CHAPTER 215: CHAPTER 215: FINAL PREPARATIONS

Two days later, Richard finally woke up from the simulation. The Q-Cogitator Core hummed, a deep, steady thrum that now resonated within Richard’s expanded perception. He pushed himself up from the pod, feeling a strange lightness in his limbs, a new kind of energy coursing through him. "Ahh... shit, what the fuck happened?" he muttered, his voice deeper, resonating with an unfamiliar power.

Lina stood beside him, a safe distance but close enough to monitor his vitals. Her eyes, usually so composed, were wide with a mix of awe and concern. "Sir, you have undergone significant changes.... again." She showed Richard a reflection of himself on a nearby holographic panel.

Richard stared. His own face, his own body, but now pulsing with an intense, contained light. Intricate, glowing marks appeared across his skin, shimmering with every breath. They traced lines of pure energy, a complex network under his skin, visible even on his face. "What is this?" he asked in surprise, then a wide grin spread across his face. "This is cool!"

Elder Murak, with the other ancient people—Lishnurak, Muma, Lila, and Namu—stood nearby, their faces lit with knowing smiles. "Congratulations, child," Murak said, his voice warm with pride. "You have reached the Sovereign stage."

Richard smiled, a genuine, delighted grin. "How is this possible?"

Lishnurak stepped forward, his own ancient marks glowing faintly in sympathy. "Bossman, your energy condensed to a point where it integrated with your body, forming a natural leyline of energy across your entire being. Hence the marks. They’re growing, like ours." He gestured to the glowing patterns on his own skin, which even went to their faces, a testament to their shared heritage.

Richard touched the mark on his face, a faint worry crossing his features. "Is there any way I can at least cover this?" He thought of public appearances, the endless questions.

Elder Murak’s smile softened. "You need to accept what you have become now, child. Eventually, everyone on Earth will look similar to us."

Richard’s eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Take my hand," Elder Murak offered, his hand outstretched, glowing faintly. Richard took it. A surge of energy, warm and familiar, passed between them. Then, their vision shifted. They were no longer in the Luna base. They were above Earth.

Richard now witnessed the changes that had undergone Planet Earth. It was no longer just a blue and green marble. It was brimming with energy. A soft, blue aura enveloped the entire globe, pulsing gently. He could see the energy lines, the newly awakened psionic potential in every human. His eyes widened in surprise. "What happened here?" he asked, his voice echoing in this shared mental space.

Elder Murak’s voice resonated in his mind. "We don’t know the exact cause, but it’s a good thing. A great awakening."

Richard remembered his conversations with the System back in the simulation, the warnings about the psionic regulator. A sheepish smile touched his lips. Ahhh... maybe that’s why, he thought. I... uhh... may have caused this. But oof, it is a good thing. He felt a pang of responsibility, but also a surge of hope. So, you may have to endure now, everyone. He wished for a peaceful transition for the people of Earth, knowing the chaos that could come with such a sudden change.

The vision shifted back to the base again. Murak continued, his voice calm, explaining the profound shift. "On the first week, people will experience changes like hearing other people’s thoughts, accidental astral projection, lucid dreaming occurs more often. Depending on people’s emotional state, everything they feel will be amplified. Joy will be euphoria, sadness will be despair, anger will be rage."

Richard, hearing this, immediately grasped the danger. "Isn’t that gonna cause public chaos? Mass hysteria? People aren’t ready for this." He thought of the billions of humans, suddenly exposed to each other’s raw emotions, their own feelings magnified. It was a recipe for disaster.

"That’s why we need to reveal ourselves to the public," Elder Murak said, his gaze firm. "Fate has brought us here, to guide our descendants in this great change. You, child, are the key to this guidance."

Richard sighed, then a small smile touched his lips. "I guess you were really fated to be brought into the future, huh, Elder?"

Murak chuckled, a dry, ancient sound. "Don’t be so modest, child. Without you, you wouldn’t have found us, and we wouldn’t see how the world and society has changed for the better and for worse. For that, I thank you." Elder Murak and the other ancient people—Lishnurak, Muma, Lila, and Namu—bowed deeply to Richard.

