The Glorious Evolution Chapter 443: Always.

Once the three teams concluded their pillaging, they were promptly returned to the SAS Headquarters within the World Tree via a portal. The CSR Platform diligently prioritized the safety of its Rifters post-game, acutely aware that the Raiders' exact positions were publicly exposed.

Had it not been for their protective measures, Bishop Na’thir would have undoubtedly dispatched the Hound and his elite forces to lie in wait at each base, setting a trap for them.

The instant Levi and his companions traversed the dimensional threshold, a monumental wave of applause and jubilant shouts engulfed their ears. Before them unfolded a vast expanse of civilians and Daywalkers, filling their entire visual field as their unified voices ascended in a deafening roar of triumph.

From the ground floor to the highest branches, the rooftops, the windows, and even those suspended in the sky – it was as if the entire headquarters had declared a national holiday to partake in the revelry.

"Just offer a smile and a wave… make their day."

Dominic materialized beside them, his face alight with a broad, satisfied grin.

Upon hearing this, Arthur immediately stepped forward, striking a pose with his muscles flexed, reminiscent of a Mr. Olympia contestant. However, the crowd's elation had reached its zenith, rendering them utterly incapable of feeling any awkwardness towards his display.

The masses showered him with adoration, fueling Arthur's celebratory fervor. He proceeded to shed his shirt, vault onto the railing, and bask in the spotlight with closed eyes and a look of pure contentment.

Nurah, Shia, and the recently recovered Jojo simply offered him eye-rolls, choosing to let him have his moment.

"He's fortunate I'm still too weak," Jojo muttered irritably.

Although Levi had been instrumental in restoring the majority of her depleted Lifeforce, she still perceived her energy reserves as precariously low. The depletion of Lifeforce consistently incurred severe and lingering repercussions.

Before long, Arthur found himself supplanted from the center of attention the moment the throng's focus shifted to the captain, who stood at the rear, a picture of serene, quiet contentment.

They understood him to be a man of few words, someone who, if not compelled, would depart with a simple gesture.

"A speech… really."

Levi offered a wry smile as the chants intensified, even noting the presence of Tyrese’s and Evangeline’s squads joining the enthusiastic chorus.

"One cannot fault them…"

Dominic chuckled, draping an arm across Levi’s shoulders. He then guided Levi towards the front, with Arthur having cleared a path for his brother.

"You've bestowed upon them something more profound than mere hope… you've gifted them a tangible future they can grasp," Dominic declared, his gaze sweeping over the ecstatic crowd, whose eyes gleamed with an ineffable light.

Hearing this, Levi found himself unable to dissent, even if he had wished to. He could sense the collective frequencies of everyone present resonating on a similar emotional plane.

His perception of the world was bathed in a gentle, rosy luminescence – a radiant aura of unwavering trust and blossoming affection emanating directly from their souls.

They all placed their faith in him to guide the coming generation toward a realm marked by diminished suffering, a sanctuary of peace… a world reclaimed as their own.

Such immense weight carried within those gazes possessed the power to incapacitate anyone under its pressure – the pressure of being perceived as a Hero, a Leader… a Savior.

Nevertheless, Levi remained resolute, his heart having become impervious to easy emotional sway due to the harsh ordeals inflicted by the pervasive corruption.

Yet, despite the coolness of his emotions, he stepped forward, meeting their gazes with a gentle smile. He then raised his hand, and an immediate hush fell over the assembled crowd.

Regardless of whether they were ordinary citizens or Solarbound Daywalkers, all held him in a significantly higher regard following their witnessing of his prowess during the Faction War.

"First and foremost," Levi began, his solemn voice resonating across the entire plaza as if amplified by an unseen speaker, "I implore everyone to bow their heads for a moment of solemn reflection. We must pay homage to the valiant Daywalkers who made the ultimate sacrifice in this conflict: Blake, Michael, and Nadal."

Tyrese and Evangeline were the vanguard in lowering their heads, their respective teams following suit, and then the entire multitude. The sorrow of losing their comrades had never truly left them; they had merely suppressed their grief until the appropriate time for mourning had arrived.

