Chapter 2: The Gate of Worlds
Then I spun the wheel once again, and this time the pointer stopped on the world of One Piece.
A new box quietly appeared before me.
I reached toward it and slowly opened it, revealing the Gura Gura no Mi resting inside, while several different cards lay beside it carrying combat techniques and various abilities.
But what drew my attention the most was a dark black card engraved with simple words:
All Types of Haki.
My breathing stopped for a brief moment as I stared at it before lifting my head toward the wheel once again.
Without hesitation, I spun it another time.
But this time, everything was completely different.
The wheel began spinning at terrifying speed until the symbols upon it became nothing more than blurred streaks tangled together. Then its speed gradually slowed before finally coming to a stop.
And in the very next moment, two boxes appeared before me at the same time.
I quickly approached them and opened the first box first.
Inside was a luxurious golden card radiating faint light, engraved with the words:
Gate of Worlds and Time.
Beside it appeared ten other cards carrying the title:
Plunder.
Each card looked slightly different from the others, yet all of them possessed the same aura, as though they could forcibly seize anything by sheer power. Beneath the title appeared a small line explaining that each card could only be used once.
Next to them were another ten cards colored in deep crimson, bearing the words:
Absolute Loyalty.
Even without touching them, I could feel something strange emanating from them, as though they were capable of turning even the most rebellious individuals into followers utterly incapable of betraying my commands.
But before I could fully process everything, I noticed one final card resting quietly in the corner of the box.
It carried a calm silver color.
And the moment my eyes landed upon it, something deep within my soul trembled strangely.
Slowly, I reached out and picked it up.
Across its shining silver surface appeared the words:
Aura of the Exiled Immortal.
And the instant I touched it, an overwhelming flood of information surged into my mind like a raging torrent.
An aura surpassing the natural limits of mortal appearance, granting its owner absolute perfection in the eyes of any conscious being.
Every movement…
Every glance…
Even the simplest expression upon the face transformed into irresistible charm.
It was a gift bestowed by the heavens themselves upon an immortal who had been exiled since ancient times because his beauty had surpassed the boundaries of reason itself.
A beauty capable of making queens abandon their thrones willingly.
Making sages break vows they had upheld their entire lives.
And even ancient beasts…
Kneel before him unconsciously.
Then I quietly moved toward the second box and noticed that its surface carried the names of two different worlds.
Fist of the North Star.
And Ben 10.
The faint light reflected across the metallic lid as I slowly opened it, revealing only two cards inside.
The first card carried a clear title:
All of Kenshiro's Skills and Techniques, including the Rei Style Techniques.
As for the second card, only a few short words were written upon it, yet they made my heart stop for a brief moment.
Azmuth's Intelligence.
Duration: One Day.
I silently studied the two cards for several seconds before extending my hand toward them.
The instant my fingers touched their surface, both cards transformed into streams of light that shot directly toward my head.
In the next moment, an overwhelming flood of information exploded inside my mind.
Combat techniques.
Methods of controlling energy.
Secrets behind striking the pressure points of the human body.
And even complex scientific knowledge that I could not fully comprehend at first.
But the strange thing…
Was that none of it felt foreign to me.
Instead, it felt as though all of that knowledge had already existed within me from the beginning, and I was only remembering it now.
Slowly, I raised my head toward the wheel once again and spun it without hesitation.
It continued spinning for several seconds before the pointer finally slowed and stopped at a familiar world.
Douluo Dalu.
Another box quietly appeared before me.
I approached it and slowly opened it, revealing the first card inside bearing the name of a martial soul I knew very well.
Spiritual Eyes.
Beside it appeared another card colored in deep dark violet, carrying the words:
150+ King Rank Experience.
Duration: Four Hours — Single Use.
Even without activating it, I could feel a terrifying pressure radiating from it, as though immense power had been sealed within that tiny card.
As for the rest of the contents inside the box, they were even more astonishing.
A complete collection of the Tang Sect's techniques and combat arts.
Fusion Technique.
Yin-Yang Technique.
And a Spiritual Soul Contract from Douluo 4.
Alongside the perfected Golden Body Technique belonging to the Body Sect.
Every card possessed a different aura, yet all of them carried an ancient and dangerous feeling.
At the very end of the box were five relatively identical cards bearing clear words:
Upgrade a Spirit Beast to One Million Years.
As for the final card…
It was almost completely black, as though even light itself was being swallowed upon approaching it.
And written upon it was only one word.
Plunder.
But beneath it appeared a small sentence clarifying its function more precisely.
For the Douluo World Only.
I continued staring at the contents of the box for several long seconds while my breathing unconsciously quickened.
Then the boxes gradually began disappearing before me, transforming into particles of light that faded into the void.
Yet despite their disappearance…
Everything that had been inside them remained completely with me, as though it had become part of my very existence itself.
Now, all of those powers finally belonged to me.
I was no longer that worthless person whom anyone could crush whenever they pleased.
That feeling of helplessness that had followed me ever since entering this world slowly began to disappear, replaced instead by genuine power that made the blood within my veins boil with excitement unlike anything I had ever felt before.
After a few moments, everything around me gradually began fading away.
