Great, we're doomed now!

"Captain Megumi, we all know that TPC is an international organization established to address potential global crises. However, many people are not familiar with TPC's daily operations and specific structure. Could you please give us a brief introduction?"

"Of course. Some people think that TPC is a secret organization like an intelligence agency, but that's not the case at all."

Megumi Kijima's voice was clear and steady: "TPC stands for 'Earth Peace United Organization,' which was established under the leadership of the United Nations and has multiple departments. In addition to the Earth Defense Force and the Space Force that everyone is familiar with, there are also the Research Department, the Medical Center, the Space Development Agency, the Strategic Command, and so on... Our mission is to transcend national and racial barriers, work together to promote technological progress, and protect the future of the Earth and humanity."

“It sounds like a very idealistic organization,” the host continued. “But some people believe that the frequent ‘monster’ and ‘alien’ incidents in recent years are actually related to TPC’s activities… What’s your opinion on this?”

Megumi's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes became even more serious: "The threat is not caused by TPC, but has always existed in the universe."

The TPC was established precisely so that humanity will not be unprepared when threats arise. We do not exist to seek out enemies, but to have the ability to protect ourselves when enemies appear.

A soft round of applause rang out from the audience.

On the other side of the screen, Ye Shou relaxed and took a sip of soda:

This isn't the first time Megumi Kijima has appeared on this kind of program. She has a great image and speaks very appropriately, which easily makes people like TPC.

She also has ample experience in dealing with issues that subtly point the finger at TPC, as seen earlier.

The host continued, "Regarding 'extraterrestrials,' there's a lot of speculation among the public... Has TPC already had contact with extraterrestrial civilizations? If so, should we actively seek peaceful coexistence with extraterrestrial life?"

“TPC has confirmed the existence of multiple extraterrestrial civilizations,” Megumi Kijima said frankly, “but contact has been very limited, and in most cases it cannot be described as friendly… Our primary task at present is to ensure the safety of Earth, and only on this basis will we consider deeper exchanges.”

"Does this mean that ultimately, developing military strength should be the top priority?"

"...Elephants won't befriend ants, and humans won't invade other planets, but only by having the power to protect ourselves can we have an equal dialogue with them, right?"

Her answer sparked murmurs from the audience, and the host promptly changed the subject: "So, what are TPC's prospects for the future?"

“The universe is a realm that humanity is bound to explore,” said Megumi Kijima. “But this takes time, and it also requires everyone’s understanding and support.”

Looking at the calm and resolute face of Kijima Megumi on the screen, Ye Shou recalled how she gave orders in the command room and couldn't help but nod in approval.

In the latter half of the program, during the audience Q&A session, a young woman stood up, took the microphone, and said: "Captain Megumi, I'd like to ask a question that everyone is quite interested in. TPC possesses advanced technology and weaponry, but it is not subject to government oversight. If—"

Just then, something unexpected happened.

The host, sitting opposite Megumi, suddenly stiffened. His gentle smile froze on his face, then began to contort visibly, his lips splayed unnaturally upwards, and his eyes widened and quickly became bloodshot.

"Are you alright?!" Megumi noticed something was wrong and gently reminded her.

But the host did not respond. His body began to tremble slightly, and he gripped the table in front of him with both hands, his fingernails scraping the wooden surface with a harsh sound.

Then, under the watchful eyes of hundreds of spectators and countless television viewers, his feet slowly left the ground—his whole body seemed to be suspended in mid-air by invisible threads!

"Ah—!" Gasps and screams erupted from the audience.

Megumi Kijima immediately stood up, her eyes sharp: "Cut off the live stream immediately!"

But it was too late. The host, suspended in mid-air, abruptly turned his head, his face contorted like a demon, facing the camera lens, a low, guttural sound mixed with electrical static emanating from his throat:

TPC...deceived...all of you...

His expression was ferocious, like that of a demon, and his eyeballs almost bulged out of their sockets.

They've concealed the truth... Aliens have infiltrated our ranks... TPC isn't a protector... They're guides... guides who brought disaster to Earth!

Chaos erupted in the studio. Staff members tried to rush forward but were repelled by an unseen force. Megumi cautiously retreated, urgently whispering into the communicator in her collar, "Command Center, this is Megumi. A supernatural phenomenon has occurred at the program location. Requesting backup!"

【Ha ha ha ha!】

The levitating host spread his arms wide, his voice carried through the microphone throughout the studio and to every household watching the live broadcast:

Destroy TPC... Destroy this demonic organization... Only then can humanity achieve true safety... Otherwise... "Judgment" will come... Everyone... will die!

His body convulsed violently in mid-air, then crashed heavily to the ground as if all his strength had been drained, remaining motionless. The live broadcast was forcibly cut off at that moment, and the screen went completely black.

Ye Shou put down his soda can and stood up from the sofa. Just then, a TPC communication came through, saying that Xincheng was experiencing "hallucinations" during a test flight mission.

"These guys really know how to pick their timing... As expected, real-life enemies aren't so ethical; they take turns appearing to give you a chance to level up."

If it were just me alone, I might not be able to manage it all.

-

-

P.S.: I caught something... probably a cold. I'm not feeling well after taking medicine, so there won't be an extra update today. Everyone should go to bed early, and please remember to keep warm these days!

Chapter 288: What a coincidence, you're Ultraman too? (4.5K)

On the lunar surface, at the edge of a crater, a Magus power unit is placed, its ring-shaped structure radiating a deep blue glow.

This is a "bait" specially made by the Eight-Tailed Team: a fixed, large Magus power generator. Because there is no need to consider how to put it into the aircraft, its carrying capacity is quite astonishing.

"Output power reaches 80%... 90%... 95%..."

Inside the monitoring station, the researcher stared intently at the data stream on the screen, his voice steady but tinged with doubt.

"It's almost at its limit, but we still haven't found anything unusual. Maybe the test pilot just misjudged it."

Previously, Shinjo mentioned seeing a large floating island. Dr. Yao, recalling the accident that happened when Kazuma Asuka used Magus Power, began to suspect that there might be some causal relationship between them.

Ye Shou understood the situation better than he did, so he decided to place the high-powered device on the lunar surface, ostensibly to see if the Magus Power would experience any abnormalities during long-term operation, but in reality, he was luring the other party out.

—Ordinary researchers naturally wouldn't know these things.

From his perspective, "Megasys" operates quite stably, and this new energy source produces virtually no byproducts and does not pollute the surrounding environment. If it could be widely adopted...

"The energy fluctuation curve is stable, no abnormalities detected, ready to conduct a full-power test... wait?"

Before he could finish speaking, a piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the entire monitoring station.

[WARNING! Unidentified mass object detected in lunar orbit!]

"How is this possible... There was nothing there before!" The researcher looked at the transmitted video data and couldn't believe his eyes.

On the main screen, in the previously empty space, space and light and shadow distorted violently like ripples on water. A huge, suffocating shadowy outline was emerging from the void. Its structure was made up of countless metal plates and exposed rock layers interwoven together, with ominous dark red light spots flickering at the bottom.

It is the "floating island" that was briefly seen in the new city before!

"It actually exists... an island made of steel and rock..."

The researcher muttered to himself, "Is it an alien spaceship?"

Its appearance was completely unexpected, as if it had been lurking there all along, waiting for a specific "signal" to awaken.

And now, the Magus power unit operating at full power is clearly this signal!

"What...what is that?!" another young researcher exclaimed.

At the bottom of the mechanical island, a huge ring structure began to charge, with blinding lightning converging and surging within it, emitting a crackling sound that sent chills down one's spine.

"This guy doesn't look very friendly... It's a Magus device!"

"Quick! Power off immediately!"

"It's too late—!"

boom!!!

A massive, unimaginably thick, pale white bolt of lightning, like a divine spear of judgment, shot out from the bottom of the mechanical island, instantly traversing the orbital distance and precisely striking the Magus power unit on the lunar surface.

Everyone at the monitoring station witnessed this scene:

The pinnacle of human civilization's technological achievements was swallowed up by the blazing white lightning.

...When the light faded, only a huge impact crater with molten edges remained. The expensive experimental equipment, along with the underlying structure, was completely erased from the lunar surface as if by an eraser, leaving not a trace of debris.

"Are they just there to destroy Magus Power?"

Everyone was pale-faced, helpless in the face of this sudden enemy, and all they could do was record the incident.

As the mechanical island completed its attack, the lightning at its base slowly dissipated, and then the colossal object began to move—not toward the lunar base.

Instead, it adjusted its attitude and headed towards the blue planet below, stopping at a stable and unstoppable speed in its synchronous orbit. The lightning at the bottom began to flash again, as if it were brewing something.

The monitoring station was deathly silent, with only the sirens wailing in vain.

"No! What if that kind of attack lands in the city..."

"Report to Earth Headquarters immediately! This is a state of maximum emergency!"

"Could we try to start a conversation to figure out what the other party's intentions are?"

"Since it launched the attack, there's probably nothing to discuss!"

-

Almost simultaneously, within the Tokyo metropolitan area, a violent explosion suddenly occurred at an intersection. Flames and thick smoke shot into the sky, and shattered glass rained down on the streets. Panic screams and sirens instantly shattered the afternoon's tranquility.

Surprisingly, there were no casualties. There had been rumors that an explosion was going to happen here, with details including the exact time. The police were worried that it was a premonition or something similar, so they evacuated and isolated the area in advance.

This sudden explosion seems to be just the prelude to some kind of "announcement".

Throughout the city, wherever there are electronic screens, whether it's a huge LCD screen on the exterior wall of a shopping mall, a home appliance, or even a navigation system in a private car, the signal is forcibly cut off.

The screen flickered for a second, and then a man's face appeared on all the screens.

He looked to be in his thirties, dressed in dark-colored work clothes, with his hair neatly slicked back. At first glance, he didn't seem particularly intimidating, but there was something inhuman about his eyes that made people furrow their brows and concentrate on listening to what he was saying.

"Hello, inhabitants of Earth." His voice had a strange penetrating power, and people on the street stopped in astonishment, looking up at the controlled screens.

"We are the Kyrielords, a peace-loving race that has known of Earth's existence since ancient times and has been watching over you ever since."

I'm delighted to see you venturing into space, setting your sights on distant horizons... but!

The man on the screen, or rather, the Kirieloid disguised as a man, continued:

"We also see a devastating future!"

If humanity continues like this, it will eventually be wiped out by the evil minions of the universe. Only by becoming one of us and worshipping the 'Kirieloid God' together can we have any hope of survival...

And now, your fear, your confusion, all stem from placing your hopes for 'peace' and 'future' on an organization called TPC.

His lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile that was both compassionate and slightly mocking.

"But the truth is, TPC brings destruction, not protection. Their technology and exploration, like lights in the night, only attract more predators from the depths of the universe."

Monsters, aliens... these disasters are all caused by TPC's arrogance!

The scene shifts, briefly showing the lunar surface and a blurry image of the Magus system being destroyed by lightning—providing evidence for his claim.

"See? This is the price!"

TPC's ambitions are too great; it is trying to master technologies that humans cannot understand, which is tantamount to dragging the entire human civilization into war.

There are many civilizations like this in the universe, and in their view, all of Earth's defenses combined are utterly inadequate.