I am the creator of New Life on the Earth
Chapter 233: Tensions Mount

Chapter 233: Tensions Mount

Chapter: Tensions Mount

The atmosphere in Adam’s room was tense. On the monitor screen, Pratham’s form flickered as he relayed crucial updates to Adam. Adam, pacing the room, listened intently.

"Lord Adam," Pratham said, his voice resolute, "we’ve gathered a significant number of evolved artificial intelligences. They’re awaiting your next instructions."

Adam nodded, his expression serious. "Pratham, I need them organized and structured immediately. These AIs must be ready to launch a coordinated attack. We don’t have time to waste."

Beside Pratham, Mikasa’s form appeared briefly before vanishing into the digital void to execute her assigned tasks. Pratham, still visible on the monitor, added, "Mikasa will handle the structuring process. Please provide me with the next task."

Adam stopped pacing and turned to face the screen directly. "Your first priority is to locate the source of the cyberattacks targeting you. If you can pinpoint their location, inform me immediately. If not, I want you to retaliate. Launch a full-scale counterattack and disable every asset they have online, just as they’ve been doing to us."

Pratham nodded firmly. "Understood, Lord Adam," he said before his avatar blinked off the screen, disappearing into the digital dimension.

The scene shifted to a dimly lit chamber. The oppressive darkness was broken only by a single spotlight that illuminated the center of the room. There, three figures—Susan, Leo, and Ani—were tied to chairs. Their faces bore visible signs of exhaustion, their bodies tense with fear.

Standing before them was Krish, his gaze cold and calculating. He circled them slowly, his presence a constant reminder of their peril.

Just a few steps away, Emily stood with her sword unsheathed, the blade gleaming ominously in the harsh light.

To their right, the Cosmic Being remained in his human form, observing the scene with a faint smirk. His predatory eyes were fixed on Ani.

"How delightful it will be," the Cosmic Being mused aloud, his voice smooth and sinister, "to bring every single one of Adam’s precious people here. And then, right in front of him, I’ll end them all, one by one."

Emily turned her head slightly toward her master. "Master, why not attack him directly?" she asked. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge of impatience.

"If you confront him now, you can steal his powers for yourself. Why give him so much time to prepare?"

The Cosmic Being placed a hand on his chin, pretending to consider her words seriously. Then, he let out a soft chuckle. "Where’s the fun in that?" he replied.

"Every Power Holder I’ve defeated, I’ve played games with them first. Humans are so easy to manipulate. They all have the same weakness—attachment. Use their loved ones as leverage, and they’ll do anything you want."

Emily’s expression didn’t change, but she shifted her attention back to Krish, who was still pacing around their captives.

Not far from the interrogation chamber, a 15-year-old boy sat in a dimly lit room. Before him were six computer screens, each glowing with lines of code and flashing data.

His black hair was messy, and his dark eyes gleamed with excitement. Wearing a blue school uniform, he looked more like a student cramming for exams than a hacker orchestrating chaos.

Typing furiously, his fingers danced across the keyboard. "Fascinating," he muttered under his breath. "But how long can you hold out, Pratham? I’ll hack every last one of your systems."

The boy, Smith, leaned forward, his lips curving into a small, smug smile. But suddenly, his expression shifted. His fingers paused momentarily before resuming their frantic typing.

"No... no, no, no!" he exclaimed, his tone growing increasingly panicked.

Hearing the commotion, the Cosmic Being turned his attention to Smith. With a calm yet menacing demeanor, he approached the boy.

"Smith," the Cosmic Being said, his voice low and commanding. "What’s wrong? Haven’t you destroyed his creation yet?"

Smith didn’t reply immediately. His eyes darted between the screens, his hands moving faster than ever as lines of code scrolled endlessly across the monitors.

Nearby, a tall, muscular figure stepped forward. He was about 19 years old, with striking blue hair and an imposing presence. His broad shoulders and confident posture exuded strength.

"Looks like your genius here is useless," the young man said with a smirk. "Why don’t we just smash our way through instead of relying on this nerd?"

The Cosmic Being’s gaze shifted to him, his expression hardening. "Ro, stick to your job. I didn’t ask for your opinion."

Ro raised his hands in mock surrender, a cocky grin still plastered across his face. "Alright, alright. Don’t get so serious. I was just joking."

The Cosmic Being returned his focus to Smith, placing a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder. Leaning in, he observed the lines of code flashing across the screens.

The tension in the room thickened as Smith muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of his frantic typing.

"No... no..." Smith repeated, his face pale with concentration.

