Deviant: No Longer Human

Chapter 222: Herald of Devil?

"It's most likely that Gabriel is also a hell spirit..." Wang Xiao's realization dawned with a mixture of apprehension and understanding, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to coalesce into a clearer picture.

[We can take that as a possibility, at least now we are certain that there are only two individuals, Gabriel and Asmodeus, that we need to concern ourselves with. And this Gabriel, he seems to have refrained from attacking Anran because he noticed your presence near her.

[Then, he wanted to test you, and after witnessing your powers, he wished for you to join them?] Yin Yue's voice, both analytical and supportive, helped distill the situation, summarizing the events and intentions with precision.

Wang Xiao nodded, an acknowledgment of the accuracy and possibility of Yin Yue's summary. "That's accurate, and possible..."

!!

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as a sudden realization struck him, his eyes snapping open with intense clarity.

He recalled his conversation with Li Zhiming, connecting dots in a rapidly, "Yue, if we assume they are indeed a collective of hell spirits, and someone is orchestrating their unification—targeting only the stronger ones who retain their sanity—what could be the purpose? And how might this relate to the so-called tunnel to hell or heaven?"

This invitation, selective and targeted, wasn't dispatched to every hell spirit indiscriminately. It was a call to those of significant strength, those capable of blending seamlessly with humanity while retaining their formidable essence.

The criteria for this selection highlighted a strategic and discerning approach, an attempt to gather an assembly under a single banner for reasons yet unknown.

[I can only think of one thing... And if it's true... It would clarify why Gabriel wants Li Zhiming out of the picture and full control over Zero...] Yin Yue's voice trailed into Wang Xiao's consciousness.

Wang Xiao remained silent, a sense of foreboding wrapping around him like a shroud.

He had no illusions about the gravity of Yin Yue's insinuation; the pieces were aligning with his own thoughts.

[They are going to march, sooner or later, towards the portal...] Yin Yue's voice echoed again, her thoughts mirroring Wang Xiao's own expectations.

The notion of a march, a collective movement toward an objective of unimaginable consequence!

"Do they want to return?" Wang Xiao couldn't help but voice the question that loomed large in their conversation.

The idea of a return, of crossing back through the portal, opened a Pandora's box of potential outcomes.

Yin Yue's response was a sigh, [Wang Xiao, would you prefer to live as a king in a small kingdom or a slave in a huge empire?]

"Neither," Wang Xiao replied without a moment's hesitation, his conviction clear.

[...]

Yin Yue found herself momentarily speechless at Wang Xiao's perspective, even as she sought to clarify her point. [We hell spirits are used as tools in Hell, while here, the power we wield can grant us everything we need... So, what do you think we are missing?]

"What?" Wang Xiao's confusion only grew with her words.

In his mind, he listed the typical desires that motivate beings, both human and supernatural: subordinates to command, power to wield, wealth to accumulate, women to play.

To him, these hell spirits, beings of immense power and ancient lineage, stood beyond such mundane aspirations.

What, then, could they possibly yearn for that this world, with all its vastness and diversity, could not provide?

[Home! It's the feeling of home, that we would miss. The air here is unusual for us, and even it lacks a very important element, which could multiply our power by hundreds of times.] Yin Yue's words was like a beam of light piercing through the fog of Wang Xiao's understanding.

Wang Xiao grasped the magnitude of her words. "So they want to terraform the Earth?"

The implications of such an endeavor were staggering.

To alter the very essence of the planet to mirror the infernal landscapes from which they originated—not just as a means of power enhancement but as a quest for a semblance of home—was a concept both terrifying and profound!

Yin Yue confirmed, [Right, but we can't be sure... There is one way to explore the truth, and you know it. So, are we going to join them or not?] Her question laid bare the crossroads at which they now stood.

Joining Gabriel and his cohort could offer them insights and perhaps a chance to explore any plans that threatened the balance of the worlds.

Yet, it also posed significant risks, including the danger of becoming dragged into schemes with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Wang Xiao was enveloped in a cloak of grim silence, his mind a sea of thoughts and reservations.

Luna's words had indeed ignited a spark of curiosity within him about the tunnel, a mysterious beckoning that appealed to his adventurous spirit.

However, the prospect of aligning himself with a cadre of extraterrestrial beings was far from enticing.

The idea of venturing into the unknown called to him, but not at the cost of his autonomy or principles.

Moreover, the title 'Herald of Devil' grated on his sensibilities. If he were to assume the role of a herald, then who, in this grand scheme, would play the devil?

The very notion was repugnant to Wang Xiao, whose journey had been marked by a fierce independence and a deep-seated aversion to subservience.

From an early age, he had harbored an intense resentment towards weakness, a disdain so profound it had become the driving force behind his relentless pursuit of power.

The thought of being under someone's thumb, of serving another's will, was disgusting to him.

His mastery over PK, his increasing control over the psychic and kinetic forces that coursed through him, was a testament to his dedication to self-improvement and sovereignty.

To now contemplate the possibility of yielding to another, of becoming a mere instrument in someone else's grand design, was unthinkable.

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Country M, The District!

Deep beneath the bustling life of the District, hidden from the prying eyes of the world above, lay the headquarters of the New World Order.

Within these secret chambers, technology and ancient mysticism intertwined, casting a surreal glow over the faces of those who operated in the shadows.

The walls, lined with screens displaying a mosaic of global intelligence, hummed with the quiet intensity of whispered secrets and coded messages.