The air in the residential district of the New Federation's capital was thick with the scent of blooming spirit herbs and the constant hum of low-level cosmic energy.
Noah walked down the street, his presence masked so perfectly that even a Legend-level being would perceive him as nothing more than a common civilian. He wore a simple hoodie, his hands tucked into his pockets.
For the first time in a very long while, Noah felt a faint flutter of something human in his chest.
Nervousness.
He was only a few blocks away from his parents' new home. He could sense their life signatures clearly. Silver-level, healthy, steady, and vibrant.
Noah took a step forward, his foot hovering just above the pavement.
Then the world went silent.
It was not a physical silence, but a structural one. The fundamental laws of space and gravity for miles around seemed to tighten and groan, as if the planet itself were bracing for impact.
Then the vibration began.
