Child of Destiny

...

Boom!

A massive explosion erupted when Bernard and Pablo clashed in the air. Their collision was so strong that it even created a towering and blazing mushroom cloud while also destroying the entire surroundings.

At the same time, there was also a strong earthquake that shook the ground, making Shin somewhat lose his footing.

The raging flames violently slammed the barrier, making it shake intensely. Cracks were also starting to appear on its surface, signifying that it was about to collapse.

Seeing that, Shin clutched the talisman tightly while also releasing his Divinity Grade Mental Energy. Due to the barrier becoming unstable, its suppression over Shin was gradually getting weaker, making him able to wield his Mental Energy once again and somewhat use his techniques.

He then summoned a group of hexagonal shields in front of him before arranging them and forming a dome barrier around him.

After that, he raised his free hand and wrote a series of Mentalism Runes. They then merged into a singular rune that multiplied itself before situating themselves at the center of the hexagonal shields, reinforcing their defensive capabilities and enhancing their toughness.

'Perfected Four Symbol Scripture: Heavenly Black Tortoise – Bulwark of the Turtle General'

Bang!

Not long after, the barrier finally collapsed in front of the might of the raging flames.

Shin only had less than a second before he could activate the talisman on his hand. His barrier was nothing in front of these flames. After all, they were produced by the collision between the two Domain Realm Experts.

But at the very least, his barrier could buy at least that much time for himself. He quickly seized that opportunity and infused his Mental Energy with that talisman.

Swoosh!

Right after his Divinity Grade Mental Energy activated the talisman, a surge of even stronger and much purer Mental Energy was released.

Shin could not only see the flow of Mental Energy gushing out from the talisman in an almost liquified form. It surrounded Shin's body, preventing the raging flames from approaching him, much less touching him.

It then solidified and formed a sturdy wall that could withstand any attacks from a Peak Domain Realm Expert or even give a Peak Venerable Realm Mentalist serious trouble.

This was the talisman given to him by David. It was a powerful defense created and refined by his master, which could only be used once.

Shin had chosen this talisman over the one that could directly teleport him back to the Springfield Household since that one needed a couple of seconds before it could fully activate. He would be toasted by the raging flames around him before he could even activate it.

This defensive talisman, on the other hand, would only require an instant to fully activate.

But little did he know, this talisman had functions other than being able to defend against Domain Realm Experts and Venerable Realm Mentalists and save himself in such predicaments.

It would also send a signal to some people related to it.

***

David, who was rushing to the location that Nathan had given him along with Vincent, Jerimiah, and Laurent, suddenly halted his steps when he felt the 'fluctuation' of Mental Energy within him.

He knew what this meant. It signified that Shin had used the defensive talisman that he had given to him. He swiftly turned his head toward the direction where he felt the 'signal' was coming as his pupils suddenly contracted.

The only reason Shin would use that talisman was when he was facing someone way beyond his level, particularly those with great martial or mentalism attainment.

Seeing him stop, the three also paused in their tracks and turned at him. They looked at him confusedly as they could see the grim expression that he was wearing.

"What's wrong? Have you sensed something unusual?" asked Jerimiah with a deep frown.

David did not answer as he quickly took a turn and headed toward the direction where he sensed the signal was from. He even released the second stage of 'Merdian Lock: Limit Break' and enfolded his body with dense Mental Energy while running.

Seeing that, the three exchanged glances with confused looks on their faces before following David while activating their respective movement techniques.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

…

Inside a hotel at the Corner Stone City, Alyssa was currently meditating when she sensed an intense ripple in her 'Lake Heart'. This disturbed her mediation, forcing her out of her current state.

She slowly opened her eyes before turning in a certain direction. She stared in the air for a couple of moments before picking up the sheathed katana beside her and standing up.

She fixed herself out of habit before taking out a teleportation talisman from a pocket dimension. She then squeezed it tightly while infusing her Mental Energy into it.

Swoosh!

A moment later, she suddenly disappeared into a flash of light that slowly dissipated in the air.

…

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Above the sea neighboring the Soaring Continent, a pair of silhouettes were flying over it at an unimaginable speed when one of them sensed something all of a sudden and stopped right in that instant.

Bang!

The air seemed to have exploded due to the sudden halt, sending violent gusts of wind in the surroundings.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Even the seawater underneath them sank and formed an inverted dome along with the tall walls made of water due to the powerful impact.

In the middle of the rain produced by their action, that person stared ahead of them seemingly able to pierce through the distance and see what was happening in a certain place.

"What's wrong, Eve?" said the man, who was traveling along with her.

That woman was stunningly beautiful, making people mistake her for some goddess that descended from heaven. She carried the noble and scared air around her that could make people who see her unconsciously bow their heads in her presence.

This was the greatest genius that shocked the world before due to her talent in Mentalism. She became one of the legendary figures in the Path of Mentalism even if the World Government tried its best to erase any written history about her.

