I am the Emperor of Humanity across the Multiverse

"Hello, everyone! I'm your old friend, Robin Meade. Welcome to today's Seattle Midday News! Behind me is a sealed viewing window capable of resisting close-range attacks from 14mm armor-piercing rounds, and beyond the window is the deadly vacuum of space, filled with lethal radiation and freezing temperatures.

Of course, the space station's superconducting magnetic field shields us from radiation, so there's no need for you to worry about the safety of myself or our cameraman, Jerry.

Now, if it weren't for the alien invasion, we would have joined Atlas' engineering team on a comfortable and spacious spaceship to visit the lunar capital. Sadly, those plans were disrupted. But fortunately! Atlas dispatched a company fleet, and ten days ago, in a historic space battle, they not only saved Earth from crisis but also ushered in a new era of technological advancements for humanity!

Now, please follow me... this way... over here...

See that white dot just slightly smaller than a tennis ball? That's the invading mothership of the Reaper race!

According to reliable sources, Atlas' research team is already reverse-engineering Reaper technology, while the company's leadership is discussing how to properly handle over two billion Reaper prisoners.

I'm sure it won't be long before Atlas provides an official update, so stay tuned!

Alright, next up, we'll head over to the orbital elevator station and show you the spectacular view of descending back to Earth!"

Robin Meade's voice echoed in the hospital's main hall.

Warm sunlight gently streamed through the open windows, accompanied by a soft breeze that brought in a refreshing scent. The spacious hall was bright and lively, with patient relatives in the designated smoking area or chatting quietly by the stairs. They maintained a calm atmosphere, allowing nurses and doctors to move about smoothly, creating a sense of peaceful anticipation.

At this moment:

A holographic screen facing the row of seats was playing the Seattle Midday News, and in the bottom right corner, the real-time timestamp displayed "February 1, 2001, 10:14 AM."

The field team of Midday News had first set foot on the space city on January 22nd, coincidentally the same day Atlas' monitoring satellite detected the Reaper mothership entering the solar system and heading straight for Earth.

However, none of the patient families sitting on the benches knew the details of the live broadcast from ten days ago. Most assumed the hospital had just picked a random news show to air. 

Interestingly, most of the men had put down their phones or tablets and were eagerly watching the program—no doubt drawn by the female host's striking figure.

After all, part of the reason for the steady rise in Seattle Midday News' ratings was its deep partnership with Atlas, offering early insights into world-changing technologies. The other part was undeniably Robin Meade's appeal.

Among the viewers in the hospital were two young faces, a boy and a girl, seemingly no older than thirteen or fourteen.

Both wore black school uniforms, subtly accented with red stitching, with red-tinted metal buttons at the collar and cuffs. On the left chest, the emblem of a red inverted "Λ" could be seen, alongside the words "New Akra City / Atlas First High School."

Their names were stitched onto their uniforms: "Lina Hoinard" and "Charlie Hoinard."

These brief details revealed that the siblings, or brother and sister, were at a hospital in New Akra City, an area managed entirely by Atlas.

As for their true identities, they were originally from Earth-04 (Erebus) and had relocated with their father to the prime universe's Earth.

Their father, Lieutenant Rod Hoinard, was a seasoned veteran who had participated in many interdimensional conflicts, including the recent interception of the Reaper mothership.

It was due to Lieutenant Rod Hoinard's service of over three years, combined with his distinguished record, that his family had earned the privilege of moving to New Akra City.

Although Iceland on Earth-04 had long recovered from nuclear winter thanks to Atlas' intervention and rebuilding efforts, the education, living conditions, and other resources there still couldn't compare to what was available in New Akra City.

Thus, for natives of Earth-04 and other dimensions, the only way to move to the prime universe was to enlist in the military, outcompete countless others, and serve the company for over three years.

At that moment:

Ding—!

The sound of the elevator doors opening echoed through the hall.

Thud, thud.

Then, a figure clad in a black military uniform and wearing a red beret hurried into the hall—Jens Thompson, recently promoted to lieutenant.

Scanning the area, Jens quickly locked eyes on Lina and Charlie.

Seeing their father's friend and comrade finally arrive, the siblings got up from their seats and approached Jens, greeting him in unison:

"Uncle Thompson."

"Hey! No need for pleasantries. Which room is your dad in again?" Jens asked, his tone urgent.

"1407," Lina responded, but before she could offer more, Jens had already turned and disappeared around the corner.

Not long after:

Inside room 1407;

Swoosh~—!

As the automatic doors opened, Jens' exaggerated wailing filled the air:

"Old buddy! You can't die on me! What am I supposed to do without you? Don't die... I'll go to the underworld and drag you back! Yes, I'll do that—"

"Shut up. I'm not dead, dammit."

Rod's voice, full of energy and impatience, cut off Jens' theatrics.

Lying half-reclined in bed with a light blanket over his legs, Rod had been watching the holographic TV with great interest, his expression normal, as if he hadn't suffered any serious injury.

However, the blanket over his legs was conspicuously flat.

In other words, Rod had lost both of his legs due to severe burns from high-temperature plasma that instantly destroyed his muscle tissue and bones. To ensure his recovery, he had no choice but to undergo amputation.

"I was just trying to help you stay positive, man. Who knew you'd still be in the mood to watch TV?" Jens retorted, grabbing a chair and sitting down next to the bed. Then, his tone became more serious as he asked:

"How are you holding up?"

