"People of the world, look! This is a spaceship from another planet!"
"We have finally confirmed that humans are not the only intelligent race in the universe. This is truly a great and historic moment! But—"
"These beings, who call themselves Devilukeans, want to destroy our Earth! How barbaric! How cruel! How…"
In a helicopter high in the sky, a middle-aged man with glasses was giving a passionate speech into a microphone from the window.
"Here they come! The joint task force from multiple nations!"
"You arrogant and detestable aliens, let us show you the power of humanity!"
The camera panned to show dozens of fighter jets flying in from the horizon in a V-formation, an impressive and awe-inspiring sight.
"Approaching target, approaching target."
"All squadrons, attention! All squadrons, attention! Commence attack! Commence attack!"
Rat-a-tat-tat… Rat-a-tat-tat…
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Machine guns fired, and missiles were launched one after another. Every attack hit the massive alien spaceship, and the sky was filled with explosions, the entire scene obscured by smoke and fire.
"Gulp… Is it destroyed…?" the man in the helicopter whispered, his eyes wide as saucers.
As countless people around the world watched, the smoke gradually cleared, and the view became clear again.
"Everyone, I have some unfortunate news to report—"
"The attack was useless!!!!!"
The entire spaceship was completely unscathed, hovering in the sky. The barrage of attacks, capable of destroying a city, hadn't left a single scratch on it.
At that moment, the hearts of people all over the world sank to the depths of despair…
"Impossible! What is this monster?!"
"Continue the attack! Continue the attack!"
"Damn you, aliens! Go to hell!"
The joint task force launched another attack, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't damage the ship. This was no longer a battle of weapons, but a clash of civilizations, a confrontation between species.
Faced with such an overwhelming difference in power, all people could feel was a deep sense of powerlessness and despair…
Zzzzzzt…
Finally, the alien spaceship retaliated. A beam of light shot out, piercing through the atmosphere and into space. The Earth's fighter jets in its path disintegrated like toys…
With just one shot, the Earth's forces were completely annihilated.
"Ah… ahh…"
In front of their TVs, countless people stared in stunned silence, filled with despair and terror.
"People of Earth, is this all the strength you possess? To be honest, I have never seen a race that occupies an entire planet and is still so weak."
The screen flickered, and the woman named Rhea Aslan Deviluke appeared again. She was sitting on a throne, propping her cheek on her hand with a lazy air, her tone cold and sarcastic. Her condescending demeanor was like that of a god looking down on ants.
"One hour. You have one last hour. Struggle as much as you can. If no one is able to stop me by then, I will personally destroy your planet."
"So, let us all look forward to it, people of Earth."
The screen went black. The entire planet, all of humanity, had been mocked by that woman on high. Though people were filled with rage, what they felt even more was a despairing fear.
Was this planet, this world, really going to end like this…?
…
"That wretched woman, she's so infuriating!"
"Rin, Aya, let go of me! I'm going to use the power my prince gave me to teach her a lesson!"
In the Tenjōin household, Saki was dressed in a golden, ornate transformation mecha suit, shaking her fist in anger and trying to rush out to fight.
"No, Lady Saki, it's too dangerous!"
"Yes, yes, Lady Saki! They're too strong, we can't beat them!"
Rin and Aya held on to Saki for dear life, refusing to let her do something so reckless. Although the transformation bracelets and rings Sora had given them were powerful, they were clearly no match for that monster.
"Let go of me! Both of you, let me go…" Saki struggled, and the entire Tenjōin household was thrown into chaos.
…
"Big sister, what's it like outside?"
In the Sairenji home, Sairenji Akiho came inside and closed the door. Haruna, looking relieved, rushed over to her.
"It's no good. Everyone thinks the world is ending. It's chaos out there," Akiho said with a sigh.
The two sisters fell silent. They had always lived a peaceful life. The sudden alien invasion and the threat of the world ending still felt unreal…
"Big sister, Mom and Dad…" Haruna's head was bowed, her lips pressed tightly together, her expression filled with worry.
