Very soon, the troops stationed near the White House rushed in. Before they could even approach, the parasitized humans and animals had already attacked.
The parasitized humans could easily jump seven or eight meters into the air and land among the soldiers.
A casual kick was enough to send a soldier flying or shatter their joints and take them out of the fight.
As for the parasitized animals, they had also become incredibly strong.
A wild rabbit could kick someone flying with a push of its hind legs.
As for larger animals, such as deer and wolves, they were even more vicious.
A security vehicle was pierced through by several deer charging it one after another with their antlers. The people inside soon stopped breathing, and blood flowed out through the doors and other gaps.
These parasitized humans and animals had extremely fast reactions and agile bodies.
Even when soldiers kept their distance and opened fire, they were actually able to dodge the bullets.
Archibald was left dumbfounded.
Before long, the troops stationed at the White House were either dead or wounded.
They were already struggling to put up any effective resistance.
"Stop."
The parasitized Secretary of Defense spoke.
No one knew what method they were using to communicate, but in any case, "Black Skeleton" issued the command through the secretary's mouth, and the parasites outside stopped and slowly retreated, returning to outside the office.
Archibald took two steps back and sat down in a chair.
Black Skeleton said, "Well, Mr. President."
"What's your answer?"
After a moment of silence, Archibald raised his head, "Humanity won't simply surrender like this. The human race has survived to this day after going through countless disasters."
"But we still survived. Even you extraterrestrial visitors can't treat Earth as your backyard."
"What's more, we have all kinds of powerful heroes among us."
"I believe they'll stop you."
Black Skeleton fell silent for a moment. The Secretary of Defense's eyes darted around before he spoke.
"According to the information provided by this host's brain, there are beings on your planet known as superheroes."
"They are indeed stronger than ordinary humans. It seems that you humans regard these superheroes as hope and light."
"I understand."
"As long as a species can still see hope and light, they will never truly despair or surrender."
"If that's the case, then we can only take more drastic measures."
"We will cut off your hope and extinguish your light."
"And all of this will begin with your superheroes, with the Seven, and with the one called 'Homelander,' whom you regard as the strongest hero."
Archibald's expression changed, "What are you going to do?"
"A global live broadcast."
The Secretary of Defense tapped his forehead, "The information in this host's brain tells me that you really like this kind of program."
"In that case, let's hold a similar program as well."
"I've already thought of a name for it."
"Let's call it 'Hero Hunt.'"
"Starting tomorrow at noon, we'll begin hunting all known heroes."
"At that time, the entire human race will be able to watch through a global live broadcast."
"Only then will you truly feel despair."
With that, Black Skeleton withdrew into the Secretary of Defense's body.
The Secretary of Defense's whole body trembled, then he turned around and walked out of the office.
As soon as he left, the parasites outside the president's office windows also silently departed.
After a while, the general asked, "Mr. President, what do we do now?"
Archibald narrowed his eyes slightly, "Things actually turning out like this was beyond my expectations."
"For us, this might be the best possible development."
The general and the officials looked confused.
Archibald smiled, "If those monsters are strong enough, then having them and Homelander kill each other would be the best possible outcome for us."
"Even if we take the worst-case scenario, if they're all show and no substance, and Homelander destroys them, we've still gotten rid of a major problem."
"But what if they really do kill Homelander?", an official couldn't help asking.
Archibald glanced at him indifferently and didn't answer.
If those monsters were even capable of killing Homelander, then humanity truly would have no way to deal with them.
At that point, what other choice would they have besides submitting to them?
One thought after another surfaced in Archibald's mind.
———
No one knew when this night had passed.
In any case, Alex could now go several months without sleeping and have no problem.
So even though he'd stayed awake all night, he didn't feel tired.
He glanced at the "Destroyer" meteorite still suspended in midair, and one plan after another appeared in his mind.
Footsteps sounded.
Angelina, looking neat and capable, hurried over holding a tablet computer, "Master, you need to see this."
Alex took the tablet. On the screen was a news anchor from a New York television station.
Standing beside him was the Federation's Secretary of Defense.
For some reason, the anchor's expression was unnatural. His face was stiff, and he seemed to want to speak but couldn't.
["Ladies and gentlemen, today we've received some shocking news."]
["It turns out that the 'Destroyer' isn't a super meteorite, but a spaceship."]
The Secretary of Defense cleared his throat, ["To be precise, it's the 'Hive.' It is a super life-form from the universe, a great god, the origin and end of everything."]
["And I am the 'Hive's' spokesperson."]
["Humans watching this broadcast, hello. I am 'Black Skeleton.'"]
As he spoke, the clothes behind the Secretary of Defense writhed, and then something resembling jelly or gel rose up.
It was pitch-black with red light flickering within it, forming a featureless figure.
Since the tablet was showing the live news through a livestream, a flood of comments appeared across the screen.
[Fuck! What is this? This can't be a computer effect, can it?]
[So there really is extraterrestrial life, right above our heads.]
[I told you! It isn't the 'Destroyer.' It's an angel bringing us the gospel. They're definitely here to save humanity!]
[Shut up. What kind of angel attaches itself to humans like a piece of shit?]
[Stop arguing. Alien bro, I just want to know, do we still have to pay taxes from now on?]
All kinds of comments nearly flooded the screen. Fortunately, they didn't affect the audio, so Alex could hear the thing calling itself "Black Skeleton" continue.
["We came to this planet to turn it into our granary."]
["But unfortunately, the process hasn't gone smoothly."]
["We know that there are some powerful and unique individuals among you humans."]
["The most representative of them are Homelander and the so-called Seven."]
