Nobita's Time Heist

"Prove that your friend is not an evil member of the Storm Clan."

……

"Just prove it, why dress like a thief? It's not like you're going to steal anything..."

It's no wonder he complained. In order to reach the so-called "holy land," Hylia led the two of them around the city first, and took out these two sets of clothes from a box in some unknown alley. Plain-colored robes and hoods, with coal dust handprints on the chest, and when worn, they emitted an unbearable smell of sweat, making one instinctively want to vomit.

"Wearing something like this before your gods? If I were him, I'd sentence you for utter disrespect!"

“The Fire Spirit is neither human nor a god. It has no five senses, so naturally it won’t care.” Hylia crouched down furtively, her face not showing any tension but rather a slight smile, as if she were playing a thrilling game of hide-and-seek. “I made you wear this to cover yourselves up. At this point, the whole city must be plastered with wanted posters for you. You have no choice but to hide.”

"Dao Xiong, please bear with it for now." Dekisugi must have felt bad too, but he still advised with a wry smile, "Once you see the Fire Spirit, you can clear up the misunderstanding."

"Helia is one thing, but Xiaoshan... do you really have such great faith in this 'Spirit of Fire'?" Da Xiong asked curiously. "Are you so sure that He will clear our names?"

“On the ‘Granting of Rings’ day, every elementalist must personally touch a stone pillar to allow the Fire Spirit to feel the elemental affinity within them. The number of rings awarded depends on how many pillars have bonfires lit up.” Unbeknownst to him, Izuki’s hand was already on the seven metal rings on his chest, his fingertips caressing them, and a look of longing and nostalgia appeared on his face.

“I can feel Him… an ancient and fervent consciousness dwelling within the flames. He didn’t speak to me, but merely cast a glance my way, and I felt a warmth rise within me. Da Xiong, I’m certain this isn’t my imagination!”

He nodded and said with absolute certainty, "There are many phenomena in this world that human science cannot explain, and the elemental power hidden here is one of them. Ancient life forms composed of elements do indeed exist."

"Trust in Him."

Chapter 107: Are people here divided into different classes from birth?

Up close, the nine magnificent stone pillars stand like pillars supporting the sky in the center of the sand, pointing straight to the clouds. No matter how you look at it, they exude a sense of domineering power.

Japanese man-made landscapes are generally designed to be "small and exquisite," fully showcasing the spirit of local craftsmanship and exhibiting a high level of sophistication. Upon unexpectedly seeing these nine imposing stone pillars, if he weren't pressed for time, he would have loved to stand there, examine them closely, and take a couple of photos.

At this moment, the three people dressed in black robes were still rushing towards the central stone pillar without stopping.

“A long, long time ago, my grandfather… or perhaps my great-grandfather? He was a traveler in the desert who happened to pass by this place and witnessed the battle between the Golden Villagers and the Mother Insect. It was described as an earth-shattering and exhilarating battle, with humans and insects clashing, and the power of the elements stirring up the wind and clouds, causing the sky to lose its color.”

"At the most critical moment of the battle, he took the initiative to dismantle his own golden palace, transforming it into these nine enormous stone pillars, permanently pinning the [super-large neural worm] created by the Mother of Insects into the ground."

"Thanks to his joining, the tide of battle, which was about to turn, was turned around again. The elementals won once more, and the berserk Mother of Insects was driven underground, never to see the light of day again. My ancestor lost a palace, but gained the love and respect of the Golden Land."

"They allowed him to stay in the Golden Land and granted him a very high social status. After the Fire Spirit's examination, it was discovered that he possessed an extraordinary affinity for the elements. Thus, everything proceeded so naturally that he became the true ruler of this secluded land."

"Ha...ha...wonderful, truly wonderful..." Nobita's stamina is still about the same as when he was in elementary school, only suitable for short-distance bursts of speed. But this holy land is surprisingly large. Don't be fooled by the fact that these nine stone pillars are enormous and seem to be right in front of you. To actually run to their base is equivalent to crossing two or three super-large stadiums.

This was a real ordeal for Nobita, who wasn't good at running.

"He made a pact with the Spirit of Fire, allowing the power of fire to reside in his bloodline, passed down from generation to generation, to protect this land forever. I guess that's why my elemental affinity is so strong... I was noticed by the ancient elemental will, which is why I reached the eighth ring level."

