Three hours.
For most disasters, that sounded like a short amount of time.
For Verak, it was enough to reshape a nation.
The room
Nobody needed an explanation.
Everyone present understood the same thing.
If the King Beast kept moving unchecked for three hours, the damage would exceed every acceptable limit.
Humanity might be forced to activate its worst-case contingency plan—launching multiple evacuation rockets into space and preserving as many important leaders, scientists, and specialists as possible.
Nobody wanted such an outcome.
The plan existed only because Lucien was willing to sacrifice the entire nation if it meant winning the war.
As far as Lucien was concerned, losing the country was acceptable.
On the ground.
The giant scorpion stood inside the crater, black blood dripping from dozens of wounds as the earth around it continued to crack apart.
Then one of the analysts suddenly spoke.
"Sir, it's not advancing."
Lucien looked over.
"What?"
