Chapter 2: The World Is Changing

New City, Akka Nation, United Nations Headquarters Building, 23rd Floor Hall.

Delegates from various nations sat in a fan-shaped arrangement, with the five permanent members each occupying one of five chairman seats.

On the central stage sat several prominent figures frequently seen in political news; whenever any one of them appeared on screen, it signaled turbulent international situations, indicating cooperation, disputes, friction, negotiations, clashes, or exchanges of interests between nations.

When these major figures from different countries gathered in one room, the atmosphere grew unusually heavy.

Normally, journalists would have pointed their cameras at this scene, frantically snapping photos and writing the year’s most explosive political story.

But now, these political figures who could sway the world were ignored; all eyes focused on a young girl in the Xia Nation’s delegation.

She wore a black suit jacket, a loose white shirt, black trousers, and white sneakers. She was thin, and the suit didn’t fit—like she’d been hastily stuffed into it and rushed here.

She strained to keep her face expressionless, trying to appear less timid, less unfamiliar, less immature; at first glance, she seemed somewhat composed and calm, though occasional blinks betrayed a flicker of confusion.

Facing flashing lenses and countless staring eyes, she pretended to flip through documents, but her shoulders slumped, wishing she could slide right under her chair.

“I believe everyone has had enough time to review the materials. There’s no need to waste more time.”

UN Secretary-General Sahid set down his papers, pressed a button on the remote, and a massive holographic projection appeared above the hall, finally drawing everyone’s attention.

Yang Yi quietly exhaled, pressing her back against the chair.

Her colleague Feng Liancheng, whom she’d met just a day ago, patted her shoulder reassuringly; she offered a weak smile in return.

“The first confirmed alien biological intrusion event: May 9, 2022, a chicken farm on the outskirts of Guatemala City. Overnight, all chickens were devoured, and the farmer’s family of four were completely consumed, leaving only scattered limbs and feces.”

“Analysis of the feces and suspected saliva revealed a biological entity never before seen on Earth. Based on the traces left behind, it is estimated to have eight legs and stand approximately four meters tall, with highly flexible limbs capable of climbing skyscrapers effortlessly. To date, no one has captured this monster.”

…

“June 2022, Manaus, Brazil: Tropical rainforest strangler vine incident, 351 fatalities…”

Yang Yi, drawn in by these bizarre events, gradually sat upright, fixing her full attention on the holographic projection.

“February 6, 2023, Congo, Africa: The ‘Smiling Mushroom’ incident claimed 604 lives. Tourists returning from a tribal village all died mysteriously in their sleep, faces frozen in mysterious smiles. Days later, beautiful mushrooms grew from their bodies; anyone who saw these mushrooms died the same way. Following the tourists’ travel routes, this fungus spread worldwide, causing successive deaths and triggering panic across nations…”

“June 26, 2023, Brisbane, Australia: Zombie cannibalism incident…”

“September 18, 2023, Myanmar, Asia: Emerald mine supernatural incident…”

“2024—this year, March: Pacific giant crab ship attack. The giant crab attacked passing cruise ships and cargo vessels, causing nearly a thousand casualties and direct economic losses exceeding 20 billion Kars.”

“On March 27, 2024, Xia Nation and Akka Nation jointly killed the giant crab under the guise of a joint military exercise. The operation lost two submarines, three cruisers, and eight small vessels, sparking rumors that the two superpowers had engaged in combat in the Pacific and that World War III was imminent…”

The brief combat footage on the holographic screen was as shocking as any sci-fi blockbuster; the giant crab’s form barely fit on the display.

…

Yang Yi’s heart pounded; if she’d encountered this crab yesterday, she would have fled in terror.

“Expert analysis shows the timing of alien biological intrusions coincides almost exactly with the dark matter bursts detected by the United Nations Dark Matter and Space Astronomy Key Laboratory.”

“The emergence of Awakened Ones occurred roughly one year after the dark matter bursts. Experts speculate this is because certain human cells require sustained dark matter stimulation to reach a critical threshold and mutate, thereby awakening superpowers.”

Concerning herself, Yang Yi held her breath, listening intently to the speaker on stage.

"Since last year, individuals with superpowers have emerged worldwide, known as Awakened Ones. Statistical analysis indicates two main categories: one is bodily mutation, where individuals experience a comprehensive enhancement of physical attributes or organ transformation. The strongest bodily mutants currently have physical capabilities five times that of elite athletes and ten times that of ordinary people."

“The other is field mutation: they can control a force field within a certain range around themselves, with properties including air, water, fire, metal, electricity, temperature, light, and gravity.”

“Statistics show that field mutators can control a maximum range of about five meters around themselves, with a maximum reach of ten to fifteen meters. The pattern is: the closer to their body, the stronger the control; the farther away, the weaker the control.”

“Awakened Ones range in age from ten to sixty, with most between sixteen and twenty-five.”

“Latest update: May 20, 2024, Haibei City, Guangdong Province, Xia Nation—coastal sea monster attack on tourists. Footage captured by onlookers shows the sea monster standing over twenty meters tall, resembling an octopus, with water-controlling abilities capable of summoning massive waves. It was later lured into the ocean by Xia Nation’s telekinetic Awakened One, Yang Yi…”

Under the piercing gazes of UN delegates and journalists, Yang Yi’s shoulders sank again, slowly sliding deeper into her chair.

Here it comes, here it comes—finally, they’re talking about me… What’s there even to say? And why single me out at the end? Yang Yi mentally grumbled, pretending to adjust her hair with her left hand while covering her face, sinking further into the chair.

On the holographic screen, the colossal octopus monster rose from the ocean, waving countless tentacles toward the crowd on the beach. Screams, shouts, and cries drowned out the waves.

Even knowing this was recorded footage, the realism of the hologram and the monstrous, terrifying size of the octopus forced some to instinctively recoil.

The octopus’s head was oval, ringed with eyes, its tentacles thrashing wildly.

Several tourists were snatched up by tentacles, about to be tossed into the monster’s maw—when an invisible force severed the tentacles, and the tourists were transported to safety by an unseen power.

The panicked crowd then saw a figure speeding through the sky from afar.

Injured and enraged, the octopus swung all its tentacles at once, hurling a fifteen-meter-high wave onto the shore.

The figure in midair thrust both arms forward—the wave hit an invisible dam and rolled back into the sea. This near-miraculous, titanic power triggered murmurs throughout the hall.

Yang Yi, still pretending to review documents, sighed deeply, wishing she could bury her head in the papers.

Then the figure flew near the sea monster, punched the air—and blue blood spurted, the monster’s slimy head caving in slightly.

Enraged by the blow, countless tentacles lashed toward the figure—but the figure seized the moment, darting deep into the ocean, luring the monster away…

“Based on tourist footage, we calculated Yang Yi’s field control range extends over one hundred meters from her body—ten times that of any other top Awakened One. The wave she blocked exerted approximately three hundred tons of force, though this is likely not her limit.”

“In short, Yang Yi is currently the most powerful Awakened One discovered.”

The hall erupted in uproar; every eye locked onto her, and some even stood up to look.

If gazes had temperature, Yang Yi felt she would instantly burn to ash right there.