Just as Eden was thinking this, a sudden noise erupted in his ears.
Immediately after, the entire planet's network crashed. Every phone, computer, and television was broadcasting the same image.
"Good morning, everyone."
"I am Thaedus, speaker of the Coalition of Planets."
"I am a friend to all the people of Earth."
"Please, believe me when I say I come with no ill intent."
"As for the reason I've come to Earth?"
"It's to reveal the truth about your so-called hero Omni-Woman, Nolanne Grayson—or perhaps I should call her Nolanne Kent—and the true nature of the Viltrumites, her people."
Thaedus sat in a conference room. He seemed to have prepared for this day for a long time, speaking with complete confidence.
"What nonsense is this old fool spouting?"
Countless people across Earth frowned in anger at this self-proclaimed speaker of the Coalition of Planets who'd interrupted their work, rest, and entertainment shows.
"It's Thaedus, that damn traitor to the Viltrumites."
The Viltrumites scattered across Earth watched the old man on screen, wishing they could grind him into mincemeat and feed him to pigs.
"Now I'll show everyone a video."
Thaedus nodded slightly to his secretary. A video appeared in the lower right corner of his broadcast feed.
The video then swapped positions with Thaedus, expanding to fill screens across the globe. It showed Nolanne, wearing her white Viltrumite battle suit, descending like a war god upon a planet inhabited by blue-skinned aliens. What followed was indiscriminate slaughter—whether elderly or children, all were instantly wiped out.
"As you can see, the true nature of your protector Nolanne is that of a ruthless executioner. She eliminates the native inhabitants of intelligent civilizations, slaughtering these innocent lives."
"And it's not just her. The entire Viltrumite race is nothing but a group of brutal, savage killers who will stop at nothing in their bloodlust."
Thaedus continued, playing several more videos filled with destruction and murder.
It was at that moment that Cecil Stedman and Robot's countermeasures kicked in. Earth's network gradually recovered.
After Cecil Stedman had been caught off guard once by Battle Beast's wife, he'd learned his lesson. He and Robot had prepared countermeasures to prevent being blinded again by having their network and satellites cut off.
Before the network fully recovered, Earth's netizens responded:
"So it's just videos? You think we 'foolish' Earthlings are going to believe that?"
"The Global Defense Agency website just updated. They're saying those videos were synthesized using alien technology."
"Is this the best frame-up you aliens can manage? We've seen our own governments do this trick way better."
"You chase away Earth's protector, then the invaders show up? How convenient."
"Who's been protecting us all these years? Are you really that clueless?"
Unfortunately, Thaedus had grossly overestimated Nolanne's unpopularity on Earth.
Nolanne might be an executioner elsewhere in the universe, but here on Earth and in the solar system, she was beloved.
On the Coalition of Planets' warship.
"The Earthlings don't believe us."
"They're calling us idiots, morons, and invaders..."
Thaedus's secretary said helplessly.
"Damn it!"
"The Viltrumites disguised themselves too well."
Thaedus cursed.
"What should we do now?"
The secretary looked at Thaedus and asked.
"Deploy Allen."
"Release the virus directly onto Earth."
"Send the Viltrumites on Earth to their deaths."
After thinking it over, Thaedus gritted his teeth and finally gave the order.
"Understood."
After receiving Thaedus's command, the secretary opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he simply nodded firmly and assured Thaedus, "Mission will be completed."
"Good."
Thaedus nodded heavily.
"Whew."
After doing all this, Thaedus leaned back in his chair and murmured to himself, "I hope what I'm doing is right."
"Allen."
"This mission is extremely dangerous."
"You..."
Thaedus's secretary looked at Allen, unable to hide his concern.
"Don't worry."
"I'll win."
"After all, I'm stronger than the Viltrumites now."
After a full week of near-death training, Allen was confident his current strength surpassed that of the Viltrumites. He had faith he could successfully deploy the virus to Earth.
Meanwhile, on another channel.
After some consideration, Thaedus decided to broadcast everything about Allen's upcoming virus deployment to Earth. He believed the people of Earth had a right to know, though he phrased it carefully.
"Respected people of Earth, we will now eliminate all the Viltrumites on your planet. I know you may not understand the Coalition of Planets' decision, but please trust me—everything I'm doing is for your own good."
Thaedus restored the broadcast and made his promise to the people of Earth.
"For our own good, my ass!"
"Where were you when planes were crashing?"
"Where were you when we got mugged walking home at night?"
"Where were you when Earth was invaded by aliens?"
"And now you show up acting like you're here to help us?"
"We don't need your help!"
"Coalition of Planets, get off our planet!"
Thaedus's words ignited public outrage. For once, people across the world united in condemning Thaedus and the Coalition of Planets behind him, demanding they stay out of Earth's business.
