The Glorious Evolution

After Levi concluded the meeting, he joined his brother and friends over lunch. They messed around and teased each other like always, but Levi was absent-minded throughout the entire meal.

His mind was occupied with the massive dilemma Wei-Lan had thrown at his feet. Although he had no idea how much information Bishop Va’ren possessed, he had a strong feeling that it was similar to what Bishop Na’thir knew about him. Otherwise, Va’ren would never have reached out to include him in his master plan for revenge.

’One Bishop knowing about my Radian bloodline is a major threat on its own… now, two?’ Levi frowned.

’It wouldn’t be long before the other Bishops found out. I can’t afford to have my secrets exposed like this.’

’You should consider preparing a back-up plan to leave Earth after figuring out Va’ren’s intentions,’ the Titan advised. ’No one here is powerful enough to protect you or your close ones from their schemes.’

’I know.’

Levi nodded, his spiritual eyes sweeping over his brother and friends. He understood that remaining on Earth with the current developments was far too dangerous.

Possessing a Radian Bloodline without the strength to defend it meant a horrible fate awaited him and his little brother. They could be captured by mercenaries and sold to Alchemists or the enemies of the Radians for their twisted entertainment. If his identity within the Celestial was exposed in the process, it would be game over for him.

’After we finish with the Faction Wars, I’ll meet Bishop Va’ren and see what he has to offer. Then, I’ll leave Earth with my little brother and friends,’ Levi planned ahead. ’Jasmine’s territory is massive. Letting it sit unused would be a waste. I can ask her if it’s possible to turn it into our new home, and we can slowly raise her omnipotent level to gain more control and privileges.’

If Levi could use the omnipotent privileges he earned from reaching Baron rank, he would have done so without hesitation.

Unfortunately, omnipotent privileges were tied strictly to territory ownership. The only way to bend these rules, even slightly, was through marriage on the soil of the Boundless Expanse.

Only then could Levi access privileges one level below his own. As a Baron, that placed him at level three.

Level two belonged to Teraowners, while level three was reserved for Baron rankers. These levels were the standard based on one’s standing in the Nocturnal Ring, though they could be increased through other means. Blessings from Nocturn, rare achievements earned through games, or winning an extra level from the Wheel of Fortune and Madness were among the few known methods.

’Good thing I’m Baron ranked now. I can teleport between territories and capital cities without using transportation lines or wasting contract entries. I can bring everything we need to survive and build a proper home.’

Transportation was one of the Boundless Expanse’s biggest problems. For low-status citizens, it was so inefficient that traveling could take anywhere from days to months using public services.

Even with a wormhole-like network spanning the realm, movement was still restricted. Now that Levi was a Baron, he had access to direct teleportation between cities and territories. While expensive, the service was well worth it for Nobles who valued time over resources. Fortunately, Levi was granted three free jumps each month.

’All I can advise is that you don’t get emotionally attached to Va’ren’s plan, even if it guarantees Bishop Na’thir’s death,’ Ash’Kral reminded him calmly. ’Bishops are Tier 8 powerhouses. They’re not easy to take down, no matter how flawless the plan seems. If Va’ren is that confident, it means you’re a crucial part of his strategy.’

Even with a wormhole-like network spanning the realm, movement was still restricted. Now that Levi was a Baron, he had access to direct teleportation between cities and territories. While expensive, the service was well worth it for Nobles who valued time over resources. Fortunately, Levi was granted three free jumps each month.

’All I can advise is that you don’t get emotionally attached to Va’ren’s plan, even if it guarantees Bishop Na’thir’s death,’ Ash’Kral reminded him calmly. ’Bishops are Tier 8 powerhouses. They’re not easy to take down, no matter how flawless the plan seems. If Va’ren is that confident, it means you’re a crucial part of his strategy.’

’I thought the same,’ Levi replied solemnly. ’Va’ren has had over a century to act against Bishop Na’thir, yet he chose this moment. That means he finally found the missing piece he needed for his revenge. And that piece is me.’

Levi hadn’t requested a personal meeting with Va’ren without reason. He wanted to hear his role in the plan directly, without deception.

Va’ren would be made to sign a contract that enforced honesty alongside strict confidentiality. What the Bishop didn’t know was that Levi could void the contract and nullify its penalties if needed.

Only after hearing everything could Levi decide whether stepping into such a dangerous mess was worth it.

