helplessly to Xiao Zhan, "Sorry, that guy Thirteen got away. I don't know what, but he even knows Glasses Brother's abilities."

"Holy crap? Thirteen has learned a spatial teleportation ability?" Xiao Zhan was also somewhat surprised when he heard Lin Jie's words.

"It seems to be more than just spatial teleportation, but how should I put it? It's still somewhat different." Lin Jie thought for a moment and said, "If I had to put it in perspective, it feels somewhat similar to divine power."

"Divine power?" Upon hearing Lin Jie's words, Xiao Zhan was taken aback: "Damn Lin Jie, do you even know what divine power represents?"

"Is there anything special about it? It just feels like magic, doesn't it?" Lin Jie asked, somewhat confused.

"For several years now, the power of gods has been one of the key research projects for scholars around the world who study power," Xiao Zhan said seriously to Lin Jie. "And almost every time these researchers publish major academic news, it results in astonishing achievements. However, the principles and causes of the formation of divine power have not yet been explained. Scientists have not yet obtained any basic structure of divine power."

"Basic structure?"

"That is, microscopic structure, such as the presence of certain ions to generate electrical energy, and nuclear energy through particle collisions, etc. But divine power cannot find the cause of these formations at all, and weapons enchanted with divine power seem to be perpetual motion machines, almost indefinitely obtaining energy! You should know that this has already broken one of the biggest physical understandings in the scientific community, namely the law of conservation of energy. In the face of divine power, the conservation of energy is not only not conserved, but even eternal. Do you know what this means? It means the emergence of endless energy! And what's even more terrifying is that divine power can completely transform and even become energy of any attribute! It doesn't even require any mechanical transformation."

"so what?"

"So? So divine power has been identified as a most special kind of energy, completely outside of known energies. Even magic can't compare to it. You said there's a feeling of divine power in Thirteen's power, which means Thirteen may have mastered some kind of divine power!" Xiao Zhan's expression changed as he said this: "Could it be because of that symbol from before? What exactly was that symbol? I think it's necessary to investigate the mythology."

"Investigating the mythology? I'll leave this to you. I need to go check on Kuror. I never imagined her necklace was such a crucial item. If that's the case, I think I understand why they wanted to capture Kuror." After saying this, Lin Jie jumped out of Xiao Zhan's window.

After confirming that Kuror's necklace was not the miracle power he was looking for, Lin Jie returned it to Kuror last time.

"..." Watching Lin Jie leave, Xiao Zhan sighed helplessly. Then he dialed his own phone.

"Young Master Xiao Zhan, I have arrived at the testing base in the building's basement, just as you have indicated your anger." Bu Feiwu's voice rang in Xiao Zhan's ears.

"It seems my preparations were somewhat effective. Notify everyone, it's time to activate the secret weapon underground." Xiao Zhan calmly said to Bu Feiwu, "A myth is descending? I'd like to see just what kind of myth is descending."

……

In this world, there are many special places, all of which share a common characteristic: they are special spaces inaccessible to ordinary people. For example, the Kunlun Immortal Mountain in the Kunlun Mountains, or the legendary Heavenly Realm.

There's a common misconception that the Three Realms refer to the realms of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. However, this isn't the case. Different celestial realms exist throughout the world, and each realm is ultimately not just a series of smaller worlds. The true Three Realms actually refer to the outer world, the inner world, and the anti-world. The anti-world is often described using terms like hell, the underworld, or subspace. The inner world is more like the mental world of sentient beings.

There are numerous small worlds on Earth, but many of these were destroyed long ago due to the cataclysmic end of time. However, there are some exceptions, one of which happens to be located in the sea somewhere in Zone C.

"Is this the sacred grounds of the Sword Hall?" Looking at the sea before him, Loki couldn't help but ask the person beside him. This person was none other than the blacksmith who had appeared with the Fire Giant King earlier.

"I've heard that Eastern weapons are very interesting, I'm just curious. After all, the Sword Hall should be the most warlike group, right? And their swords are the finest in the world, aren't they?" The man calmly said to Loki, "I'm very curious about their sword-forging techniques."

As the man spoke, his true face, hidden beneath the hood, was finally revealed. It was an extremely ugly face.