She was Evangeline Rose.

She slightly knitted her brows before answering the question her husband asked. "He used the defensive talisman."

Hearing that, the man beside her, who had an equally handsome appearance but carried an evil air around him, came to realize what she meant.

This was both the most notorious 'criminal' around the world and the greatest genius in the Path of Martial Arts.

He also happened to be a Demonic Cultivator and one of the few people who managed to fully conquer their 'Seed of Hatred' and seize its powers for themselves.

In this current generation, he was known as the Heavenly Demon.

He was called Adam in the past, but he decided to name himself Adamson Kinghad while his previous name became a nickname or an alias.

"Oh! That brat of ours? That means he is still fine," he said nonchalantly as if this matter did not concern him at all.

Hearing those words, Evangeline snapped at him with a fierce glare, seemingly wanting to murder this 'unreliable' husband of hers. The purest and densest Mental Energy was suddenly released from her body, blazing like a violent flame dancing along with the wind.

Seeing that, Adam rolled his eyes and slumped his shoulders with a helpless sigh. He then smiled brightly and tried to calm his wife down. "Come on, Eve. You should know better than enough that I can't meet him yet."

"A disaster will surely befall when our 'seeds' suddenly resonate. I was barely able to get close to him at that time when I helped him form his dual cores. And even that caused me a series drawback," he added trying to appease her.

Evangeline turned her head to the side when she heard that. "It is not that I don't understand. But can you please stop addressing your son that way?"

"I want to smack your face sometimes because of it," she added with an 'angry' tone.

"Smack!" Adam's face seemed to turn bright as he leaned forward, offered his cheeks, and pointed at it while saying. "You can smack a kiss all you want! I will not stop you from doing something like that!"

Bang!

Unfortunately, what he got was a 'kiss of love' from her fist.

Swoosh!

It sent Adam flying at a great distance and sending him deep under the sea.

Boom!

But he was able to come back to his previous location within an instant, leaving a huge torrent of water behind him, which also lifted a giant whale riding it.

He seemed to be completely fine and still wore his laidback expression when he appeared in front of Evangeline. "Your love is still overflowing as our first meeting."

He just finished talking when he saw Evangeline raise her fist once again and prepare a much stronger attack. He quickly shrunk back and waved his hands. "Alright, alright. I will stop joking around."

He paused for a moment as if he was trying to weigh something before continuing. "Since you have already fully recovered, I think you can now meet him. You can even stay with him and watch him grow if you want. You no longer require my protection anyway."

Hearing that, Evangeline slowly retracted her fist. She then stared at her husband for a couple of moments before frowning. "What are you planning this time."

Seeing the worried look hidden behind her fierce expression, he could not help but smile at her lovingly and shook his head. "Don't worry. I will not do anything 'stupid'."

Swoosh!

Evangeline suddenly stretched her hand and grabbed his collar, seemingly afraid of something. "You will come back safe, right?"

Chuckling, Adam patted her hand and reassured her. "Just trust me."

"Can't we just leave it to them?" she asked, unwilling to let go.

Adam smiled bitterly and shook his head. "You should know better. No one can block that entrance aside from me."

He did not wait for her to reply as he quickly added. "Moreover, this can be considered as a 'payment' or 'compensation' for our 'sins'."

"If not for us stepping into that place, stealing that 'fruit', letting the brat bathe in that 'lake', then 'it' will not be retaliating this way."

"We have been defying our destiny and keep on fighting our fate, so it is natural for us to face the consequences."

"We are barely able to prevent those greedy old foxes from repeating the same mistakes, but everyone keeps on insisting on attaining it without knowing the consequences. They want to find the 'Paradise' without knowing what that place exactly is – without knowing about the calamity that it will bring to the world."

"They keep on pursuing it without realizing that they have already become its puppet. This can be a human nature or just the inevitable."

He paused for a moment before smiling bitterly. "All of these started because of me; because I am 'born' into this world, so it is natural for me to carry this burden. But you, you have other roles to play in the future."

Evangeline was unable to say anything and kept on staring at her husband with lonely eyes.

"The Heaven has never been fair. It favors the few but opposes the many; supplies the few and harms the many. It has always been that way unless you wake up and start to do something for yourself and fight for your life," he added as smiled.

"Alright, we can stop this now. This is not like us," he tried to brush off the seriousness with a laugh before changing to another topic.

"You can meet him if you want, but it is better to disguise yourself and prevent anyone from discovering you for as long as possible. We will never know when will 'it' come biting us again."

He then paused and turned toward the direction of the Soaring Continent. "But before all of that, let me first help our friends chase away that annoying 'stalker'."

His gaze seemed to transcend the space and looked directly at the ongoing battle in the Ace City.

"And clean up a little trash along the way," he added while wearing an evil grin.

...