They too had this feeling, and although they didn't know why, they glared harshly at the worker who had spoken out.
The worker, feeling uneasy, shifted his gaze and obediently shut his mouth.
"Does it seem slow to you?"
Before they could ponder the reason, York's voice resonated throughout the command center.
Hadley and Sitterson's expressions darkened.
"Because I am your savior."
With those words, a hand appeared on the big screen.
It was a beautiful hand, with exceptionally smooth skin, unlike that of ordinary people.
"Let me show you some fireworks."
The hand on the screen, with the index and middle fingers raised, flicked upwards.
Following this gesture, to the astonishment of Sitterson, Hadley, and the sneaking glances of the staff, the slowly-moving missile suddenly shot upwards.
Then, with a loud bang, it exploded in the air.
Everyone in the command center was startled as they watched the missile burst into smoke in the sky, confirming York's previous statement.
The command center fell silent, but they began to realize that this young professor possessed unknown powers.
"He's provoking us!"
Hadley, accustomed to the supernatural and various unusual occurrences, spoke not out of fear, but anger.
"This is definitely a provocation!"
Meanwhile.
The special ops team, witnessing the same scene, finally understood that the person in the RV was no ordinary man.
They didn't waste words.
The team leader quickly raised his rifle towards the approaching RV and ordered.
"Fire!"
As he spoke, he was the first to pull the trigger.
The rest of the troops were not slow either; their movements were so synchronized that they fired at once.
Twenty-six rifles erupted simultaneously.
The quiet wilderness roared with the blaze of gunfire.
Bullets formed an impenetrable net aimed at the RV.
But to the soldiers' surprise, the bullets halted one meter in front of the RV, as if suspended by some unknown force.
The slowly-moving RV then burst through the static net of bullets and continued forward.
As their magazines emptied, the roaring flames died down.
Watching the RV drive through hundreds of suspended bullets, the team leader's face was somber, realizing the futility of their firearms.
With the RV only five or six meters away, and staring down the driver, the team leader still pulled a grenade, attempting to do something.
But before he could pull the pin, a voice rang out.
"Stay put, pretend you didn't see me."
Hearing this, the team leader felt as if he was being controlled by several people, unable to move, his efforts sinking like stones into the sea.
At the same time, it felt as if he was carrying a mountain on his back.
All the soldiers, even those who wanted to act, were suddenly pinned down by York's telekinetic force, face-planting into the dirt.
The RV slowly passed by.
York turned the camera from the soldiers to the vehicle.
He knew this scene was probably being live-streamed somewhere.
After all, the soldiers' immediate action to open fire without speaking proved it.
Many people were watching his broadcast.
He wasn't sure how to deal with such a large and special management bureau.
The bureau's very foundation had some valid reasons for existence.
Its mandate suggested a unique situation.
With a spirit of self-sacrifice, it aimed to protect the world, assuming all responsibility to prevent the Earth from destruction.
These people didn't realize that all their actions were merely entertainment for the ancient gods over the long years.
Even if the rituals succeeded and some capricious ancient gods wished to destroy the Earth, they would proceed regardless of the ceremony's success.
York was sure that these naïve officials, deceived by the ancient gods for so many years, believing they were carrying all responsibilities for Earth, would collapse if they knew the truth.
After all, the weight of so many innocent lives isn't something anyone can simply bear.
Unless they were cold-hearted, sick-minded individuals, but the management bureau clearly wasn't made up of such people. Remembering the soldiers' conduct, York could even imagine that the bureau likely had a department for psychological counseling, using the preservation of Earth as a justification for their actions.
All for the greater good, sacrificing a few...
"Poor souls..."
Thinking this, York looked up into the sky where five helicopters had entered his mental projection.
"Fully articulated four-blade main and tail rotors, twin engines, tricycle rear landing gear, tandem cockpits..."
York thought of America's classic military configuration.
"Apache attack helicopters, huh..."
With an expressionless face, York clenched his right hand.
In the air.
"Report! Target spotted by Unit One!"
"Fire!"
The five Apache helicopters communicated, ready to attack.
"Wait!!"
Just then, the pilot, about to press the fire button, was suddenly thrown by inertia against the side.
Dizzy, he saw the rotor on the neighboring Unit
Two stop.
To his senses, Unit Two seemed to be grasped by an invisible giant hand.
"My God!"
Before he could scream, another wave of inertia skewed his posture, and then he passed out.
Command center.
Someone covered their lips, staring at the big screen.
They saw all five Apache helicopters suddenly freeze in the air, then crash violently into the dense forest below.
Such power was unheard of.
It was impossible, not something that should exist in humans.
Even some supernatural beings couldn't manage such effortless display.
Breaths deepened in the silent command center.
Just then, a loud bang broke the silence.
Hadley slammed his fist down on the control panel, his eyes fierce.
"If he's not a mere mortal, then we'll use specialists. Ghosts against ghosts, monsters against monsters."
Sitterson looked towards the grim Hadley:
"Are you thinking of releasing those creatures?"
Speaking calmly, Sitterson said, "Have you considered the consequences? Although we use artifacts from the ancient gods and certain techniques to control and imprison these monsters, monsters are still monsters.
If released, and they ally with this man, the situation could spiral even more out of control."
Hearing this, Hadley frowned, clearly considering the point.
"What do you suggest we do then? Seeing how effortlessly he acts and the strength he has shown, sending more ordinary people would just be sending them to their deaths."
"Stay calm, we have more tricks up our sleeve." Sitterson turned his gaze back to the big screen.
The camera had shifted back to the RV.
What could be seen was the RV driving, passing through the surrounding environment.
"Close the gates."
Sitterson looked to a nearby operator.
"Yes!"
The operator nodded, fingers clattering on the keyboard.
With his operation, the outside began to change.
From a wider view.
The energy dome that covered a large area, including the forest cottage, now sealed its only breach.
That is, a mountain tunnel a few hundred meters from the RV, initially intended as the only route for their target.
At this moment, the energy dome became complete.
A soaring eagle in the sky accidentally struck the energy dome.
With a snap, sections of the dome lit up with hexagonal blocks of lightning, and the eagle vanished in a puff of smoke.
___________________
(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)
If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT