Lord of the Time: I Can Reincarnate Infinitely

In the aftermath of the catastrophic event that erased the city of Ethan from existence, reporters from various publications were embroiled in heated discussions, not just about condemning the unknown perpetrator but also about the potential surge in readership such sensational news could bring.

"Listen, we need to frame this as the most tragic event of the century," one reporter suggested, his eyes alight with the prospect of front-page headlines. "The mystery of the attacker will keep the readers hooked. We need to play up the horror and confusion."

Another chimed in, "Absolutely, but let's not just focus on the tragedy. Speculating about who could wield such power will drive continuous engagement. We can spin off theories and analyses, keep the audience coming back for more."

Amid the frenzy of planning their next big scoop, there was an unspoken acknowledgment of the morbid benefit the incident provided. In the quiet corners of their meeting rooms, some reporters couldn't help but feel a perverse gratitude towards the unknown force behind the disaster. "This story will be the highlight of my career," one thought privately, careful not to voice such a sentiment aloud.

Meanwhile, away from the clamor of media planning and sensationalism, the reality of the loss was hitting hard for the families of the victims. In dimly lit rooms across the galaxy, the relatives of those who perished in Ethan were engulfed in grief.

A mother, holding a worn photograph of her now-lost child, wept silently, her tears staining the smiling face in the picture. In another part of the galaxy, a husband laughed hysterically, the sound more of pain than amusement, as he replayed old messages from his wife, who had been visiting Ethan on the day of the tragedy.

...

The five members of Caleb's team, visibly troubled by the recent events, approached him for a candid conversation. "Adam," they started, their voices tinged with concern, "don't you feel guilty about what happened? That was a whole city…"

Caleb, whom they referred to as Adam, listened quietly before responding with a measured tone. "Look, I understand where you're coming from, but let's get something straight," he began, his expression serious. "The ones who perished were aliens, not our kind. It might sound harsh, but my allegiance is to our race, not theirs. And honestly, it was an accident."

He paused, ensuring his teammates were following his logic. "I never planned for any of this to happen. Those attacks were originally theirs, not mine. I simply redirected the energy they unleashed at us. It's not like I wanted to obliterate an entire city."

Caleb explained further, "That empty energy ball I used? It was supposed to just absorb their attack, maybe amplify it a bit, but I didn't anticipate it would escalate to such a devastating level. I thought it might destroy a street or two at most, not a whole city. Their structures and defenses were much more fragile than I expected."

He concluded, "So, while I regret the unintended destruction and loss, it wasn't my goal. I was just defending us and using their own power against them. The scale of the aftermath caught me off guard too."

The five absorbed Caleb's explanation with mixed feelings. Sarah, the strategist of the group, nodded slowly, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. "We get it, Adam. It was an unforeseen outcome, an accident. It's just... the magnitude of it all is hard to wrap our heads around," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret yet understanding of Caleb's predicament.

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Leo, known for his direct approach, voiced the underlying fear that seemed to haunt all of them. "But, Adam, just how powerful are you really? If that was an accident, what's the limit of what you can do intentionally?" he asked, his usual bravado softened by concern.@@novelbin@@

Caleb's response was sobering. "If I were to go all out, seriously using my full strength... I could probably wipe out half of Asia," he stated plainly, his honesty stark and unsettling.

The team fell silent, the gravity of his words hanging heavily in the air. Mia, typically the quiet one, summed up the group's sentiment. "That's... that's not just powerful, that's god-like," she whispered, a mixture of awe and fear in her voice.

Ethan, always the one to look for a silver lining, tried to lighten the mood. "Well, it's a good thing you're on our side, right?" he half-joked, trying to gauge Caleb's reaction.

Caleb merely nodded, his expression unreadable, reinforcing the enormity of his capabilities. The team, now fully aware of the destructive potential Caleb wielded, couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of trepidation.

In the end, they all reached a silent consensus. The powers Caleb possessed transcended human norms and ventured into the realm of the divine. "We're dealing with something beyond human here," Alex finally said, his voice low but firm. "Adam, your strength is like that of a deity. It's both incredible and terrifying."

In a mix of frustration and denial, Caleb vented about the recent catastrophe, pinpointing the veteran team as the primary culprits. "They started this whole mess!" Caleb exclaimed, his anger evident. "They came at us with all that power, thinking they could just squash us. It was their attack that I turned back on them. They practically handed me the weapon!"

He paced back and forth, his mind racing with thoughts. "They knew what they were doing, showing off their strength, trying to intimidate us. They pushed me into a corner, and I reacted. How is that solely my fault?"

Caleb also pointed out the role of the alien onlookers who witnessed the confrontation. "And those spectators, egging on the fight, enjoying the spectacle, they're not innocent in this either. Their cheers, their bets on the outcome, it was like they were rubbing salt in the wound. They added to the pressure, made it a show. They were part of the problem too!"

He paused, taking a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts. "I know I'm not completely blameless. I was the one who released that energy, after all. But it wasn't just me. It was a chain reaction, and they were the ones who set it off."

In his mind, the catastrophe was a result of a combined series of provocations and actions, not just his response. While he acknowledged his part in the devastation, he felt strongly that the veteran team and the instigating crowd shared a significant portion of the blame.