The dark void slowly lost its clarity, while the surrounding light dimmed little by little until it vanished completely.
And when I opened my eyes again, I found myself back in my original location.
But what truly shocked me…
Was my body.
Every wound had completely disappeared.
The blood that had once covered my body was gone without a trace, and even my shattered bones had returned to normal as though nothing had happened in the first place.
I slowly moved my fingers, then clenched my fists several times while strength clearly returned to my limbs.
Even the pain that had been tearing through my nerves had vanished entirely.
I was no longer sure whether that was because of the Senju Clan bloodline I had obtained…
Or if there was another, more mysterious reason behind it.
But honestly, none of that mattered anymore.
Only one thing mattered now.
Leaving.
If I remained in this place, death would be the only possible outcome.
Shrek Academy would never allow someone like me to live if they discovered what I possessed now.
To them, my very existence would become a dangerous threat.
And this was no longer merely a matter of conflict or simple hatred.
It had become a true matter of life and death.
That was why I had no time to waste.
I closed my eyes briefly and focused my thoughts on the Gate of Worlds and Time card.
The instant it responded to me, the card vanished, replaced by a magnificent golden gate as the surrounding space began distorting strangely.
The air twisted slowly while space itself bent, as though the entire world had begun losing its stability.
Then a massive vortex covered in mysterious light appeared before me, releasing pressure so immense that the ground beneath my feet trembled slightly.
And in the very next moment, the void swallowed me completely.
But that gate was not merely an ordinary method of transportation.
It was a terrifying tool that surpassed the boundaries of logic itself.
A power capable of traveling between parallel worlds.
And manipulating time and space as though they were nothing more than toys to be casually played with.
And most importantly of all…
I had become capable of entering any world I desired.
The world of One Piece.
Naruto.
Or any other universe that came to mind.
But at this moment, there was only one goal inside my head.
Take me to the time before Huo Yuhao obtains the Iceworm.
The instant that thought finished forming in my mind, everything around me violently overturned.
I felt space twisting as light, earth, and air vanished in a single moment before the sensation of my body gradually returned once again.
And when I opened my eyes, I found myself standing at the outer edge of the Great Star Dou Forest.
The forest was strangely quiet.
Cold air drifted between the gigantic trees while the scent of damp grass and soil spread through the surroundings.
I stood silently for several moments, observing the area around me before slowly beginning to move along the outer edge of the forest.
I was not in a hurry.
I was simply waiting.
Waiting for the appearance of the Iceworm.
And while advancing quietly, I noticed from afar a small fire burning beside a narrow stream.
I moved a little closer before stopping behind one of the massive trees.
There were three people sitting beside the fire.
A man.
A woman.
And a young boy.
Fish slowly roasted above the flames while the orange glow reflected across their faces.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
If I'm not mistaken…
Those should be Tang Ya, Bei Bei… and Huo Yuhao.
My gaze stopped on the young boy.
He looked only eleven or twelve years old, and his body was clearly thin. He wore simple gray clothes, while his short black hair appeared carefully arranged.
But what stood out the most…
Was the expression inside his eyes.
A quiet determination far beyond his age.
There was no doubt about it.
That boy truly was Huo Yuhao.
And the instant I confirmed his identity, something suddenly exploded within my chest.
Anger.
Sorrow.
And deep hatred twisted together into something suffocating.
The emotions were so violent that my Sharingan activated instinctively without any control from me.
My vision instantly changed as a dark crimson color reflected within my pupils.
I clenched my teeth silently.
I knew very well that the Huo Yuhao of this timeline had not done anything against me yet.
The boy before me did not even know who I was.
No conflict or hatred had happened between us yet.
But despite understanding all of that…
I still could not suppress the hatred surging from the depths of my heart.
Nor the pain that gradually began tightening around my chest the longer I looked at him.
The girl who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old possessed long black hair tied into a ponytail behind her, while her light blue clothes gave off a lively and youthful feeling.
Her wide almond-shaped eyes were filled with life, and although her features had not yet reached the beauty she would possess in the future, her oval face and straight nose granted her a natural charm that was difficult to ignore.
At that moment, she was staring at the roasted fish before her with obvious fascination, as though all her attention in the world had gathered upon the food alone.
There was no doubt about it.
That was Tang Ya.
As for the young man beside her, he possessed gentle features and a calm smile that naturally gave others a sense of comfort.
Bei Bei.
I remained hidden silently among the trees, watching them from afar without revealing even the slightest trace of my presence.
It was not yet the right time to appear before them.
Because the true reason for my arrival in this place was neither Huo Yuhao… nor Tang Ya.
But the Iceworm.
Tianmeng Iceworm.
And while I quietly observed the surroundings, a massive wave of spiritual power suddenly surged directly toward my mind without any warning.
My body froze for a moment.
Then a deep voice echoed directly inside my head.
"Finally… I've met a suitable human."
My eyes trembled slightly the instant I heard that voice, while the other party continued speaking in a tone filled with astonishment and excitement.
"What incredible spiritual power… ah, if I could truly cry, I would be shedding tears right now."