"..."
Thaedus ignored the curses from the Earthlings.
He simply assumed they didn't know the Viltrumites' true identity.
He was certain that once Earthlings understood the brutality of the Viltrumites, they would support his choice.
Meanwhile, back on Earth.
"Gene virus."
The moment Thaedus mentioned clearing out all the Viltrumites on Earth, Eden immediately guessed Thaedus's method.
After all, facing Viltrumites led by Thragg, old man Thaedus had no options other than using a gene virus.
"Thaedus, you're courting death."
Eden's eyes turned crimson.
If Thaedus had found some way to gather all the other Viltrumites in the universe and then released the virus, Eden wouldn't have said a word.
Those Viltrumites could die for all he cared.
But not on Earth.
Because his mother Nolanne was on Earth.
"Eden?"
Beside Eden, Cecil Stedman, Donald, Robot, and Angstrom all froze. Cecil in particular was alarmed—he'd never seen Eden this furious before. The last time Eden had gotten angry like this was when D.A. Sinclair's experiments had dragged the innocent William into danger.
"Cecil, I'm leaving Earth's affairs to you."
"I'm going to handle them."
With that, Eden's form flashed and he shot toward the sky.
"Boom!"
After leaving the defense agency, Eden's form accelerated through a sonic boom as he flew toward the heavens.
Then he broke through the atmosphere.
On the other side, the Coalition of Planets' faster-than-light ship opened a wormhole and jumped directly near Mars.
Then Allen flew out from the ship alone.
In truth, this was the closest the Coalition's ship could get him.
From here, Allen would fly solo for approximately one hour to reach Earth and deploy the virus in his possession.
"I never thought I'd come back here."
Allen felt somewhat nostalgic. He remembered his last visit to this area—he'd mistaken Earth for Urath and kept going to the wrong planet for years, which eventually led him to discover his error and his initial contact with Global Defense Agency Director Cecil Stedman.
Allen recalled warning Cecil about the Viltrumite threat, but clearly Cecil hadn't taken his words seriously.
"Forget it. Mission comes first."
With that thought, Allen clutched the gene virus and flew at high speed toward Earth.
However, before Allen could fly far, he saw a dark shadow rapidly approaching from the distance.
"So fast."
Allen watched the shadow, unable to suppress his amazement.
"Ugh!"
Before Allen could process it further, the shadow grabbed him by the throat.
This allowed Allen to finally see the shadow's owner clearly—a figure in a pitch-black battle suit. An Earthling? Or a Viltrumite?
The awkward truth was that Allen couldn't tell Earthlings and Viltrumites apart. To his eyes, both species looked identical.
In fact, Allen often couldn't remember what individual Viltrumites or Earthlings looked like.
Just as Viltrumites and Earthlings thought all members of Allen's species looked the same.
"You're Allen?"
After grabbing Allen by the throat, Eden recognized the person before him. He immediately used his telepathic communicator to question him.
"You know me?"
Allen was stunned.
"Cecil showed me your photo."
Eden answered.
"You're one of Cecil's people? That's perfect. Let me go quickly. I still have a mission to complete."
Allen tried to bluff his way out.
"Hand it over."
Eden naturally wasn't fooled by Allen. Still gripping his throat, he extended his other hand.
"Hand over what?"
Allen feigned ignorance.
"The gene virus."
As Eden spoke, his grip tightened, making Allen increasingly uncomfortable.
"Sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."
Allen continued playing dumb.
"Listen. I don't want to kill you. Hand it over now."
If possible, Eden didn't want to kill any good people.
"I really don't know what you're talking about."
Allen narrowed his eyes and tried to fight back with a punch.
However, the moment Allen's fist struck Eden's chest, his entire fist—bones and all—shattered into countless bloody fragments.
"Huh?"
Allen's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his shattered fist. Hadn't Thaedus told him he was now stronger than the Viltrumites?
What the hell was going on?
"Damn it."
Eden closed his eyes and let out a quiet sigh.
When he opened them again, they held nothing but resolve. He said coldly, "You brought this on yourself, Allen. This is what you brought on yourself."
"No!"
At that moment, Thaedus flew out from the nearby ship. He seemed to have guessed what was about to happen and immediately used his telepathic communicator to shout a warning, trying to stop Eden.
"It's too late."
Eden shook his head at Thaedus and crushed Allen's skull.
Allen did possess top-tier regeneration abilities, but he wasn't The Immortal. With his head crushed, he was truly dead.
"You've threatened my mother Nolanne's safety. When it comes to that, I have no interest in explaining right from wrong."
Eden looked at Thaedus and spoke coldly through the telepathic communicator.