Chapter 1: Earth isn't the same

In the vast expanse of the Lower Realm, countless stars shimmered, casting their light upon planets teeming with diverse forms of life. Yet, to those from higher realms, these celestial bodies were mere scattered pebbles—fragments of a lesser existence.

Luo Fan, who had awakened as The One Above All only days ago, now descended into this lower realm, accompanied by four followers. These four were the thirteenth beings personally selected and sent by the Invincible Clan to serve him.

Standing within an incomprehensible dimension, Luo Fan gazed through the void, his eyes piercing the fabric of the universe below.

Fixing his gaze upon a distant star, a soft chuckle escaped his lips. Once, I looked at the sun and found it beyond description. But now... His thoughts carried an infinite calm. Even the entire universe, even all the realms—mere pebbles in the palm of my hand.

Reflected within his omniscient eyes appeared Earth—the world of his previous life. Once, he had been hailed as a prodigy there. But now, that former brilliance was a fleeting ember in the furnace of his current existence.

In a single instant, with not even the faintest ripple of space-time, Luo Fan appeared above Korea. The shift was absolute—beyond comprehension, beyond the senses of any being below.

His eyes, imbued with Omniscience, swept across the land. The Earth seemed both familiar and strange, layered now with mana and spiritual power—forces he had never encountered in his former life.

Glimpses of change appeared in his vision—dimensional gates that connected to sub-realms, each with its own alien environment. Humans, too, had changed. Some now wielded mana, shaping it as a tool or a weapon. Yet, in the eyes of Luo Fan, their powers were fleeting—an ephemeral flicker within the vast ocean of his perception.

"Interesting," he murmured, his voice a whisper that touched nothing yet resonated through everything. Standing atop a towering skyscraper, Luo Fan's garments began to shift. The divine black-and-white robes—symbols of his supremacy—faded, morphing into something mundane: a black shirt, black pants, matching shoes, and a flowing black cloak.

The world has changed, he thought, his voice soft yet absolute. "The Gates... The first appeared in 2025, five years ago. Humans fought the monsters that emerged from those rifts, but ordinary weapons proved useless against some of them."

A glint of curiosity flashed in his eyes. Is this truly the world I once knew... or merely a shadow of it?

Without warning, Luo Fan's form vanished from the building, reappearing instantly above the Hunter Association—an organization pivotal in humanity's battle against the Gates. His gaze, unbound by barriers, pierced the walls, the floors, the very essence of the structure. Within, he observed countless humans, all wielding mana to varying degrees.

To him, they were weak—laughably so. Yet, patterns emerged in their limitations. Divisions of power. Hierarchies built on strength. Some among them wielded considerable might—for mortals, that is. But ultimately, they remained only that. Mortal.

Outside the Hunter Association, a crowd had gathered—a chaotic blend of reporters and fervent fans, their excitement tangible. All awaited the arrival of a rising star: a rookie hunter known as Madman Junior—a name already stirring attention.

The commotion also drew another figure: the leader of the renowned Anya Guild, their presence radiating authority.

Luo Fan observed it all—every breath, every heartbeat, every fleeting emotion—through eyes that transcended the limits of reality.

How small… A faint smile graced his lips. But perhaps... amusing.

Luo Fan paid little heed to the scene unfolding before him. In that moment, he materialized inside the building, finding himself amidst a throng of people who had come to assess their awakened powers.

The levels were clearly demarcated, ranging from E to SSS, with the highest tier being World Class.

Luo Fan, unconcerned with the hierarchy, approached the reception desk. The receptionist, a young woman, looked up at him, her cheeks flushing slightly, her ears tinged with pink, and her heart racing.

Luo Fan sighed softly and tapped lightly on the desk to bring her back to her senses. She quickly found an available testing room for him.

"You can go to room A-122. Just head straight and take a left..."

She paused, her voice trailing off as she stood up, her body trembling slightly with a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

"Or perhaps, you would like me to guide you?"

Luo Fan smiled faintly before nodding. The receptionist, her heart still racing, quickly led him to room A-122, a private energy measurement chamber.

How could this man be so handsome? she thought to herself, stealing glances at him as they walked.

Upon reaching room A-122, the door slid open automatically, revealing a purple stone and the association president standing inside.

The receptionist's face paled instantly, her eyes widening in shock. Shit, she thought, her mind racing with anxiety.

At that moment, Luo Fan turned his gaze toward the Hunter Association president. Instantly, the president felt an overwhelming pressure, unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was not a pressure born of physical strength, but one that emanated from Luo Fan's very essence, a primal force that commanded respect and awe.

In the room, besides the Association President, there was also a famous rookie known by the nickname Madman Junior. He had a stern demeanor, with fiery red hair and a perpetually displeased expression. His cold eyes fixed on Luo Fan with a hint of disdain.

At that moment, an immense pressure surged from a higher dimension, imperceptible to those in the room but palpable to Luo Fan's four Invincible Servants. Their anger was a tangible force, directed squarely at Madman Junior.

From their higher dimensional vantage point, the servants seethed with fury.

"This low-level beast dares to look at Master Luo Fan with such insolence?" one of them growled.

"He should be erased from existence," another spat, their voice laced with contempt.

"I want to destroy him," a third servant hissed, their anger a palpable force.

Luo Fan, however, remained unperturbed and walked towards the purple crystal. As he did, his gaze fell upon Madman Junior.

Madman Junior's face contorted with rage. "Who the hell are you? Don't you know who I am? How dare you disturb me..." His voice trailed off, trembling with indignation.

The Association President raised his hand to interrupt Madman Junior's outburst.

"You are..." he began, his voice trailing off as he turned his attention to Luo Fan.

Luo Fan, intrigued, made no effort to conceal his presence, revealing himself openly. His instincts, however, warned him of something amiss. The Association President's aura hinted at a closeness to death, a characteristic not measured by talent but by near-death experiences. This revelation suggested that the president was more than just a mere administrator.

Luo Fan smiled faintly and reached out to touch the purple crystal. The light it emitted was so intense that it made the sun seem like a mere candle or firefly in comparison.

The moment his fingers made contact, the crystal shattered into countless fragments.

The Association President's eyes widened in shock. The crystal had never reacted this way before, not even when touched by a world-class Hunter. The light that had accompanied the shattering was beyond his comprehension.

In the stunned silence that followed, Luo Fan spoke softly, his voice carrying an air of calm authority.

"I am Luo Fan."