"How are we supposed to respond before resorting to such an extreme measure as the nuclear armament of all countries focused on a single point?"
Kiran, who had remained silent until now, spoke up, saying, "You will deploy your armies. Martial law must be declared immediately, and every world leader must announce that we are at war with a common enemy—an alien."
"Then how will we know when to use those extreme measures?"
"When the three of us are dead," Anton said with total sincerity, his words unwavering.
A cold silence filled the room. No one could believe what they were hearing.
Losing the most powerful trio on the planet was unacceptable, but they weren't divine beings, and many of them bore more scars than they could count.
The reality of seeing the Pope of Light die so young was something no one wanted to face.
Anton scoffed at the silence and said, "That's the truth. If God wants us to win, then victory will be ours. However, if it's the opposite, I hope everyone is prepared to die."
No one spoke until Ethan broke the silence: "Please, Anton, don't bring God into this."
"Are you an atheist?" Kiran asked Ethan with a mocking expression.
Ethan glanced at him sideways and said, "I only trust my guns. There's no reason to go to such extremes and narrate our deaths. Damn, I'm too young to die; I'm retiring at 35."
"Good age to start living life." Anton wasn't offended by Ethan's comment; on the contrary, he appreciated his honesty.
"I have to. They gave me a gun instead of a bottle as a baby. Do you know what it's like to swallow bullets instead of mother's milk?" Ethan asked, posing a strange question that left everyone stunned.
Kiran, not to be outdone, said, "Childhood traumas? What a surprise from a family of hunters! No wonder you're so tough in that regard.
Anton, unwilling to hear more about their personal traumas, said, "Alright, gentlemen, I hope you trust in our abilities to defeat the darkness that's approaching."
Everyone fell silent; there was nothing more to discuss.
Ethan, seeing it was time to leave, stood up and walked out faster than he had entered.
"That bastard is probably thinking about how to get out of all this."
"Don't doubt Ethan too much. He may seem reluctant to sacrifice his life for someone else, but I trust he'll do whatever it takes to eliminate the dark entities he faces."
"His woman is a coyote shifter; do you expect his judgment not to be clouded?"
"I heard he wiped out an ancient vampire clan. I trust his judgment," Anton said as he also left the room filled with politics and foolish games.
Everyone had heard bad rumors about Ethan Winchester, but no one doubted his actions. After all, he had created the strongest supernatural legion in the world, serving the Light Association.