The afternoon sunlight filtering through the gauzy curtains had turned soft and languid. Wang Keke sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, a thick book open across her knees. It smelled of fresh ink and was titled Brief History of Earth: Since the Great Nirvana.
She cleared her throat and began reading aloud in a crisp voice. It was her history homework—and a chance to read to Lin Mo, who was sprawled nearby, dozing with one eye open.
"...In 2015, the global catastrophe known as the Great Nirvana erupted. The RR Virus swept across the world, triggering violent biological mutations. Monsters rose, and the order of human civilization teetered on the brink of collapse..."
Lin Mo's ears twitched almost imperceptibly. The RR Virus? The Great Nirvana? Those terms... sounded familiar.
"...During the disaster, the genes of some humans underwent beneficial mutations, giving rise to the first 'warriors' and 'Spirit Readers.' They became the backbone of the resistance against the monsters and the guardians of humanity's remaining embers. At the height of the crisis, the supreme powerhouses Hong and Thunder God established the 'Limit Martial Hall' and the 'Thunder Martial Hall,' uniting humanity and establishing order in the Base Cities..."
Hong! Thunder God!
Lin Mo's half-lidded amber eyes snapped open, and his heart skipped a beat despite himself. That clinched it! This really was the world of Swallowed Star—that terrifying world where, later on, people casually blew up star systems and ruled the universe!
He suppressed his shock and listened on.
"...After decades of hard-fought war and reconstruction, the basic order of the five great powers—Huaxia, India, Soviet Russia, the United States, and the European Union—and the many Base Cities was established. However, the oceans remain a paradise for monsters. King-level Monsters hold sway, while the shadow of the Beast Emperors looms over the land. Humanity remains confined to the continents, and the situation is still dire. The current era is defined as the 'late Great Nirvana period'..."
Wang Keke's voice was bright and pleasant, but to Lin Mo, each word struck like a clap of thunder.
The late Great Nirvana period! Which meant that, at this point in time, there were still decades to go before the original protagonist, Luo Feng, rose to prominence and soared to the top!
He'd vaguely hoped he might find the future big shot Luo Feng before he made it big and pull off a bit of "helping him when he was down" or "investing in a rare commodity." Then he could safely latch onto the future Hunyuan Lord's powerful support and roam the universe without a care.
Now, it seemed that plan had gone completely up in smoke!
Damn it! I've got the wrong script! Lin Mo wailed inwardly. I thought I could be an angel investor, but it turns out I transmigrated to prehistoric times! Luo Feng's probably still a cell right now! No, his parents are probably still kids!
A faint melancholy and crushing pressure engulfed him. In this world, where strength ruled and monsters ran rampant, where cities could be destroyed at the drop of a hat, there was no powerful backer to lean on. He'd have to rely on himself! And according to the original story, Earth was practically the most beginner-level tutorial area in existence. Any Universe Adventurer could handle it with ease.
Damn, looks like I'll have to double down on my plan to keep my head down and grow stronger, Lin Mo gritted his teeth. I need to be strong enough to protect myself before those cosmic powers discover Earth! Devour! I have to devour faster!
He glanced at Wang Keke, who was still reading earnestly, and felt the surging power within him, as well as the cool touch of the nameplate around his neck.
His hopes of latching onto Luo Feng had been dashed for now, but perhaps there was another path before him: "eat the family into ruin and become the big shot himself."
Just then, Wang Keke closed the book, stretched, and excitedly picked up the dark-gold identity nameplate, waving it in front of Lin Mo.
"Mimi! Look, with this, we'll be able to visit all sorts of places in the Base City! We won't have to stay cooped up in the family estate or the military camp all the time!" Her little face was alight with excitement. "We can go to the commercial district, visit Battle Pet Park, and even check out some of the training gyms that are open to the public!"
Lin Mo felt absolutely nothing at her words. He almost wanted to yawn.
A stroll outside? Sounded nice. But...
He imagined the scene: a mighty white Winged Tiger, with a pair of wings on his back and a nameplate bearing the name "Mimi" around his neck, swaggering down the streets of the Base City as if he owned the place. Beside him walked a bright, beautiful young genius Spirit Reader of noble birth. At least two War General Level female bodyguards followed close behind, their eyes sharp and their faces warning strangers to keep their distance...
The image was too much. He didn't dare think about it.
This wasn't a casual stroll. It was a moving spectacle, a walking trouble magnet! It went completely against everything he stood for: "keeping a low profile" and "getting rich in silence"!
Alas, Lin Mo sighed to himself. I wanted to keep my achievements hidden, but my strength—and my owner—won't allow it.
After that "Loyalty Trial" at the abandoned factory, there was no way he could stay under the radar. By now, the entire upper echelon of Northeast Base City probably knew that the Wang Family had a pair consisting of an S-rank mutant tiger and a genius girl. Wherever they went, they were bound to draw everyone's attention.
"What's wrong, Mimi? Don't you want to go out?" Wang Keke noticed his lack of enthusiasm and tilted her head at him.
Lin Mo looked into her bright, expectant eyes and gave a helpless growl, rubbing his big head against her palm.
Well, I'm here now, so I might as well make the best of it, he told himself. If I have to stand out, so be it. I can't exactly keep a low profile anymore. Maybe I can use this chance to find more things to 'devour' or learn something about the outside world.
Besides, having War General Level bodyguards along would make him much safer. He wouldn't have to worry about some random pest provoking him, and could focus more on... hunting for delicacies (talents).
"Hehe, I knew you wanted to go out too!" Wang Keke took his response as agreement and sprang to her feet. "Let's get ready, then. Tomorrow we'll visit the Battle Pet Commercial Street in East District 3! I hear there's all sorts of fun stuff and delicious food there!"
At the words "delicious food," Lin Mo's ears perked up again.
The commercial street? Delicious food?
Maybe... there'd be some rare, hidden "ingredients" that weren't listed in the Bestiary.
Thinking of it that way, this "high-profile" outing didn't seem entirely bad.
He got to his feet and shook out his glossy white fur. The nameplate around his neck swung with him.
[Name: Mimi]
All right. He'd put up with it for now.
For the sake of devouring and evolving, and for the day he could roar across the stars, maybe he could endure this embarrassing name and spend a while as a "swaggering" center of attention. It wasn't... completely unacceptable.
He walked to the window and gazed out at the Base City's forest of skyscrapers and the faint lights of the Defense Wall in the distance.
Take your time growing stronger, Luo Feng. For these first few decades, let me, Lin Mo—temporarily known as Mimi—stir things up a little!
Of course, his top priority was still to eat the Wang Family out of house and home... No, to make reasonable use of the Wang Family's resources!
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