Chapitre 401: Begun
The alien officer was escorted back to Earth and immediately placed into a high-security interrogation room. Charlie , better known as The Flash, wasted no time organizing the operation. He ensured that everything was set up efficiently while Iron Man contacted the nearby mothership of the Ninth Special Service Division, often called the Ninth Office. Stark, now an influential command-level figure in the organization, had authority that ensured no one dared question his orders. As he flew through the sky, agents on the ground opened every door without hesitation.
Upon landing, Stark gave instructions, and the Ninth Division quickly assigned interrogation rooms and assembled their best team. Agent Luo, a seasoned investigator, led the effort, bringing with him a squad of skilled interrogators. Every precaution was taken, as they expected the alien officer to be difficult, possibly resistant to questioning. They braced for hours of effort to get any useful information out of him.
But to their surprise, the alien ated with little resistance. Shackled to a chair, he sat with a smug expression, his demeanor cold and unbothered. His sneering gaze made it clear he didn't see himself as a prisoner; in his mind, he still held the upper hand.
"It doesn't matter if I tell you anything," he said in a condescending tone. "Nothing will change."
The room fell silent as the agents exchanged uneasy glances. Then, the alien began to speak, his voice calm but filled with malice.
"The planetary terraforming program begins today," he declared. "Even as we speak, terraforming machines are descending on your planet. Soon, Earth will be reborn from the inside out. It will serve as the foundation for the Church's fortress."
His words sent a ripple of unease through the agents. Some glanced at each other, unsure of what to make of his declaration. On the surface, it sounded like Earth would become more fortified—a potential benefit in an era of interstellar conflict. But no one in the room believed for a second that this alien's plans were for the benefit of humanity.
Professor Miyazaki, standing in the observation room behind the one-way glass, was the first to break the tension. His voice came through the intercom, sharp and questioning. "So, let me guess. You plan to make yourselves the rulers of this planet?"
The alien chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Rulers? You misunderstand. Rulers require subjects. We have no interest in governing the humans of this planet."
Miyazaki's expression darkened. "Then what happens to the people living here?"
The alien's grin widened. "Dispose of them? No, no," he said mockingly. "There will be no need for disposal. When the terraforming is complete, everything on the surface will be wiped away. Perhaps some survivors will remain—enough to be of use to the Church, perhaps as laborers or new converts. But the predicted number of survivors will not exceed 50 million."
His words struck like a thunderclap. The agents in the room froze, their faces pale with disbelief. The alien was calmly describing an event that would all but wipe out humanity, reducing the population to a fraction of its current size. It wasn't just an invasion; it was near-total annihilation.
"Do you really think we'll let that happen?" one agent snapped, his voice trembling with anger.
The alien burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the walls of the small room. When he finally stopped, his eyes burned with condescension. "Let? What gives you the right to let or not let anything happen? The order has already been given. The process is inevitable."
He paused, his gaze shifting to the one-way glass. Though he couldn't see through it, he locked his eyes on Stark's silhouette, as if he knew exactly where the Avenger was standing.
"You superheroes," the alien continued, his tone suddenly colder, "have proven more resourceful than we anticipated. I will admit that. But let me be clear—your individual abilities mean nothing in a war like this. There's no benefit in us fighting each other. Why not join us? This planet means nothing to you, after all. ation would serve your interests far better than resistance."
The room tensed. Behind the glass, some of the agents shifted nervously, glancing at Stark. The alien's words planted a seed of doubt. What if the Avengers decided to abandon humanity? What if they chose self-preservation over protecting the Earth? But Stark's iron-clad suit revealed nothing. The glowing eyes of his helmet remained fixed on the alien, betraying no emotion.
Before anyone could respond, Stark's AI, Friday, interrupted through his comms. "Sir, I'm detecting an incoming object entering the atmosphere. It's massive and moving at an incredible speed."
Stark straightened, his attention immediately shifting. "What's the trajectory?"
Friday replied, "It's heading for the Northern Hemisphere. The estimated landing point is remote, but I've marked the closest hero. It's Green Lantern."
Charlie frowned, glancing at the monitor. Green Lantern, one of their strongest allies, had returned to Earth only recently and was thankfully near the projected impact site. If anyone could investigate quickly, it was him.
The monitors displayed a fiery streak slicing through the atmosphere, glowing brighter as it approached. The object tore through the sky like a burning meteor, creating a deafening roar as it approached its destination. When it struck the ground, the resulting explosion was catastrophic. Fire erupted in all directions, creating a massive crater that stretched for miles. Shockwaves shook the Earth, and cracks spread like veins across the surface. Fortunately, the object had landed in an unpopulated area. If it had struck a city, the devastation would have been unimaginable.
Green Lantern arrived moments later, his ring glowing brightly as he descended through the smoke and ash. He scanned the scene, but the object that caused the destruction was nowhere to be seen. Instead, at the center of the crater, he noticed a figure struggling to move.
The figure groaned, his body battered and bruised, as he attempted to climb out of the pit. Hal Jordan approached cautiously, his ring ready to protect him if necessary. As he got closer, he realized who it was.
"Jaeger?" Hal said in surprise, recognizing the Protoss warrior. He knelt beside the injured figure, his concern growing as he took in the extent of Jaeger's injuries. Jaeger, who was usually strong and seemingly invincible, now looked fragile and broken.
Hal gently helped Jaeger sit up. "What happened? How did you get here? And who did this to you?"
Jaeger groaned, his voice weak. "They're here," he muttered, his eyes barely able to focus. "The Church… their ships… too powerful. You need to… be careful…"
Before Hal could ask more, another explosion rocked the ground. This time, it struck the middle of a bustling city. The shockwave flattened buildings, sending debris flying in all directions. When the dust settled, a massive metal column was embedded deep into the Earth's surface, radiating energy.
Stark's voice cut through the comms, his tone grave. "That's it. Planetary terraforming has officially begun."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone