"I'm absolutely livid!"
Xiao Luoxue slammed her fist onto the table, her face contorted with rage. She didn't even notice that her knuckles had turned bright red or feel the sting of the impact as she stared at the overwhelming wave of news flooding the internet.
Every headline was about Jiang Chen, and nearly every single one was negative.
Media outlets from numerous countries were suddenly hurling accusations at Jiang Chen, drafting long, rambling lists of his supposed crimes. They had gone so far as to label him a terrorist, demanding that the Xia Nation hand him over immediately.
Out of nowhere, the title of "terrorist" had been forced upon Jiang Chen's head.
"Are you okay?" Ling Wanqiu asked Jiang Chen, her voice small and cautious.
It wasn't just foreign press; even many domestic media outlets were joining the fray. They accused him of insufferable arrogance, of stealing other people's Pokémon, and of allowing his Pokémon to commit murder.
Not long ago, he had gained massive fame for winning the championship of the Hidden Dragon Cup Trainer Competition. Now, in the blink of an eye, he was being pilloried by the entire world.
The most egregious charge was that he had allegedly commanded Articuno to unleash a Blizzard on a city in the United States, causing a disaster that affected hundreds of thousands and left thousands dead. They were demanding that Jiang Chen commit suicide to atone for his "sins."
They were pinning a natural disaster directly on him.
"I'm fine, don't worry. I'm actually doing great," Jiang Chen said, waving a hand dismissively.
"Hundreds of thousands affected... Hahaha!"
Watching Jiang Chen burst into laughter, Ning Ya and the others looked on with deep concern. They worried the sheer absurdity of the situation had finally snapped his sanity. That laugh didn't sound normal at all.
"Darn it, I'll kill them all myself," Xiao Luoxue muttered, her teeth clenched in fury.
It was one thing for other countries to slander him, but for their own domestic media to jump on the bandwagon was a betrayal she couldn't stomach. Over the past two days, the press had turned Jiang Chen into a literal Great Demon King.
"If I really did become a Great Demon King, would you all still support me?" Jiang Chen asked, looking at Ling Wanqiu and the others.
"Don't say that," Ling Wanqiu said softly. "But even if you did become a Great Demon King, I would still support you. I know you would never hurt me."
"Hmph, then just be a Great Demon King for once," Xiao Luoxue added, her anger surpassing even Jiang Chen's. "I'll support you in killing every last one of those idiots. They've made me so mad!"
"Whatever you do, Young Master, I will always be by your side," Ning Ya said with a gentle gaze. She didn't know what he had in mind, but she knew her place was behind him, supporting him no matter what.
"Son, are you alright? Don't let them get to you. I'll deal with them sooner or later."
Xie Yulan hurried into the house, her face pale with worry. Her son had become the target of a thousand curses and ten thousand scorns overnight. As his mother, she couldn't help but be terrified. Sometimes, words were the most painful weapons of all.
Online, the mindless masses believed everything the news reported. Rumors were fiercer than tigers, and insults were being hurled at Jiang Chen from every corner of the web.
"I knew Jiang Chen was no good."
"Causing a disaster in an entire city and killing thousands... you monster! Does your conscience not hurt? You're a subhuman bastard."
"Jiang Chen stole my girlfriend and had my parents killed! I'll never rest until he's dead!"
"He killed my brother! He wanted my brother's Gible, so he stole the Pokémon and murdered him!"
"How do you think he got so many Pseudo-legendary Pokémon? He stole them all! He deserves to die."
"May Jiang Chen's whole family die a horrible death."
"..."
From those fabricating stories to those just following the trend of mindless abuse, the internet was a cesspool of demons and monsters. Even those who tried to speak up for Jiang Chen were immediately drowned out by the tide of hate.
One had to admit, the person who designed this psychological attack was brilliant. Mental attacks could often be more effective than physical ones; a normal person would have suffered a mental breakdown facing such global vitriol.
As for Jiang Chen, the attack wasn't entirely useless. He wasn't a saint, and he wasn't about to just endure being slandered and insulted by the world.
