Lord of the Time: I Can Reincarnate Infinitely

The whispers of the passengers around him were so high-pitched that Caleb missed no word. The expressions from the stolen glances the passengers turned on him varied from stunned disbelief to a kind of wary respect.

Caleb noticed the looks and sighed. "Look, we're coming in for a landing, and we have bigger fish to fry than talking about why I punched a storm. Let's keep our focus on the job before us and leave the weather control to, oh, I don't know, Mother Nature." His attempt to downplay the situation drew a few chuckles from his team, easing the tension.

The plane touched down smoothly at the military base just outside of Washington D.C., where the team was to meet with top officials. The crisp morning air was filled with the scent of jet fuel and anticipation as Caleb and his team disembarked.

Officials in crisp suits and military personnel in decorated uniforms lined the tarmac, leading to a red carpet that ended at a podium where the President of the United States awaited. The scene was charged with formality and expectation.

As the team approached, the President stepped forward, extending his hand with a warm smile. "Welcome to America, Earth Team. Your arrival has been eagerly awaited."

Leo, usually reserved, couldn't contain his excitement. "Mr. President, it's an honor to meet you. We're ready to do whatever it takes for our mission."

Mia, always observant, nodded in agreement. "Thank you, sir. We've been through a lot to get here, and we're eager to discuss our next steps."

Zoey, poised and calm, added, "We appreciate the support and look forward to working together to achieve our objectives."

Ethan, with his sharp senses, was scanning the area, but he too offered a respectful nod. "It's good to be here, Mr. President. We're all aware of the stakes."

Sarah, her voice steady, spoke succinctly, "Thank you for the warm welcome. We won't let you down."

Alex, ever the aerial scout, looked around before speaking. "The reception is impressive, sir. We're grateful for the hospitality."

The President, acknowledging each of them, turned to Caleb, who had remained a step back, his demeanor indifferent. "And you must be Adam, the leader. I've heard much about your... unique approach."

Caleb just shrugged, unimpressed by the pomp. "Yeah, I am. We're here to do a job, not kiss hands and shake babies. So, if we're done with the niceties, we've got a world to save, right?"

The President, taken aback but amused, nodded. "Indeed, your reputation precedes you, and I must say, it's well earned."

In a secure briefing room, the Earth Team sat with a circle of high-ranking officials.

Mia leaned in, her eyes sharp. "We need access to the satellite feeds over the eastern sector. If our intel is correct, that's where the next anomaly will appear."

An official, adorned with medals, nodded gravely. "We can arrange that. The satellite network is at your disposal. We've also intercepted communications that suggest hostile activity in that area."@@novelbin@@

Leo interjected, his voice deep and serious, "What about ground support? If we're going in, we need extraction plans. We can handle a lot, but we're not invincible."

The room's atmosphere was tense. Zoey, always the strategist, pointed to a map on the screen. "Here and here are potential hotspots. We should monitor these areas 24/7. Any unusual activity needs to be flagged immediately."

An official, with a stern face, assured, "We've deployed additional drones for surveillance. You'll have real-time updates."

Meanwhile, outside the briefing room, the remaining passengers from the flight were preparing to depart. One by one, they approached the team, gratitude written on their faces. An elderly woman, her eyes teary, handed Caleb a small, hand-knitted scarf. "Thank you, dear. You saved all of us," she said, her voice trembling.

Children, shy yet curious, handed drawings and small toys to the team members, their simple gifts symbolizing profound thanks. "You're like superheroes!" one child exclaimed, looking up at Ethan with wide-eyed admiration.

Sarah, often stoic, softened as a young girl presented her with a bracelet made of woven threads. "For bravery," the girl said, her gesture touching Sarah's usually guarded heart.

The team, despite their focus on the impending mission, were visibly moved by the passengers' gestures. Their earlier ordeal had forged a silent bond, a shared experience that transcended ordinary gratitude.

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Caleb, while appearing detached, pocketed the scarf with a nod, a hint of a smile breaking through his gruff exterior. "Alright, enough with the hero worship,", though the slightly warmth in his tone belied his words.

Back in the secured room...

Caleb had always been the one with the most clarity of voice, and he put it very bluntly: "So, these Universe Ascendancy Games, they be the big league, aye? Not just some high-stakes competition; it's a bloody power play at a universal level."

The official said with a grimace on his face, "That's right. The games are a test—a test of strength and strategy. Earth's place in the intergalactic community rides on your performance."

Mia interjected, "But that's not only the games. Look, we've got this side mission, gathering some intel over here on those anomalies, figuring out how the heck they relate to the games."

The officer leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Right. We believe those anomalies are not casual—maybe some kind of trial attempts, like pregame challenge events to test your abilities and resolve."

"So, basically, we're being sized up?" Leo asked with a furrowed brow. "Tested by these cosmic game masters before the real games begin?"

The room filled with nods of agreement. Zojson looked at data on her tablet and spoke, "Makes sense. These have been on the up-rise in frequency and strength. It's almost as though we're being pushed, prepared for something bigger."

Caleb snorted, "Great, besides being the galaxy-wide Olympian, we are now guinea pigs in some cosmic experiment. Fan-fucking-tastic."

And for Ethan, it got more tactical as he asked, "So, do we have any leads on who's behind this? Any idea what we're up against?"

The official interrupted, "That is part of your mission. Find out who is orchestrating these events and what their endgame might be. Your performance in the Ascendancy Games and how you deal with these side challenges will be key."

"Cut! we're not just competing. We're actually on some kind of fact-finding mission. Unraveling a universal mystery while proving Earth's worth." Caleb summed all of that up with a wry smile and said, "So no pressure, huh? Just save Earth's rep, uncover intergalactic secrets, and win some space-age gladiator contest. All in a day's work."