The massive metal shoulder armor plates shifted slightly, and the complex multi-stage transmission shafts and hydraulic cylinders inside emitted a sharp, powerful hiss of exhaust, accompanied by the subtle sizzle of grease being squeezed out under high pressure.
The huge alloy forearm, over two meters in diameter, slowly but unstoppably lifted with the force of a thousand jun.
During the lifting process, the internal universal bearings and giant gears meshed, producing a grating metallic friction symphony.
When the arm was fully raised and swung, the air was violently compressed, and the resulting gale roared through the hangar like a giant hammer beating a drum.
"Advance! First step!" Mark focused his mind on the "legs."
Thump! Rumble—!
The titan guardian's massive foot, like a mobile foundation, suddenly lifted amidst a deafening hydraulic release!
The huge underground space let out a muffled groan.
And then it landed!
The entire hangar seemed to undergo a small earthquake; dust fell from the reinforced ceiling, and the massive alloy foot left a clear, several-inch-deep footprint outline on the super-pressure-resistant concrete floor, with even tiny net-like cracks appearing at the edges.
One step, then another.
Mark was immersed in the pure physical rhythm of controlling this steel beast.
The tremor of the earth brought by each step rushed up through his "body" to his mind;
The violent airflow generated by each arm swing washed over his "perception";
The stable and surging hum of the main engine core resonated in his chest like the strongest heartbeat;
The warmth of the energy flowing through the weapon System felt like blood surging;
Even the feedback from each lift and fall of the foot against the ground carried an absolute physical certainty.
The panic and self-doubt about a chaotic world, a void protocol, and inner confusion seemed to be shattered and ground into dust by this steel foot, time and again, in the face of this absolutely tangible, controllable, and understandable power.
"I am the savior after the monster invasion of the world!" Mark thought to himself.
Sweat beads rolled from his real forehead, dampening his temples, and truly dripped onto the cold touch panel.
But the frantic storm on the verge of collapse in his eyes was slowly being replaced by the almost cold sense of control brought by this steel body.
Here, in this metal Universe he had personally forged, he at least still knew clearly—if he wanted to, this steel body could shatter all obstacles in front of him in the next second!
This certainty became the last anchor point sustaining his crumbling sanity at this moment.
*
*
While Mark was combating the inner storm with steel steps deep beneath Texas.
In a heavily guarded, top-secret conference room in Zhongnanhai, the heart of the Great Dragon Country's capital, a meeting concerning the fate of the East Sea was quietly underway.
There were no heated debates, no lengthy procedures.
Around the rectangular conference table sat seven true power cores of the Great Dragon Country: the Supreme Leader, the Premier, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff, the Director of the General Security Bureau, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Vice Premier responsible for maritime affairs.
The lighting was soft, and the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone's expression was unusually calm, yet deep in their eyes, a non-human, absolutely rational light flickered, like precise instruments operating in sync.
They were perfect parasites, their thoughts seamlessly connected within a higher will's neural network.
On the huge screen on the wall, a satellite thermal map of the East Sea clearly displayed: a previously azure area was now covered by densely wriggling crimson heat source signals, like a boiling, festering sore.
A small window beside it rapidly flashed several shocking images: deep, bone-visible claw marks on a fishing boat's hull; distorted, non-fish-like dense echoes on sonar scans; close-ups of terrified fishermen's faces;
And a highly credible assessment report submitted by the Special Administration Bureau, explicitly stating that this was a tribal riot caused by the capture of Blackscale Merman.
The voice of Wang Yufei, Director of the General Security Bureau, echoed in the conference room.
Calm, clear, and devoid of emotional fluctuation: "Based on existing intelligence analysis, the abnormal marine biological cluster incident in the East Sea constitutes a major threat to national maritime security, important shipping lanes, coastal economy, and social stability."
"Conventional means are unable to effectively counter their mobility and cluster size. The Special Administration Bureau's emergency plan suggests: immediately initiate Operation 'Clean Sea.' Core plan: under the guise of a multinational joint maritime counter-terrorism and search and rescue exercise, implement high-intensity military deterrence in the target sea area to create a favorable window period for units belonging to the Special Administration Bureau to execute 'targeted elimination' missions."
"This move can kill three birds with one stone: eradicate the threat, demonstrate regional leadership, and stabilize public opinion."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over each face present, like a scanner confirming a procedure, "The Special Administration Bureau has developed a complete plan and requests authorization for the highest-level execution authority."
There was no discussion.
No questioning.
No weighing.
The Supreme Leader's gaze lingered on the screen for three seconds, then turned to those present, nodding slightly.
The amplitude of the nod was precise to the millimeter, as if controlled by the same program.
"Seconded." The Premier's voice almost immediately followed the Supreme Leader's nod.
"Seconded. The Navy fleet will immediately enter the highest state of combat readiness." The Minister of Defense interjected, his speaking rate steady.
"Seconded. Operational plan details will be coordinated by the General Staff Department and the Special Administration Bureau, to be finalized within one hour." The Chief of the General Staff.
"Seconded. Diplomatic channels will be activated simultaneously to ensure the exercise's cover is impeccable." The Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"Seconded. Domestic public opinion guidance plans are ready for immediate activation." The Vice Premier responsible for maritime affairs.
"Then I will contact the other countries," Wang Yufei said upon seeing this.
From proposal to unanimous approval, it took 47 seconds.
The Supreme Leader's voice was unruffled: "Authorization passed. Operation code name: 'Clean Sea.' Execution Rank: Top Secret. Wang Yufei is responsible for overall coordination. Meeting adjourned."
Without extra words, the seven parasites, like precise machines receiving commands.
Simultaneously rose and left the conference room in unison, with no eye contact, no private conversations, leaving only the cold air and the glaring crimson on the screen.
The gears of power, driven by an invisible network, began to operate at full speed with an efficiency and ruthlessness beyond human comprehension.
Orders were transmitted at light speed to the Naval Command, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, major media centers... A massive military machine was quietly awakened.