After a prolonged, somber minute had passed, Levi raised his head and offered a subtle nod.

"Our mourning is complete. Now, we must honor their memory by flourishing and proving that their sacrifice was not in vain. We shall demonstrate to the cosmos that we are more than mere survivors clinging to the faint luminescence of divine pillars; today, we signify the dawn of our grand ascent."

Levi drew a deep breath, his tone undergoing a transformation into something far more determined and commanding.

"This hard-won victory is but a prelude to greater triumphs. I pledge to you, here and now: the Great Campaign belongs to us to seize!"

As his final words resonated, a thunderous, symphonic roar erupted from the assembled multitude, causing the very foundations of the World Tree to tremble!

"Belongs to us!" they echoed in a unified, deafening chant that swallowed the whistling winds of the southern pole. "Belongs to us!"

The words transformed into a chorus of shared aspirations, their resonance bouncing off the formidable walls, verdant branches, and lush leaves... For a brief moment longer, Levi observed them as the gentle pink radiance of their synchronized frequencies grew in intensity, ultimately overwhelming his perception of frequencies with their profound devotion!

He could sense it clearly... every single member of the SAS Headquarters had pledged their allegiance to safeguard their world, no matter the cost.

This level of dedication to their home filled him with immense satisfaction, making him feel as though he was not isolated in this crucial battle.

"A truly magnificent speech."

Dominic offered a subtle smile as he placed a hand on Levi's back before turning to address his comrades and the other two squads.

"For the very first time in recorded history, we humans are no longer the ones cowering in fear of the impending Great Campaign. Following this tournament, every single nightcrawler nest leader must be experiencing a severe case of cold sweats at the mere thought of confronting you," Dominic declared with a wide grin, his pristine white teeth flashing in the subdued illumination. "And that fills me with an unparalleled delight."

Upon hearing this, Arthur, Tyrese, and the others erupted in laughter... They were fully aware that the Nightcrawlers’ Nests harbored more apprehension towards the formidable Levi and Jasmine than the entire group collectively. Nevertheless, the knowledge that they had successfully instilled a seed of dread within their adversaries' hearts meant the world to them.

After all, Dominic had previously emphasized the profound significance of participating in this event; winning it would serve as a potent declaration to the entirety of the nightcrawlers beyond Earth's borders.

Invade our home, and you will find yourselves ensnared in the crosshairs of our formidable Raiders!

***

The Dawn of a New Day...

The vibrant excitement had somewhat ebbed within the World Tree as individuals needed to return to their respective duties... This was more critical than ever, especially with Earth on the cusp of a monumental population surge, fueled by the viral dissemination of event highlights across the Dimensional Sector.

As for Levi, Arthur, and the girls? They had already meticulously prepared all necessary provisions for their relocation to Jasmine’s established territory.

Madam Naima, Hicham, Jojo’s esteemed Grandfather, and Madam Blackthorn made individual visits to the World Tree subsequent to receiving news of their children's impending departure. None of them voiced any objection to this decision, understanding the perilous reality that Earth could no longer guarantee their safety.

While the girls cherished their final moments with their families, Levi and Arthur found a secluded spot atop the World Tree's highest leaf, having secured the necessary consent from Dominic.

The crisp morning air at the World Tree's apex was invigoratingly thin, offering a breathtaking, expansive vista of the southern polar peaks piercing through a vast expanse of pristine snow.

"So, the Boundless Expanse..." Arthur finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with a palpable blend of apprehension and eager curiosity. "It entails more than just subsequent games and divine pillars, doesn't it?"

"Indeed not," Levi responded, his gaze cast resolutely into the encompassing darkness. "Consider Earth as a mere island, Arthur. The Boundless Expanse represents the true, unfathomable ocean... It is a realm where entire civilizations and prestigious Noble Houses originate from a solitary being, one who valiantly ascended to the zenith of the Platforms."

Arthur's countenance brightened with a glimmer of hope, captivated by such an ambitious vision.

"The Nocturnal Ring... what if we were to join?" Arthur inquired with a touch of wistful longing. "Do you believe we could establish the Larson Noble House and extend our parents' magnanimous legacy far beyond the confines of our home planet?"

