I can receive unlimited protection; my parents handed me over to the state.

"An SSS-level energy reaction! My God! Has humanity finally acquired SSS-level combat power that can be mass-produced?!"

The moment the Wings of Freedom appeared, people all over the world watching the live broadcast erupted in thunderous cheers!

They saw hope for humanity's future in this enormous mech!

Smith thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention.

He cleared his throat, preparing to continue his boasting.

However, at that moment...

An untimely voice, amplified by the on-site loudspeakers, resounded throughout the entire platform.

"Um... excuse me, just kidding."

"Excuse me, is this the venue for the press conference?"

"We don't think we're late, right?"

The voice sounded somewhat lazy, even carrying a hint of nasal tone from just waking up.

Everyone was stunned.

They looked in the direction of the sound.

Behind the combined fleet, on the azure sea, the space suddenly rippled like water.

Immediately afterwards, an unimaginably huge black "island" slowly rose from the sea surface!

Do not!

That's not an island!

The moment that colossal creature fully emerged from the water, the whole world fell silent.

It was a terrifying behemoth they had never seen before!

The enormous, dark gold tortoise shell resembled a moving continent! The countless cannon barrels and ferocious mechanical snake heads on the shell exuded a chilling aura of death!

A terrifying pressure, far exceeding that of SSS-level beings and akin to that of a god, instantly enveloped the entire sea area!

The futuristic warships that the Combined Fleet was so proud of looked as insignificant as toys in a bathtub in front of this behemoth!

The 100-meter-tall mech "Wings of Freedom," which had just made its dazzling debut and was hailed as "humanity's hope," looked like a dwarf who hadn't fully developed when compared to this behemoth!

"Gulp."

Smith swallowed hard. He looked at the Chinese boy standing atop the giant beast, waving lazily at them, and felt his mind go blank.

"Um..." Lu Yuan scratched his head, smiled somewhat sheepishly, "I was slightly delayed on the way. Hope it didn't affect your press conference?"

"Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself." He cleared his throat and said loudly to the cameras all over the world, "My name is Lu Yuan, and I'm from China. This is a little toy that I casually made in three days. It's called 'Xuanwu'. I'm just taking it out for a spin today, and I'll also put on a show for friends all over the world."

Small...small toys?

Everyone in the world who heard this felt their worldview shattered at that moment.

You call this god-like, world-destroying behemoth a little toy?!

If you get serious, what kind of thing will you come up with?!

"Perform? What are you going to perform?" Oppenheimer asked instinctively, barely suppressing his shock.

"Hmm..." Lu Yuan stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then slapped his thigh, "I've got it!"

He pointed to the "Wings of Freedom" mech that was completely frozen in place, not daring to move, and a harmless smile appeared on his face: "Let me perform one, dismantle a Gundam with my bare hands."

Dismantle a Gundam with bare hands?

Lu Yuan's words were clearly transmitted to the ears of everyone in the world through the live broadcast signal.

After a brief silence, public internet channels around the world exploded instantly.

"Did I hear that right? What did that Chinese guy say? He wants to tear down 'Wings of Freedom'?"

"What a joke! 'Wings of Freedom' is an SSS-class mech! It's the culmination of human ingenuity! What makes it so special?"

"That giant turtle is quite intimidating, but does it have to be this arrogant? Does it really think the Council's combined fleet is just for show?"

"The Chinese are too arrogant! They must be taught a lesson!"

The internet was abuzz with outrage, with most people thinking that Lu Yuan was just bragging and trying to gain attention.

At the press conference, CEO Smith's face was extremely grim.

This is no longer a provocation, this is a blatant humiliation! In front of the whole world, they say they will dismantle their proudest ultimate weapon?

"Arrogant Chinese!" Smith roared into the mech pilot's communicator. "Charge! Let him know what real power is! Blast that damned giant turtle to pieces!"

Inside the cockpit of "Wings of Freedom," the pilot was equally enraged by Lu Yuan's words. As an elite selected from tens of thousands of ace pilots worldwide, he possessed his own pride.

"Roger that, CEO! Watch me tear him to shreds!"

"Buzz—!"

The hundred-meter-tall "Wings of Freedom" mech's eyes glowed red, its metal wings suddenly unfurled, and its powerful energy engine roared to life! It raised the massive warhammer crackling with lightning in its hand, took a step forward, and stirred up a towering wave as it charged toward the "Black Tortoise"!

The aura of an SSS-level ship was on full display!

Audiences around the world were on tenterhooks, anticipating an earth-shattering battle.

However, Lu Yuan, standing atop the "Xuanwu," didn't even bother to move when he saw the "little guy" rushing towards him.

He simply yawned, then extended a finger and gently pointed it in the air towards the "Wings of Freedom".

"Certainly."

A single word was uttered lightly.

The next second, something happened that left the whole world stunned.

