The hope that had just risen was instantly crushed by even deeper despair!
MOP had not killed it. Instead, like a heavy hammer, it had shattered a Seal Bottle containing an even more terrifying demon!
The Command Center descended completely into madness.
The piercing highest-level nuclear detonation alarm was no longer an intermittent shriek, but a continuous metallic wail that tore through the air and could shatter eardrums.
The air seemed to have congealed into thick glue, every breath carrying the scorched stench of gunpowder and despair.
On the main screen, the scarlet patch representing the Core Area was devouring the surrounding Mapping Grid at an astonishing speed, like a collapsing star filled with malice.
The Energy Radiation Value had long since broken through every preset threshold. The Peak Line on the chart no longer fluctuated, but remained pinned at the very end of the gauge, becoming a despairing flat line.
General Angelerra abruptly raised his head. The last trace of hesitation and humanized anguish in his bloodshot eyes was replaced by absolute coldness and resolve. His gaze, like two tangible sharp swords, instantly pierced toward the encrypted small screen at the edge of the Command Console, which had remained silent and displayed "Shadow Watcher."
That ghost hovering at the edge of the stratosphere, that Sword of Damocles, was no longer the last option.
It had become the only answer.
The general's hand, steady without the slightest tremor, reached towards a red button on the Command Console, tightly protected beneath a transparent riot shield and requiring dual Biometric Identification. His voice rang out through an Absolute Priority encrypted channel separate from all the clamorous alarms, low and hoarse yet carrying the power to end all things:
"Shadow Watcher, this is Deep Hammer Command Center. Final Authorization confirmed. Execute the Meltdown