She tilted her head and looked at Dekisugi, who was also running but whose breathing was still even. "So, when I first saw that a foreigner actually possessed a seventh-ring elemental affinity, I was really surprised."

"Xiao Ying, do you know? If your talent could be bought, many people would be willing to go bankrupt for it."

……

Dekisugi didn't answer, but just gave an awkward smile.

"What's wrong?" Hylia seemed to sense something. "Was I wrong?"

"Huff...huff...Since...there are different levels of elemental affinity, that means..." Nobita was panting heavily, but the light emanating from behind his glasses was quite sharp, "The people here are divided into different classes from birth, right?"

Dekisugi's eyes quickly turned to him, first with surprise, then with a hint of admiration, as if he had found an internet mouth double.

"How could this be? This isn't..."

"In my opinion... ha... that's it, cough cough!" Nobita was almost exhausted from running, like in the game "Human: Fall Flat," his limbs felt weak, as if he had no bones. "The number of metal rings around a person's neck directly determines their social status. We live in the city, and we almost never see people with fewer than four rings, but there are definitely people who aren't very friendly, right? Where do these people live?"

Having said so much in one breath, he was so exhausted that he stood there with his hands on his hips, panting heavily. When Chu Mushan went to help him, he almost stumbled and fell.

"I can't take it anymore, Xiaoshan, let me rest for a while..."

"Honestly, Nobita-kun, you've always been like this since you were little." Dekisugi glanced back and said with a hint of helplessness, "He hasn't run that far, not even 500 meters yet."

"Five hundred meters?" Da Xiong's voice suddenly rose. "In a typical long-distance running test in physical education class, I would have already started walking by this distance."

"You can't even handle the basic amount of exercise!" Dekisugi supported him, trying to walk forward. "I really don't know how you manage to complete so many adventures."

"Maybe it's because I have a bamboo dragonfly. By the way, why can't I just fly there with the bamboo dragonfly? Why do I have to run on my feet?"

……

For a moment, Hylia, who was good at thinking, froze in place. Even though the target was right in front of her, she did not move an inch.

Those directly involved are often blinded by their own perspective. Many times, those who benefit from the rules become accustomed to them and overlook their inherent irrationality. When two outsiders so easily pointed this out, even the nominal ruler of Golden Township couldn't help but be bewildered.

There are different levels of social class.

Are people already divided into noble and lowly the moment they are born?

This shouldn't be the case; it's counterintuitive and illogical. At least on the level of the soul, there shouldn't be much difference. Humans are born from the earth and ultimately return to it. Religious texts also advocate viewing the human soul as the "final element," returning to some unseen, ancient place. There, everyone will sink into a peaceful, long dream.

That sounds wonderful enough.

But is that really the case?

The reality is that in this land, people from the Seventh Ring Road have more influence than those from the Sixth Ring Road. If someone from the Sixth Ring Road stands, someone from the Fifth Ring Road dares not sit down. If someone from the Fifth Ring Road tries to cut in line, someone from the Fourth Ring Road has no choice but to move to the back. As for those below the Fourth Ring Road… they are not even qualified to attend any large events; they can only use their meager elemental power to provide some daily labor in order to earn even more meager wages.

Even the foundation of her uncrowned reign was an eight-ring structure, unique in the entire city.

But is there really any "fairness" in a social model where something predetermined from birth dictates one's life for decades to come?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Nobita." After thinking for a long time, Hylia spoke up, "I..."

"careful!"

A glint flashed in his eyes. With his sharpshooter's instincts, Nobita realized that danger was approaching. He quickly turned around, tackled Hylia to the ground, and dodged an ice spike that grazed her neck.

Behind the stone pillar, a bustling crowd emerged, clearly having been waiting for some time.

……

“The cunning Lan Clan, as expected, have split into multiple groups.” Gendry parted the crowd and stepped forward slowly, his expression suggesting he had anticipated this. “The group from the Great Library was just bait to distract us, wasn’t it? Your real goal is to invade the sacred grounds of the Golden City and steal the Spirit of Fire!”

"Wait a minute, can that thing really be stolen?" Nobita was completely confused, feeling utterly bewildered. "I thought it was some kind of abstract concept, and even if it had a physical form, it should be something like a ball of fire..."

