Deviant: No Longer Human

Whoosh!

In a flash, Wang Xiao was at his side, his movement so swift it was almost a blur.

He intended to snatch the phone away before Li Zhiming could do anything, but the image on the screen stopped him cold.

His eyes locked onto the photo displayed on the phone, a mix of recognition and disbelief washing over him.

Li Zhiming watched, the device still in his trembling hand, as Wang Xiao stared at the photo, the implications of this discovery etched into every line of his face.

Li Zhiming's confirmation sent a shockwave through the room. 'The red eyes, the same name... It's him.'

Shoosh!

In an instant, Wang Xiao had the phone in his hand, retreating to his original position. Holding up the device, he demanded, "Explain this!" The foreign script on the screen was indecipherable to him, but the images were clear enough.

Li Zhiming, his voice tinged with panic, stammered out an explanation. "W-We recently realized that there might actually be eight Guardians, not just seven. The images you're holding... they were circulated by Prometheus, not just to us but to every major organization worldwide, each accompanied by a substantial bounty. The whole world is abuzz; bounties are being placed as we speak."

He took a shaky breath, his eyes flickering between Wang Xiao and the phone. "One of the pictures... it resembles you." Li Zhiming's voice was a mere whisper now. "The other is a girl with distinctive hair... We were instructed by Prometheus to report immediately if we found you. To capture you if possible.

And this directive has the backing of all seven new Guardians. They want you, dead or alive."

"Right now, you're the — Most wanted man on the planet."

Wang Xiao's mind raced as he absorbed Li Zhiming's words. "But why?" he murmured, his fingers tapping a consistent rhythm against the phone.

The idea that he, or this mysterious girl, could be connected to something as monumental as the eighth Guardian was almost ludicrous.

And yet...

Li Zhiming hesitated under Wang Xiao's intense gaze, but the pressure of that stare compelled him to speak. "Our theory is that you and the girl might hold the key to the identity of the eighth Guardian. There's even a possibility that one of you—or both—could actually be the eighth Guardian. This is unprecedented, and we're still investigating whether a continent ever had more than one Guardian."

Wang Xiao fell silent, his mind a whirlpool of thoughts.

Amusement tinged his contemplation. The idea of being powerful enough to challenge the world, to stand alongside beings of legend, seemed far-fetched. 'Could I really survive an onslaught of modern weaponry, much less wield the power of a mythical Guardian? Haha ... Would these Guadians be able withstand a nuclear strike?'

His thoughts drifted to the girl with peculiar hair, the one who shared his captivity. 'Is there a link between her and the whale attack? Could she... be the eighth Guardian? But she seemed so young, so helpless. And where did she disappear to that day?'

The realization that he was being pulled into something far grander and more dangerous than anything he'd imagined settled heavily upon him.

The world around him had changed, or perhaps it had always been this way, and he was just now seeing it for what it was.

Either way, he was now a part of it, willingly or not.

Wang Xiao's gaze hardened.

Regardless of his doubts and the uncertainty of his role in thisdrama, one thing was clear: he was in the eye of a storm that spanned the globe, and the choices he made from here on out would shape not just his destiny, but potentially that of the world itself.

Yet, the choice had already been made....

'If they want to find me, let them come,' he decided to teach them a good lesson.

However, Wang Xiao's initial resolve to confront his pursuers head-on shifted as Yin Yue cautioned him. Her reminder was a cold splash of reality against the heat of his thoughts.

[You should not act impulsively. It's better to avoid attracting the attention of the existing Guardians. While these new Guardians may not match the original ones in strength, their capabilities are still unknown. And attracting the attention of hell spirits worldwide would turn your life into a nightmare.]

Her words resonated with Wang Xiao, his expression sobering. His encounter with Jake on Fairy Island had been a stark demonstration that there were forces out there far beyond his current understanding.

".... Tell me about Prometheus, Pantheon, and the other major players. I want to understand the top structure of this world," he asked, his tone carrying a hint of detachment, as if viewing the world from a different vantage point.

As Li Zhiming prepared to respond, Wang Xiao settled into a posture of keen attentiveness. 'If they suspect me to be an original Guardian, I might as well play the part to some extent.' This was a game of information and power, and he needed to understand the rules and the players if he was to come out on top of it successfully.

Gasp!

Li Zhiming took a deep breath, and glanced at Wang Xiao with a new sense of awe and apprehension. 'He's not one of the Deviants. He could very well be the first original Guardian — the eighth Guardian.'

This thought alone was enough to shift the dynamics of their conversation.

The memory of the catastrophic event in the Atlantic Ocean two years ago, which he now suspected was connected to the Guardians, played in his mind.

He had seen the footage, witnessed the display of power that defied comprehension. 'If such forces are at play, what chance does humanity stand against them?'

The legends of the original Guardians had always portrayed them as god-like, revered and feared.

Although the new Guardians sought a similar status, they never commanded the same level of reverence.

The difference was stark and undeniable.

Now, facing what he believed to be an original Guardian, Li Zhiming's demeanor changed.

Gone was the cautious, measured tone of an spy.

In its place was a voice laced with respect and a hint of fear.

With meticulous detail and no longer withholding any information, Li Zhiming began to explain the current global power structure, the roles of Prometheus and the Pantheon, and the intricate web of alliances and conflicts that shaped the world.

His words were careful, chosen with the understanding that any falsehood might provoke the wrath of the being before him.

Wang Xiao listened, his demon-like red eyes intently focused on Li Zhiming.