"Wow..."
In an instant, the entire world erupted in chaos.
People stared in disbelief at the screen, where Barmulodi levitated slowly. Light reflected off his skin. He descended like a god-king.
The sun became his backdrop. The Earth lay beneath his feet. He stood above the world.
He promised a world filled with brilliance. Superpowers would suddenly emerge.
From this moment on, ordinary people around the globe would be able to fly through the skies, manipulate fire and water, boil seas, freeze vast landscapes, and summon thunder.
Barmulodi's proclamation shocked every person on Earth. Young people watching the screen shot up from their seats, breathless, eyes wide with disbelief, shouting excitedly.
"I can have superpowers too!?"
"Does that mean… I can have powers?"
"I can fly?!"
"Control the oceans, manipulate water, freeze the earth?!"
"This is insane!"
"How is this possible? Barmulodi rules the world with genetic warriors. His warriors are invincible, with steel-like bodies, laser eyes, and frost breath. Why would he allow ordinary people to have the power to resist him?!"
"This is reckless. It's impossible. It'll destabilize his rule!"
"This is the true spirit of someone fit to rule Earth!"
"This is what a king of Earth should do. He'll lead us into the genetic era!"
"Every human on Earth will now have a chance to become superhuman!"
In an instant, the entire world seemed to boil with excitement. Most of the uproar came from young people. This was the world they wanted—not mediocrity, not the dull grind of daily life.
The scene on the screen drove them even wilder.
Half of Captain Frost's body turned to translucent ice, radiating cold air. He glided through the sky on a frozen path and landed before Bardi, kneeling to greet him.
A woman of earth and stone stood on the ground, manipulating the terrain beneath her. The ground surged upward, lifting her to Bardi as she knelt.
A fire-user propelled himself with flames, flying into the sky and landing before Bardi to kneel.
Dark clouds rolled in quickly from above. Thunder crackled. From within the storm, a battle-armored thunder warrior emerged, lightning gathering around him. He appeared before Bardi and knelt in reverence.
The scene overwhelmed the world with excitement.
These superpowered beings were once ordinary humans.
This meant they too could gain such power—superpowers.
Around the world, hearts raced, and imaginations soared.
"You. Every one of you will be a hero."
"Do not resist. Do not resist me, the one who brings peace and happiness to Earth. I am the pioneer of the genetic age!"
Bardi waved, signaling the powered individuals kneeling before him to rise and stand behind him.
Snap.
He snapped his fingers.
The glass exterior of the Emperor Building suddenly unfolded like a curtain and stretched into the sky behind Bardi.
In orbit above Earth, the space base shifted, casting a shadow that blocked the sun.
The entire metropolis was suddenly plunged into darkness. The sunlight was cut off, the city blanketed in gloom, as if a massive storm had rolled in.
Then, suddenly, a brilliant light illuminated the sky again.
A projection appeared above the metropolis.
The vast universe unfolded. Meteors flowed across the projection, pouring toward the city. At first, people panicked, thinking real meteors were descending, but upon closer look, they realized it was only a projection—unbelievably realistic.
The starry background was clear. Stars, distant white dwarfs, and the massive sun could be seen in deep space.
"That's the Sagittarius star cluster!"
"The center of the Milky Way lies in the Sagittarius constellation!"
"Look!"
"The galactic center is obscured by nebulae and dust lanes along the Sagittarius Arm. The Milky Way is dense there, with many bright star clusters and nebulae."
"This constellation contains mainly deep-space cosmic objects, including emission and dark nebulae, open and globular clusters, and planetary nebulae. Sagittarius has the most Messier objects—fifteen! Many are visible even with binoculars."
"Beautiful. So bright. So vivid!"
Astronomers exclaimed at the sudden star map projection over the metropolis. Professionals instantly identified it. The stars seemed close enough to touch, driving many astronomers into a frenzy. The entire sky over the city was shrouded in this magnificent cosmic display.
Just as the world was marveling at the star map projection...
From deep space, a massive, pitch-black beast appeared on screen. It emerged in the projection, stunning everyone watching. They froze, eyes locked on the screen, breath caught.
"What is that?!"
"A spaceship…!!"
"A massive spacecraft!!"
"What?!"
"A spaceship from space just appeared!"
"This is unbelievable!!"
"Judging from the comparison with surrounding stars and meteorites—"
"This massive beast-like spaceship has a diameter of 300 kilometers!"
The world was in collective shock. Many shouted uncontrollably.
Three hundred kilometers wide—what did that mean?
It meant tens of millions of people could live aboard. A flying city for tens of millions.
"What?! That monster is three times larger than Paris! What kind of spaceship is that?! How could it be that huge?! What level of technology does it take to build that?!"
"Even with Earth unified, it would still take over a hundred years to synthesize the space materials, develop the metals, and advance the technology and AI needed to build such a structure."
"The spaceship's trajectory... it's heading straight for Earth!"
In the projection, astronomers calculated and immediately confirmed that the spacecraft's destination was the solar system—Earth.
At that moment, the world descended into panic. Earth's collective heartbeat trembled.
"This is a giant alien invasion!"
"Its ultimate target is Earth!"
"An alien invasion is coming!"
"We've been targeted by extraterrestrials all along!"
"What should we do?! How long until it arrives?!"
"Not long. Just a few months. The spaceship is moving fast. The sun is already clearly visible."
"Humanity is doomed!"
Panic engulfed the planet. Fear overwhelmed every heart. Compared to the rule of Barmulodi, the arrival of aliens was far more terrifying.
Bardi, at least, was still human—his form was familiar. People could still rationalize it.
But if the world were ruled by octopus-headed aliens, beings with massive eyes and inhuman forms, humanity would collapse in terror.
Bardi raised his right hand, swinging it to the side. His windbreaker fluttered with the motion. The projection above the metropolis warped like a frame and was sliced apart by his gesture.
In space, the base retracted its solar shield.
Sunlight returned to the city. Light spread outward from the metropolis, illuminating every dark corner and alley. Day returned to the suffocating darkness.
High in the sky, Bardi looked down like a divine king. He stood peerless and unmatched.
"Humans, the Earth is my domain. It will not be seized by any other creature."
"I alone can destroy the stars and obliterate that ship."
"But."
"If you want to protect your children. If you want to protect your wives. If you want to protect your elderly parents. If you want to protect your cities, your dignity, and your world—"
"If you want to be heroes who defend Earth, if you want to venture into the stars—"
"Then come!"
"I give you power!"
"Join me in battle among the stars!"
His mighty voice, starting from the metropolis, spread across the Earth. The sound rippled like a divine proclamation from a Supreme God-King, carried by the wind, stirring the seas, bearing the will to shoulder all of Earth.
(To be continued.)
***
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