The Dock.
Where sea met Heaven.
The tide rolled in and out with a steady rush.
Xu Yuan crouched on a stone bollard, enjoying the gentle sea breeze as he dipped fries in ketchup and ate with relish.
Suddenly.
Lines of faintly glowing text appeared:
"Despite turning back time, you still know the Shadow Seed exists." "Your awareness has awakened it." "It remembers everything that happened before time was reversed." "It has determined that it once defeated you." "Because you had to activate Nibelung to avoid its birth, this determination is valid." “The Shadow Seed has evolved into an Observer.”
The next instant.
A figure appeared beside Xu Yuan.
The Observer.
"You're here," Xu Yuan greeted it.
The Observer struck with all its might.
The blow was powerful enough to smash Xu Yuan's body and soul to pieces.
But the moment it attacked, it vanished.
Time reversed.
The Observer's vision blurred, and it found itself back where it had been several seconds earlier.
It had just arrived at the Dock.
"You're here," Xu Yuan greeted it.
"Die," the Observer said.
This time, before it could attack, the scene around it changed again.
It found itself back in the Outer Heavens, at the moment it had first awakened.
"The Crown... of time."
A flicker of irritation entered the Shadow Seed Demon's eyes. It judged the outcome once more, evolved into an Observer once more, and arrived at the Dock.
"You're here," Xu Yuan greeted it.
"...Do you insist on talking to me?" the Observer asked with disdain.
"You look like you've evolved, but it's all for show. I can't see any improvement at all," Xu Yuan said.
The Observer froze, then replied without thinking:
"Idiot. Evolution improves every ability. Can't you even tell?"
"Who says? Your appearance hasn't changed