"Remove the ice element from your hands!" Hylia removed her hood, revealing her signature long, light blue hair, and declared in a stern voice, "This is a misunderstanding, they are not members of the Storm Clan!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

It was clear that Gendry was truly shocked; his icy blue pupils were trembling violently. He had not anticipated Hylia's sudden appearance.

but……

Yet no one did as she commanded, removing the elements from their hands.

Chapter 107: The Gentle Kiss of Wind and Snow

Perhaps... we should be happy?

In this social structure where elemental affinity is everything, this is the first time we've witnessed the "lower class" rebelling against the "upper class." Although it's a silent rebellion, it's still deafening, representing a significant step forward in the exploration of humanism. Elemental affinity is not absolute; there are other things that supersede it, enough to influence people's criteria for judgment.

Unfortunately, that kind of thing is called hatred.

The invasion of the Golden City by the Storm Clan occurred long before the arrival of their ancestor, Hylia. For this clan, this painful past event remained merely a record in books. They might be able to control everything in the city through their pact with the Fire Spirit and the high elemental affinity inherited in their bloodline, but they were ultimately powerless against it.

A lack of empathy can lead to incorrect predictions.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

“Lady Hylia, they are remnants of the Storm Clan! You have been deceived by them using other means!” Gendry’s eyes were filled with resentment as he looked at Izumi. “How could a true foreigner learn our language in just two weeks? His companions are even more outrageous; they didn’t even need to learn it, they could speak it right away. Don’t you find that strange?”

"How could a complete novice learn advanced knowledge about elemental applications so quickly? It's all fake, a scam. He knew some basics from the beginning. He infiltrated from the outside, pretending to learn and live with us. His purpose is nothing more than this!"

Gendry raised his hand and pointed to the top of the stone pillar, saying loudly, "Lan Clan, times have changed! A thousand years have passed, and torrential rains have come and gone many times. Golden Township has absorbed the strengths of many schools of thought and is no longer what it used to be. It is no longer a weakling that you can trample on and deceive at will!"

"Are you deaf or what?" Da Xiong felt a sense of powerlessness as he watched him get more and more excited. "I've already said it, we are not Lan Clan people at all. You've got it wrong, and you've got it completely wrong, you know? Your real enemy is right here!"

He stomped his foot on the ground and said in a deep voice, "Every minute we waste on internal strife allows the insects underground to evolve more perfectly. Your city is built on top of an insect hive. Can't you understand such a simple truth?"

"..."

Gendry watched him from afar. In the extremely oppressive atmosphere, his icy blue pupils gradually shrank, emitting a chilling light.

"I should have stuck to my opinion that night... and let you freeze to death in the desert!"

With this declaration of utterly abandoning all pretense of civility as the signal, both sides ceased all restraint and immediately began to tear each other apart. Faced with the various elemental attacks launched at her, Hylia instinctively raised her hand, a burst of blazing flame brewing in her small palm. Before she could fire it, Nobita slammed her head against him with his shoulder!

"what!"

The little girl was very thin; even Nobita, who had just regained his strength, was able to knock her over with a single bump. Perhaps she hadn't controlled her strength properly, because with a scream, Hylia immediately fell to the ground and couldn't get up.

"……What?!"

On the other side, Gendry's pupils dilated once again as something he couldn't comprehend occurred to him.

Whether it was fire, light, or lightning powerful enough to scorch everything, every attack that struck the dancing red cloak was gently deflected and veered in another direction. The seemingly thin layer of cloth became an impenetrable defensive line against the foreigners.

I have never seen such magic before, no, it is not even theoretically possible.

If the Lan Clan's mastery of elemental magic has truly reached this level...

"Lord Gendry!"

His companions' exclamations brought him back to reality. He saw the bespectacled foreigner waving a red cloak in one hand and holding a gun in the other, charging forward despite being outnumbered many times over!

He wasn't running too fast, but his gun was anything but slow. After a few steps, his cloak deflected all attacks, and his right hand spun the gun, firing several shots almost simultaneously. The bullets that spewed from the muzzle were different from the projectiles they were used by foreigners; they were some kind of high-pressure liquid. They didn't harm people when they hit them, but they would stick them to the spot, rendering them unable to move.

