Deviant: No Longer Human

Luna laid out the official pathway to becoming a Guardian, but Wang Xiao scoffed at the idea of participating in trivial tournaments.

His ambitions soared higher; he contemplated obliterating all the Guardians and seizing the ultimate authority for himself.

However, his own actions had inadvertently disrupted the usually lazy Guardians into action, now frequently convening in committees and meetings.

Moreover, the existence of the Eighth Continent and the mysterious Pandora Island was disclosed, though their precise locations remained hidden in secrecy.

With his appointment as the Guardian of the Eighth Continent publicly declared, Wang Xiao anticipated confrontation from the other Guardians, whose plans he had disrupted.

But, to his disappointment, they remained overly cautious and accommodating.

They refrained from direct confrontation, choosing instead to gauge his powers from afar.

This reluctance on the part of the Guardians only further cemented the myths of Wang Xiao as the Divine Son, as their accommodating stance appeared to validate his celestial heritage in the eyes of the public.

Amid a slew of fictional titles like "Serial Kidnapper," Lila reemerged on the internet to assure the world of her safety.

However, she mistakenly referred to him as "Mr. Kidnapper," inadvertently transforming the slip-up into a lasting nickname.

Rumors about the Eighth Prince swirled with increasing intensity.

One tale spoke of an assassin commission mission posted on the dark web bearing his name.

Many dismissed it as a hoax since the description portrayed him as a boy with red eyes.

However, this figure was a full-grown man, and according to Lila\'s accounts, his eyes were a deep blue.

As censorship tightened, blocking any mention of "Eighth Prince," the situation deteriorated.

Unable to use his title, people resorted to the nicknames, and overnight, Wang Xiao became an internet sensation.

Myths of his prowess flourished wildly.

"He defeated a kraken in another world and saved us? What nonsense is this now?" Wang Xiao, perched on a chair in some secluded corner, scoffed as he read these lines and ripped the magazine apart in disgust.

The guardians, too, were secretly pleased as the spotlight shifted, providing them an opportunity to deflect all blame onto this newfound scapegoat.

Associates of Wang Xiao, such as Li Zhiming, Lila, Seraphina, and Ericka, found their status elevated significantly over time.

Ericka\'s mentor, a scientist named Isabella, sought an audience with him.

Yet, she was disheartened to learn he had long since departed from this world.

Her confusion deepened—how could someone simply leave the world?

Yet, even in her prominent role as the leader of Prometheus, she found herself unable to question those in higher authority.

"Damn... It\'s like a fairy tale..."

Li Zhiming whispered in awe, standing at the gateway of Xianthera.

The realm itself shimmered with an inherent magic, even devoid of Aether.

"Okay, uncle, leave before I have to kick you out. Your subscription only covered up to here."

He had journeyed here to leave his daughter, but Anran, aware of their relation, showed little interest.

In fact, she was too busy boasting to others about Wang Xiao day and night.

Feeling helpless and disheartened, Li Zhiming turned away and departed.

The primary reason for venturing to Xianthera was the rampant issue of Aether poisoning; its rapid infusion into human bloodstreams was catastrophic.

If people were allowed time to acclimate, the death toll might have been drastically reduced.

Wang Xiao was well aware of this fact, yet his actions suggested a chilling indifference.

Either he didn\'t care, or he desired a drastic reduction in the global population, as he took no steps to mitigate or slow the infusion of Aether.

By the end of 2027, over four billion lives were lost, leading to vast expenditures on corpse disposal and the creation of new graveyards.

This grim scenario turned funeral home operators into millionaires and multimillionaires almost overnight.

Penelope from Italy was one such visionary. She foresaw the surge in demand and amassed a colossal fortune, becoming the first billionaire in the funeral home industry.

She later retired, mysteriously disappearing from the public sphere in the subsequent years.

Amidst this chaos, the stock market collapsed, societal order was upended, and the very foundations of science had to be rethought.

The flora and fauna of the world began to mutate, and neither domestic nor wild animals were spared.

These mutations sometimes proved perilous, driving creatures into cities to hunt humans.

In response, the Deviants were introduced.

The surviving human population received tremendous benefits from Aether, akin to a life-saving drug, which extended the average human lifespan beyond a hundred years.

But with these benefits came drawbacks. The trees, the stones—nearly everything in the natural world—grew stronger, effectively neutralizing the enhanced strength of humans in one aspect.

It was as if everything in the world had suddenly received an upgrade.

Aether truly seemed magical, but it also corrupted many living beings who then needed to be managed.

To address this, the Deviants took on the role of special forces worldwide.

Existing Deviants trained select individuals from various special forces on how to harness Aether.

In return, the Deviants received not only fortune but also power and fame.

They secured high positions within special forces and were granted a significant degree of autonomy.

The Deviants were a breed apart, and even those who learned to use Aether could never match their powers.

The reason was that these Deviants had encountered death repeatedly throughout their lifetimes, experiencing it so often that they had transformed into something beyond mere monsters—to call them such would be an understatement.

Regardless, the Deviants evolved into mysterious figures, and it was decided that no further members would be added to their legion.

After all, adding more members meant sending more people to the Graveyard of Gods, which was now impossible since it lay in forbidden territory.

If the Deviants were mythical figures, akin to soulless monsters, then the Ghosts were like nameless spectral entities—monsters of a different kind.

The internet buzzed with talk of such beings, often described as if they were soulless.

The world was affected but began to heal and adapt quickly, this time far better than before.

Prometheus began to release some of its technology to the world, spurring rapid technological progress.

People also started to harness Aether for energy, resulting in significantly reduced pollution levels.

The world and society were changing, and in this new era, the major player became the Qing Dynasty!

The country formerly known as the second highest GDP nation in the world decided to return to its roots and renamed itself the Qing Dynasty.