Movements

Two days after Operation Enigma, a crucial conference took place in Europe.

Although the presidents and their representatives tried to hide the meeting— or, more accurately, didn't openly announce it— the place was teeming with journalists. Despite the chaos outside, the crowd was eerily silent, all eyes and ears waiting for answers.

The internet, on the other hand, was a frenzy of speculation and conspiracy —nothing out of the norm. Photos of supposed "alien" books and the latest global curiosity—an immense, mysterious forest—flooded social media platforms, igniting heated debates and wild imaginations.

One viral post claimed, "This new forest is definitely not from Earth. I bet it's an alien experiment!". In another forum there was heated debate whether the forest and books were the creation of the illuminati or not.

Inside the building, despite the calm facade, the atmosphere was anything but orderly. Hundreds of flags adorned the room, representing the diverse nations gathered for this urgent meeting.

The leaders of Earth sat in tense silence, their attention fixed on a 3D hologram. Earth's leaders were intently watching a 3D hologram, a cutting-edge technology that brought the events of Operation Enigma to life. The video was a compilation of footage captured from each soldier's perspective during the mission, presenting multiple viewpoints simultaneously. The room was silent, the gravity of the situation reflected in the furrowed brows and tense expressions of those present.

The hologram could perfectly exhibit the mysterious scenery of the jungle, even the dancing beams of sunshine. Soon, the recording showed the moment when the group found the fruit and were attacked.

A woman couldn't help but scream when the black shadow fell on the soldier and the man's head was crushed into paste. The hologram captured the redness of the blood just like in real life.

Some of the more soft-hearted individuals struggled to contain their nausea at the gruesome sight. The stark reality that this was not a movie, but real soldiers in the hologram, was impossible to ignore.

Soon, the atmosphere of the meeting became tense, with many unintentionally holding their breath. When the shadow paused long enough to be identified, some even thought they were watching a fantasy movie! The creature's otherworldly appearance—a black panther with six legs and a spiked tail—seemed like something straight out of a nightmare.

"Wha—What the hell is that thing!?" an older man exclaimed, his voice breaking the heavy silence.

"This can't be real!" someone muttered, their disbelief palpable.

"What a savage beast! Is that a mutat jaguar!? Another one chimed in.

Just when they thought the squadron would be completely annihilated, one brave soldier punched the animal in the face. The spectators were stunned by the impact and cheered when the strange animal was thrown far away.

"Incredible! Who is that man?" several attendees asked, their curiosity piqued.

"Damn, was that the power of the armor?" a woman inquired.

"I don't think so. Look, the part that protects his hand was completely shattered upon impact!" noted a more detail-oriented observer.

"His name is Zander, a loyal soldier from our army…" a loud voice echoed through the hall, silencing everyone. "But that is not the main issue right now!"

All eyes turned to a man with short, white hair. His erect posture, along with his army uniform adorned with various badges, identified him as a general. He was the same general who had received the Project Alpha armor from the Robotics Alliance. Throughout the meeting, he had paid little attention to the hologram, having seen it more than a hundred times and knowing every detail. Instead, he focused on the reactions of those present, noting with interest that many didn't seem all that surprised by what they saw.

"Is there a problem bigger than that?" A bald man took the initiative and asked.

"While the armor played a part in the successful attack, the main protagonist was Zander himself." The general looked at the participants in the great hall and saw a myriad of emotions. He knew he was among a group of seasoned snakes and, in fact, he was not a big fan of politicians. "Zander was practicing the martial arts he learned from an ancient book - or, as he put it, 'cultivating' Qi."

The general watched their reactions sharply and saw some glints of realization. Just as he had thought, probably every government had its own share of books.

He harumphed in his mind and got up. The most important part of the meeting was about to begin, not only for him but for the entire African continent, perhaps the world.

"That's why I'm here representing the Union of the African Continent to ask for collaboration between countries! A large part of our continent has been completely taken over by these trees, we don't have enough people to investigate it." the general said in a strong tone, which while asking for support, did not plead and did not show weakness. "The rapid pace of these events is alarming, and we still don't understand if there's any correlation between them. . ."

"Are you suggesting that someone or something is behind all this? That they created the forest and scattered these books?" interrupted a middle-aged man, brushing aside the general's plea.

"It is a possibility, but it raises many other questions. Who and why?" another one stated. 

"Can't we deploy tanks or use nuclear options to obliterate it?" interjected a woman in military uniform, her voice carrying a note of urgency.

"..."

Silence filled the hall for a moment as people looked at her weirdly.

"No firearm has managed to scratch those tree trunks, not even heavy artillery," the general replied gravely, shaking his head. "Moreover, what if clearing the forest provokes a mass migration of these wild beasts outside? We have no idea if there's a more powerful entity lurking within!"

The weight of uncertainty hung heavy in the air as the assembled leaders grappled with the implications of the situation unfolding beyond their control.

Suddenly, a European man rose from his seat, his fingers brushing through his mustache in a contemplative manner. His demeanor and the tricolor badge on his lapel made it clear that he was French.

"Okay, we understand that you need our help to investigate this forest..." the man began, smiling gently. "But deploying an army within African territory isn't easy. It costs a lot of money, and we would be risking our soldiers' lives in a forest that, frankly, doesn't impact the entire world..."

