CHAPTER 97: BREAKTHROUGH TRIAL (11/)

The crowd outside the purple villa were just as he recalled from the second round. The waves of reporters and the clicks of camera flares felt a little nostalgic.

Just like the second round, the people reacted the same to the news — they felt no remorse for Orlando and Theresa.

The same people who once found young Marlon an inspiration because of his humbleness and discipline now scorned him.

Marlon was on his knees, witnessing the reaction of the people and the annoying speech of his uncle.

The cuffs were still on his hands, but his mouth was untaped this time, giving him the freedom to speak.

"—From now on, I will be your president!"

Ronaldo announced, lifting his clenched fist into the air, and following his voice, the people cheered loudly.

Marlon smirked. Now was the time.

"No, you’re not!"

He barked, his voice cutting through the crowd and halting their cheering instantly.

"Son..."

His parents turned to him worriedly, knowing he would be hurt again for his disobedience.

But Marlon ignored them, his eyes fixed on Ronaldo.

Their gazes jammed.

Ronaldo gritted his teeth with annoyance before turning to the people.

"It seems my nephew has something to say."

He signaled the soldiers behind Marlon to drag him close to the stand.

Marlon allowed himself to be dragged, and soon he stood in front of Ronaldo.

"What do you have to say?" Ronaldo taunted. "You want to recite a poem? I wouldn’t be surprised, honestly."

Marlon listened calmly and then—

SPIT!

He spat on the face of his uncle.

The crowd gasped at the unexpected development.

The waves of soldiers on the stage immediately sprang into action.

That was when Marlon applied strength in his arms and broke the cuffs.

His eyes darted toward the soldiers rushing toward him.

Moving at a speed that could not be followed by the eye, he clashed with the soldiers one after another.

"Ahh!"

"My hands!"

"NOOO!"

Anguished cries thundered across the area as each soldier fell to the ground one after another.

In less than twenty seconds, all the soldiers on the stage, numbering more than twenty, lay on the ground with grotesque wounds, some even missing a limb.

Ronaldo’s eyes shot wide open.

Marlon’s parents wore the same dumbfounded expression.

The crowd went quiet.

The camera flashes halted.

Everywhere turned silent at once, only the cries of the injured soldiers tore through the air.

Marlon tossed the last soldier to the ground with inhuman ease and turned toward his frozen uncle.

He took slow, menacing steps closer, a chilling expression on his face. Blood dripped down his skin — the blood of the soldiers he had slain — increasing the fright spreading through the audience as they gazed at him.

He arrived in front of his uncle and took the microphone attached to Ronaldo’s uniform, clipping it to his own shirt.

Clearing his throat, he began.

"I would like to thank you for this opportunity, Uncle."

But Ronaldo was too frozen to respond.

Marlon faced the silent crowd, shifting his gaze from one face to another, causing everyone who met his eyes to shiver; a few even collapsed from holding their breath too long.

He then turned to the cameramen and ordered them to livestream everything happening, and they began without question.

Then he returned his attention to the crowd and began the speech he had prepared.

His voice spread across the area coldly, his words causing the crowd to shiver.

He began with a simple warning and, gradually, he built on it. He told them exactly what was coming — the millions of blazing meteors that would rain down and destroy the world in minutes if they didn’t act fast.

He also ensured to make the government relevant, ordering all countries to take preventive measures.

While he had no personal idea what measures they could use, he trusted the government would figure it out.

He hoped so.

"There are only a few hours left till it begins. I advise you all to start preparing."

He ended his speech.

Since the entire ordeal was livestreamed, the news reached countless people in a short time.

At first, there was an uproar of disbelief, as no one wanted to believe such an unbelievable piece of information.

But Marlon ensured to display his supernatural strength and agility during the speech by using his uncle as a scapegoat.

Also, thankfully, some of the cameras had captured his one-sided victory over the armed soldiers, and this further solidified his proof.

And thus, the world shook.

Streets turned chaotic.

Such news came as a shock, and humans were incapable of processing something of such magnitude.

Thankfully, the government and military involved themselves.

But even with all their power, chaos spread faster than their orders. Cities trembled under the weight of fear, and Aerth’s communication lines overflowed as presidents, prime ministers, and generals scrambled to understand what they had just witnessed on the livestream.

In less than ten minutes, world leaders were on emergency calls with one another, issuing rapid commands as though trying to plug holes in a sinking ship.

Underground facilities that had been abandoned for decades were forced open. Entire subway systems were shut down and converted into rushed evacuation zones. Military convoys thundered through the streets, not to fight a war but to drag citizens into shelters before panic consumed them.

Massive steel gates rumbled as old bunkers came back to life.

Missile bases that had never been used outside simulations finally woke from their long slumber. Dozens of nations pointed their weapons at the sky, firing experimental interceptors into the atmosphere. No one even knew if they would work, but desperation didn’t allow hesitation.

Seated inside the purple villa with his mother who had been freed, Marlon opened the apocalypse panel.

[ Apocalypse Panel ]

—World: Aerth

—Population: 8,000,000,000

—Time remaining: 0 days, 7 hrs, 8 mins

There was still more than enough time, he thought to himself.

He turned toward his mother, who was sitting opposite him, staring at him as though he was a stranger.

Well, technically, he was.

Regardless, he did not bother to start a conversation with her.

It was unnecessary.

Orlando was already occupied. As the president, he utilized everything under his power to ensure his people were safe.

Marlon heaved a sigh.

....

A/N :

Please I would love to get your opinions about the current breakthrough trial.