Some worlds.
He possesses combat power at the level of a single universe from the very beginning, and he is not lacking in combat power across the multiverse.
It might bring all sorts of troublesome pollution; you might get spotted by some big shot as soon as you arrive and be swatted dead like an insect.
However, the distorted space has existed for a very long time, and this world still exists today, so the possibility of it being one of these worlds is actually quite small.
Well, I can only reign supreme in this world. As for other worlds, I still need to be cautious.
Momo nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
She walked over to Higashino Makoto, poured him a cup of black tea, and then stood quietly behind him.
"Cheng-san."
"Um."
"What do you think is on the other side?"
Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"I don't know. But the agreed-upon time in a week is almost here, we'll find out soon."
It's been a week since we sent the mercenary monster to the first world.
In the small world, Higashino Makoto stood before the portal of light, his golden eyes gazing at the flowing light curtain.
Momo stood behind him, holding a notebook in her hands, ready to take notes.
Are you ready?
Higashino Makoto asked.
"Ready, Makoto-san."
Higashino Makoto reached out and pressed his hand on the light screen.
This time, he didn't touch it gently, but pressed it down hard.
The light barrier dented beneath his palm, then cracked.
The light curtain split from the center to both sides, revealing a pitch-black passage.
At the other end of the passage, there is light.
It's a different kind of sunlight, more real and warmer.
Higashino Makoto stepped into the passageway.
Momo followed behind him, her black tail tightly wrapped around her wrist, the heart-shaped tip trembling slightly with nervousness.
The passage is very short.
Higashino Makoto squinted, adjusting his eyes to the change in light, and then began to observe.
Through the gate, you can see that it is located at the top of a small hill.
In the distance, there is a dense forest, with tall and lush trees whose canopies form a dark green ocean.
Further away, the outline of a city can be vaguely seen.
Skyscrapers, chimneys, and glass curtain walls shimmering in the sunlight.
It looks like a modern city.
Higashino Makoto's brows furrowed slightly.
"Wrong..."
His voice was very low.
"Weren't we supposed to have the Doppelganger waiting here? Is it because the flow of time is different? Or did something happen to them all?"
Momo stood beside him, her purple eyes also gazing at the city.
"Cheng-san, look over there."
She pointed in a certain direction in the city.
Higashino Makoto followed her finger and looked in that direction.
On the edge of the city, near the forest, lies a cluster of destroyed modern buildings.
These are not ordinary ruins.
The fractures in those buildings were so clean, as if they had been cut off by something with a single stroke.
There is a huge crater on the ground, with a diameter of over tens of meters and a depth of over ten meters. The edges of the crater have a glassy luster, as if it had been melted and solidified.
High temperature, explosion, immense force.
Higashino Makoto's pupils contracted slightly.
"Something really went wrong... Could it be a nuclear bomb?"
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes and used Muninn's skill to sense his surroundings.
"It's moving about ten kilometers to the east?"
"Move?"
"Yes, it moves very quickly."
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
Shall we go take a look?
No, safety first.
However, you can send summoned creatures to provide assistance.
"Summoning of the Tenth-Rank Angel"
--The Gatekeeper Cherubim!
A lion's head and three teams of winged angels appeared before him, bowing to Higashino Makoto.
"Go to the place ten kilometers to the east and bring back the Doppelganger and Hanzo."
Higashino Makoto remained where he was, ready to flee at any moment.
About ten minutes later, the Cherubim returned to the gate with two Doppelganger and a Hanzo.
The two Doppelganger looked to be in bad shape; one had lost an arm.
The other one seemed fine, but it reverted to its original state, suggesting the situation was worse.
Higashino Makoto emerged from the spatial rift, his brow furrowed, and began to reflect on himself.
We should assign a mercenary who knows healing magic; they'll be useful whether they're human or a teammate.
"Let's go back first."
Back in the small world, the Doppelganger struggled to kneel and pay its respects, but was refused by Higashino Makoto.
Walk up to him, squat down, and raise your hand.
A pale golden light emanated from his palm, enveloping the Doppelganger's bodies.
The sound of bones realigning echoed in the air, while the sound of muscles regenerating was subtle yet clear.
A few seconds later, the Doppelganger's left hand returned to normal.
"Thank you, sir."
His voice was hoarse.
"Tell me, what happened?"
The Doppelganger took a deep breath and began to narrate.
"After entering this world, we split up as instructed by our superiors. I was responsible for infiltrating the city and gathering intelligence. Another was responsible for observing the natural environment and recording the ecology. The two Hanzo were responsible for protecting us, and the low-level monsters were sent in different directions to test the combat strength of various places."
He paused.
"For the first three days, everything was normal. This world... is very similar to the technological world you told us about. There are cities, humans, and technology. But there are also things that are different, things called weirdos."
"Wack?"
The name Higashino Makoto sounded somewhat familiar.
"Yes. A weirdo."
Another Doppelganger took over the conversation.
"Monsters frequently appear in this world. They emerge from underground, from the sea, from the sky... from all sorts of places. Their appearances are bizarre and varied, almost like alien species. Their strength varies, but most are stronger than humans. Humans have organized an organization called the Hero Association, specifically to deal with these monsters."
Higashino Makoto's brows furrowed slightly.
"Hero Association..."
"Yes, the Hero Association."
One of the Doppelganger nodded.
"I infiltrated a city and gathered intelligence about this organization. They have a Hero ranking system, from C-rank to S-rank, based on the Hero's strength and contributions. There are many Hero, but... most of them are weak."
"Most?"
"Yes, most of them. But some are very strong, extremely strong."
The voice of the Doppelganger began to tremble.
"On the fourth day, we encountered a monster on the outskirts of the city. It had purple skin, two tentacles on its head, and immense strength. Low-level monsters crumbled at the slightest touch. Even level 50 monsters couldn't last more than two seconds against it."
Higashino Makoto tapped his fingers lightly on his knee.
Where is Hanzo?
Hanzo has made his move.
The Doppelganger's voice was very low.
"A Hanzo approached, attempting a fatal blow. However, the opponent's defenses were formidable, and its attack was ineffective, resulting in only minor injuries. Moreover, its regenerative abilities were exceptional, and it quickly recovered."
Higashino Makoto's pupils contracted slightly.
Another one was added.
"It could unleash a barrage of energy projectiles and launch massive energy attacks from its mouth to ambush Hanzo. Hanzo had no chance to dodge, and one blow rendered it incapable of fighting. Even after using ninjutsu to evade, it only lasted for less than half a minute before dying."