Sobek groaned in annoyance as he read his stats.

[Spinosaurus perfectus]

Level: 52

Length: 52 m

Height: 16.2 m

Weight: 26 tons

Diet: carnivore, piscivore

Strength: 52,480

Agility: 50,880

Defense: 46,320

Maximum speed: 53 km/h

Experience points: 12,000/9,310,000

Skill points: 306

Fame points: 9.985.580.302/10.000.000.000.000

Bonus Money: 15,890,465

"I miss so few fame points to evolve again… at that point I will reach my full potential. I hope to be able to reach the necessary quantity after having personally gone to the human continent" he thought. He had been waiting to evolve for so long, but sadly, reaching 10 billion fame points wasn't easy at all. Even though the population of Eden was higher than that of Earth and Sobek had started a war with basically all of humanity, the memory of him was not yet fully impressed on the souls of enough people.

In fact, the fact that he still had an evolution left was a cause for concern for him. God had said the System was designed to help him and so far this has proved true. Sobek hoped to be able to resolve the war peacefully thanks to the Eden Union, but if there was still no evolution then it was clear that new skills would be needed. Which meant that in all likelihood some nation would make a fool of itself.

Sobek was no longer afraid of nuclear bombs, thanks to [Supreme instinct] and [Teleportation] he could have avoided them without problems, but not even he could repair the damage they would have caused. Cities could be rebuilt and forests replanted, but there was no such thing as could cure the planet of nuclear fallout.

As things stand, if the atomic war breaks out, he would still have lost, he thought bitterly. "All I can do is hope that the new evolution grants me a way to end the war quickly and save what can be saved. If a bomb or two go off, never mind; but hundreds of them explode... I don't want to think about it"

He had mobilized Rambo and his intelligence to look for the military bases where the atomic weapons were produced, but unfortunately the search was far from over. Furthermore, Sobek was afraid to act, because nothing would ever guarantee him that he had found ALL the atomic bases. If even one had escaped him it would have been a disaster: the destruction of the others would have been a real act of war, and consequently that only military base left would have fired nuclear missiles all over the continent.

"Even now, when it should be of greatest joy and when we seem to be one step away from victory, the sword of Damocles still hangs over our heads..." Sobek grumbled in his mind as he plunged his claws into the ground to let off steam. "Will this ever end? I'm tired of fighting! God, damn, you said you were omniscient, so I know you are looking at me: how much longer will I have to suffer before I can finally say that I have obtained peace?"

Obviously the divinity did not answer his prayer (if you wanted to call it that), but Sobek suddenly felt something warm touch his shoulders and neck, as if someone or something was was putting a hand on his shoulder. As if by magic the worry and fear in his heart seemed to fade as the confidence grew stronger than ever.

"Is this an encouragement?" Sobek asked in his mind, and he almost thought he saw the divinity smiling at him, even if in front of him there were only trees and scattered grass.

Old Li woke him from his thoughts: "Pack leader, it's almost time"

Sobek shook himself and nodded. "Yes, you are right. Thanks for letting me know. So, I'm going" and with that said he activated [Teleportation] and disappeared from the area.

*******

"Here Lila Lay of Channel 00! Like many others I am currently in the Hudson Bay harbor in the Kingdom of Niger, where it is assumed that lord Sobek will arrive shortly! As you can see behind me a large crowd has gathered here. Most of the leaders of the newly formed Eden Union are gathered here, and those who were unable to attend sent representatives. We don't know what to expect, but it is clear that..."

At least ten thousand people were gathered in the Hudson Bay harbor, and many more gathered in the surrounding hills observing the scene with binoculars. Hundreds of millions of people were watching the live broadcast from home. Captained by Harris, the Niger army patrolled the area to avoid accidents, while navy ships blocked all other vessels from passing through the bay.

Everyone knew that this was a historic moment. The leader of the opposing faction had chosen to come to the human continent. It would have been the definitive proof that the peace was indeed sealed.

People were also interested in seeing Sobek. No one had forgotten how Pauline Mackenzie had spoken of him in front of the NMWA. Many wanted to know if what she said was true or if it was just bragging rights.