His mannerisms made it clear to everyone that he wanted something in return.

"Yeah, it's extremely dangerous to send our cherished soldiers inside!" It didn't take long before more and more people joined.

"I'm not sure if it is worth the effort indeed."

"In fact, I cannot see how sending our soldiers to death would help."

Soon, murmurs of agreement spread throughout the room.

"Enough with this bullshit!" The general lost his composure, his face becoming red from anger. "One third of our continent was lost, hundreds of thousands of civilians are probably inside! Tell me, what do you want!?"

"This is a terrible tragedy, and I'm sure everyone here offers their deepest condolences to your people," the Frenchman responded passionately, a small tear forming in his eyes. His tone was laden with empathy, and a naive observer might mistake him for someone truly benevolent. "However, we cannot afford to put our own citizens at risk. If this is indeed an international issue, it must be addressed with the collective effort and resources of the entire world. We must act as one, united in our approach to resolve this crisis!"

Some heads nodded, the man put everyone against the general.

[A slippery snake we have here.] Yet, the general soon realized what they wanted; he was not dumb.

"So all you want is a piece of our territory?" 

"Quite the opposite, dear general, the land should belong to everyone, a world property!" The man answered as he looked around, seeking support from the other representatives.

"Indeed!" 

"Everybody should be responsible for investigating this human threat!"

"Mankind must unite!"

"How much land will be enough for the stationed armies?" As the representative of the African Union, the general had the authority to make such decisions, but he wouldn't make it easy for them.

"Depending on the amount of soldiers and equipment, maybe an area of 20 kilometers should be enough..." The french man pondered aloud, frowning and looking like he was thinking hard, as if he wasn't sure whether to ask for it or not. "I think then this area around and the forest should be international territories, what do you think?"

"True!" People chimed in.

"It should be 50km!" 

The general's voice cut through the murmurs, demanding attention and respect. "We are prepared to grant you an area of 15 kilometers for your operations, but this concession comes with a condition: each participating country must provide the African Union with two Cultivation books. This knowledge is vital for our own defense and understanding of the situation."

The French representative's face twisted into a facade of indignation. "Oh, General, you've got it all wrong! We're not treating this like a commodity! But you're treating the fate of mankind like -"

Before the Frenchman could continue his wordplay, other representatives interjected.

"The United States is in agreement!" a voice boomed from across the room, silencing the Frenchman's protests.

"China does as well!" another added firmly.

"I'm okay with that," said the Russian representative.

"Alright." the Brazilian representative concurred.

"Tsch! Agreed…" The French representative reluctantly complied.

With the agreement reached, they quickly moved on to discussing the division of regions and the number of troops each country would send.

The Brazilian president even declared that they would deploy the Jungle Warfare Division, renowned for their expertise in the Amazon Rainforest—a place where it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that even the plants could kill you.

As the discussions continued, the general kept a vigilant eye on the proceedings, ensuring that the focus remained on cooperation and shared responsibility. The stakes were too high for petty squabbles or hidden agendas.

Finally, as the details were ironed out and commitments made, the general raised one last point. "There is only one last issue though: How should we name the forest?"

*******

Breaking news!

In one of the most renowned journal of the world, it reads:

In an unprecedented turn of events, the world has been thrown into chaos following the conclusion of a high-stakes international conference. The announcement that has left everyone reeling came directly from the mouths of global leaders: the mysterious cultivation books are real, and their authenticity is no longer in question. In an even more astounding revelation, these leaders confirmed the existence of an enormous and enigmatic forest that had inexplicably appeared on Earth.

The sheer gravity of this news cannot be overstated. Governments, which had previously remained tight-lipped or dismissive, are now openly acknowledging the extraordinary phenomena. Not only that, but some nations have even begun reaching out to civilians, seeking to purchase these cultivation books. The shift from secrecy to transparency has sent shockwaves through societies worldwide.

The existence of the cultivation books, which contain knowledge previously relegated to myth and legend, suggests a fundamental shift in our understanding of reality. People everywhere are grappling with the notion that ancient practices and supernatural abilities may not be mere fantasy after all.

The revelation of the forest is equally earth-shattering. Descriptions of its sudden appearance and its vast, untamed expanse have sparked imaginations and fears alike. How could such a massive forest materialize out of thin air? What secrets does it hold? These questions have no easy answers.

Skeptics, once dismissive and vocal, now find themselves at a loss for words. Even the most cynical media outlets, long accused of spreading "fake news," can no longer deny the reality of these events. The overwhelming evidence and the united front of world leaders have forced a paradigm shift in public perception.

In the midst of this global upheaval, military forces around the world are mobilizing. Armies are being dispatched to investigate, protect, and possibly exploit the newfound phenomena. This coordinated effort signifies the seriousness with which governments are treating these developments. The stakes are high, and the potential for both discovery and danger looms large.

As the dust settles from this groundbreaking announcement, one thing is clear: humanity stands on the brink of a new era. The mysteries of the cultivation books and the enigmatic forest beckon, promising revelations that could reshape our understanding of the world and our place in it. The journey into the unknown has begun, and the eyes of the world are watching, waiting to see what comes next.