Martial artists can never be ultimately insulted.

Just as Yuan Chen's attention was drawn to the suddenly appearing magic circle, the ball of light detached from Yuan Chen's palm and then crashed into the magic circle with a whoosh.

Seeing this, Yuan Chen looked around twice, and then followed the ball of light into the magic circle.

Although I don't know exactly what happened, but...

Come here.

Reaching out, Yuan Chen lightly touched the magic circle, and its surface began to sway back and forth like jelly. Before Yuan Chen could react, the magic circle sucked him in completely.

With a dizzying flip, when Yuan Chen opened his eyes again, what came into view was a tiny girl with her eyes closed, seemingly fast asleep, but with a petite figure, pretty face, long silver hair, and wearing a headgear that resembled a Russian nesting doll x Monster Hunter Slowpoke.

Yuan Chen stared at it for a while.

I'm blanching, Ingrid.

Book 1: Chapter 18, Ingrid

Ingrid? Who is she?

Simply put, he's the pinnacle of power in Street Fighter... or rather, in the Capcom series.

Although she has been mistakenly referred to as the spiritual old lady from which all spiritual power originates, or the magical old lady from which magical girls originate, this is actually a translation error.

According to Nakayama Takayuki, based on the total alkalinity of Street Fighter V and VI, Ingrid's power originates from the Eternal Goddess Emblem or the [Natural Code].

For her, time is not a linear, one-way flow; she can also travel and interfere in different timelines and time nodes through dimensional reduction projection according to her own will, in order to prevent different timelines from collapsing due to imbalance of power.

In terms of its concept, is it somewhat similar to Marvel's Living Tribunal?

For this spiritual ancestor whose age cannot be calculated by common sense, Yuan Chen's current strength is really not enough.

Just as Yuan Chen recognized Ingrid and was considering whether he could slip away before she woke up,

On the other side, the ball of light that had returned before Yuan Chen also lost its radiance and turned into an adorable rag doll.

This purple monomorph can be seen as Ingrid's clone familiar, essentially a small life form formed by the aggregation of high-dimensional energy.

Now, the monolith stared at Yuan Chen, who had followed it home, for a while, and then made a series of "waaaaa" sounds, constantly bumping into Ingrid, whose eyes were closed.

Seemingly sensing something, Ingrid's eyelashes trembled slightly in her doll form.

Then, Ingrid opened her eyes, and after sensing for a moment, a look of surprise flashed in her crimson eyes. She then looked at Yuan Chen to the side.

"Oh my god, someone actually managed to cross the pure void and enter this dimensional gap..."

As she said this, Ingrid introduced herself:

"A higher-dimensional being, a mediator, an angel, a emblem holder—call her whatever you want, but she is none other than the legendary, mysterious, beautiful girl on a cosmic scale, Ingrid! Yohohoho!"

As she finished speaking, Ingrid let out a soft laugh, a sound typical of a centenarian loli.

But then, turning her gaze to Yuan Chen, who looked completely bewildered, she said with interest, "Speaking of which... big brother doesn't seem to be very strong~"

...Big brother?

The old woman is almost done.

Although I know I shouldn't even think about things in the face of an existence of that level, some things are just like that—the more you try not to think about them, the more you think about them, it's like an instinct...

Well, since I've already thought about it, let's just go for it.

Looking at Ingrid calling him "big brother" with such a cute and adorable expression, Yuan Chen also showed a gentle yet polite smile.

The old lady is so cute~

Just as Yuan Chen was thinking this, Ingrid's movements also stopped. Although she tried to cover it up, Yuan Chen could still clearly see the corners of her lips twitching.

"This... big brother seems to be thinking about something very rude."

As she said this, Ingrid stared at Yuan Chen for a while longer, then seemed to realize something. Her smile faltered, and she stroked her chin with a suspicious look, saying:

Hmm... why do I feel like this is the first time I've met you?