“Hephaestus, let me remind you first, I will no longer allow frost giants to be sacrificed,” Loki said, glancing at the man beside him.

"Don't worry, we've come with good intentions," Hephaestus said calmly. "Besides, do you think it's possible for the two of us to do anything to the Sword Hall?"

Hearing his words, Loki calmly replied, "I've only heard that the current leader of the Sword Hall seems to have some connection with Zero. I don't think we can win them over."

“But they are ultimately part of the mythology, and in essence, their very existence puts them on the same side as us,” Hephaestus said helplessly. “Besides, do you think I wanted to be a messenger? This wasn’t originally my job.”

"Unfortunately, the number of people who can show up right now is still too small."

"Alright! If you have time for this nonsense, why don't you knock on the door now!" Just as the two were speaking, an island beneath their feet suddenly spoke. This island was alive, and along with the island came to life, eventually transforming into a gigantic giant. However, unlike other monstrous stone giants, this stone giant possessed a terrifying level of detail. Its enormous body had a completely human form, and the moment it stood up in the sea, from a distance, it looked exactly like a normal person swimming in a river.

Upon hearing the giant's words, Loki and Hephaestus didn't waste any more words. Right before their eyes, a scene resembling ripples of water appeared. The next second, a tremendous change occurred before the three of them, and a series of enormous mountains floating in the vast sky appeared before them.

At the foot of the mountain, no one from the Sword Hall came out to greet them. However, there was a member of the Sword Hall standing opposite the three of them. The moment Loki and the others saw this person, their expressions changed.

Because this person was none other than Dao Qizhan. But what was truly terrifying was the cold aura emanating from Dao Qizhan. It wasn't just coldness; there was also an aura capable of destroying everything in the world constantly emanating from him. Clearly, the person before them was somewhat unable to control this aura, but Loki and the other two's expressions turned pale. The giant that had originally appeared also shrunk to the size of a normal human at this moment, becoming a handsome and refined man.

"You are Dao Qizhan of the Sword Hall, aren't you?" Upon seeing Dao Qizhan, Loki had only one thought: to leave immediately! The reason was simple: the aura emanating from Dao Qizhan was something that both humans and gods had sensed before, a power that had subtly emanated and had once caused tremendous changes in the world.

The Five Signs of Decay of Heaven and Man, the Great Calamity of the End Times!

The only feeling emanating from Dao Qizhan was this: the feeling of the impending catastrophe. It was as if standing with Dao Qizhan would destroy all mythical and wondrous things.

But that's not the most terrifying thing. What's even more terrifying is Dao Qizhan's will. Although the reason is unknown, Dao Qizhan doesn't seem to have completely controlled his will.

The feeling he exuded was clearly that he wanted to destroy not only the end of the Dharma calamity itself, but also the very meaning of destruction! The will to destroy heaven and earth and annihilate the Dao echoed continuously in the space, and even the three beings who faced the will of Dao Qizhan, even those who were beings from myths and legends, still showed changes in their expressions.

At this moment, even the most ferocious demon on Dead Street seemed as harmless as a baby compared to Dao Qizhan.

"We did not come here to fight; we came with goodwill. Great Lord of the Sword Hall," Loki finally spoke first, his tone unconsciously imbued with respect. No one could have imagined that in just a few short years, Dao Qizhan's power had undergone such a dramatic transformation.

"I already know about your arrival." Without listening to Loki's next words, Dao Qizhan calmly said, "My Sword Hall will not participate in this descent. Human affairs should be left to human people to manage; they have nothing to do with my Sword Hall."

"Wait a minute, doesn't your Sword Hall plan to take this opportunity to descend upon the Divine Continent again? I know that in the East, it seems only the Sword Hall remains, right? Are you really going to give up such a good opportunity to descend?" Loki spoke again, "Now that the cataclysm of the end times has passed, for you cultivators who rely on taking on disciples as your means of inheritance, isn't it right to descend upon the mortal realm again?"

"I've already said I won't get involved, get out!" Upon hearing Loki's words, Dao Qizhan's tone turned icy: "Get out, or fight!"

"Do you know what you're saying? We are messengers of the gods!" The original giant, now the size of a normal human, was finally enraged by Dao Qizhan's words.