Sobek had told Jocelyne that he was coming to Hudson Bay for a reason: he still didn't want to reveal his ability to teleport, at least not to the public. After all, if he was right, the war was far from over; discovering the cards he was hiding up his sleeve would have been insane. After all, not only his allies would have learned of that ability of him, but also his opponents.

Suddenly someone shouted, "Over there! A sail!"

Immediately any eye, camera, recorder and so on was pointed at the indicated location, where a purple, serrated sail could clearly be seen slowly emerging from the waves.

Sobek obviously hadn't swam the whole ocean: even though he could swim at 530 km/h, he now had other, more convenient options available. And in fact he had simply teleported into the deep sea not far away (he had sent ichthyosaurs to explore the area and then he had seen it thanks to the [Contract], so he had been able to use [Teleport] without problems) and then he had swum to the surface. In the eyes of humans, he would simply swim in the depths all the way, where satellites and planes couldn't see him.

The audience saw the sail in the distance grow higher and higher and emerge from the sea like a monument; not a few were surprised by its size. Most people had no real idea how big Sobek really was; but now that he was showing himself in front of them they could see it clearly. Even the people at home, seeing the sail moving near the navy ships, actually understood which giant they were talking about.

And when Sobek came near the harbor and emerged to his full height, many people felt their survival instincts ignite and scream at him to escape. Someone couldn't stand up. Even though they knew he wasn't there to harm them, the mere sight of the giant spinosaurus body was enough to terrify people. The huge claws and razor-sharp teeth were terrifying. Even a megalodon would have looked like a harmless pup by comparison. It was truly the apex predator of the entire planet.

Sobek came out of the water in all its immensity and went up to the dock; the ground shook slightly as he placed his paw on the water's edge. Some cracks even opened due to his weight. Cascades of water came down from his back, and if he had stirred a little he would probably have wet every person within a hundred meters. Suddenly, all the birds and pterosaurs in the harbor took off and flew towards him, greeting their lord with screeches and chirps.

The humans were clearly petrified in front of the giant creature. Nobody seemed to have the ability to do anything. Everyone except Jocelyne and Pauline, who having already seen him were now used to him. It was Pauline who first came forward: "Lord Sobek, welcome to the Kingdom of Niger" greeted him as was the custom when a foreign leader came to visit.

Sobek bowed his head respectfully: "Queen Mackenzie, it's my pleasure to meet you again. I thank you for your hospitality and availability".

Even though his head still stood at least twelve meters high, it was clear that he had bowed respectfully. This sparked the courage of the other leaders of the Eden Union, who one after another stepped forward to greet him. They asked him how the trip had gone, if he liked the welcome, if he liked the country. Sobek did not disappoint anyone and answered all their questions calmly and respectfully.

Now the situation looked like a perfectly normal meeting between heads of state. The only difference was that one of them was a colossus over sixteen meters high that towered in the middle of the harbor as if it were a monument.

Very soon the spectators also recovered and began to crowd in order to get as close as possible, even though they were naturally rejected by the army. Journalists even climbed onto the roofs to photograph and film that event as clearly as possible. Across the civilized world, the meeting between the dinosaur leader and the human heads of state was broadcast live global.

It took a while before Sobek and the leaders of the Eden Union finally stopped showing up. After that they started to leave, but it was somewhat complicated with the crowd pawing and blocking the passage. The army was doing its best to drive them away, but the reporters were hardly individuals willing to give in.

Sobek was surprised at how quickly humans could adapt: although until a few moments before they were terrified, now they seemed intent on reaching him and asking him questions as if he were any celebrity. "Those who say reporters are sharks are absolutely right" he grumbled in his mind.

Jocelyne approached him: "I think saying a few words is a must"

Sobek could only agree with him: if the crowd hadn't dispersed, he would have risked crushing someone with his paws. The best solution at that point was to give them what they wanted and hope it was enough to calm them down just enough to leave.