They had never seen such a highly viscous liquid before, and were momentarily at a loss, not knowing what to do.

Gendry himself nearly got hit by the adhesive liquid, but in the time it took to turn his head, Nobita's side fired more than ten shots in quick succession, not missing a single one. Across the vast crowd, two pairs of eyes met, and Gendry quickly understood how this farce would ultimately unfold.

"The Lan Clan..."

His jaw clenched tightly, and wind and snow howled between his palms, forming a cold vortex carrying ice crystals. He intentionally thickened the snowflakes, forming thin yet sharp crystals, and then used the vortex of wind to repeatedly accelerate them, creating an effect comparable to a meat grinder in such a small area between his palms.

With one foot touching the ground, several weapons formed from icy ice materialized behind him.

On this scorching sandy land, Gendry is one of the few "ice sorcerers" who can skillfully control the cold element, which makes his attacks seem unique. When the blades formed from ice turned around and fired a volley at Nobita, a cold wind did indeed hit him, forcing him to keep waving his red cloak to deflect these sharp blades that were enough to cut through flesh.

"Hatred will never disappear; it is the most enduring thing in the world. Thousands of years later, the words on the stone will weather into ashes, but the deep-seated hatred in our blood will still exist!"

Gendry's icy blue pupils widened suddenly, catching a rather obvious flaw in that wide, sweeping movement.

"The blood feud that led to our land..."

"Let them pay with their blood!"

Bending over, leaning forward, stretching out your arms.

"call out----!"

After three simple movements, Gendry hurled the vortex of wind, coated in ice crystals, into the air. A piercing shriek followed as the wind projectile, accelerated by multiple propulsions, traced a straight line through the air. Without any hesitation, it struck Nobita squarely in the face!

……

……

……

The sharp ice crystals transformed back into soft snowflakes just before touching Nobita's skin. They brushed gently against his cheek with the soft breeze, like a tender kiss from a young girl.

To everyone's astonishment, the hood that had been covering his head was blown off by the wind, revealing Nobita's face. His expression was still somewhat confused, as if he couldn't understand why he was completely unharmed despite the Rasengan hitting him in the face.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"boom------!!!"

The next instant, the nine stone pillars standing tall in the sacred ground simultaneously spewed out flames. This scene was quite shocking. Without any prior warning, these divine artifacts, which stood on the sand and were said to suppress a giant worm, suddenly roared as a whole, like awakened beasts.

Perhaps, viewed from the sky, they appear to be nothing more than nine small matchsticks. However, viewed from the ground, these nine stone pillars are colossal structures reaching to the heavens. Simultaneously spewing flames upwards, they cause the sand and stones at their base to tremble violently. The immense power of fire elemental energy converges from the nine bright flames into a single, visible blazing inferno, comparable to a second sun rising out of nowhere.

When fire, light, and heat converge, the concentration of elemental energy in the air instantly explodes, filling everyone's bodies to a point where it is so vast and indistinguishable from anything else. Those who have devoted their entire lives to pursuing elemental energy naturally kneel beneath this blazing fire, tears streaming from their eyes.

The Spirit of Fire, the embodiment of the fire element, once again displayed His divine power after a long time.

The outline, resembling a child, was constantly being constructed and gradually took shape in the heart of the flames.

Chapter 108: So... you are Nobita Nobi?

"This...this could be..."

Actually, with Dekisugi's intelligence, the answer was already in his mind the moment he asked the question. He just felt incredulous and bewildered, to the point that the way he looked at Nobita was somewhat different from usual.

The fact that seven pillars of fire rose on its own ring of light was enough to shake the entire audience.

And now… all nine pillars of fire rose, the entire Golden Land trembled, and even the elementalists who were originally on the enemy's side forgot to fight. Everyone's attention was drawn to the rising wheel of fire, as if in a dream.

"The highest level of elemental affinity?!" Hylia looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at a rare animal, exclaiming, "I've only ever seen something like this once in a historical journal, just once! I thought it was made up!"

"Besides Jaqen Helma, there really is another human being favored by the 'Spiritual Tide'? This... this is a discovery of the century, a living encyclopedia of the elements! Theoretically speaking, given enough time to study and enough understanding, he could master all the elements in the world, even the 'last element'..."