Richard bowed also, a gesture of profound respect. "The honor is mine, Elder. I wouldn’t have done a better job guiding the people than you. But I will ensure that humanity’s future is in better hands." He felt the weight of his new power, and the immense responsibility that came with it.

Just as he finished speaking, the entire base blared alarms. Red lights flashed, painting the chamber in a stark, urgent glow. Sirens wailed, a piercing shriek that cut through the air.

Lina’s voice, sharp with urgency, cut through the noise. Her face was grim, her eyes wide as she stared at her console, her fingers flying across the holographic interface. "Sir, the Dragon has entered real space!" She brought up a massive holographic footage on the main screen, overriding all other displays, showing the raw feed from the outer perimeter sensors.

It showed a sight that chilled them all to the bone. A huge, golden dragon. Three hundred feet tall, with a wingspan of 945 feet long, its scales shimmering like liquid gold, reflecting the distant suns. It had just flown from warp at the edge of the Oort cloud, the outermost reaches of the solar system. It floated there, still. Not moving. Just... waiting. Expecting something. Or someone. Its massive, ancient eyes, like molten gold, seemed to bore directly into the solar system’s core, a gaze of pure, predatory hunger. The very fabric of space around it seemed to warp and shimmer.

Lila stared at the holographic image of the Chaos Dragon. Her initial awe at Richard’s transformation was now replaced by a cold, sharp dread for humanity. The alarms still blared, a constant reminder of the imminent threat.

"Lishnurak," she said, her voice strained, barely a whisper over the sirens. "Can you... can you feel it? Its presence? It’s... immense."

Lishnurak, his ancient face grim, nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the Dragon. "Yes. It is now bigger than before. The very air vibrates with its hunger. It seeks what it consumed on Mars. It seeks... Earth. The core, the planetary life force and now that Earth’s energy has amplified, it will not stop until it gets what it wants."

Richard turned to the ancient people, his glowing marks pulsing with newfound resolve. "My friends, do take care. I will handle things from here." He knew they were powerful, but this was his fight.

Elder Murak smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "You don’t need to concern yourself with us, child. Be careful. Mainu is far stronger than you think. But keep a positive mind. We believe that you will succeed." He knew the odds, but his faith in Richard was absolute.

Richard didn’t say anything. He simply nodded, a silent acknowledgment of the danger and the trust. As the ancient people bowed again, their glowing marks shimmering, they turned and walked towards the hangar bay, heading for their own prepared positions.

Richard turned to Lina, his expression grim, but resolute. "Lina, give the latest information on Mainu to Ciano and share it with UEDCC. Tell them not to even try to engage in diplomacy. This isn’t a negotiation. It’s a hunt. Our hunt."

Lina acknowledged. "Yes, sir. Sending data now. They’ll have it in seconds."

Richard began walking towards the command center, his steps firm. "Have the three elders safely arrived on Mars?" he asked, referring to Motep, Bnopon, and Cogun.

Lina checked a holographic display. "Yes, sir. They just arrived an hour ago. Marshall Dela Cruz confirmed their safe transport."

"Good. Ready all our stationary defenses across the solar system. We may not be as powerful as that damn monster, but we alone have vast weaponry on our hands and activate the orbital ring’s full combat protocols. Half of it should be ready." Richard’s voice was calm, but the urgency was clear. "And have you prepared the Prometheus X-19?"

Lina smiled, a rare, fierce expression. "Yes, sir. It is ready. Fully armed, fully charged, and waiting for your command." The Prometheus X-19, his personal Mecha, was more than just a weapon; it was an extension of his will.

Richard nodded. "Good. Have ten more arcships on standby, ready for immediate launch. In case we fail, we can secure humanity’s future. I will turn this entire star system into a black hole, with me and the Chaos Dragon in it. It is a sacrifice I will make anytime." His voice was cold, absolute. He would not let this ancient evil consume Earth. Not while he still drew breath, not while his new power pulsed within him. He was no longer just Richard Santamo; he was humanity’s last, best hope.