So he stepped forward and headed for the reporters. Although a carnivorous dinosaur more than sixteen meters high was coming towards them, none of the reporters took a single step back. They kept waving and calling him in an attempt to get his attention, all while asking countless questions on a variety of topics. Only when Sobek raised a paw, giving a sign of wanting to speak, the crowd finally fell silent.

Hearing thousands of anxious eyes fixed on him Sobek felt a little uncomfortable, but he ignored that annoying sensation and spoke in a high tone of voice to be heard by all: "It was pointed out to me a little while ago that a few words aside mine are a must on this wonderful day. However, I'm not a very verbose type. I would like to be able to say many things about this day, about our past, about what we plan to build and what I hope will be achieved; but personally, only four words come to mind to define this moment, and it is to them that I want to entrust myself"

Not a fly flew across the harbor. Even the birds and pterosaurs had alighted and were listening to their lord's words. "The first word I want to appeal to is 'joy'. Joy because finally, after the darkness that has enveloped us for all these years, I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. Joy because today, on this glorious day, we celebrate the peace achieved between our peoples, a peace that I hope will last forever. Joy because, despite all the differences that separate us, we have been able to open the doors of peace and friendship, and to unite our hearts and minds to build together a better, more peaceful, equitable and egalitarian future than than we have ever done so far. Joy because, despite everything that has happened in recent years, I am now here in front of you, and not as a prisoner or conqueror, but as a negotiator and ally. Joy because I can finally see the possibility that coexistence between our peoples is really possible"

The crowd was listening raptly to his words. Some even seemed to be afraid to breathe in order not to make noise and not miss a single syllable. "The second word I want to use is 'pain'. Pain for all those we have lost due to this conflict, no matter which side you talk about. Pain for our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins, comrades, friends, children and grandchildren who sacrificed themselves on the battlefield. Because no pain in this world is comparable to that suffered by your soul when you lose a person so dear to you. And it is precisely for this reason that we must strive so that future generations do not have to suffer the same pain. We must not forget the people we have lost; precisely for them, we must strive to achieve a future of peace, because this is how lost people are honored. Not with revenge or further suffering, but by pursuing the peace they set out to achieve. A peace that I have promised myself to obtain and maintain, because every member of my pack, from the winged creatures that ply the sky to the huge reptiles that swim in the sea, are part of my family, and I suffer every time I lose one of them"

If there was a way to define the mood of the crowd at that moment, it was a state of shock. Even the leaders of the various nations were listening unable to think anything. Nobody expected a dinosaur to express such articulate thoughts! Much less that he could make such a speech! Only the few who had already met Sobek remained calm despite his words, but all the others, even the journalists. "The third word I want to appeal to is 'rebuild', which is exactly what I hope we will all do together: to rebuild together not only a new relationship between our peoples, but also a new world where we can all live together free and without concerns about wars and conflicts. I am aware that it will not be an easy undertaking; it would certainly be much easier to continue to maintain a line between us and shoot at each other occasionally. Because it takes courage to go to war, but even more courage is needed to sign and maintain a peace. It is difficult and demanding to leave behind the disagreements, the erroneous beliefs, the harmful traditions that have accompanied a people for years or even centuries. Unfortunately, the right way is always the hardest one. However, this does not mean that it should not be followed, and that one should not strive to remain anchored to it with all one's strength. And this brings me back to the last word I want to say"