The imposing "Wings of Freedom" mech, which was charging at supersonic speed, suddenly came to an abrupt halt in mid-air.

It remained in its forward-charging posture, its raised warhammer still flashing with lightning, and the aftershocks of its pounding waves still lingering beneath its feet. But it stopped, motionless, as if the whole world had been paused on its body.

Time, space, everything, all froze.

"Wha...what happened?"

"Why is it not moving? Is there a malfunction in the mech?"

"Driver! Respond! Respond if you hear me!" Smith roared frantically into the command channel.

However, there was only silence on the communicator.

Inside the cockpit of "Wings of Freedom," the ace pilot's face was filled with terror. His body could still move, his mind was still functioning, but he had lost all control of the mech! No matter how he operated it, the mech remained motionless, like a statue!

It was as if an incomprehensible and irresistible force from a higher dimension had completely "locked" this hundred-meter-tall steel giant!

"I said I would perform dismantling a Gundam with my bare hands."

Lu Yuan's voice rang out again. He stepped out from the top of the "Xuanwu" and strolled leisurely through the void, walking step by step toward the "Wings of Freedom" that was fixed in mid-air.

Viewers around the world held their breath, their eyes glued to the screen. They witnessed this incredible, almost miraculous scene.

Lu Yuan walked up to the "Wings of Freedom". His tiny figure formed a stark contrast with the hundred-meter-tall mecha.

Then, he extended his right hand and gently placed it on the breastplate of "Wings of Liberty," which was made of the strongest vibranium alloy.

"The first step is to disconnect the energy connection," he said softly.

The voice just fell.

A soft "sizzle" sound.

The light on the "Wings of Freedom" mech dimmed instantly, and the warhammer that was flashing with lightning lost all its energy, turning into an ordinary lump of iron.

Lu Yuan didn't even need to exert any force; with just a thought, he forcibly severed all the energy transmission lines inside the mecha from the level of rules!

"The second step is to remove the limbs."

He spread his five fingers slightly.

"Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!"

Four crisp metallic snapping sounds rang out! The two thick arms and two huge legs of "Wings of Liberty" broke off cleanly at the joints! Then, as if losing buoyancy, it crashed into the sea below, splashing up four huge sprays of water!

"..."

The whole world fell silent. Everyone's brains went blank.

What the hell is this?!

Telekinesis? Or telekinesis?

Do not!

This is a power they simply cannot comprehend!

"The third step is to take out the cockpit."

Lu Yuan performed a delicate surgical procedure. He lightly ran his finger across the chest of the mecha, and the seemingly indestructible "vibranium" armor was cut open silently, as if it were tofu.

An intact cockpit, lifted by an invisible force, slowly flew out of the mech's body and landed safely on a distant sea platform.

After finishing all this, Lu Yuan clapped his hands, as if he had only done something insignificant. He turned around and smiled at the cameras all over the world: "Alright, performance over. Total time: about... one second."

"Now, does anyone still have doubts about our China's 'new weapons'?"

"Or rather..." His gaze fell on Smith, who was completely slumped in his chair, "Does anyone still have objections to those two conditions I mentioned earlier?"

silence.

A deathly silence.

No one dared to speak, and no one could utter a word. They were all utterly terrified by Lu Yuan's godlike and unreasonable power.

This is no longer a generational gap in weaponry; it's a crushing defeat in the dimension of life!

In the face of absolute power, any conspiracy, any political maneuver, appears so pale and laughable.

At that moment, the whole world understood one thing: times have changed.

And that young Chinese man standing before the dismembered wreckage of the mecha is the sole ruler of this new era!

"Gulp."

In the silent conference room, someone swallowed hard.

CEO Smith slumped in his chair, his face ashen. He stared at the smiling boy on the screen, feeling as if he were seeing a demon crawling out of hell.

It’s over.

It's all over.

His meticulously planned scheme to use global public opinion to pressure China and force it to share its benefits turned into a colossal joke in the face of the other side's unreasonable power.

And he, along with the entire "World Security Council," became the most foolish clown in this joke.

"Oppenheimer..." Smith's voice was hoarse. He turned his head and looked at the man with gold-rimmed glasses with pleading eyes. "Now... what should we do?"

Oppenheimer was equally pale, but he was much calmer than Smith. He took a deep look at Lu Yuan on the screen, and then did something that shocked Smith and the whole world.

He stood up, straightened his collar, and then bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle towards the screen: "On behalf of the World Security Council and myself, I offer you my sincerest apologies for our previous foolishness and offense. We fully accept all the conditions you previously proposed. From this moment on, the 'World Security Council' will be automatically dissolved. All member states will form a new organization—the 'Earth Defense Alliance.' And we sincerely implore you, Mr. Lu Yuan, to assume the position of the Alliance's first and only Supreme Commander! From this day forward, all matters concerning the supernatural realm of Earth's civilization will follow your lead and that of China behind you!"

Whoosh—!

