Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Another Traveler Once Walked This World
"Odd changes, even remains, symbols determine quadrants..."
This mathematical formula, deeply ingrained in the minds of high school students everywhere, was something Liam knew by heart. He had assumed that after crossing over into this new world, he would never hear that familiar phrase again.
But here it was...
This meant that the great figure from a century ago, the so-called "Father of Superhumans," was also a traveler—just like him. There had been someone else before Liam, someone who had found themselves in this world.
Liam wasn't alone in his journey through this alien world; there had been a predecessor who had faced the same challenges, the same isolation.
But was that person still alive?
A century was a long time. What had this other traveler experienced? How had they coped with the overwhelming strangeness and loneliness of this world? Had they spent their life searching in vain for another traveler, only to die alone, their deepest secret buried with them?
Liam felt as though he had plunged into icy waters, his senses numbed, his mind flooded with thoughts he couldn't fully process. The world around him faded as his mind fixated on these questions.
Cain noticed Liam's odd behavior but couldn't afford to stop the lecture for the sake of one student. So, he continued his explanation, though he kept an eye on Liam's dazed expression.
"Of course, for most of you, this is just an interesting tidbit," Cain said, trying to move the focus back to the larger group. "But there's another, more pressing reason why these beings are called 'gods'—psychic corruption."
"The gods can easily influence others in various ways. Those with weak wills may become god-servants, or they might descend into madness. This ability to directly interfere with human belief and sanity is another reason they're called gods—they can induce a sense of worship and submission in people."
"In essence, a true superhuman is a god-slayer."
Cain's voice brought the discussion back to the grim realities the students would face as superhumans. He spoke about the primary threat—eliminating god-servants and preventing the descent of gods into the mortal world.
The phrase 'Three feet above our heads, there are gods' wasn't just a saying. The gods weren't part of this world, but their presence was felt everywhere. Over the years, superhumans had learned one thing for certain: god-servants could use dark and twisted rituals to bring gods into the world.
A god that hadn't descended yet was merely a god-embryo, barely able to affect the world. But once a god successfully descended, even the weakest of them could bring about catastrophic destruction.
"Every year, countless superhumans die at the hands of gods and their servants. The massacres of ordinary people and the financial devastation they cause are beyond measure."
"That's why I say the true world of superhumans is a harsh and unforgiving place."
"Now that you know the truth, you must be prepared to face this painful reality and the bloodshed that awaits you in the future."
"As the number of descent rituals increases worldwide, the methods of god-servants are becoming more terrifying. There have been cases of entire cities being sacrificed to summon a god!"
"The world is becoming more unstable. One day, you will all face life and death on the battlefield."
"I hope that the powerlessness you felt during this test doesn't return to haunt you in the heat of battle."
Cain's words left the students in a heavy silence, each processing the information in their own way. Fear, excitement, unease, and anger at the god-servants and gods played across their young faces. And then there was Liam, still lost in thought, unresponsive to anything around him.
Cain watched them, feeling a pang of sorrow. He couldn't help but wonder how many of these young faces would survive the next decade, how many would die on the battlefield or fall victim to the treachery of their own kind.
The calm before the storm was deceptive. The tempest that would engulf the world had already begun to brew.
As the students processed the shocking truth, Liam remained detached, his mind still replaying that phrase over and over again—"Odd changes, even remains..."
"Hey, are you okay?" Sophia's voice broke through the fog of his thoughts as she nudged him with her elbow.
It took a few more nudges before Liam snapped out of his daze and looked at her.
Sophia was puzzled. In her experience, Liam had always been composed, able to view things with a detached calm. The harsh truths Cain had revealed were disturbing, yes, but Sophia didn't think they would shake Liam this much. He had shown no hesitation in facing twelve god-servants without flinching—so why was this affecting him now?
"Sophia," Liam began, his voice unusually serious, "you mentioned knowing something about the Father of Superhumans. What can you tell me about him? Is he still alive?"
Sophia frowned slightly as she thought back. "It was a long time ago, and I don't know much for certain. I've gathered some information, but the accuracy is questionable."
"As for whether he's still alive... no one knows for sure. He simply vanished from the world."
"Oh," Liam replied, nodding as he slipped back into deep thought.
Cain wrapped up the session, instructing the students to rest and recover from the grueling 36-hour test. They were to return the next day for the distribution of rewards and the mutual selection process between students and academies.
As Liam walked toward his dorm, Sophia caught up with him. This time, he slowed his pace and turned to face her.
"You mentioned you've gathered information about the Father of Superhumans," Liam said. "Can you share that with me?"
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