Eagle Country's Freedom Underground City, command center.
Mars stood before the main screen, his mind still racing.
What exactly was that tree?
How could Great Xia have grown a giant tree over five hundred meters tall just over a week after the nuclear war?
And it could even purify nuclear radiation?
That defied science!
Just then, an information officer sprang to his feet.
"Archon! We've made contact with Shengdun Underground City!"
Mars's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned around.
"Quick! Connect the call!"
The screen flickered for a few seconds before the connection went through.
A middle-aged man's exhausted face appeared on the screen.
"Mr. Archon..."
The man's voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot.
Mars dispensed with pleasantries and went straight to the point:
"How are things over there?"
The man gave a bitter laugh:
"Terrible."
"The citizens are panicking. There are riots every day."
"Gunfights break out daily."
"Our supplies won't last much longer. If this continues..."
Before he could finish.
"Alert! Alert!"
A piercing alarm suddenly blared through Freedom's command center.
Mars's heart lurched.
The information officer screamed:
"Incoming missiles!"
"What?!"
The words had barely left Mars's mouth-
Boom!!!
With a deafening blast, the entire underground city shook violently.
Mars swayed and nearly fell, clutching the edge of the table.
On the screen, the feed from Shengdun cut out instantly, leaving nothing but static.
"What's going on?!" Mars roared.
The information officer typed with trembling fingers, cold sweat pouring from his forehead:
"We're under attack!"
"The elevator shaft took a direct missile hit!"
"We've lost contact with the outside world again!"
Mars's pupils contracted sharply.
Boom!
Another muffled blast.
Then-
Boom!
A third.
The entire underground city felt as though a giant had stomped on it. Ceiling lights burst one after another, and shattered glass rained down.