"Riku himself was part of that despair—the epitome and representative of the collective known as 'humanity' struggling to survive in desperate circumstances."
"So the reward the Chat Group gave Riku was 'Overall Human Civilization Ascension +1.'"
"That was a desire rooted in the deepest depths of his soul."
"So, if I didn't receive that reward, it could only mean that my love for humanity isn't as deep, pure, and absolute as Riku's."
Tony spoke from the heart, and he calmly acknowledged that fact.
He loved humanity and this world too, and he was willing to give everything for them, including his life. But that love was indeed different from Riku's love, which had endured hell, become bound to his race's fate, and regarded it as the entirety of his reason for existing.
His love was responsibility, pride, affection for specific individuals, and the desire unique to a genius to "shape" and "protect" the world in the way he believed was right.
The two were fundamentally different.
"Alright, emotional time is over."
Tony patted his cheeks.
"Now, aside from the reminder brought by this gap in 'love,' let's look at another interesting question."
His gaze turned to the Chat Group interface. Grey Wolf's avatar still hung there quietly, without a word.
"Riku's reward was 'Overall Human Civilization Ascension,' fitting his identity as the 'leader of humanity' and 'The Only God,' as well as his ultimate ideal."
"Loki's reward was 'Asgard Enhancement,' fitting his identity as the 'God King' and his need to preserve civilization."
"My reward was 'Scientific Research Talent Enhancement,' fitting my greatest potential as a scientist."
"So what about Grey Wolf?"
For Grey Wolf, who possessed bug-level "idealistic invention" abilities, what reward would the Chat Group grant him—or rather, what reward would suit him best?
"His parents have already