All communication had been down since the day before. She had no idea if their parents were okay.
"Don't worry, Haruna. I'm sure Mom and Dad are fine."
"Don't be scared. No matter what happens, I will always protect you," Akiho said softly, hugging her sister. Though she was just as scared and anxious, she had to be strong for Haruna.
"Big sister…" Haruna murmured, and the two sisters held each other close.
…
"What should I do? What should I do? Are Mom and Dad okay? Is Haruna-chan okay?"
"I'm so worried, so worried…"
In the Yūki household, Rito was pacing back and forth in the living room anxiously.
The streets outside were in chaos. Some people, having given up all hope, had lost their minds and were forming gangs, burning, looting, and indulging in one last frenzy of violence.
"Rito, what do you want for lunch?" Mikan's voice came from the kitchen. She was wearing a cute little apron.
"Mikan, what are you doing?"
"The world is about to end! Earth is about to be destroyed!"
Rito was dumbfounded. How could Mikan be asking him what he wanted to eat at a time like this? He was so agitated he nearly burst. He pointed out the window and shouted.
Staring at Rito, tears instantly welled up in Mikan's eyes. Rito, who had always been so gentle and caring towards her, had never raised his voice at her before. A sharp pain pierced her heart, as if something inside her had cracked.
"So what if the world is ending? What can we do about it?" Mikan retorted coldly, fighting back her tears.
Seeing her like this, the anxious Rito instantly calmed down, filled with regret.
"I-I'm sorry, Mikan. I-I didn't mean it."
He ran his hands through his hair, his face full of apology. He didn't know what had come over him.
The fear of the world ending, the worry for his parents and Haruna-chan—it had all been too much for him to bear. He had just lost control and taken it out on Mikan.
"Hmph, you better not have."
"So, what do you want to eat? If the world really is ending, you can think of it as the last meal your dear little sister will ever cook for you," Mikan said, rolling her eyes at him.
"Hahaha… Anything is fine. I love whatever you make, Mikan."
Rito had no appetite at a time like this, but he didn't dare to make Mikan angry again. He forced a laugh and gave a noncommittal answer.
"Well, since you're being so sweet, I'll show off my skills and make you a feast today," Mikan said, seemingly pleased with his flattery. A bright smile returned to her face, and she turned and went back into the kitchen.
"Thank goodness, Mikan isn't mad anymore…"
Seeing her like this, Rito finally relaxed, letting out a long sigh of relief. He put the incident out of his mind and went back to watching the situation outside.
However, what Rito didn't know was—
Once she was in the kitchen, Mikan leaned against the wall. The smile was gone from her face, replaced by a look of deep disappointment…
She looked at the massive alien spaceship in the sky outside the window, her face pale, her body trembling slightly.
She was just an ordinary girl. Though she tried to act like she didn't care, how could she not be worried, not be scared, in the face of such a world-ending crisis?
She was just trying to be strong, to stop Rito from worrying so much, but the result was…
"Sora-san…"
Looking at the exquisite and beautiful bracelet on her wrist, Mikan's mind filled with the image of Sora. Miraculously, her anxious heart began to calm down.
"If you don't come back to save this world, if you don't come back to save me, I'll never forgive you!" she murmured playfully to herself, a knowing smile on her face. She straightened her clothes and opened the refrigerator…
…
"This is a truly desperate reality. The weapons we were so proud of are completely useless. Our brave and strong soldiers have all been wiped out."
"People of the world, perhaps this is truly the end of the Earth, the end of humanity."
"There are only a few seconds left. Will there be no miracle? Will no hero appear?"
"Let us count down together. Will we face destruction, or witness a miracle—"
"Ten, nine, eight… three, two, one!"
In front of their TVs, countless people held their breath. When the count reached one, the man with the microphone disappeared, and the woman named Rhea Aslan Deviluke reappeared on the screen.
"People of Earth, your time is up."
She slowly opened her eyes, a cruel, demonic curve on her lips…