James Lone inserted the USB drive into the laptop. Surprisingly, the contents weren't encrypted.

The drive contained a video and an accompanying document.

James skimmed through the document. It was a confidential video from the New York State Space Agency, recorded by the Conqueror 8 probe on the far side of the moon. The video was shot on the fifth day after the purple mist descended and was sent to various research institutions for collaborative analysis.

New York State Space Agency? How did the purple mist connect to the space agency?

Puzzled, James opened the video.

After watching the brief clip, his expression turned serious.

The video showed a bare-chested man walking on the moon's surface!

Was this person an ability user or an alien? Could this video be a fabrication by Erics Peterson?

James reviewed the document again, which bore the typical security markings and a conspicuous "Top Secret" seal.

As someone outside the system, James couldn't discern its authenticity, but considering Erics Peterson had hidden it in a secret compartment under his bed, it seemed likely to be genuine.

James replayed the video multiple times. The mysterious man's golden tattoos gave him a peculiar feeling. The expansive tattoos appeared to be an integrated design composed of interconnected sections, each possibly carrying specific meanings.

As James studied the designs, he found them imbued with a primitive simplicity and an inexplicable rhythm.

Suddenly, part of the design seemed familiar.

"Hmm? Where have I seen this before?"

James paused the video, zoomed in, and scrutinized it.

After several minutes, a revelation struck him—Sofie Barnes's ability orb!

Sofie Barnes's gravity distortion orb looked remarkably similar to a section of the mysterious man's tattoo!

"How strange that an orb could resemble a tattoo," James mused.

He immediately focused on Sofie Barnes in the neighboring room. Through his Light of the Mind ability, he saw two ability orbs within her—gravity distortion and willpower weapon.

He compared the gravity distortion orb with the tattoo again, realizing the tattoo's lines beautifully captured the orb's essence.

Though the orb was three-dimensional and the tattoo two-dimensional, the connection was undeniable at a glance—they were the same!

Examining other parts of the tattoo, James couldn't recognize the rest, likely representing other powers. Only a portion below the navel seemed somewhat familiar, akin to a physique enhancement orb but more intricate and advanced.

Perhaps a PRO MAX version of physique enhancement?

James speculated wildly.

Was the mysterious man a human ability user or an alien?

To create such tattoos, one would need to observe ability orbs with the Light of the Mind.

Humans had only recently acquired abilities, and Light of the Mind users were undoubtedly few. Such a systematic tattoo design couldn't originate from a novice human tattooist.

Additionally, in a global crisis, who had time for tattoos?

Unless the tattoos themselves were the source of his abilities!

This sounded implausible.

Firstly, human abilities stemmed from enlightenment fruits, not tattoos.

Secondly, if this mysterious man was a powerful alien, they'd surely harbor even stronger, broader powers. An alien civilization likely possessed a comprehensive ability-based system.

Under such circumstances, relying on tattoos to manifest abilities seemed illogical.

Typically, an ability user should conceal their powers, avoiding discovery by others. Why tattoo them visibly on the skin? To flaunt a multitude of abilities? That would be absurd!

Unless... using tattoos to harness powers conferred a unique advantage!

James frowned, pondering.

The ability fruits on the Tree of All Ideas, the ability orbs visible through the Light of the Mind, and the ability tattoos on the mysterious man's skin—all represented manifestations of abilities.

James couldn't comprehend the cause or connection.

Replaying the video several times, he marveled at the idea of flesh surviving in the harsh universe.

He concluded the mysterious man was likely extraterrestrial.

James recalled Hector William's theory:

"The purple mist must be the work of aliens!"

At the time, Sofie Barnes had queried him on the alien's whereabouts.

Hector William had argued that a race capable of traversing vast space wouldn't be detectable if they chose invisibility.

Yet that wasn't the case—the alien was discovered by humans but concealed by authorities.

A grim revelation: If the mist was merely an environmental shift or a mad scientist's folly, humans might regain their global supremacy.

But if aliens were behind it...

Weighed down by this realization, James stored the USB back in his personal space and reviewed other documents and files. Most were mundane TV station affairs, lacking valuable insight.

However, James gleaned some critical intelligence:

Washington, DC was completely out of contact, which explained the ambiguous leadership.The military wasn't inert. Instead, outer city forces were previously barred entry by Erics Peterson. The reason was evident—Erics Peterson feared a power grab if the military entered the city.

Once he organized the intel, James entered another room, removing the ropes binding Sofie Barnes and Tailsa Evans.

With the situation under control, he could address these two women.

"Erics Peterson is dead. The TV station base lost seventy to eighty ability users. It's unlikely to withstand much longer."

Sofie Barnes looked incredulous, "What?"

James revealed Erics Peterson's corpse on the ground.

Her surprise turned to elation. "Thank you! Thank you!" Joy overflowed in Sofie Barnes's heart.

"Mom, Dad, I avenged you!" she thought. "That bastard is finally dead!"

Tailsa Evans stared fearfully at the corpse, her terror of James Lone peaking. This once-mighty figure lay discarded like a dog—was this James Lone's power? How had he done it?

James retrieved a handful of enlightenment fruits: "Follow me; you'll never want for food and drink, and there'll be an abundance of ability fruits."

He lacked time for building sentimental connections—enticement remained the most straightforward, effective approach.

In this perilous world, everyone yearned for more power. Offering ability fruits to women was as effective as wielding money in a peaceful era.

Both women were stunned, perplexed by James Lone's supply of precious ability fruits.

"How do you have so many ability fruits?"

Without explaining, he handed a perception fruit to Sofie Barnes: "This is your perception fruit—I've given one to all my women."

Tailsa Evans stared at Sofie Barnes, as if silently questioning, "You've defected to the revolution too?"

Flustered, Sofie Barnes accepted the fruit, cheeks flushed. "I... I haven't decided yet."

Ignoring her, James offered another fruit, directly tempting Tailsa Evans: "Do you want it?"

She gazed longingly at the fruit: "I..."

Before she could finish, James tossed the enlightenment fruit to her.

Clumsily catching it, Tailsa cradled it in her hands, her actions speaking volumes.

James smirked: "Great, taking my ability fruit means you're mine. Go get cleaned up; I'll wait for you in my room."

With that, he entered his room.

Awkwardly, Tailsa Evans remained between thoughts. She looked at the fruit in her hand, then at James Lone's room, hesitating.

Leave? Where would she go? Would James Lone even allow her to leave? Unlikely!

The women chuckled softly.

Suppressing her envy, Shirley Inr Won cheerily said, "Tailsa, hurry and bathe. Tonight's yours, but later you'll compete with everyone fairly!"