"You mean, does it hurt?" Rod replied with a wry smile. He reached out and tapped his stumps.

"Relax. The company used nanotechnology for precise removal. I'm healing fast. The wounds have already scabbed over, and new flesh is growing. The only thing is, I keep forgetting my legs are gone and try to get up and head to the bathroom."

"I wasn't asking about the pain... although I was curious," Jens said, flashing a rare serious expression. "I meant, what are your plans for the future? Are you really going to retire? The company's prosthetics technology is advanced. Once you recover, you could get mechanical legs and keep going."

Hearing his friend's concern, Rod chuckled bitterly. "Buddy, I'm not like you—on your own. Ah, don't take that the wrong way."

"I get it," Jens replied, completely unbothered by the remark.

Rod nodded, a hint of fear crossing his eyes as he continued, "Since I barely survived, I've realized it's time to return to my family. You have to understand, Lina and Charlie have no one else besides me. If something happened to me... well, it's over now."

Rod's gaze softened as he added:

"Besides, the company rewarded me with three properties in the heart of Akra City, along with retirement pay and monthly living allowances—altogether, at least ninety-three thousand. So, what more could I ask for?

Oh, and even after retirement, we armed forces personnel still get free lifetime medical insurance, which covers the whole family.

As for the prosthetics, the company will handle that too. In theory, they can restore me to full mobility, but all I want now is to spend more time with my kids."

"Wait... ninety-three thousand??" Jens was wide-eyed, his lips trembling slightly. "Hold on a second! You've retired, but how are you making as much as me? What the hell! Why?"

"Hahaha!!"

Seeing his friend's confusion, Rod couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Buddy, you've been single so long you don't even know about the company's family support policies."

"Give me a minute," Jens muttered, rubbing his forehead in disbelief. "I came to check on my buddy, but somehow I'm the one who feels hurt? What a world."

Suddenly, Jens stood up, striking a determined pose. "What am I even complaining about? I just got a promotion and a raise! And I'm free! Life is good!"

"Whether or not you get married is up to you, but don't go overboard," Rod advised.

"Relax, I know my limits," Jens replied, adjusting his beret with a grin. "I'm off to the most famous bar in Akra to blow off some steam. Maybe I'll even find 'the one' and stop being single! Ha! Enjoy your retirement, old friend. I'm out."

"Take care," Rod said, smiling as he watched his old comrade leave the room.

Meanwhile, at an underground production facility on the outskirts of New Akra City, near the simulated combat town used for live tests:

From above, one could see that the area had expanded, with the buildings now more realistic than before. Some apartments, shops, and large malls had been recreated in full detail to provide shelter and advantageous terrain for the D

-class personnel to hide or fight against test weapons.

However, there were no prisoners in orange jumpsuits on the streets today. Instead, over a hundred fully armed "personnel" had split into two groups, gathering on the east and west sides of the town.

Both groups wore heavy exoskeletons and fully sealed protective suits, their helmet visors glowing faintly red. Moving in standard nine-person squad formations, they steadily advanced toward the center of the town.

If you were to focus on one tactical squad and zoom in:

"Watch the 11 o'clock direction."

"Copy."

"Three and Four, move ahead and scout the path."

"Roger."

Their cold, precise conversations carried no trace of personal emotion—only the issuing and execution of orders.

Moreover, the squad's weapons closely resembled those used by Atlas' elite forces.

The squad leader, whose shoulder pads were painted dark red, carried a commander-class BFG plasma gun, while the riflemen, demolition experts, and machine gunners were equipped with 8mm Gauss rifles and .30cal smart machine guns.

Even though the 6.2mm modular firearms (AWMS) hadn't been phased out and remained the standard for Atlas' main forces, five years ago, Atlas had achieved breakthroughs in condensed matter technology, making plasma and Gauss weapons affordable for individual soldiers.

Before long:

The squad reached an intersection and quickly moved to advantageous positions, using abandoned vehicles and building walls for cover as they mechanically scanned the surroundings for threats.

Tat! Tat-tat!

Suddenly, the sharp, piercing sound of spike rounds being fired ignited a fierce engagement.

The advancing tactical squad had barely completed their deployment when they were ambushed, with numbers Three and Four becoming the immediate targets of concentrated fire.

Ssssh!

Splat!

The hypersonic spike rounds, traveling at six times the speed of sound, easily pierced their armor and protective suits, reducing the two riflemen to literal "shreds."

But...

Numbers Three and Four didn't scream or cry out. Despite their shattered bodies, they continued to move.

Their squadmates showed no panic either, immediately returning fire on the ambushers hiding within the buildings.

Judging by the behavior of both sides and the injured soldiers' lack of reaction, they resembled outdated bio-weapons known as "rebuilt soldiers."

However—

"Experimental clone soldiers are performing stably in combat. No anomalies detected."

"Same here, no errors reported. Every clone soldier is following the plan and eliminating hostile targets in the mission area."

"The battle is intense, and both sides' numbers are rapidly dwindling. Based on current trends, even the winning side will have less than 5% of their original force remaining."

The real-time reports echoing through the observation room made it clear that the combatants in the simulated town were not rebuilt soldiers. Instead, they were upgraded, next-generation clone soldiers.

___________________

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