"Hello, it’s been some time since we last met, right? Are you surprised to see me?"

"It has been one day. I did not miss you."

Shelly replied dryly to Madam Yao’s enthusiastic greeting. She rightfully did not like Madam Yao, but that did not seem to discourage her.

Behind Madam Yao was her transporter, who looked like she was about to keel over from exhaustion. Rin gestured for Amelia to help her out before the teleporter passed out.

Madam Yao gave Rin a smile but did not comment on it. Instead, she turned everyone’s attention to the problem at hand.

"Now that we are all here, let’s discuss the important matter. The reason I came here and brought Miss Serena with me is simple—it’s because I saw a great disaster in your future that we need to prevent at all costs."

Madam Yao sounded so certain that even Rin found it hard not to believe her.

There were not many times when Madam Yao did not look like she was playing around, and this was one of those times.

"You saw...a disaster? Can you tell us more about what you saw?"

Reina was the first one to snap out of it and ask the question. As always, she was the voice of reason in the group.

Madam Yao took a deep breath before walking toward the sofa and sitting down dramatically. She tugged Serena along with her and then folded her hands, resting her face on top of them.

"This is not easy for me to explain. Looking into the future is not like watching a movie. Most of what I see is bits and pieces of confusing information that I have to piece together. However, there was one thing that was very clear when I saw the future—the Guardian Deity going out of control and becoming a disaster."

That...was the single worst piece of news Rin could have heard.

"Woah! Then doesn’t that mean we shouldn’t hatch the Guardian Deity? If there’s a chance things could go wrong, then maybe it would be better to leave it alone—"

"No! You must hatch the Guardian Deity at all costs. I cannot explain it, but my instincts panic whenever I think about the Guardian Deity not hatching. So we must hatch it at all costs."

Madam Yao was Alex’s mother, so of course she wanted the best for her son’s soul. But her panic seemed to stem more from fear than from her desire to help Alex.

[Rookie, a new KPI is in progress.]

[KPI: Help the Guardian Egg hatch]

[Reward: One-time resurrection. Key to a special Skill.]

[Wow! Look at the higher-ups. They’re pulling out all the stops this time and giving such an OP reward. I’m jealous. This senior wants something like this as well.]

Even Rin felt stunned when he saw the reward.

One-time resurrection felt like a cheat code. But the fact that such an important ability had appeared meant that this mission would not be simple.

Then again, would it be better not to take it? It was not necessary to complete the KPI this time...

"Before you make any decision, just remember one thing—whether you choose to hatch Alex’s core or not could determine the future of this world. And I am not simply saying this as Alex’s mother, but as a leader of GBF. We are in no position to hesitate when it comes to gaining new power."

It was unfortunately true. Humanity was not in a position where it could afford to be picky about its powers.

The apocalypse had only just begun, and none of the truly dangerous tasks had even started yet. And still, survival was already difficult. It was impossible to tell how long humanity could endure like this.

"I understand what you’re trying to say. But isn’t it still too dangerous to try and hatch the egg—"

"It will be dangerous whether we hatch the egg or not. But hatching the egg will improve our odds of surviving in the future."

The certainty in Madam Yao’s voice was enough to convince anyone. And yet, the fact that she had been the one to first bring up the possibility of the Guardian Deity going out of control was concerning.

"Madam Yao, would you mind telling us what you saw in your vision?"

Madam Yao’s breath hitched and her words froze. It seemed like she did not want to speak about this topic.

And yet, she forced herself to continue.

"I saw...someone’s death. During the Guardian Deity’s hatching, someone will be impaled by the Guardian Deity and likely die. This is a future that refuses to change, no matter what I do. So I brought Miss Serena along with me in hopes of changing that future."

Madam Yao hesitated before finally telling the truth.

She seemed to know that someone would die as a result of this mission, and yet she could not bring herself to abandon it. Not only for humanity’s future, but for her own as well.

"Do you have any idea who will die?"

Rin asked calmly.

Madam Yao had confirmed that the future was not set in stone, so there had to be ways to change it. But to do that, Rin needed more details.

"I cannot say who will die yet. There was a lot of smoke, and it’s difficult to see the future clearly. But the fact that I can even see it must mean it is not yours, young master. Among everyone else, there is someone who will die. But I do know one thing for certain—Albus and Shelly will survive this."

Madam Yao sounded certain. It seemed she had seen something else during the vision as well.

That left Reina, Amelia, Madam Yao, and Serena.

"If the three of us are destined not to die, then wouldn’t it be best if only we went? Why bring Madam Yao and Miss Serena here?"

Madam Yao’s smile looked twisted, but the one who answered the question was Serena instead.

"I am here because Madam Yao asked me if I wanted to try dying. Honestly, the proposal baffled me enough that I found myself agreeing before I even realized what was happening."

Those words left everyone stunned. Even Rin did not know what to say after hearing something like that.