Great, we're doomed now!

Actually, the system card also has an option for women, and its effect is very close to "charm," but Ye Shou did not choose it for the sake of efficiency.

Having more or more complicated relationships with women isn't necessarily better. Ye Shou is quite troubled by this, so he should probably exercise some restraint.

However, he underestimated his own charm. Even without his special smile, he was very attractive to the opposite sex, at least enough to make them lower their guard and develop a liking for him.

'Looks like I can't smile at the opposite sex so easily anymore.'

—This is what Ye Shou thought to himself.

Yu Sha Lei didn't notice his strangeness. The priestess found a relatively flat stone, brushed off the dust, and sat down. Then, she gently touched her wrist, and a bracelet made of fine runes appeared, emitting a cold light that shone into the void, playing video data like a movie screen.

"Now that you've obtained the 'trigger' and personally experienced its immense power, there's nothing left to hide from you... It all started with the [Eternal Core], the entity that maintains the balance of the universe..."

You Sha Lei first introduced the importance of the [Eternal Core] to Ye Shou, and also mixed in some religious words. Although Ye Shou already knew about it, he still pretended to listen carefully and nodded from time to time.

"...Although Earth is not the geographical center of the universe, the existence of the [Eternal Core] makes it the most special among billions of planets. Since ancient times, countless evil forces have reached out to the Milky Way in search of a powerful force that can rule the universe."

Yu Shalei paused, then said with a mixture of pride and emotion, "Our ancestors were the first to find the [Eternal Core], but they did not misuse it. Realizing its importance, they decided to protect it, and their descendants must guard this secret for generations to come, ensuring that no one with malicious intent obtains the [Eternal Core]!"

Ye Shou nodded upon hearing this, then looked up at the sky: "It seems you're not having an easy time?"

“…There are far too many evil forces coveting the [Eternal Core].” You Sha Lei couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

The ancient civilization (who call themselves "Guardians") possesses highly advanced technology, ranking among the best in the entire universe. Moreover, perhaps due to their long period of interaction with the Eternal Core, many of their members have awakened superpowers, with the most outstanding even possessing the ability to communicate with monsters.

Yusa Lei is like that; she not only possesses powerful psychic abilities but also has the ability to communicate across races.

But no matter how strong they are, they are fighting against the entire universe!

It's not just evil forces that covet the Eternal Core; some neutral, even mild and friendly, aliens sometimes come to Earth to "hunt for treasure"—this is OnePiece in the Triga universe!

To take it to an even more extreme point, even within humanity, not everyone supports Yusa Lei and her group…

From another person's perspective, it's easy to see the Guardians as "beneficiaries who monopolize the [Eternal Core]," who are not only unwilling to share this infinite energy with others, but also prevent anyone from researching it, or even getting close to it.

Over time, the guardians declined and were forced to "hide" the Eternal Core.

This sparked a treasure hunt craze!

Human scientists, kings, adventurers, aliens from outer space, monsters drawn by energy, and even traitors from within...

Despite facing so many challenges, the guardians remained unwavering!

Just like what Yusa Rei said to Carmilla before:

These guys have no idea what they're doing!

The Eternal Core is indeed powerful, but it is by no means an easy energy source to develop.

Unlike oil or coal, which lie quietly underground waiting to be discovered, it is inherently more violent and elusive... like a flame.

The Eternal Core can be likened to a volcano or a nuclear bomb, but it's not in a standby state; it's erupting!

It's not about preventing others from using it, but rather that this thing is inherently unusable. If you're not careful, even a slight explosion could trigger a chain reaction and cause a cosmic-level crisis!

Whether they are aliens or monsters, they all believe they have the ability to control the [Eternal Core], but in reality...

However, even with this explanation from the guardians, it was useless. Ambitious individuals continued to emerge, and the Earth's environment became increasingly harsh, to the point that it was no longer suitable for human habitation.

It was at this moment that the truly formidable enemy, whom the guardians were unable to resist, appeared—

The "Dark Giant" has appeared.

