This kind of chaos was utterly terrifying, even creating a societal shockwave strong enough to collapse society itself. But by the second day, things seemed to begin shifting for the better.
The "stolen generation", although hostile toward the Gastrea, not everyone was radically hostile toward the Cursed Children as people. The main reason most people shunned the Cursed Children was primarily the fear of the Gastrea virus within them.
These people had always been silent, because the current society was intentionally created by the government to place the Cursed Children at the lowest social stratum, on par with slaves and livestock. Only by doing so could they perfectly exploit these children without encountering resistance from society.
This mindset had been painstakingly built for ten years, certainly brainwashing many people, but many others still secretly maintained their convictions. However, fearing being low-profile and powerless, they simply ignored the situation until now.
When they finally spoke up, many people discovered that others shared the same ideals and views. Immediately, the "Cursed Children are people too" movement spread, and the extremist faction became the main target of attack.
Witnessing all this unfold, Seitenshi couldn't help but feel emotional and moved, because she had been striving for this goal for a very long time without success.
Cursed Children are people too.
How many drafts, how many bills, just for this sentence to be printed in books. Sadly, Seitenshi's efforts seemed to be in vain.
Who would have thought that in just two days—or more accurately, over a day—the Silver King had turned this back. Even if it was still just an ideal, if a future could still continue, Seitenshi believed her goal could be realized.
Regrettably, the Silver King's method meant there was no future.
It's true, to shake a deeply ingrained mentality, a large impact is not enough; a very, very large impact is needed.
Destroying the world and all life—if this impact is not large enough, then no impact will be large enough.
The Silver King seemed to have freed all of them from their limitations, from the blinding haze, from their self-deception. He seemed to want everyone to confront the darkest part of their hearts, the demon they had unknowingly unleashed in a moment of unconsciousness.
However, the reaction of the common people was not the only reaction in this world.
Those citizens were merely like duckweed floating with the current, unable to resist anything. But those with superior strength did not want that. They still conspired to resist.
Some fought for survival, others for protection.
Houbara Kenji looked at the two women he loved most in the world, smiled, and raised his hand as if saying goodbye.
His wife knew what he was about to do, but she couldn't stop her husband.
"Mommy, where is Daddy going?"
The innocent six-year-old daughter asked. His wife said nothing, only holding back her tears, hugging the little girl tightly.
Although the little girl still didn't understand, she knew her mother was very sad.
Houbara Kenji was once a mechanized soldier, but not as brilliant as Kagetane or Rentaro. After resigning, he lived a quiet life with his wife and daughter. He went to work during the day, came home at night, and visited the opera house on weekends.
He thought he would never have to use that power again until the end of his life.
But who can predict anything?
When Kenji arrived at the Homeland Flame Memorial, he saw many broken weapons scattered there, even bloodstains.
This place still had cameras, continuously broadcasting the situation here. The Silver King seemed not to stop this, so everyone in the world could witness him crushing every challenger who dared defy the deity.
The Silver King did not kill anyone, but he crushed everything: their strength, their belief, their determination.
Choosing the memorial, built to symbolize the indomitable spirit of humanity, as his final resting and battle place, seemed to be the Silver King's profound intention. He was here to crush that very spirit.
Coldness.
That was what Kenji felt when facing the Silver King.
He didn't even raise his head, treating Kenji as a small ant. This alone made the man feel hollowed out by the overwhelming dominance.
But when Kenji's mind was being suffocated, the image of his wife and daughter flashed back, restoring his spirit. He looked at the Silver King and suddenly spoke.
"I have a wife."
"She is very kind."
"Although the neighbors call her lazy, I know how hard she tries."
"I also have a daughter."
"She is only six years old."
"She's not great at studying, but she has a lot of artistic talent."
"Our family has harmed no one. I even voted for Lady Seitenshi's new Gastrea bill."
"Silver King, I don't know how you look at people like us, but I won't let anyone hurt my family!"
After Kenji finished speaking, he immediately raised his gun and ran towards the Silver King, squeezing the trigger madly.
No miracle happened.
Despite his lengthy speech, when the Silver King stood up, Kenji's gun was simply crushed. He also took a punch to the abdomen, fell to the ground, and passed out, his eyes rolled back.
The difference in power was too great.
The Silver King returned to his original spot, continuing to space out, as if everything happening in the world had nothing to do with him.
As time passed, the pile of scattered weapons grew larger, but the number of challengers decreased, whether fighting alone or in groups.
By late afternoon on the second day, no one was coming to challenge him alone anymore.
Also during this time, the Homeland Flame Memorial welcomed one more visitor. However, this was not a challenger.
But a little girl.
Someone the Silver King was very familiar with: Nene. The first Cursed Child he saw in this world.
His research had been successful. With the addition of the third element, the device could successfully draw "Gastrea energy" out of the Cursed Children's bodies without causing their genes to collapse.
Thus, Nene and hundreds of other children had been saved.
Except...
"Quasi-Human, are you going to destroy the world?"
Not calling him by the title Silver King, Nene unconsciously used the first name they had met under.
"Yes, I told you, remember?"
Nene burst into tears.
Before, she had asked him what his purpose was, and he had said it was to destroy the world.
Nene had agreed then, partly because she didn't truly believe it was real, and partly because a world where a little girl had to scavenge trash to survive had nothing good in it. There was no regret in breaking it.
But now, she had a home, she had friends, and she could live. A life like a dream. But the person who proclaimed to wipe it out was the very person who gave it to her.
"No! You lied! You tricked me! You said we had to prepare for the future! If the world is destroyed, there is no such thing!"
The Silver King approached Nene, then gently lulled the little girl to sleep. Seeing Luke running over, he handed the little girl to him.