Chapter 88: The Underworld King Arrives! The Nine Provinces' Prediction Comes True!

The King of the Underworld has arrived! After half a month, he once again invades the land where humanity resides!

This time, he comes in the dead of night, striking when human vigilance is at its lowest.

Chu Xiao was still deep in sleep when a thunderous explosion jolted him awake.

Outside, the air was thick with screams, shouting, and the cries of children.

"The King of the Underworld is here!"

"The machine army is here!"

"They're attacking!"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Rally the troops! Defend our homeland!"

...

Chu Xiao hastily threw on his clothes, while beside him, Wang Lulu was also startled awake.

"What’s going on? What happened?" Seeing Chu Xiao dress in a hurry, she quickly did the same.

Chu Xiao’s eyes darkened. "The King of the Underworld is here! Protect yourself—do not run about!"

Leaving these words behind, Chu Xiao turned and rushed out.

Arriving at the front line, he found that Ji Kaicheng was nowhere to be seen.

At this moment, Ji Kaicheng’s whereabouts were also unknown.

Chu Xiao had no time to worry about that. First, he needed to turn on the lights!

"Lighthouse! Turn on the lights! Scout the enemy’s direction!" Chu Xiao shouted into his radio.

The beacon blazed to life.

A vast, shadowy army emerged before Chu Xiao. However, compared to the force that had attacked the Nine Continents last time, their numbers seemed somewhat diminished.

Nevertheless, it was still nighttime—a disadvantage for humanity.

"This is Chu Xiao! Do not panic! Return to your posts, arm yourselves, and resist the King of the Underworld! Their numbers are not as great this time!"

"Stay calm! Don’t panic! Remain composed!"

Chu Xiao’s voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

Hearing him, the people gradually regained their composure.

They forced themselves to stay calm, even as they faced machines dozens of times their own size.

Though the dim night diminished their sight, the determination to defend their homeland burned bright enough to illuminate the land.

Gunfire roared without pause, trembling the hearts of all.

At the same time, the other three nations were also under attack. Due to differing time zones, some faced night raids while others endured daylight assaults.

Gradually, Chu Xiao sensed something was amiss. The machine army had cut off China from the other nations, leaving them isolated and without aid.

A sense of dread rose within Chu Xiao.

To confirm his suspicions, he urgently contacted the leaders of the other three superpowers.

He discovered they all faced the same predicament!

Each had been isolated by the King of the Underworld’s forces, left as solitary nations.

Chu Xiao’s worst fears were realized.

Moreover, the machines replenished their numbers endlessly, and every time they attacked, they would retreat just beyond the range of human weapons.

In America.

Mucus hadn’t expected events to unfold exactly as Chu Xiao had predicted, though he’d agreed with Chu Xiao’s assessment before. Now, with the situation so dire, anxiety gnawed at his heart.

He feared the King of the Underworld would choose America as his primary target.

If that happened, would America not be left utterly alone?

Auden, seeing the uncharacteristic pallor on Mucus’s face, understood his worry.

"President Mucus! Believe in America! Our weapons are now powerful enough to stand against the King of the Underworld! Even if he targets us, as long as we fight with all our might and slay him, we will prevail! Trust in yourself, and in us!" Auden declared, word by word.

Mucus looked up at Auden. "I cannot gamble with America’s fate. My duty as president is to protect this nation."

Auden paused, then smiled. "Of course. That is why we must give everything we have to drive back the King of the Underworld!"

"Drive him back! Very well! Send out the order—every soldier is to assemble and fight with all their might. Any who retreat will be executed!" Mucus’s gaze grew fierce.

"They are only machines! Destroy them, and be done!"

Mucus’s command quickly spread through the ranks.

Morale soared; the machine army was driven back hundreds of meters.

"This is the might of our American soldiers! The pride of our nation!"

"Everyone rest when you can! The King of the Underworld seems intent on wearing us down. We have nothing to fear—patience is our weapon!" Mucus’s cool voice was charged with suppressed excitement.

Yes! These were the sons of America!

No less than any other—driven by their own faith.

Not far away, the King of the Underworld watched America’s resistance and sneered. "It seems America has made some progress."

Louis, observing this, hurried to speak: "They’re all bluster, no substance. A few more days of attack, and America will collapse completely. Most of their territory is already in our hands—what fight do they have left?"

"If you wage a war of attrition, America will be the first to fall! Conquering them will be a matter of moments," Louis said, his eyes devoid of warmth or allegiance, filled only with scorn and indifference.

The King of the Underworld found this amusing.

Why is it, he wondered, that some humans were as cunning and heartless as Louis, while others, like Chu Xiao and Mucus, were willing to give everything—even their lives—to defend their nations? Such selfless devotion and courage!

If he, a machine, truly wished to exterminate humanity, he would have to study them further.

"Let’s see how they fare in a prolonged war," he decided, shifting his focus to conquering America first.

He would see for himself whether America was hollow, as Louis claimed.

Eagerness flashed in Louis’s eyes. "Shall I go to the battlefield and help command the machines?" Clearly, his excitement got the better of him—or perhaps his ambition did.

A current of electricity seared through Louis’s body.

"Get out! You? Unworthy," the King of the Underworld sneered. Someone like Louis was unfit to command his mechanical legions.

Paralyzed, Louis collapsed to the ground, but dared not harbor the slightest resentment. Any discontent would only invite harsher punishment.

Meanwhile, Europa and Northern Sands also mounted an urgent defense. Europa, in particular, performed far better than before—perhaps a matter of experience.

Europa’s warriors, having survived past life-and-death battles, now faced the King of the Underworld’s assault with a calm and readiness unmatched by other nations.

Northern Sands, though somewhat panicked at first, soon steadied themselves, focusing on the fight much like America.

And now, the King of the Underworld had chosen his target for conquest.