"I don't trust them. I absolutely don't believe they are offering us unconditional help out of pure goodwill," a pale-faced young man declared, chewing on a large piece of succulent roasted meat as he voiced his opinion on current events in an expansive, lavish dining room.
"Everyone is driven by some motive to act. Similarly, the Luminous Civilization must have their reasons for helping us. They're clearly benefiting far more from this arrangement than they're giving."
"Hey, man, you've got the wrong mindset! The Luminous Civilization is an advanced society that can harness solar energy directly. According to the government announcement, they're helping us to prevent a catastrophe that could destroy their own civilization," a muscular, dark-skinned man, already stuffed from the meal, protested.
The pale young man, already working on his tenth plate of roasted meat, sneered. "Government announcement... right," he muttered coldly, shaking his head without continuing the argument.
In truth, they were on entirely different levels. If it weren't for his girlfriend from years ago, he wouldn't have even bothered associating with these people.
"Li, what's with that smirk? Do you think the government is lying to us?" a curvaceous woman sitting next to the muscular man interjected, displeased at his attitude.
She knew the young man had an extraordinary background and access to information far beyond her reach. Yet, her view of him remained frozen in time from two years ago, seeing him merely as a friend with special abilities.
"Yeah, it's fake," Li bluntly replied. He held deep mistrust toward the foreign Luminous Civilization that had suddenly appeared and openly collaborated with his homeland's government.
"The government wouldn't lie to us—they have no reason to," the woman retorted.
"You heard him just now. The Luminous Civilization is vastly superior to us. If they wanted to, they could simply coerce our leaders into compliance," Li answered with a gaze devoid of warmth, his eyes reflecting the cold detachment of a deity. This powerful foreign civilization had become a significant obstacle, interfering with his efforts to expand his faith in the island world.
As a god who shepherded living beings, he was all too familiar with the greed lurking in mortal hearts. While there might be saints among a race, no entire civilization could sustain itself through selfless virtue. Saintly civilizations would never grow strong. Therefore, he firmly believed that the benevolent front displayed by this advanced civilization was a facade, hiding ulterior motives.
"Come on! Are you paranoid? What could they possibly want from us when we're so far behind them?"
"Are you seriously this naive? The 107 interdimensional gates scattered across the world are the greatest temptation. Yes, the Luminous Civilization is advanced, but they're still bound by material limitations. The resources in those otherworldly realms behind the gates are more than enough to justify any action they take."
"You think they're sealing off those gates just to hoard the resources for themselves?"
"More or less."
"That's ridiculous! Ever since they arrived, the Luminous Civilization has been completely transparent about their actions, even publicly sharing their operations with the government. Your theory has no basis."
"Time will prove whether I'm right," Li said, shaking his head. He no longer had any desire to argue further. Summer insects cannot comprehend ice.
"Li, I'm so sorry you had to deal with people like that," a blonde young woman apologized as she caught up with him outside the restaurant.
She understood Li's true identity better than anyone else present, as he had fully revealed his nature to her. Despite being a top socialite among humans, she knew that in the world of the extraordinary, her status was meaningless. She couldn't help but feel conflicted about their relationship. When they first met, their roles were reversed—now the gap between them had grown even wider. Fortunately, her boyfriend hadn't abandoned her due to her mortal limitations.
"No need to apologize. I'm not bothered by trivial conflicts with people like that. To me, they're just ants I could crush with a flick of my finger. I'm not that petty," Li replied calmly.
"If Lydia's boyfriend is just an ant to you, and I'm no different from him in terms of life level, does that mean I'm also just an ant in your eyes?" she asked playfully but with a hint of genuine curiosity.
"Of course not. Why would you think that?" Li countered.
"Because the gap between us is so vast. It's becoming harder for us to even interact normally anymore," she said with a bitter smile.
"That's nothing to worry about. Just give me some time. Once I take the next step, I'll be able to share my power with you. Then, you'll be like me," Li assured her with a gentle smile. His trust in others was limited due to his harsh upbringing, but she was one of the few exceptions—a person who had sincerely helped him in his most difficult moments.
"Wouldn't that hurt you, though?"
"It won't have much of an impact on me. Don't worry. Remember who I am now."
"Just a little bit of power would be enough for me," she said softly.
"I understand. Don't worry."
"Are you heading back to the island world again?"
"Yes, it's a crucial time for my tribe's expansion. I have to oversee the campaign personally."
"How long will you be gone this time?"
"Three months if it's quick. If things drag on, a year or two."
"Another long separation…" The woman's eyes filled with reluctant sorrow.
"There's no choice. With the arrival of the Luminous Civilization, the portals between our world and the island world have been sealed. Every time I cross over, it costs me dearly," Li explained, his expression darkening at the thought of the foreign civilization that had disrupted his plans.
"Damn those Luminous bastards!" she cursed under her breath.
"When I'm gone, please help cover for me with my mother. I don't want her to worry too much," Li requested.
"Are you planning to keep hiding the truth from her forever?"
"I'll tell her eventually when the time is right. Right now, if I did, she'd just live in constant anxiety."
"Alright, I understand."
…
At a desolate dock, Li stared at the few dilapidated boats still moored there. The once-bustling port had become eerily quiet.
The discovery of otherworldly realms had drawn countless adventurers and dreamers seeking fortune. Even the mortal danger hadn't deterred them. But with the arrival of the Luminous Civilization, everything changed. All portals to the otherworlds had been sealed.
Some portals remained under human control, but even those required strict clearance from the Luminous Civilization.
"One day, I'll show them what a god's wrath truly is," Li thought darkly. With that, he dove into the sea, swimming toward one of the interdimensional gates.
Golden scales emerged across his body as his form expanded rapidly, shredding his clothes. In moments, Li transformed into a massive golden giant, a figure of terrifying power beneath the waves.
As he approached the glowing barrier that marked the gate, his body tensed instinctively. The barrier's scorching energy had left painful memories.
"Here we go again…" he muttered through clenched teeth. Gathering his resolve, he surged forward, the burning light searing his flesh. But this time, something was different. He didn't pass through the barrier—he was trapped, an invisible force binding him in place.
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