Chapter 77: Seven Layered Golden Barrier

The President sat in the main office seat, his expression unchanged. The Secretary of Defense cast a peculiar glance at Harold, never expecting to be betrayed by his own subordinate.

Various high-ranking officials present at the meeting had noticed the President's and the National Institute of Technology's focus on the development of laser-carved protons, a technology that surpassed current human capabilities by at least a century and promised revolutionary advancements in fundamental materials. Therefore, in recent times, they had all been vigorously pushing forward with this technology.

Especially considering that other countries had also acquired this technology for laser-carving protons, the United States couldn't afford to lag behind and let other nations seize the advantage. Consequently, they had used the pretext of atmospheric observation to send the carved protons into the atmosphere.

Now, as everyone regained their composure and contemplated the situation, the global emergence of the technology for laser-carving protons was starting to seem highly unreasonable.

The fact that high-ranking officials worldwide were simultaneously releasing protons into the atmosphere made it even more suspicious.

When had humanity ever been so unanimous?

However, Earth found itself in a state akin to the Cold War era, an atmosphere that inexorably pushed everyone toward the abyss.

"No matter whether we were manipulated or not, our decisions were made to preserve our nation and human civilization," the President said calmly, looking at Harold. He continued, "The decisions I've made were all for the benefit of our entire nation and its people."

The President maintained a composed demeanor as he spoke. In the office, hushed whispers and discussions continued relentlessly.

The room was abuzz, akin to a swarm of mosquitoes.

"You all collectively sold out Earth, and yet you have the audacity to claim it's for Earth's sake?" Harold, with his resolute expression and fiery gaze, couldn't contain his anger and shouted.

He loved his country deeply.

But he had never imagined that the high-ranking officials, who were supposed to protect their nation, would assist extraterrestrials and then have the nerve to say it was for Earth's benefit? For the nation's sake?

Harold was on the verge of laughter.

To what extent had their thinking been twisted for them to believe that being driven into underground holes like rodents was the best decision they could make for their nation?

Many responsible figures in the office, their voices gradually lowered, looked toward the President, the Secretary of Defense, and Harold, contemplating their next course of action.

"Do you not understand what he's trying to do? Do you not grasp the magnitude of the crisis Earth is facing? We, on the other hand, understand that after launching the protons into space, our mission is to find a way for humanity to survive."

"Is that method to simply surrender without resistance, digging holes like groundhogs?"

"Yes, after verification, this is the most effective method," the President sighed with a hint of resignation. "We should be thankful to him for leaving humanity a glimmer of hope." Then, he shook his head in resignation, his expression filled with sorrow.

The office fell into immediate silence.

Only Harold clenched his teeth, gripping the air with coarse breaths, his eyes filled with a desire to tear apart this President who had betrayed humanity.

At that very moment, a ringing communication phone disrupted the tense atmosphere.

The communication officer, feeling the suffocating tension in the room, sweat forming on their temples, reluctantly glanced at the President and Harold before answering the call.

Shortly after, the communication officer hung up the phone and, with a heavy expression, addressed the numerous high-ranking officials. "General Adolf, who surrounds the Hoover Dam, has reported that another layer of the golden barrier has appeared in the troposphere, just above the stratosphere."

The Earth's entire atmosphere displayed different characteristics at varying altitudes, from low to high:

1. Troposphere.

2. Stratosphere.

3. Ozone layer.

4. Mesosphere.

5. Thermosphere.

6. Exosphere.

Above that is outer space.

"What does he intend to do?" Harold demanded to know.

"I can't bring myself to say it," the President responded with a sense of sorrow.

Harold struggled to contain his anger, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. Through gritted teeth, he asked, "How many protons did you launch into the atmosphere?"

"I don't know," the President replied. "Seven Earth countries capable of launching rockets all coincidentally accepted protons produced by other countries and launched them into the atmosphere. Each country was responsible for a layer, and the United States was responsible for the layer beyond the exosphere."

"You're going to kill all the soldiers!"

Harold wished he could just strangle the President right there, but he also understood that killing them wouldn't change the fact that they had already launched the protons into the atmosphere. It served no purpose now that they were of no value to Dr. H'el.

Harold took a small steel bead from his pocket, which transformed into a miniature receiving antenna, emitting a blinking blue light, leaving him puzzled as he held it in his palm.

This was his communication method with Optimus Prime, given to him during their collaboration.

"Optimus Prime, I need your help to simulate what Dr. H'el intends to do. I'll send you the locations where protons are being deployed by various countries and the data on the laser-etched proton circuits."

Harold established direct contact with Optimus Prime and instructed his subordinates in the office to send the collected data on the laser-etched proton circuits to Optimus Prime.

Soon, Optimus Prime sent back the information.

The steel bead transformed back into a tiny receiving antenna, and its twin blue lights projected an image of the atmosphere onto the wall as Optimus Prime's mechanical voice began to explain.

"He intends to construct a substance within the atmosphere, using protons from different circuits to create a barrier that absorbs solar energy and performs work. The Golden Barrier consists of seven layers, each located in the troposphere, stratosphere, ozone layer, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere, and outer space."

"When all seven layers of the Golden Barrier are completed, the absorbed solar energy will converge at the central point. The pure solar energy at the center will form an ionized beam with a temperature of seventy thousand degrees, which will either power the AllSpark or pierce through the Earth."

The projected image began showing how each layer of the atmosphere was gradually covered by the Golden Barrier, resembling cell phone signal bars, with the lowest layer being the smallest and the arc growing larger with each successive layer.

In the end, all the Golden Barriers converged and absorbed sunlight, creating an ionized beam that plunged toward Earth from the central point.

And Earth would be pierced by the powerful impact and sustained seventy thousand-degree ionized beam in just sixteen seconds.

Currently, the second layer of the seven-layered Golden Barrier was already spreading to the stratosphere like an umbrella opening.

H'el hovered in the sky thirty meters above, looked upward, and let out a slow breath.

The nanomachines within his body exited the cellular electronic movement exchange and flowed back into his suit, and the bulging veins on his body slowly subsided. His complexion returned to its fair, handsome, and composed state.

The first layer of the seven-layered Golden Barrier, covering Nevada and Arizona, was completed.

The second layer, based on H'el's construction, was now capable of automatic circulation, dispersing and absorbing the proton circuits that had been etched, automatically arranging them.

Once the protons in all seven layers of the Golden Barrier were arranged, the tremendous concentrated solar ionized energy would be enough for him to absorb energy equivalent to five thousand years of ordinary sunbathing in just one year.

After a year, he would become even more invincible.

°°°

Hungry for more chaps? Then check out our pătreon!

Link: Påtreon.com/BaphometFiction

I post 10 advanced chapters of this fanfic there.