Deep within the forest, Tianmeng Iceworm silently continued staring in my direction.
Its enormous golden eyes released a faint glow within the darkness while its gigantic head tilted slightly, as though trying to observe me more closely.
Then its voice echoed through my mind once again, but this time carrying obvious curiosity.
"Strange… your spiritual power is this powerful, yet you don't even possess a single spirit ring?"
Silence lingered briefly within the forest.
Even the cold wind passing between the trees seemed quieter than before while I slowly narrowed my eyes and stared toward the depths of the darkness where I could sense its presence.
The cold air moved quietly between the gigantic trees while my eyes remained fixed toward the depths of the forest without taking a single step.
As for Tianmeng Iceworm, it continued staring at me with obvious interest before its voice echoed through my mind once again.
"A human at this age… possessing such enormous spiritual power. That is extremely rare."
This time, genuine astonishment filled its voice.
Even so, I did not answer.
I simply remained standing there in silence while calmly observing the direction of its presence.
But it seemed my silence only increased its curiosity further.
Its gigantic head tilted slightly before it slowly moved closer from within the depths of the dark forest, its golden eyes narrowing as though trying to see something hidden inside me.
"Hm… there's something else."
Its voice became quieter this time.
"The flow of your soul is very strange… unlike any human I've ever seen before."
Silence lingered briefly.
Even the surrounding leaves nearly stopped rustling, as though the forest itself had begun listening to its words.
Then suddenly, Tianmeng laughed.
A soft laugh carrying a strange childish innocence completely unsuited for an existence that had lived for millions of years.
"What incredible luck!"
Its massive body trembled slightly with laughter while the ten golden rings behind its head slowly began rotating, golden light flowing visibly beneath its transparent skin.
"I've been searching for a suitable human for a very, very long time… and it seems I've finally found one."
Its tone gradually became more excited, to the point that the spiritual power surrounding it began fluctuating lightly.
Then it continued in a voice filled with excitement and curiosity.
"Little brother, do you know what it means to meet me?"
It paused briefly before laughing again.
"If I were truly capable of crying… I'd be crying tears of joy right now."
Ji Lin's lips twitched slightly against his will as he listened to her endlessly flowing words.
How could Tianmeng Iceworm herself be this narcissistic?
Even though he already knew her personality beforehand, hearing it directly from her was still shocking.
He slowly took a breath to maintain his composure before asking cautiously:
"What exactly do you want?"
The instant she heard his question, Tianmeng's voice rose inside his mind with obvious excitement, as though she had been waiting for that very moment for ages.
"First, allow me to properly introduce myself."
Her massive body trembled slightly while she proudly raised her head.
"I am the embodiment of heroism and courage, the queen of spirit beasts, blessed with wisdom, beauty, and unmatched power."
She paused briefly before continuing in a voice overflowing with pride.
"I have cultivated for more than one million years and hold the record for the longest lifespan in the entire Douluo Continent."
Then she laughed lightly before adding in an absurdly serious tone:
"You may address me as the great, powerful, and beautiful big sister Tianmeng."
Ji Lin lowered his gaze slightly to hide his true expression before muttering as though he were genuinely stunned.
"A million-year spirit beast…?"
Of course, he already knew the truth beforehand, but he carefully concealed everything and forced himself to act as though he were hearing it for the first time.
And the moment Tianmeng noticed his reaction, her voice became even prouder.
"Are you surprised? Excited? You should be."
The golden light surrounding her trembled faintly as she continued with absolute confidence.
"You are the first human ever to witness the true form of this unparalleled greatness."
Ji Lin narrowed his eyes slightly before asking calmly:
"So… what exactly are you planning to do with me?"
For just a single moment, the playful tone vanished from Tianmeng's voice.
Her voice became heavier and deeper until even the cold air within the forest seemed to freeze instantly.
"I will become your big sister."
She paused for a fraction of a second before continuing slowly.
"And your spirit ring."
Ji Lin widened his eyes at precisely the right moment while Tianmeng proudly continued:
"The first conscious spirit ring in the history of the Douluo Continent."
The Iceworm slowly shook her enormous head while her gaze swept across the depths of the Great Star Dou Forest before returning to him once more.
But this time, something in her expression slightly changed.
She stared at him silently for several seconds, as though trying to see something far deeper within his body.
"Hm… this is strange."
Her voice became quieter and more thoughtful.
"The flow of your blood isn't normal."
She paused briefly before moving closer, golden light gleaming within her eyes.
"Inside your body exist two different bloodlines… and both of them are abnormally powerful."
Ji Lin felt a faint tightening within his heart, yet he maintained a calm expression with difficulty.
Meanwhile, Tianmeng continued staring at him as though trying to pierce straight through his soul.
"I've never seen anything like this before… a human carrying such strange bloodlines."
Then she laughed softly once again, but this time her laughter sounded even more excited than before.
"What incredible luck."
Her gigantic body trembled slightly as she continued:
"It seems I truly chose the right person."
Afterward, she slowly shook her head while her voice returned to its usual calmness.
"It will begin now, so don't worry."
Then she added in a strangely reassuring tone:
"I'll be gentle… I won't hurt you too much."