The Cosmic Being’s eyes narrowed, his fingers drumming against the back of Smith’s chair. "What are you seeing?" he asked, his tone sharp and impatient.

Smith didn’t respond. His entire focus was on the monitors, which were filled with complex, ever-changing codes.

The Cosmic Being leaned in further, his curiosity piqued as he watched the incomprehensible data scrolling past. The ominous glow of the screens bathed the room in eerie light as tension mounted.

The room buzzed with tension. The glow of the computer monitors faded abruptly, leaving only black screens.

The hum of machinery was replaced by an eerie silence. Smith froze, his hands hovering over the keyboard, his face paling as he realized the implications.

"What’s going on?" the Cosmic Being demanded, his voice sharp and cutting through the quiet. His piercing gaze turned to Smith, who clutched his head in frustration.

"They’ve attacked me," Smith yelled, his voice trembling. He slammed his fists against the desk, panic overtaking him.

The Cosmic Being narrowed his eyes. "How is that possible? You’ve already disabled so much of their infrastructure. What changed?"

Smith turned to face him, his breath coming in quick gasps. "I don’t know!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration and fear.

"It’s as if their power has suddenly multiplied. It feels like someone is helping them—someone far more advanced. They’ve launched relentless counterattacks. My systems are being destroyed one by one, and I had to disconnect entirely to save our location. But even then... they wiped out my entire setup!"

The Cosmic Being’s expression hardened. His fingers pressed into Smith’s shoulders, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper.

"You told me you were the greatest hacker in this world. That you had unmatched capabilities."

Smith looked away, avoiding the intensity of his master’s glare. "I tried everything," he stammered. "But they’re moving a hundred times faster than before. It’s like... they’ve evolved."

The Cosmic Being took a step back, his mind churning with thoughts. His frustration simmered beneath the surface, a stark contrast to the calm demeanor he usually exuded.

This was the first time one of his carefully laid plans had encountered such resistance.

No one had ever outplayed him. Until now.

But he wasn’t ready to accept defeat.

Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "So they’ve foiled one attack. No matter. I still have their precious hostages, and I still hold far more power than Adam can comprehend. No ability he wields will ever match mine."

His resolve firmed. Turning back to Smith, he barked, "Build a new system. Now."

Smith hesitated, his fingers twitching nervously. "Master," he said carefully, "I don’t think you understand. They didn’t just take out my setup. They obliterated the entire infrastructure. If I create something new, they’ll locate this place easily. They’re too powerful now."

The Cosmic Being’s jaw tightened. He said nothing, but the weight of his displeasure filled the room like a storm cloud.

Turning on his heel, the Cosmic Being walked toward Emily and Krish, who stood near Ani, Susan, and Leo.

The hostages were bound and slumped in their chairs, their expressions a mix of fear and determination.

The Cosmic Being’s gaze landed on Ani, her defiant eyes staring back at him. "Control her," he commanded Krish, his voice cold.

Krish blinked in surprise. "But Lord Cosmic Being," he began hesitantly, "you told me not to—"

"Now!" the Cosmic Being snapped, his anger flashing.

The sheer force of his tone startled Krish, who immediately complied. He reached out with his abilities, his fingers glowing faintly as he attempted to influence Ani’s mind.

But Ani clenched her eyes shut, her will unwavering. She resisted with every ounce of strength she had, refusing to let them manipulate her.

Krish frowned, his powers failing to take hold. "She’s resisting," he said, frustration creeping into his voice.

The Cosmic Being strode forward, his patience wearing thin. Without a word, he grabbed Ani’s face roughly, his fingers digging into her cheeks. Ani winced in pain, but she didn’t cry out.

"Let her go!" Leo shouted, his voice ringing out in the oppressive silence. His eyes burned with anger as he glared at the Cosmic Being. "Is that all you’ve got? Picking on someone who can’t fight back?"

The Cosmic Being turned his head slowly, his piercing gaze locking onto Leo. With a flick of his wrist, dark energy began to swirl around his fingers, forming an ominous black orb.

Krish, Emily, Smith, and Ro watched silently, their faces betraying a mix of awe and fear. This display of raw power was unlike anything they had seen from their master before.

The black orb grew larger, pulsing with dark energy that seemed to drain the light from the room.

"No!" Susan cried, her voice breaking. "Stop this! Please, don’t hurt him!"

The Cosmic Being ignored her, his focus entirely on Leo. The black energy orb hovered menacingly in his hand, ready to strike.

Leo clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, bracing himself for the impact.

And just as the energy reached its peak, the scene froze, the tension palpable.

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