134 Attacks of the Titans (2/2)

Besides, it does make things more interesting and challenging.

Boredom is actually very effective against me.

”Is that a fucking Godzilla!?”

Joshua calls out when the news reporters finally talk about the battle across the sea.

What little footages they have managed to scrap together to broadcast tell enough of the whole story.

The Russian attacks and the Russian just get massacred.

By impossible monsters no less.

And with all the ghostly voices and hallucinations going around, everyone does wonder to themselves whether what they are seeing on the television is real or not.

They will come to a correct conclusion eventually.

”Language, Josh.”

John tells his son sternly. His eyes soon return to the television screen and capture the images of those Kaiju destroying the Russian military effortlessly.

And when micromachines monsters are done with the slaughtering of good Russian men and women, they roar towards the sky before breaking apart and scattering into the wind like dust. Silvery dust.

It is merely for effect.

Those micromachines are regrouping under the sea and away from prying eyes.

But for such titanic monstrosities to be created from nothing and then being reduced to nothing strike absolute fear into everyone.

And if anyone in the world still believe that humanity can win against a spacefaring alien race through some bullshit tactics or ideas like in the movies, they might as well stick their head into the sand.

There is simply no other way to convince them otherwise.

To demonstrate the seriousness of the attack, the black makers throughout the world hum with power and extend the sphere of their influence. More people are starting to hear voices and see things even if they are standing far away from the markers.

The people didn't need to come in direct contact with the black markers either to start mumbling all those strange strings of numbers and random words like a broken record on repeat.

It is absolutely terrifying.

”I can hear it.”

I mumble softly and look at my mother.

Stephanie heard me, and I could see the fear and concern in her beautiful eyes.

”Max.”

I response to her worry with a faint smile and shake my head, telling her not to make a big deal out of it. It will only create unnecessary tension in the room and induce fears in everyone else.

This is all an act, of course. Even at maximum power and range, those generated brainwaves shouldn't be able to penetrate the shielded underground complex.

I spend a bit more time with my grandfather and his family before slipping away to the study room. I resume working on deciphering the encryption that Legion has come up with.

It is more than annoying that I couldn't solve this before the time is up.

The time is almost up. Everything is ready for me to initiate first contact. It will stop the people all over the world doing more stupid things.

Although I could cheat and compress time within this room, Legion would know.

And even if I prevent both Legion and Selene from watching me, I would know that I have cheated.

I would know that I have admitted defeat and cheated!

There is no way I am going to lose to a virtual intelligence, even if I programmed the damn thing!

C'mon brain! Think! Think!

”Max. Please. Please stop trying to decipher it.”

My mother requests from the doorway, finally getting my attention.

The expression of frustration can be seen upon my face.

I wonder how long my mother has been standing there. Selene tells me it was for the last six minutes.

”Please. For me?”

I nod slowly and close the handwritten book, clamming down all the tattered notes. I suppose that it is not shameful to lose to Legion in cryptography.

Legion does have almost unlimited computing power while I only have my brain.

It is a good brain, but it cannot calculate faster than a super computer. If I have more time, I will figure out how to break the code eventually. Oh well.

”Thank you, Max.”

Stephanie speaks up when I am standing next to her at the doorway of the study room.

”No. I should be thanking you, Stephanie. I might go crazy if I keep it up.”

I response and take her hand into mine. Her fingers wrap around my palm as I do the same. I suppose that this fine enough.

And with a smile, I turn off the light head out of the study room alongside with my mother.

Seeing us together like that annoys John a lot, but he is unable to say anything about it.

His daughter is falling over heel for me, and it has only been like about four days.

Give me a week or two and my mother will probably jump in front of a speeding train for me. That just an analogy. She wouldn't do such a thing regardless how much she loves me.

Night slowly descends upon the United States as I join the Connors and watch the news report. Other than the repeated warning about approaching the black markers, there aren't any new updates.

Most of the black markers in the United States have military presence now.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

Considering a good chunk of the military has been gobbled up by Legion due to their extreme hostility and aggression, I say this is as thin as the United States could deployed.

In fact, they are recalling all their military personnel overseas to booster their number and protect the homeland.

Another full day gone by before the black markers hum again before expanding the sphere of influence once more. And again, the next day.

By then, people realize that the black makers will keep doing that until everyone in the world becomes affected by the hallucinogen effect.

With the stress of diminishing food supplies due to the death of all plants and animals, the people are starting to riot again.

This time, not at each other, but at the black markers. They have something common to express their rage and anger.

It is as expected.

And as the people did so, Legion informs me that from the aggregate result, the brainwaves generator becoming more and more ineffective against people who are exposed to it longer and longer.

That means that their brains are building up resistance.

It is interesting to know.

While my mother and everyone else in the underground complex are not affected by the black marker nearby, I still fake that I do, and it is progressively getting worse over time to demonstrate the severity.

My mother is worry about me, but I dismiss her concern whenever I can.

John notices it as well along with Joshua and Misha, but none of them can do anything about it.

And one night, I am standing in front of the elevator and staring blankly upwards.

”Max…?”

Stephanie utters when she notices that I am not sleeping in the living room with grandfather. She has never seen me so out of it before, it frightens her.

”I think I know what the message mean, Stephanie. And I know what they want.”

I response without looking at her and then approach the elevator.

Before she could stop me, the door to the iron cage closes.

The lever is pulled.

”Wait. Max! Don't go! Don't go up there! Max!”

Stephanie shouts for me and slams her hands against the cage as it ascends, taking me to the surface.

”I can stop all of this, Stephanie. I can stop all of it right now. Please don't worry. I will protect you like I have promised.”