Levi turned his head, observing the guileless expression adorning his younger brother's face... then, a soft chuckle escaped him as he conveyed telepathically, 'I am, in fact, already a noble.'

'Eh?' Arthur's features contorted in surprise. 'What do you mean by that?'

'How can you be so remarkably slow?' Levi's eyebrows twitched in mild exasperation. 'Did you not find it even remotely worthwhile to conduct a network search for me and ascertain if I had already affiliated with the Nocturnal Ring?'

'And why would I undertake such an action?' Arthur countered with a casual shrug. 'If you wish for me to be privy to information, you would undoubtedly convey it directly... Conversely, if you choose not to, then there must exist a valid justification.'

Levi offered a wry smile, fully comprehending that his younger brother never felt compelled to delve into matters pertaining to him, stemming from an unwavering conviction that he already possessed all requisite knowledge... Such unshakeable faith, such an unbreakable fraternal bond, was an entity that could not be feigned but only meticulously forged through shared experiences.

'Hold on a moment... doesn't attaining the status of a Noble necessitate achieving at least the esteemed Baron rank?' Arthur's eyes widened slightly in dawning realization. 'How many games have you participated in thus far? And what specific identity did you elect to adopt?! Reveal every detail to me at once!'

Arthur eagerly activated his dimensional network interface, poised to receive Levi's revelation and subsequently initiate his search.

Levi paused momentarily, then deliberately lifted his head to fix his gaze upon the star-studded night sky... Subsequently, he calmly declared, 'The Celestial... Input that designation, and your inquiries shall be promptly answered.'

'The Celestial? What an ostentatious title... I never pegged you as the sort to name your... wait?'

Before Arthur could complete his playful jest, the remaining words caught in his throat, unuttered. An avalanche of trillions of search results inundated his entire display the instant he had typed barely half of the intended designation.

The dimensional interface faltered, strained by the sheer magnitude of data being retrieved from the Boundless Expanse's intricate network.

A jumbled array of news articles, trending videos, and sharp, high-definition pictures of the masked individual who had become a global mystery filled the screen.

-THE LEVIATHAN SLAYER: How the Celestial Eliminated a Tier 6 Terror!-

This was juxtaposed with a blurry, aerial photograph of the colossal beast succumbing to its demise after Levi's triumphant ride to victory in the race.

-The Promoted One: An In-depth Analysis of the Celestial's Unique Strategy in the Joker Game Victory and His Ascent to Baron Rank Amidst Unconventional Prodigies!-

-The Three-Body Enigma? Once Dismissed as Fantasy, Could This Be the Key to the Celestial's Mysterious Origins? Radian, Oblivar, ???... Is it a single being with three souls, or an experimental creation of an ancient lineage designed to incite turmoil?-

As Arthur's fingers danced across the screen, his eyes widened, astonished by the sheer magnitude of his brother's clandestine existence. Countless discussions were devoted to meticulous, frame-by-frame deconstructions of the Celestial's actions.

One particularly striking image depicted the Celestial brandishing a colossal sun against a genuine dragon. The star emblem on his mask shimmered brilliantly, the sun's light reflecting off it, making him appear more like a solar deity than the brother Arthur shared meals with.

Meanwhile, the comment sections overflowed with a torrent of fervent adoration:

-I have no doubt the Celestial is destined to ascend and disrupt the established hierarchy! His prowess is unmatched! Absolutely unparalleled!- @VoidWalker99 exclaimed, accompanied by jubilant emojis.

-It's surreal; I'm showering while listening to the Celestial's compilation of battle anthems used in life-or-death encounters! I'm unsure whether to find it humorous or deeply moving... this is truly epic!- commented @StellarBountyHunter.

Arthur gazed intently at a close-up of the Celestial's mask, then shifted his attention back to Levi, who remained still, calmly observing the empty expanse before him.

The disparity between the familiar 'Brother Levi' and the universally feared 'The Celestial' was a vast canyon Arthur hadn't foreseen.

'Big Bro...' Arthur breathed, his voice betraying a slight tremor as he deactivated the display. 'You've certainly been quite occupied.'

A faint smile touched Levi's lips.

'Always.'