Chapter 78: Nuclear Umbrella?

Day by day, time slipped away. The incident of the Brazilian monster, which began as a fleeting mention on a foreign student’s social media, had grown into a focal point of international attention.

Ever since Yan Ze appeared that fateful night, three days had passed. The city of Saldova, Brazil, had fallen, its two million inhabitants wiped out without exception. The city lay in ruins, bereft of any sign of life.

The world was stunned. News spread unchecked across the globe, and the images from satellite maps rendered every viewer silent, their hearts shaken. That such a terrifying creature had appeared on Earth was a threat of unimaginable scale. No one knew when the monster might leave Brazil and attack their own country.

Not a single nation could confidently claim to be able to handle the beast. Brazil, lacking nuclear weapons, had deployed nearly every other available armament. The monster seemed highly intelligent; after a few initial hits, no weapon could touch it again. Even those early strikes, when it endured direct missile impacts, left it utterly unharmed.

Conventional weapons inflicted no damage; unconventional ones couldn’t even hit, and when they did, the creature remained untouched. How could anyone fight such a foe?

Despair settled over everyone. The fervor of the virtual networks cooled; after all, who would care for online escapism when their very lives hung in the balance?

Evacuations swept across Brazil and neighboring countries. Two days prior, during an emergency global summit, all nations except China unanimously agreed to blanket Brazil with nuclear strikes, believing that the monster could not possibly survive the overwhelming force of nuclear warheads.

But would the outcome truly unfold as expected?

Only Lan Tian and Bai knew the truth: Yan Ze could not be killed, especially not by heat-based weaponry. Possessing the Starfire of Cangblood, unless the temperature could instantly vaporize it, the creature was fundamentally immortal.

The temperature of nuclear warheads was far from sufficient to vaporize Yan Ze. In fact, once Yan Ze matured, the Starfire would burn hotter than the core of a nuclear explosion.

As for nuclear radiation, the cosmos contained far more terrifying forms of radiation, and Yan Ze, as a cosmic beast, was born to roam the universe—how could it fear mere radiation?

Such actions would only enrage it further, hastening the demise of Earth...

"Damn it! Bai is still searching for the whereabouts of the Chixin Divine Armor with all its might. We can't stop the nuclear launch. What do we do, what do we do?" Lan Tian paced anxiously in his office as the nations finalized their agreement to strike Brazil.

"Don't panic yet. Think of another way. If worst comes to worst, we'll have to forcibly awaken Bai," Wang Ling said gently, watching Lan Tian’s anxious expression with a heart full of concern.

"No, Bai warned us not to disturb it unless absolutely necessary. It's fully focused on finding the Chixin Divine Armor. Interrupting it could sever its connection and possibly cause harm," Lan Tian hesitated, deeply valuing Bai and unwilling to risk its well-being.

"But what can we do? The news has spread like wildfire online, preparations are underway, and soon the nukes will launch!" Wang Ling replied, equally anxious.

"Let me think, let me think..." Lan Tian muttered in frustration, racking his brain. "The supreme leader has already warned the world about Yan Ze's terror—why? Why won't those fools believe it? Do they really think nuclear weapons are invincible?"

"What if... I try to lure it away!" Lan Tian suddenly looked up, determination blazing in his eyes. Fighting it was impossible, certain death. But perhaps he could lead it away—there was some hope.

"No! Please don’t! Yan Ze is so powerful, and you’re only at the ninth level of energy gathering. You mustn’t throw your life away!" Wang Ling pleaded. She now knew everything, had witnessed Lan Tian’s diligence, but facing a Nebula-level creature with mere ninth-level strength was suicide. She could not allow him to take such a risk.

"Then tell me what else we can do. Once the nukes hit and Yan Ze goes mad, Earth won’t survive the Starfire’s rampage! In the end, wouldn’t we all die anyway?" Lan Tian’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice a low, desperate growl.

Yes, he did not want to die, he feared death, but with no way out, he found his resolve kindled.

"But... but if you lure Yan Ze away, can you escape?" Wang Ling’s tears flowed uncontrollably as she looked at Lan Tian, helpless.

"Even if I can’t escape, I must try. If there were any other choice, I wouldn’t go, but now there’s none. Either we’re doomed, or I buy time for Bai to find the Chixin Divine Armor, giving us a sliver of hope..." Lan Tian declared resolutely.

"No, wait! We may not be able to stop the launch of nuclear weapons, but we can stop those who launch them!" Wang Ling suddenly exclaimed, a spark of inspiration lighting her face. "With your strength, besides Yan Ze, who on Earth could stop you? If we find out which nation is launching the nukes, you could control the key personnel and prevent the strike!"

Lan Tian was stunned—he realized he’d been caught in a dead end, overly reliant on Bai. Without Bai beside him, he’d forgotten how to think, only believing that without Bai, he could not halt the nuclear launch. He’d overlooked the fact that while he couldn’t interfere technically, he could certainly achieve his goal through brute force.

"Of course! I can’t stop the launch, but I can stop those who launch it!" Lan Tian swept Wang Ling into his arms, planting a fierce kiss. "Haha! I need to contact the supreme leader and find out which countries are involved!"

"Fool!" Wang Ling blushed, her face aflame, scolding him playfully as he caught her off guard.

"You’re a genius! You deserve credit for saving the world!" Lan Tian laughed, grabbing his phone to dial the supreme leader’s private number.

"Hello, Lan Tian, have you thought of a plan?" The supreme leader’s weary voice came through the line. He had been negotiating tirelessly, hoping to dissuade the governments from launching the nukes, but their confidence in nuclear weapons was unshakable. His negotiations had been fruitless, and in his frustration, he’d smashed several teacups.

"Sir, I’ve got it! Please tell me which country is launching the nukes. I can’t stop the launch itself, but I can control the people responsible before it happens! With my current strength, no one can stand in my way!" Lan Tian said excitedly.