The three giants, led by Carmilla, are of mysterious and unknown origin. Their combat power far exceeds that of ordinary monsters, and each of them can destroy an interstellar civilization. They are definitely not beings that Earth can contend with.

Fortunately, Carmilla and her two companions were born from pure "darkness" and did not possess evil intentions from the beginning. They were only interested in the [Eternal Core] and had no ill will towards humans—or rather, they didn't care, just like they would treat roadside ants.

(Of the trio, only Hitram enjoys killing; the other two each have their own obsessions, but none share this perverse hobby.)

So instead of starting a massacre, they offered humanity a "fair" deal:

By handing over the Eternal Core to them, Carmilla, who will receive this power, will rule the Earth, regard humans as her servants, and protect them from aliens and monsters.

This was a natural development in Carmilla's eyes. As an Ultraman with a natural queenly aura, she had a strong possessive desire and would not allow others to covet what was hers. Therefore, it was only natural for her to defeat the monsters that invaded Earth.

Turning humans into her companions was the "grace" she bestowed. After all, among so many civilizations in the universe, only humanity has this blessing, and this is only because of the [Eternal Core].

In fact, quite a few humans chose to worship the Dark Trio, even establishing a vast nation and building magnificent temples for them, and indeed, they were no longer invaded by monsters.

—However, the "Guardians" were the only ones who refused.

“I can understand those humans who have sided with Carmilla. It’s normal to seek out powerful figures to rely on in this apocalypse… But no matter what they choose, our mission as ‘Guardians’ will not change. That is to ensure that the [Eternal Core] is not used by anyone!”

You Shalei's firm tone made Ye Shou glance at her.

So he tentatively asked, "You haven't tried it at all? It's just... borrowing it temporarily."

"No."

Yu Shalei shook her head: "The [Eternal Core] is a super energy source that has existed since the beginning of the universe. It is like a microcosm, and its properties include both light and darkness, achieving an extremely perfect balance."

Using its power is like removing weights from one side of a balance scale; the slightest imbalance will cause the scale to tip, and without restraint, the entire scale could collapse.

"balance……"

“That’s right, balance is the most important thing, and that is also the mission of our Guardian race.”

This is also why You Sha Lei isn't afraid of Ye Shou, who is a dark giant.

Because the Guardians have discerned the essence of the universe, which is the balance between light and darkness. These two forces are themselves without consciousness, and there is no distinction between good and evil. What truly causes everything to change and distinguishes between good and bad is always the "human heart".

In Yusa's view, even Carmilla wasn't an absolute villain; she was more like an arrogant queen. It was just that her immense power meant that every decision she made had a significant impact on the world.

"Several great battles were fought over the [Eternal Core], which caused many fragments to fly out. Fortunately, it did not go out of control... The largest of these fragments was called the 'Trigger'."

You Sha Lei couldn't help but glance at Ye Shou: "The guardians have been collecting fragments generation after generation, firmly believing that as long as they are restored to their original state, the core will be able to conceal itself and calm down the energy fluctuations."

This way, it can be sealed away forever, and no one will know where the entrance is.

After saying that, she looked at Ye Shou pitifully...

The man thought for a moment, then reached into his private space and pulled out a red gemstone that was half covered with obsidian.

"Of course I can return it to you, but I have another question."

As Ye Shou handed the stone to You Shalei, he asked the question that concerned him most—

Where is the "protagonist"?

"Do you know someone named Triga from the Dark Giants?"

"Huh? I don't know, I've never heard of anyone with that name..."

As You Sha Lei held up the stone, she felt relieved and nodded gratefully to Ye Shou, half-jokingly saying:

"Speaking of 'Trigger,' the only thing I know is this 'Trigger.'"

“A pun will cost you money! You can’t exactly call him Trigger Ultraman.”

Ye Shou smiled and shook his head, then—

【Ding! 】

[Destiny Coins +5 (Trigger Ultraman)]!

He immediately stopped laughing.

Chapter 426: The Fog is Coming (4K)

Ye Shou followed You Shalei into a futuristic city. The towering metal buildings and wide streets impressed Ye Shou. This city was built 30 million years earlier than the cities of later generations, but its layout was even cleaner and more beautiful than cities in the 21st century.