"Of course it's my first time here, it's my first time here too," Yuan Chen replied with a straight face.

Seeing Yuan Chen's tense face, Ingrid seemed to sense something and revealed a smile that said, "You're doing something naughty~".

"Even though this is my first time here, you seem to know me, big brother~ Come on, let me see where you're from~"

As she spoke, Ingrid pointed her finger at Yuan Chen from afar.

Then.

Nothing happened.

Yuan Chen remained silent, wondering what Ingrid was up to.

Looking at Yuan Chen, who remained unmoved, Ingrid's face showed deep surprise, her crimson eyes filled with astonishment, which then turned into curiosity.

"No past or future? Then how did you appear in the present? Or do you also possess the emblem?"

Heraldry, the source of Ingrid's power.

Although she was asking a question, Ingrid quickly shook her head: "No, I don't sense any of my kind on you... Hmm, so let me take a good look at where you came from!"

As she said this, Ingrid revealed a wicked smile, and then crossed her hands into a triangle in front of her eyes, transforming them into the rune of the All-Knowing Eye.

As a torrent of mental energy flashed by, Yuan Chen could feel a strange flow of information entering his mind from Ingrid's forehead, which made Yuan Chen subconsciously feel resistant.

Then, with a loud thud, Ingrid, who was floating in mid-air, felt as if she had been hit by something and was sent flying with a strange scream.

A moment later, Ingrid, somewhat angrily rubbing her forehead, came closer again:

"What?! They rejected me so easily? This must be another crest that hasn't awakened yet!"

As she said this, Ingrid pointed at Yuan Chen with a look of disgust and said, "You bad guy! You're clearly a member of the same race with the crest, yet you're secretly calling me an old woman!"

Yuan Chen was completely bewildered, having no idea what Ingrid was saying back and forth.

Seeing that Yuan Chen seemed genuinely unaware of what had happened, Ingrid blinked and then said:

"Are you really not one of my kind?"

“…I don’t know either.” Yuan Chen shrugged.

"You don't know?" Ingrid nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this, then asked, "Do you know me?"

“I know him.” Yuan Chen nodded, then added, “Uh… it’s like a natural impression.”

“Oh~” Ingrid responded while nodding thoughtfully, then said, “Who else do you know?”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen also fell into thought.

Ingrid was probably asking those who, like her, had mastered the emblem.

In the lore, Ingrid comes from an organization called CODE HOLDER. Besides Ingrid, there are two other known members in the organization, representing the Fallen Angel Emblem and the Thunder Goddess Emblem respectively.

Thinking it over, Yuan Chen tentatively asked, "ROOK (Luke) and...DD?"

“That’s right, it’s them.” Ingrid nodded, then stared at Yuan Chen for a moment before saying:

"Although it's still unclear whether you are my kin, you not only know about the other two, but you also refused my spying... Only a crest can refuse a crest, even one that hasn't been awakened yet."

Especially with your current level, you shouldn't even be able to detect the existence of the dimensional gap, let alone resist me here..."

"...So?" Yuan Chen asked tentatively.

"So—you really know nothing?" Ingrid trailed off, then looked up and sighed in utter despair.

"Tell the truth! Are you a new member or not? You have no idea how busy I've been lately. My mental energy has started to have problems in multiple timelines. I'm exhausted just dealing with all this! If you really are one of us, just admit it. I guarantee you'll be able to fully awaken very quickly if you follow your big sister!"

As she said this, Ingrid gave herself a thumbs-up, exclaiming, "A reliable adult woman is here!"

Sensing Ingrid's despair regarding her work, Yuan Chen hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat and saying:

"I'll tell you in the most straightforward, direct, frank, concise, and to-the-point way possible: I don't know."

"Eh..."

Seeing that Yuan Chen really didn't know anything, Ingrid tilted her head and showed a headache.