["They are your light and hope."]
["Now, we want to show you how fragile your so-called light and hope are."]
["Therefore, I announce that starting at noon today, the Federation's media will globally broadcast a program called 'Hero Hunt.'"]
["Yes, we will hunt all the superheroes."]
["We'll start with Homelander and the Seven."]
["We will use our actions to show you just how helpless your heroes are."]
["Here, we also welcome superheroes to join us. As long as you are willing to join us, you will receive special-citizen status."]
["After the hunt ends, we will announce the rights and obligations of special citizens."]
["So, if you want to join us, seize the opportunity."]
["That's all I have to say."]
["Homelander."]
["Seven, if you're seeing this news."]
["Run."]
["Run as far away as you can."]
["That's my advice."]
The news ended there.
The livestream was silent for a moment before the comments exploded.
[Did I hear that right? Granary? What does that mean? Who's the food? Don't tell me it's us?]
[Where's the Federation? Where's the president? Why hasn't he come out to give an explanation?]
[They actually want to hunt superheroes. Hunt Homelander and the Seven? This is ridiculous.]
[I'm a Homelander hater, but this time I have to stand with Homelander. Go, Homelander! Take them down!]
[Exactly. Homelander may be unreasonable sometimes, but at least he doesn't eat people. That's enough for me to support him.]
[But those things came from outer space. Can Homelander really defeat them?]
Alex glanced at the comments and turned off the tablet. He looked out the window at the "Destroyer" suspended in the sky.
No, the "Hive."
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly.
Soon, it was almost noon.
A large screen had already been moved into the room where Alex was.
Although the base was still incomplete, the basic network infrastructure had already been set up. As long as it was connected, it could access the internet.
So Alex could watch the global live broadcast of "Hero Hunt" on the large screen. The host of the program was a presenter who frequently appeared on variety shows.
This host was normally known for his humorous style, but today he wasn't smiling at all. He even looked somewhat miserable.
For a host, this was obviously unacceptable.
But as a human being, he truly had no desire to host a program about hunting his own kind.
["Hello, everyone."]
["It's good to see you again, but if I had a choice, I wouldn't want to be standing here."]
["Now, the program 'Hero Hunt,' which I'm hosting with you, will officially begin in five minutes."]
["This is a globally livestreamed 'reality show.'"]
["Yes, a reality show."]
["Only, in the reality shows we've had before, the participants were guests we invited from various places."]
["But this time, they're superheroes."]
["Homelander. The Seven."]
["They've declared that they will randomly hunt the most famous superheroes. As a host, there's nothing I can do about it."]
["The only thing I can do is say this to Homelander and all the superheroes."]
["Good luck!"]
The same scene appeared on televisions, phones, and computers throughout the Federation and around the world.
Maeve, who was in New York, naturally saw it as well.
She had already put on her suit and was preparing to leave.
"I'm coming with you," Elena said as she chased after her.
"No."
Maeve shook her head, "It's too dangerous. Those extraterrestrial creatures clearly intend to use us, the Seven, to establish their dominance, so they're hunting us first."
"It's too dangerous for you to stay with me."
Elena shouted, "But I can't just watch you go to your death from in front of a screen."
Maeve smiled, "It's not certain who's going to die yet. Don't worry about me."
Just then, she glanced at the television in the living room. "Hero Hunt" had already begun.
The parasites, led by "Black Skeleton," seemed to have already locked onto their first target.
Maeve watched as the camera swept through the streets of New York before finally stopping on a building.
As the camera zoomed in, Maeve could even see herself appearing behind a window.
"Damn it!"
She shouted, "I'm their first target!"
"Elena, run!"
BOOM!
At the same time, the light outside the window suddenly dimmed as several figures smashed through the window and entered.
Maeve hurriedly wrapped her arms around Elena, using her own body to shield her friend from the various fragments and stones flying toward them like bullets.
When the dust settled, the apartment Elena had rented had already become a ruin. On the side facing the street, only the building's frame remained.
Maeve pulled Elena, who was coughing nonstop, to her feet, then looked ahead.
Several uninvited guests had appeared inside the room.
Three humans and a dog.
Behind one male parasite, several blood-red tentacles rose up and intertwined into a hideous face.
At the same time, the man spoke, "My name is 'Carnage.' Your body is very strong. I like it."
"I sincerely hope you can give up resisting. It'll be better for both of us."
"After all, repairing a damaged host's body is very troublesome."
Maeve gave him a charming smile, but said quietly, "Elena, I'll hold them off. Run."
Then she charged forward, shouted, and slammed hard into Carnage's parasitized body.
The man parasitized by Carnage was immediately sent flying. He smashed through the wall and disappeared into the distance.
The parasitized dog barked and bit down on Maeve's foot, but couldn't pierce her skin.
The other two parasites pounced on her. One of them had flames burning across the surface of his body. He grabbed one of Maeve's arms, and with a flash of fire across his body, a violent explosion occurred.
———
[Eden Base]
On the large screen, the image on the broadcast shook violently. Then smoke could be seen rising from the apartment building where Maeve was.
Alex silently watched the scene.
"Master, should we relocate?", Angelina asked quietly.
Alex's lips curled up, "Why should we relocate? Don't tell me you think this extraterrestrial trash can threaten me."
Angelina shook her head.
Alex stood up, "I have to admit, these guys know how to handle publicity."
"Hero Hunt?"
"They want to put pressure on all of humanity by hunting us."
"How funny. Where did they get the confidence to think they can hunt me?"
"Go notify Levin, Cindy, and Ryan."
"We're going to New York."
"I'll show those guys who the real prey is."