To be honest, Jiang Chen's heart was currently overflowing with negative emotions.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll soon let them know exactly what price must be paid for provoking someone with absolute power."
Many were calling him subhuman. If that was the case, why not try casting humanity aside for a bit? Since these people had fabricated so many crimes for him, it would be a waste if he didn't actually go out and commit a few of them.
"A Blizzard covering a city, hundreds of thousands affected, thousands dead... small. Their vision is too small."
Jiang Chen laughed again as he read the news. His previous laughter was born of anger, but this time, his smile was cold and chilling.
"If Articuno truly made a move, how could only a few thousand die? This is an insult to the strength of a Legendary Pokémon."
Jiang Chen released Articuno and gave a command. "Articuno, someone is looking down on you. Show them your true power. Go to the United States, pick a city at random, and turn it into a collection of ice sculptures."
Since they wanted rumors, he would turn them into facts.
His system task was to "Shock the World." How could he shock the world with just his mouth? To truly shock the world, he needed strength. Without strength, who would listen to a word he said?
"Ignorant humans fail to recognize the majesty of a Legendary Pokémon and dare to provoke it. A Legendary Pokémon descends to deliver divine punishment. In humanity's moment of crisis, a youth named Jiang Chen suppresses the beast, ending the chaos and becoming the greatest hero in human history. What do you think of that script?"
Jiang Chen asked Ning Ya and the others with a smirk. His words made his intentions crystal clear.
"Isn't that a bit... extreme?"
"If I'm not extreme, I won't be able to swallow this insult."
Jiang Chen certainly had other ways to resolve this, but he couldn't let this slide. Rather than bottling up his anger, he chose to vent it.
"This won't be over until people are kneeling and begging for my mercy..." Jiang Chen's expression was frozen in a cold, cruel smile.
Given his power, Jiang Chen refused to suffer any grievance. He would rather be a villain feared by all than a "good person" who was bullied and oppressed. If your wrist is too soft, people will only think you are weak and easy to push around.
As for those who would die in this event, they were simply unlucky. Every struggle has its sacrifices; they would be the sacrifices for this one.
"Mom, find out who in the Xia Nation is standing against me. Investigate them and give me a report."
"Son, I know you're angry, but please don't cause too much trouble within the Xia Nation. Don't let too many innocent people get caught in the crossfire," Xie Yulan said.
Jiang Chen could do whatever he wanted in other countries, but Xie Yulan didn't want him hurting his own people. Dealing with those specifically opposing him would be enough.
"Fine." Jiang Chen nodded. He would show some restraint at home and avoid destroying entire cities on a whim. However, if anyone was blind enough to keep poking him, he didn't mind being ruthless.
Tenan City.
This was a major coastal city in the United States with a population of approximately one million. Known for having spring-like weather all year round and a mild climate, it was a prime destination for tourists.
Today, however, this eternal spring city met its winter.
A Blizzard descended, covering the entire city. The terrifying storm flash-froze everything in its path. In less than ten minutes, the entire metropolis had been transformed into a city of ice and snow. Every living thing and every structure was completely frozen solid.
Having completed its task, Articuno returned to report back to Jiang Chen.
News of what happened to Tenan City reached the top officials of the United States in under ten minutes. A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the room.
A major city, frozen solid in the blink of an eye. What would happen to the people inside? Even a fool could guess.
"It was him. It had to be him."
They weren't idiots. They immediately narrowed down the culprit. They never imagined that someone so young could strike with such utter ruthlessness. That was a city of over a million people!
"I told you, that Jiang Chen is a threat! A Legendary Pokémon in the hands of a sixteen-year-old kid heaven only knows what he'll do."
"He cannot be allowed to live. He must die. As long as he breathes, he is the greatest threat to us all."
"Revenge! Our people cannot have died for nothing!"
The eyes of the American officials turned bloodshot with rage. When they had moved against Jiang Chen, they never considered the consequences. Jiang Chen was the one who pulled the trigger, but they were the ones who had forced his hand.
If they hadn't provoked him, they could have coexisted in peace. Their mistake was picking a fight with Jiang Chen without ever truly knowing what kind of man he was.
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