But then, she quickly regained her liveliness and looked at Yuan Chen with great interest, saying:

"Since that's the case, then let me see how you found me! Although the dimensional gaps I created weren't encrypted, they're not something ordinary people can sense."

With that, Ingrid opened her hands, and as a sun rune lit up, a torrent of information surged from her crimson eyes.

A moment later, a look of surprise appeared in Ingrid's eyes.

"A near-death awakening relying on one's own power? That's quite rare... but if one possesses a powerful soul, combined with the power of the emblem, it is indeed possible to achieve this."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze back to Yuan Chen, scrutinized him for a moment, and then revealed a mischievous smile, saying, "Hehe, I want to see the true nature of your power now."

"What is the essence of power?" Yuan Chen asked curiously.

"It's less about the nature of power and more about the nature of humanity." Seeing Yuan Chen's curiosity, Ingrid was quite willing to help explain.

"Just like spiritual power, all spiritual power has attributes of good and evil. Depending on the origin of these attributes, they will also exhibit completely different powers and ways of presentation."

However, for now, it should be presented based on your strongest emotions during battle?

"Oh, okay, then you can see," Yuan Chen nodded and said, "I'm quite curious too."

With permission granted, Ingrid began to sense the spiritual echoes that Yuan Chen left in the space.

A moment later, Ingrid's expression changed abruptly, and she looked at Yuan Chen, saying, "...Rape?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen was also taken aback.

Am I some kind of lecherous worm?

Absolutely impossible, absolutely impossible!

Thinking it over, Yuan Chen said solemnly, "Feel it more carefully..."

“…Uh, battle.” After sensing it for a while, Ingrid breathed a sigh of relief: “That scared me to death. It turns out it’s related to battle…I thought the new junior was a pervert.”

“There’s absolutely no way that’s possible.” Yuan Chen shook his head, his face full of certainty.

After confirming that it wasn't one of those concepts representing negative emotions, Ingrid didn't pay too much attention to it, but instead rolled her eyes and said:

"Then how about this, let me take a look at the world that gave birth to you? Just one glance at the world's shape will be enough to figure everything out."

"See?" Yuan Chen shrugged.

Yuan Chen himself was quite interested in the world he lived in.

Seeing this, Ingrid nodded with interest, then came to Yuan Chen's side. After sensing for a moment, she stretched out her palm and opened a corner of the dimension as if turning the pages of a book.

From Yuan Chen's perspective, the other side of the drawing paper only showed a large number of layers of colorful lines.

However, what Ingrid saw was clearly different from what Yuan Chen saw.

Upon seeing it, Ingrid immediately showed a surprised expression, and then her eyes shone with boundless light, filled with curiosity.

After that corner of the dimension began to slowly heal, Ingrid's face revealed a deep sense of reluctance.

Especially after the dimensional rift was completely healed, Ingrid fell into a long silence.

Just as Yuan Chen was pondering whether to offer a reminder, he turned his head and saw Ingrid's face beaming with a slightly fawning smile.

"Hehe, my dear junior!"

“…Please speak.” Yuan Chen subconsciously took a few steps back.

"It's nothing really," Ingrid said, rubbing her hands excitedly. "It's just... can I go to your world for a while?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do I have the right to refuse?"

“Of course you can!” Ingrid nodded, then said with some surprise, “You didn’t know?”

"...Uh, know what?"

Seeing that Yuan Chen seemed genuinely unaware of this, Ingrid explained:

"Generally speaking, the world that nurtures the concept of emblems is usually in an absolutely closed state before the holder grows up. Unless the holder dies before growing up, it will almost never be open to the outside world."

"Of course, if you happen to meet other holders earlier due to some coincidences, then those other holders can also enter your world through a contract."

Upon hearing Ingrid's explanation, Yuan Chen nodded thoughtfully. Although he was still unsure whether his power was indeed the so-called emblem, judging from Ingrid's attitude, he... might be safe?

Thinking this, Yuan Chen nodded and said, "Then why did you come to my world?"