Oppenheimer's words were like a bombshell, creating a massive wave of shockwaves around the world!

This is no longer just bowing down and admitting defeat; it's outright kneeling and submitting to the emperor!

They actually took the initiative to request Lu Yuanlai to rule them!

"Oppenheimer! You're insane! What are you saying?!" Smith screamed, jumping up from his chair. He couldn't accept this humiliating outcome!

However, Oppenheimer didn't even glance at him. He remained bowed, quietly awaiting Lu Yuan's reply.

He was a pure scientist and an extreme realist. He knew very well that after Lu Yuan displayed that godlike power, humanity's future choices were really only two: either be ruled by Lu Yuan and the China behind him, or be destroyed together under the threat of the unknown "abyss".

When faced with two evils, choose the lesser. There's no need to even think about how to choose.

Moreover… a flicker of fanaticism, unnoticed even by himself, flashed in Oppenheimer’s eyes. To be able to follow such a god-like being and explore the deepest mysteries of the universe was perhaps the greatest honor for a scientist.

on the Pacific.

Lu Yuan looked at the gold-rimmed bespectacled man bowing deeply to him on the screen, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "At least there's a smart one here."

He certainly understood Oppenheimer's little scheme. This guy wanted to use this method to tie the entire Western world to China's war machine, making him, Lu Yuanlai, the overall commander in the fight against "Abyss" and "Atlantis".

However, Lu Yuan didn't care. Even if they didn't ask, he would have done it anyway. Without the skin, where will the hair attach? If the earth truly ends, no matter how powerful he is, it will be meaningless.

"Commander-in-Chief?" Lu Yuan stroked his chin, finding the title rather agreeable. "Alright. I'll take over this 'Earth Defense Alliance'."

"Oppenheimer, right? Hmm, you're good, you have a good eye. From now on, you'll be my deputy, responsible for handling some miscellaneous tasks for me."

"Yes, Commander!" Oppenheimer, far from feeling humiliated, was overjoyed and bowed again excitedly. "I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"

This scene was broadcast live around the world.

All the keyboard warriors who had been clamoring online to teach China a lesson fell silent at this moment. Their worldview had been turned upside down, their pride crushed, leaving only endless shock and a strange...sense of relief?

Perhaps being ruled by such a powerful god isn't such a bad thing? At least, they won't have to live in fear of aliens or otherworldly invasions in the future. Because they have a super-powerful god-father who can tear apart a Gundam in a second to protect them!

In an instant, global online sentiment underwent a dramatic 180-degree reversal. Countless foreigners began flooding Chinese social media, expressing their highest respect for Lu Yuan in broken translations.

"Oh my God! Commander-in-Chief Lu Yuan is simply too powerful!"

"I hereby declare that from this day forward, I am Commander-in-Chief Lu's most loyal follower!"

"China is humanity's hope! We request to join the 'Earth Defense Alliance'!"

What was originally a tense international standoff has dramatically transformed into a global personality cult and a large-scale "pilgrimage" to Lu Yuan.

As the protagonist of all this, Lu Yuan was already feeling a bit bored. He waved to the camera: "Alright, the press conference is over. Everyone, go do what you need to do. I need to go back to work too."

After saying that, he prepared to have the "Xuanwu" submerge underwater and head back home.

However, at that moment, something unexpected happened!

"Warning! Warning! Extremely high-energy spatial fluctuations detected! Directly above our heads!"

A piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the entire Combined Fleet!

Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky.

In the cloudless blue sky, a colossal, crimson magic circle, burning with raging flames, was rapidly taking shape!

This magic circle is enormous! It covers an area of ​​almost a hundred kilometers in radius across the sea!

A terrifying pressure, filled with the aura of sulfur, destruction, and savagery, surged wildly from the other end of the magic circle! The intensity of that pressure was several times more terrifying than when Poseidon descended!

"What...what is this?!"

Everyone in the world who witnessed this scene felt as if their hearts had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand! The relief they had just felt instantly returned to their throats!

The moment Lu Yuan saw the magic circle, his brows furrowed tightly. He sensed an aura from it that was both familiar and strange. Familiar because of the pure fire elemental fluctuations; strange because of the aggressive and destructive way the rules were woven.

"This is not Yan Ji's power..." Lu Yuan made a judgment instantly. "This power is more ancient, more domineering, and... more pure."

Just then, a crack slowly appeared in the center of the huge magic circle.

Immediately afterwards, a gigantic head, seemingly made of magma and flame, slowly emerged from the other end of the magic circle!

That was one of the most terrifying creatures in Western mythology—a demon!

Its enormous eyes, like those of a lava lake, looked down at the tiny world below, and finally, its gaze fell on Lu Yuan.

A voice filled with boundless majesty and tyranny resounded throughout the heavens and earth: "Mortal...you bear the scent of my sister. Tell my kingdom, what have you done to my sister?"