Esper X Family – Chapter 433 – The Recruiting Overlord Who Traveled from Afar (13/37)

The Countermeasures Bureau had long since entered an arms race phase.

Against the backdrop of nationwide Esper awakenings, the nation’s power had advanced by leaps and bounds, with technology achieving unprecedented breakthroughs when combined with supernatural capabilities.

Many technical hurdles had been overcome.

Given just a little more time, humanity might swiftly usher in the interstellar age.

The premise, of course, was that the world-destroying crisis could be thoroughly resolved.

Otherwise, entering a new era would be largely meaningless.

A month ago, after Ye Tong’s livestream concluded, the Countermeasures Bureau naturally issued a statement that indirectly acknowledged the matter.

It wasn’t overly direct, however. It merely revealed that a potential disaster might occur soon, advising everyone to prepare for shelter.

The phrasing was akin to a warning about a typhoon or an earthquake, devoid of any sense of urgency regarding interstellar warfare, as if the nation did not consider it a crisis at all.

Consequently, for this entire month, public network channels had been looping shelter guidance on repeat, and some areas conducted drills daily.

It could be said that every preparation for battle had been made.

Deep within the Countermeasures Bureau headquarters.

Beneath the iconic, massive dome of the Stellar Observation Center.

An unprecedented, highest-level alarm abruptly tore through the air.

Scarlet light pulsed and spun urgently, casting a grim, steely reflection upon every face gazing up at the central holographic star map.

Key personnel, including Lou Wei, swiftly assembled here.

Just moments ago, the detection sensors deployed at the edge of the solar system had captured an anomaly.

A massive, heart-palpitating source of mental power fluctuation had abruptly trespassed into the solar system’s boundaries.

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It was like a murky lighthouse suddenly flaring to life in the deep sea of the cosmos, an overwhelming presence impossible to ignore.

“It’s here…”

Director Fu Qi’s low voice resonated in the deathly silent command hall.

He stared intently at the crimson point highlighted on the star map, his gaze sharp as a blade.

A staff member’s forcibly steadied voice reached the crowd.

“The space detection instruments have perceived a massive mental power fluctuation source at the edge of the solar system, suspected to be the interstellar threat mentioned by the Prophet.”

No one harbored any illusions.

In the past, they might have considered other possibilities.

But after Tu Sheng’s prophecy was released, everyone had already identified the other party as an enemy.

They had been drawn here by the fluctuations Lou Wei emitted months ago.

Since their space equipment detected mental power fluctuations, their confidence in venturing into the solar system must also be related to mental power.

This was also a civilization chosen by the legacy of civilizations!

This indicated that among them, there might be an existence comparable to Lou Wei.

They absolutely could not afford to let their guard down!

The air seemed to solidify.

Every high-ranking member of the Countermeasures Bureau present was a battle-hardened decision-maker commanding the nation’s most cutting-edge Esper and technological forces.

At this moment, they all felt the immense, intangible, yet lethal pressure arriving from across the sea of stars.

They exchanged glances. Words were unnecessary, as each could read the vigilance and resolve in the others’ eyes.

“Issue an alert to the populace! Activate the defense systems! We cannot let them succeed in a surprise attack!”

The orders were swiftly relayed.

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The entire Countermeasures Bureau instantly roared into high-speed operation like a precise war machine.

The tense atmosphere was almost palpable.

Every individual’s nerves were stretched taut, fingers hovering over control panels, gazes locked dead onto that point of light representing the unknown threat.

Simultaneously, all network signals were commandeered by the state.

Anyone holding an electronic device received a shocking message.

It was the shelter alert!

“Holy crap! This isn’t a drill! It’s really here? Why can’t I see anything? Where are the aliens?”

“Stop being a bloodthirsty spectator! Hide, quick! Lest you get blasted to death by the aftershocks of powerful beings!”

“Ugh! To witness a thrilling battle between titans, even death would be worth it!”

Other nations received the news simultaneously and promptly entered alert mode.

At that moment, Ye Yao walked onto the balcony and gazed at the clear blue sky and white clouds.

She actually didn’t feel the oppressive sensation of ‘dark clouds bearing down on the city, threatening its destruction’.

She had long known that this time would come.

It was entirely within expectations.

The headquarters had already deployed its highest defense level, likely capable of withstanding several nuclear blasts without a crack. Its defensive power could no longer be measured by science and physics alone.

The ultimate objective was probably to protect a certain loli inside.

Nations across the globe had likely already prepared large-scale military operations.

Whether or not they could be effective, the attitude of struggle and resistance was what mattered most.

The Dragon Country had long since disclosed reliable information that negotiation was impossible. Since that was the case, they would fight to the bitter end, dragging their foes down with them!

Luo Jianhua walked to Ye Yao’s side.

“Sister, aren’t you worried?”

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“No matter. This is just a trial.”

Ye Yao’s mood was exceedingly relaxed.

Tu Sheng had already doxxed the other party and told her everything. What was left to worry about?

Now, she merely awaited the right moment to invest points and unleash the mysterious “Ye Ge”.

These enemies were merely disposable tools.

“Sister, do you know what the enemy is here for?”

Luo Jianhua was still unaware of the specifics.

The other lolis were equally in the dark.

Facing the curious gazes of several lolis, Ye Yao didn’t hide the truth.

“They’ve come for forced conscription.”

“Huh?”

Luo Jianhua’s brain nearly short-circuited.

Wasn’t it supposed to be about conquering Bluestar?

Ye Yao recalled the details Tu Sheng had confided in her.

“They are nothing but a greedy and domineering interstellar overlord. It wishes to collect powerful warriors to campaign across the universe alongside it, while also gathering strength to seek the source of the world-destroying fluctuation.”

Simply put, it was a formidable being in the cosmos leading its expeditionary army, conscripting forces along the way.

Any warrior that caught its eye would be forcibly subjugated and taken.

The powerful fluctuations emitted by Lou Wei had been captured by them.

That was why they had traveled the vast distance to attempt this forced recruitment.

For that interstellar overlord, a warrior capable of arousing its interest was worthy of a long voyage.

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As for the source of the world-destroying fluctuation it sought…

That was undoubtedly Ye Yao herself.

However, back then, her mental power had been so immense that its intensity enveloped the entire Milky Way galaxy, rendering the other party unable to pinpoint her exact coordinates.

Thus, they remained unaware that their ultimate target was right here.

“I see.”

Luo Jianhua nodded thoughtfully.

“I thought it would be like in the movies, annihilating all humanity and occupying the planet.”

“Then you are gravely mistaken. To identify qualified warriors, they will indeed exterminate the weak. Only then can they force out those capable of breaking through their limits.”

A cold glint flashed in Ye Yao’s eyes.

Sacrificing an entire civilization just to find qualified warriors… the enemy’s brutality was comparable to a walking, lesser world-destroying ability.

If they merely wished to come and take Lou Wei away, that would be one thing. A gentler approach might even allow for peaceful dialogue.

But they would also destroy the warrior’s civilization along the way, to ensure the warrior had no lingering attachments and be utterly devoid of humanity.

Indeed.

The mindset of these cosmic barbarians couldn’t be measured by common sense.

Ye Yao’s myriad thoughts coalesced into a single word:

Kill!

Author Note

This is the last of my Hamon ¹ JOJO Part 2 reference. for today! Tomorrow I might transform from a dragon into a flood dragon ² Weaker pseudo-dragon from CN myth. , but it still counts as starting up!

Text: Wait

I sense something wrong