Chapter 201: Flash-Blind Their Eyes

Academician Qian Fuli's timely proposal was firmly rejected by Qin Feng; this resolute stance of "perishing with the Sea City-State" injected a powerful dose of adrenaline into the entire New Era. Panic was suppressed to its lowest point, replaced by a tragic yet exhilarating cohesion.

Everyone understood there was no retreat.

Either we create a miracle and hold our home against the might of heaven, or we sink with this sea city, the vessel of boundless hope, into ten thousand acres of blue waves.

There is no third choice.

The construction of the breakwater entered its final frantic sprint phase. Massive alloy components were rapidly assembled like building blocks under the precise hoisting of the Lingxiao platform. Special buffer materials were filled in without regard to cost. Engineers even drew upon part of Qin Feng's energy deflection theories extracted from Super Technology, installing temporary energy guidance devices at critical nodes of the breakwater to divert some of the tsunami's impact toward the surrounding seas.

The entire city-state's power system was thoroughly inspected; all non-essential energy consumption was cut off, and energy was concentrated and stored, ready to provide reverse thrust at the critical moment to counter the tsunami's pull.

The entire Candle Dragon team transformed into engineering soldiers, fighting on the front lines of reinforcement with the immense strength and precise structural control provided by their battle armor.

Time, in an extreme state of focus and busyness, flew by.

48 hours… 24 hours… 12 hours…

The countdown hung like the Sword of Damocles over every heart.

As the eruption time neared, global geological and oceanic monitoring agencies all turned their gaze toward the South Pacific, this once obscure stretch of ocean. Related warning information began circulating within professional circles and limited media outlets.

When the outside world learned that the controversial private Sea City-State "New Era" lay directly on the predicted path of this super tsunami, reactions poured in.

Some rejoiced—"Arrogance will surely invite divine retribution!" Some watched coldly—"See? This is the consequence of defying natural law." A few expressed sympathy—"What a pity for all the investment and scientific effort."

Most, however, held a nearly voyeuristic attitude. No one believed New Era could survive. Before a VEI-6 volcanic eruption's natural disaster, humanity's current technological power appeared pitifully small and fragile.

Some media outlets and internet streamers even began mobilizing resources to conduct "live broadcasts" from safe distances, recording how this "miracle city" would be torn apart by nature's force.

These external clamors and gazes reached New Era's Command Center through intelligence channels.

A technician responsible for public opinion monitoring angrily projected several mocking news reports onto the main screen: "Leader! Look at these people! They're begging for us to be swallowed by the tsunami!"

Qin Feng glanced at the headlines; his face showed no anger, only a cold, defiant smile.

"They want to watch a show?" "Then let them watch their fill!"

He stood up, walked to the control console, activated the city-wide broadcast, and connected to New Era's official external information channel—he knew countless eyes were watching right now.

His voice, carried by radio waves, clearly reached every corner of the city-state and extended outward:

"All residents of New Era! All workers!"

"I know that right now, many people outside are waiting to laugh at us, waiting to see how we turn to dust before the power of heaven and earth!"

Inside and outside the Command Center, everyone stopped what they were doing and listened intently.

Qin Feng's tone suddenly turned fiery, brimming with soaring confidence and dominance:

"They think we're a mantis trying to stop a chariot—wildly overestimating ourselves! They think a few bars of steel and cement can defy nature? They're wrong!"

His voice exploded like thunder in every ear:

"What we defend is not a few floating plates of steel! What we uphold is a spirit! A spirit of defiance—a will that dares to challenge all difficulties, all authority, even… heaven and earth itself!"

"Today, we stand here not to prove how strong we are!"

Qin Feng's gaze seemed to pierce through layers of obstruction, meeting the eyes watching from afar:

"Human courage and wisdom have no limits! We may fail—but we… will never surrender!"

"Now, I order!"

"Activate the Dawn Protocol! Turn on all non-essential lighting systems! Energy shield generators, preheat to critical state! Lingxiao platform, ascend to safe altitude, activate full-domain observation mode!"

"We will make those lurking spectators see clearly—"

Qin Feng's lips curled into a nearly flamboyant smile, his voice cutting like steel:

"How we stand… unyielding… in this apocalyptic tsunami!"

"Even if we must perish, we will burn with the brightest light!"

"Flash-blind their eyes!"

This speech, like a battle cry, instantly ignited the last sparks of hot-blooded courage and heroism in every heart!

"Unyielding! Flash-blind their eyes!"

Deafening shouts erupted across every corner of the city-state!

Orders were executed swiftly!

In an instant!

The New Era city-state, previously dimmed for energy conservation, suddenly blazed with brilliant radiance!

All building outline lights, landscape lights, searchlights… turned on! Energy shield generators emitted a low hum as a faint blue, visible energy film slowly rose, enveloping the entire city-state! The Lingxiao platform, hovering high above, shone like a giant star, its searchlight beams stabbing through the night like swords, illuminating the terrifying tsunami wall approaching below—bright as snow!

At this moment, New Era was no longer a lamb awaiting judgment, but a steel beast roaring into the storm, blazing its most dazzling light against thunder and tidal waves!

Those watching from safe distant waters through high-powered telescopes or livestream lenses were stunned.

The panic, chaos, despair they expected—none of it appeared.

Only a near-frenzied, death-defying brilliance and grandeur.

"They're insane… they're all insane!" A streamer muttered, staring at the screen where the city, tiny yet blindingly bright against the towering waves, glowed like daylight.

Yet for some reason, gazing at that blazing light on the edge of annihilation, he felt no mockery—only an indescribable awe… and shame.

Qin Feng stood in the Command Center, watching the stubborn light of New Era illuminating the dark sea, watching the monstrous tsunami wall—dozens of meters high, like a mountain range—crushing toward them.

Qin Feng stood in the Command Center, watching the stubborn light of the "New Era" that illuminated the dark sea outside the window, watching the terrifying tsunami wall—tens of meters high—rolling in from afar like a mountain range crushing everything before it.

"Come."

He whispered.

"Let me see… whether your heaven-and-earth wrath is fiercer…"

"Or whether my Qin Feng… has a harder life!"

"Or is it that I, Qin Feng… have a harder fate!"