However, compared to this advanced technology, people's lifestyles seem quite out of place:

There were few automated vehicles on the streets, and most pedestrians walked, dressed in simple gray cloth. The overall style was consistent, with only differences in details such as patterns and cuffs, which contrasted sharply with the surrounding scenery.

Occasionally, a silver-haired clergyman dressed in a black robe and wearing a hood would walk by, and passersby would stop and bow in respect, creating a solemn atmosphere.

—Not everyone in the ancient times had silver hair. This seems to be an external manifestation of the awakening of superpowers, and most of those who possess this ability would become priests.

Yu Shalei changed into the same black robe and covered most of her face with the hood, leading Ye Shou through the streets and alleys without making a sound.

It's worth mentioning that if you lift the hem of her robe, you'll find that the inside is white—it's a long robe with two colors, inside and out.

In this way, if you wear it normally, you become a "Guardian," and if you wear it differently, you become a "Dark Priest," allowing you to move freely in any human city!

Carmilla sometimes wonders why, despite having many human followers, the Guardians are rarely detected among them... But sometimes the truth is quite simple.

An invisible telepathic communication was directly transmitted into Ye Shou's mind:

"This city is called Canaan. It was built by humans who sided with the Dark Trio and is under the jurisdiction of the Mighty Warrior Dagon."

Dagon himself neither likes nor is good at governing his territory, so he usually lets things run wild. He only comes out to drive away monsters when they approach, and he hardly cares about anything else, rarely even showing his face.

Because staying inside the city would protect them from monster attacks, a large number of people gathered there.

She paused, then continued, "Dagon likes to roam and hunt, and rarely stays in his own territory. If we're lucky, we won't run into him."

"I thought you were going to take me to the Guardians' territory, how did we end up in the Dark Giants' city?"

"Before this city was built, there was a secret temple here that guarded the fragments of the [Eternal Core], which should now be buried... It must be recovered."

Yu Shalei frowned, looking preoccupied: "The [Eternal Core] has become increasingly active lately, and the energy emanating from the gap is gradually becoming undeniable. If this continues, its location will be discovered sooner or later... Until then, to reseal it, we need to rely on the power of these fragments, especially the 'trigger'."

"So you trust me quite a bit." Ye Shou smiled. "Such an important matter, shouldn't you at least keep something from me?"

"Since we're already friends, we shouldn't hide it from each other."

Yu Sha Lei said seriously, "Besides, I can't play hide-and-seek with the Dark Giant by myself. I need to rely on your strength, so naturally I have to show my sincerity."

"Hmm~" Ye Shou nodded, his expression softening considerably, showing his approval of You Shalei's approach.

...Because of You Sha Lei's divine status, the two did not encounter any obstacles during their actions, and no one came up to question them. You Sha Lei was able to make contact with her clansmen who had been lost there without any problems.

Upon learning that the fragment was still in their hands and had not been taken by the Dark Giant, You Sha Lei was overjoyed!

The two turned into a quiet alley, at the end of which was an inconspicuous little tavern. You Sha Lei pushed open the door and entered. Several clansmen, also dressed in black robes, were already waiting inside. Upon seeing her, they immediately bowed in greeting.

—Although You Shalei is young, she holds the highest status among those present.

Without much pleasantries, they quickly verified her identity and eagerly took out the box containing the fragments, handing it to You Shalei. At that moment of formal handover, a look of relief even crossed their faces.

Ye Shou found it strange, but after a moment's thought, he understood:

The seal itself is not permanent, and ordinary superpowered individuals cannot conceal the energy fluctuations of the [Eternal Core]. Once the aura is leaked, it will attract dark giants or monsters, making it a ticking time bomb.

Moreover, holding the fragments in their hands means they are constantly facing temptations, since absorbing the fragments would immediately grant them immense power, which is undoubtedly an extremely tempting option in the current environment.

One wrong move and they could break the family’s time-honored teachings… no wonder they behave this way.