Sobek took a deep breath, then spoke: " 'Hope'. This is the only word with which I could end this speech, because it was the hope that brought us all here, on this pier, to speak of peace and not of war. Hope there was a better way to end this conflict. Because it is the hope that gives strength to every creature of this world, that makes it constantly struggle against the adversities of life, whether it breathes, swims, roars, runs or flies in the sky. Although my life cannot be defined as long, I have personally seen the worst part of humanity; but I have also seen the most beautiful one, that part of humans that does not aim at the creation of weapons and instruments of death, but allows you to create extraordinary works, to access the intrinsic knowledge of this world, and even to challenge the barriers of heaven and go higher than even a quetzalcoatlus could, where the Sun is nothing but a star like many others and the world is just a small ball suspended in the void. I've seen that part of human beings very little, and I've been immersed in the worst part for much longer; yet, despite this, although I would have every reason to think the opposite, I have chosen to hope... no, excuse me; forgive me, I expressed myself badly. What I meant is that I firmly BELIEVE that that wonderful part of humanity can be pulled out again and can dispel that darkness that now envelops the world and threatens to swallow it. I believe that one day humans and dinosaurs will be able to live together in any part of this world, and that children and our children's children will be able to swim in the sea, breathe fresh air, run in the forests and fly in the clear sky, side by side with them. who were their sworn enemies, completely oblivious to the conflict that is currently scourging us! I believe that, if we put aside our differences, there would be no goal that we would not be able to achieve! Humans, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, and many others: together they can make this planet green and blue again, they can travel to new worlds, they can end famines and droughts, they can learn new things about the cosmos and the universe, even they may be able to learn and manipulate the unfathomable laws that form it! It will be a difficult path, as I have already said; unfortunately there is no doubt about this. But if we let the difficulty curb our hope, then none of us would be here today! You, Homo sapiens sapiens, have reached your level of civilization because your ancestors hoped that there could be an easier and better life than they had; although they were forced to hide in caves and were preyed upon by everything, they chose to believe in their hopes and built cities, brick by brick, generation after generation! And in the same way we, simple animals, have risen from our oppressed condition because we have chosen to hope to be able to build a new world for our families and our children, even if the excessive power of humans at the time seemed invincible! So I wonder, if we were able to hope in those moments, when the adverse forces of fate seemed to be able to crush us as if we were cockroaches, what prevents us from hoping now? What prevents us from believing, and above all from committing ourselves, to building a better world? What prevents us from believing that our peoples can really coexist? Only a coward would back down at this point. Change, act, make sacrifices, are they actions that cause fear? Yes, indeed. Change is always scary, because no matter how many insurances there are, it is always a leap in the dark. But it is precisely for this reason that we must appeal to courage. Because true courage does not lie in winning wars, but in being able to stop them despite all the complications that this act imposes. Because the heroes, the REAL heroes, are not those who win wars or who sacrifice themselves for a cause, but those who manage to avoid wars before they even begin and those who manage to put a stop to it even when the situation seems dead end . Because I tell you, there is always a way out of conflict, if both sides really make an effort to find it, and they don't minimize the problems by pretending that everything will be fine, but they go through them one by one and find a way to deal with them. remedy. This, in essence, is what I hope will happen during my visit: an interview with your major political leaders where we will examine the problems that grip both of us and we will then lay the foundations to build a new world where we can all live together. I believe in this vision, and I know that if you believe it too, then nothing will prevent this vision from becoming a reality. Therefore it is with this last question that I wish to leave you: are you willing to entrust yourselves to hope? Because if the answer is yes, then we've all already won"

It was with those words that Sobek ended his speech; his mouth closed and he didn't say another word. The crowd was staring at him with wide eyes; no one seemed to have the strength to clap or whistle. Taking advantage of the shock, Sobek walked towards the street; the soldiers could easily move people now that they were so dazed. When the crowd recovered it was too late: the way was open. Many tried to call Sobek back, but he didn't deign anyone to look at and went on without stopping.

However, his words had been enough. His speech was broadcast live globally and had a resounding impact on people's hearts. It didn't just show that dinosaurs weren't just brutal killers; he had the strength to violently shake the very soul of the people. Many people who previously hoped only for peace began to share the ideal of coexistence that Sobek supported, and many others began to hope, even if they did not fully believe it, that this was really possible. And it wasn't just the nations that were part of the Eden Union… the speech was also broadcast in the countries that were part of the NMWA, and it profoundly changed the mentality that politicians had instilled in ordinary people up to that point. In many countries, especially in dictatorships and oligarchies, Sobek's call for hope had rekindled the hearts of the people, people who in the future would give rise to riots and rebellions that would overthrow oppressive governments and establish more democratic regimes. For this and many other reasons, Sobek's speech was recorded word for word in the annals of every nation and printed in all history books, and future generations would have studied it as one of the most important speeches ever delivered.