’Levi… you’ve been awfully quiet. Are you okay?’

Suddenly, Jasmine’s voice echoed in his mind.

Levi glanced her way and noticed the concern in her eyes. He gave her a faint, calm smile and nodded. ’I’m fine. Just thinking about a few things.’

’Ah… oki.’

Jasmine returned the smile and went back to observing her friends’ discussion, occasionally sending messages or making small gestures. It was still far better than how she’d been when they first met her.

Before long, Levi joined his teammates as they discussed the chosen Death Game. They pulled up videos of similar game designs to get a general idea of what awaited them.

While they focused on preparations, Dominic had already returned to his office alone. Feng Ling stayed behind Yanhuan’s bedside, waiting for him to wake so he could deliver the news.

”Wei-Lan… what do you want from Levi?” Dominic murmured coldly.

A recording showed Wei-Lan and Levi entering a private restaurant room one after the other. One of Dominic’s subordinates had provided it. Within the World Tree, almost nothing of importance escaped his notice.

Though he lacked audio from the meeting due to privacy restrictions, Dominic knew Wei-Lan would never approach Levi without personal gain. That was simply the kind of man he was.

”Why not call the boy in for questioning?” His contracted nightcrawler asked lazily.

”If Levi hasn’t come to me himself, it means he signed an NDA contract,” Dominic replied calmly. ”Still, choosing the World Tree for the meeting was clever. He knew I’d find out... and he wanted me to.”

”Interesting. That means he already suspected Wei-Lan’s intentions.”

”Yes. He may not reveal everything, but knowing this much is enough. He’ll lead us to the truth, whatever it is.” Dominic’s gaze turned icy as he studied Wei-Lan’s image. ”He believes he’s flawless at covering his tracks, but he doesn’t realize he has a disgruntled son who wants him gone.”

Dominic knew Feng Ling had been secretly monitoring his father. His exceptional camouflage skills were the result of countless hours spent avoiding detection.

Fortunately, Wei-Lan was still only at Blazewarden rank and lacked Psych specialization. With the right tools and skills, spying on him was possible by kinds of Feng Ling.

Though Feng Ling hadn’t uncovered everything yet, what he had found was more than enough to destroy Wei-Lan’s reputation.

He hadn’t gone for the kill yet. Feng Ling wanted irrefutable proof, ensuring Wei-Lan would have no way to escape the hole he’d dug for himself.

Now, Wei-Lan might have handed them exactly what they’d been waiting for.

”Are you saying something big is coming?”

”If it involves Bishop Va’ren,” Dominic said firmly, ”Most definitely.”

***

The Next Morning…

News of Yanhuan’s squad withdrawing from the Faction War spread rapidly throughout the World Tree. With Dominic personally announcing it, no one dared to question the decision.

He explained that Yanhuan required extended rest to recover from his battle against Levi, especially after undergoing an unnatural evolution. His teammates refused to participate in the Faction’s Death Game without their captain. As a result, the Ashen Tribunal Squad, currently ranked among the top four raiding teams, would take their place.

By then, Wei-Lan had already returned to his home region. When he learned that his son and his entire squad had vanished, he flew into a rage.

Attempting to contact Dominic led only to voicemail. Worse still, he was denied entry back into the World Tree due to having left it just the day before.

The World Tree’s dimensional mirrors consumed immense spatial energy with every use. Even Wei-Lan’s privileges meant nothing against the rigid rules enforced by the Tree itself, rules that not even Dominic could override.

”Bastard! I have to wait three whole days to return!”

Wei-Lan trashed his office in fury. His anger over Yanhuan’s defeat didn’t mean he intended to let his son roam freely. He hadn’t invested years of resources into him for nothing.

Even if Yanhuan wasn’t the ideal heir he envisioned to expand his lineage, the responsibility would still fall on him. Otherwise, Wei-Lan would remain trapped on Earth, ruling a region instead of pursuing his true ambition.

For Wei-Lan, it was more than a dream. It was a desperate search for a miracle to restore the potential that had locked him forever at Blazewarden rank.

Just like Yanhuan, he could never become an Ecliptic Daywalker without such a miracle. That was why he had tried so relentlessly to leave Earth.

Now, all that effort would be wasted if he couldn’t retrieve his son.

”Bastards! They took him to the Boundless Expanse and forced him to delete my dimensional ID!” Wei-Lan roared into the wall. ”Give me back my god-damn son, you thieves!”