After a moment of speechlessness regarding the military's actions, Syd shook his head and moved away from the area, the sound of the television gradually fading into the distance.
While he walked, he didn't waste any time. He frequently channeled the light energy within him to continue practicing the trimmed version of Sunbeam.
[Sunbeam Experience +1] …
Just a few minutes after leaving the previous location, Syd's keen hearing picked up the buzzing of approaching drones again.
"How did they pinpoint my location?"
Although puzzled, he didn't dwell on it. To avoid further annoyance, he decided to act immediately.
The photons around him began to shift.
In the next moment, his figure rapidly distorted, synchronizing the light and the environment around him in real-time, effectively entering a state of optical invisibility.
Thanks to his Level 5 Light Divine Power, his control and affinity with light had reached an unprecedented level, making his movements virtually undetectable. The photons autonomously changed color, a process that occurred without delay, at the speed of light.
He perfectly blended into his surroundings. Apart from the wind generated by his movement, there were no visible anomalies.
Syd floated upward and began to drift forward slowly.
However, as he pondered when the bothersome drones might disappear, he heard the drones' buzzing once again.
The flight paths of the drones seemed unchanged, heading directly toward him.
Syd frowned.
Silently, he tried changing his drifting direction twice. Each time, the drones followed him without deviation!
In an instant, a series of thoughts crossed Syd's mind, with thermal imaging being the first.
Thermal imaging could convert thermal radiation into visible light images.
In the next moment, Syd mentally willed all detectable thermal signatures on him to vanish.
Controlling light and heat was relatively easy for him.
However, to his surprise, even with the thermal signatures gone, the drones' trajectories did not alter.
"Is it the scent?"
"Or some supernatural power?"
Syd furrowed his brow, immediately considering these possibilities.
"It seems that the military has developed countermeasures for my invisibility capabilities," he thought, recalling several instances when he had gone invisible in plain sight.
The last time, during the Dark Elf's invasion of Earth in search of the Reality Stone, he had used invisibility as he left.
Given the military's preparation for dealing with invisibility, it wasn't too surprising.
A few seconds later, Syd pushed those thoughts aside.
As long as he knew how to deal with the persistent drones, that was enough.
Syd's drifting figure halted, his gaze growing cold as he looked into the distance.
Red light emanated from his right hand.
In the next moment, the drones were all crushed simultaneously.
Boom! A terrifying explosion erupted!
He casually shielded himself from the blast's heat and shockwave. Ignoring the explosions, Syd's figure gradually ascended as he looked into the distance, curious about the military's next move.
His observation caused the city's residents to panic again due to the explosions. Many were unsure of what was happening.
Some who were closer even witnessed the explosions.
However, their attention was more captivated by a figure in the sky.
"That is…"
Residents who rushed to the streets saw the white figure in the sky and were immediately struck with a mix of shock and dread.
"Is that… the White-Clad Hero?"
"How did he end up here?"
Seeing the White-Clad Hero caused immediate shock and fear among them.
After all, the White-Clad Hero was a dangerous and terrifying figure. Being near him meant danger, and they could easily meet an untimely end!
For example…
Looking at the distant explosions, the onlookers were terrified.
"Run!"
Screams filled the air as people used all their strength to flee the area.
Simultaneously, they wondered.
How did the White-Clad Hero end up here?
What about the explosions?
Was someone targeting the White-Clad Hero?
Meanwhile, as people ran, a crowd was watching the broadcast on the internet and television.
Famous host Irina had once again started a live broadcast.
The moment the broadcast began, it drew significant attention, not just from Americans but from viewers around the world.
On the show, Irina appeared in a light green dress, smiling as she explained, "Recently, the military has launched another operation to hunt down the White-Clad Hero and the Messiah."
"I know you don't want to miss this new operation, so I requested and secured this live broadcast."
"This time, the military is well-prepared. Even if the White-Clad Hero and the Messiah are Omega Mutants, they will face justice!"
"They will pay for their past recklessness!"
Listening to Irina's words, many were stunned, and skepticism grew.
"How many times has this happened?"
"If they believe this, they are fools!"
"Irina, just keep dreaming!"
Many viewers, disillusioned, mocked Irina and the military.
On the broadcast set.
Irina, anticipating such reactions, smiled slightly and pointed to the large screen behind her, saying, "Everyone, look at our strength!"
The screen displayed a terrifying sight.
Rows upon rows of black Sentinel Robots stood in the open field, their orange eyes glowing. The sight was overwhelming, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Hundreds? Thousands?
The sight left millions of viewers gasping in shock.
"How many Sentinel Robots are there?"
At this moment, countless people felt a mix of shock and fear.
Sentinel Robots were known for their formidable power, capable of easily overwhelming mutants!
Even the White-Clad Hero and the Messiah had once struggled against dozens or hundreds of Sentinel Robots!
And now there were hundreds or thousands?
With so many Sentinel Robots, even Omega Mutants would be overwhelmed!
How could the White-Clad Hero and the Messiah possibly counter such an army of Sentinel Robots?
Even if they managed to handle them momentarily, could they sustain it?
"It turns out Irina was telling the truth. We misjudged her!"
(End of Chapter)