Chapter 4: I am the Chosen One!

The blanket was folded neatly, sharper than a cube; every tiny fuzzball was meticulously removed. Even the frayed threads at the edges were clipped by his telekinesis-formed 'scissors.' Dust on the ground, clutter in the corners, crumbs on the desk...

When Shen Hao had first acquired telekinesis, he could barely hold a pillow steady without it wobbling all over the place.

But now, simply using telekinesis, he could accomplish such delicate tasks.

He could even shape it into a dagger, scissors, spikes...

It felt as if he had practiced for countless years, as if it had become second nature.

*It was almost like two entirely different abilities when compared to his earlier displays.*

*How could it not be multiple times stronger?!*

This talent seemed like it was meant for late-stage development, but Shen Hao was increasingly convinced that even in the early stages, it could unleash terrifying effects—at least, it saved him untold hours of training.

*Even if someone were an ordinary person, if they could push their strength to its absolute limit, they'd still be formidable!*

For now, there wasn't any time to explore this in depth.

Now that he was the Chosen One, Shen Hao operated with newfound confidence. He wasted no time, hurriedly stepped out, and everything he needed—keys, clothes, shoes—came flying toward him automatically with each step.

By the time he left the house, he was already dressed and ready.

"The identity of being a Chosen One can be disclosed; it's the fastest way to secure one's position. But the probability of a Mythical Talent appearing is ridiculously rare, so it's better to keep it hidden," Shen Hao thought calmly as he drove, his mind racing. "Luckily, I have telekinesis—it can be passed off as my talent. Or maybe it'll be better to say nothing at all… I'll decide based on the situation and maintain an air of mystery."

He had already figured it out. This first "cheat" was a direct ticket to being the "strongest superpower user in civilization," ensuring his qualification as the Chosen One.

*This method of exploiting the loophole was brutal in its simplicity.*

After all, there were no telepaths anywhere in human civilization.

But this was an incredible boon for him.

Without telekinesis, the initial impact of his "Dominator Talent" would be significantly reduced.

This talent seemed to grow exponentially in usefulness over time!

As his vehicle passed through the streets, apart from heavily armed soldiers stationed at intervals, things didn't look much different from before. However, traces of the chaos from the early days of Starfall could still be faintly observed.

The streets had once been in disarray, with people shouting about the end of the world. Some had even stormed stores, but the military, once deployed to the city, quickly suppressed the unrest. Now, schools had resumed, malls reopened, and order had largely been restored.

Shen Hao's mother, Gu Kaihong, was a teacher at Donghua First Middle School.

The semester had only started a week ago.

No one had expected something like this to occur.

*Despite the apparent calm, an uneasy feeling lingered within Shen Hao.*

From the information given to him when his cheat activated, the Civilization Trial should have already begun following Starfall.

Yet, there were no signs of it anywhere.

*Sure, the initial trial wouldn't be overly terrifying, but Shen Hao worried that the other Chosen Ones—or even nations across the globe—might not be aware of its existence at all.*

The Chosen One interface offered no clues or notifications.

"I need to find a way to issue a warning," Shen Hao thought back to the nightmares of the past month. Suddenly, his shoulders felt heavier.

*The "cheat" was humanity's desperate hope—the final struggle of countless civilizations. If human civilization hoped to survive continuously through the Civilization Trial, Shen Hao's unique opportunity was absolutely critical.*

But now, having awakened the "Dominator Talent," Shen Hao no longer buckled under pressures of this kind.

Driving smoothly, he soon arrived near the school.

But his brow furrowed sharply.

Up ahead, military vehicles had blocked the road. The entire Donghua First Middle School was cordoned off by warning barriers.

Soldiers carrying firearms were stationed every two or three steps.

Many anxious parents gathered nearby, restrained from entering.

*A vague sense of foreboding swept over Shen Hao.*

He parked his car in a nearby spot, then calmly walked toward the scene.

"What's happening?" he asked, addressing a randomly chosen person.

"I don't know," the parent replied, clearly agitated. "The soldiers won't say anything; they just won't let us in. I just talked to my son on the phone—he said someone died!"

"Yeah," another person chimed in. "I heard the same from my kid."

"And who's in charge here? What are they thinking? Shouldn't they send the kids home after something this serious?"

"Someone died, and they're keeping my kid inside?!"

"Right! What about the psychological trauma for the kids? Who's going to take responsibility for that?"

"…"

As Shen Hao listened to the concerned chatter, his unease deepened even further.

He pulled out his phone and dialed his mother and sister—but none of them picked up.

Even his father, who had arrived ahead of him, didn't answer.

In such circumstances, it was impossible for Shen Hao not to worry.

However, his Dominator Talent granted him the ability to perfectly control his emotions. Despite his growing concern, he remained composed as he glanced at the soldiers armed to the teeth up ahead. Then, without hesitation, he strode forward.

A cluster of people was gathered there.

One parent seemed to be a high-ranking official, but even his authority was met with the same reply: "No one is allowed to pass."

Until Shen Hao approached.

Cautiously, he activated the third ability granted to him by his talent—Dominator Pressure.

He didn't fully unleash it but merely tapped into its essence, and in that moment, Shen Hao could feel the transformation within himself.

*An indescribable aura seemed to condense around him, radiating outward.*

As he approached, the crowded throng instinctively parted to the sides, almost subconsciously, forming an unmistakable path for him to walk through.

The sight of this was so striking amidst the crowd that it immediately caught the soldiers' attention. As they watched Shen Hao, they couldn't help but tense up.

*None of them could explain the sensation.*

*It felt as though the person approaching wasn't an ordinary young man dressed simply—but a ruler standing at the pinnacle of authority!*

Finally, one officer, seemingly unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure, stepped forward quickly, his expression tense as he spoke first:

"This area is under heavy control. Please turn back."

If someone looked closely, they could see his grip tightening around his firearm, sweat forming on his forehead, and his gaze firm—locked entirely on Shen Hao!

Even the surrounding people began noticing something unusual.

*More and more eyes turned toward Shen Hao.*

The previously noisy crowd grew noticeably quieter.

Yet Shen Hao acted as if he hadn't noticed a thing. Staring calmly at the officer ahead, he said slowly, "My family is in there."

"I'm sorry, but no one is allo—"

"I'm the Chosen One," Shen Hao interrupted.

Instantly, the previously murmuring crowd fell completely silent!