Chapter 7 Hope (Opens new event)

William Davis carefully put away the letter. The general's instructions weighed heavily on his heart. Outside the window, the setting sun was like blood. The red afterglow sprinkled on the devastated city, adding a bit of tragic color. Every ruin seemed to tell the story of the past prosperity and the present desolation, which made people feel endless emotion.

"Let's go, it's time for us to leave." William Davis took a deep breath, tried to suppress the sadness that surged in his heart, and turned to his companions behind him. Emily Wilson, David Clark and old man Morse White, each of them had a look of determination on their faces. It was a determination to face death with no fear of home, a courage to protect their homeland at all costs.

"According to my latest intelligence, Zack Stone is hiding in the core area of the Earth, which is the hub of alien technology and the most concentrated energy on the entire Earth." Emily Wilson unfolded an electronic map. The flashing red dot on the map was like a beating heart, full of mystery and danger. Her slender fingers gently tapped on the red dot, and her voice was solemn, "We must destroy it to completely cut off the support of the alien fleet and win this war."

"But, the security there is tight, how can we break through?" David Clark frowned, looking worried. His eyes were full of anxiety, as if he saw the endless difficulties and obstacles ahead.

"I'll find a way." William Davis' eyes flashed with a gleam of light, like a star in the night sky, faint but full of hope. "But before that, we must unite all the forces that can be united."

Three days later, in an abandoned stadium, representatives of survivors from all over the world gathered. Among them were veteran warriors, whose weathered faces were full of traces of time and trauma of war; scientists who mastered advanced technology, whose eyes sparkled with wisdom, as if they were looking for the key to save the world; and ordinary people who lost their homes, whose eyes were full of sadness and anger, but at this moment, they all had a common goal: to protect the earth and defeat the invaders.

William Davis stood on a temporary high platform, his figure looked particularly tall in the afterglow of the setting sun. He looked around at the pairs of eyes full of expectation and hope below the stage, and a surge of ambition surged in his heart. It was a power from the depths of his soul, a determination to fight for justice.

"My compatriots, our homeland is being trampled by alien invaders, our relatives and friends are struggling in misery, we can no longer remain silent, we can no longer wait, we must unite, take up arms, and defend our homeland!" William Davis's voice was sonorous and powerful, like waves of passionate war drums, echoing over the entire stadium. Every word seemed like a burning bullet, shooting into the endless darkness.

The crowd in the audience was excited and burst into thunderous applause and cheers. The sound was like a surging wave, impacting everyone's heart. They waved their fists and shouted slogans, as if announcing their determination to the world.

"I propose to establish an Earth Defense Alliance to unite all forces willing to resist aggression and fight against alien invaders together!" William Davis raised his right hand and announced loudly. His voice was full of majesty and power, as if he was a fearless leader leading his people to victory.

"Earth Defense League! Earth Defense League!" The people in the audience waved their arms and shouted in unison, the sound was deafening. It was a kind of united power, an unyielding spirit, and a hope for the future.

"Emily Wilson, contact survivor organizations in other regions and spread the concept of the alliance. We need more people to join." William Davis walked up to Emily Wilson and whispered, his eyes full of expectation and trust.

"Don't worry, I've already started preparing." Emily Wilson nodded, with confidence in her eyes. Her figure looked particularly beautiful in the afterglow of the setting sun, like a guardian angel, bringing hope and courage to people.

"David Clark, you will lead a team of volunteers to go deep into the disaster area to rescue the survivors, and at the same time promote the alliance's ideas and recruit more members." William Davis turned to David Clark and said, his voice full of firmness and determination.

"No problem, leave it to me!" David Clark patted his chest and assured. His eyes were full of enthusiasm and courage, as if he was a fearless warrior ready to fight for his homeland.

The establishment of the Earth Defense Alliance is like a seed of hope that takes root and sprouts in the land of the end of the world, foreshadowing the coming of a storm sweeping the world...

The boiling enthusiasm in the stadium was like a flame, igniting the long-lost hope in the hearts of people in the end times. The crowd gradually dispersed, and everyone had a determined look on their faces. They kept William Davis' words in mind and were ready to contribute their own strength to protect their homeland.

David Clark led a team of volunteers, loaded with supplies, to a ruin on the edge of the city. It used to be a prosperous residential area, but now only broken walls and ruins were left, telling of the ruthlessness of the disaster. The intermittent distress signals coming from the communicator intensified the sense of urgency of the rescue. Each signal seemed to be a call for life, filling their hearts with anxiety and worry.

"Everyone, be careful and stay safe!" David Clark reminded the team members while carefully observing the surrounding environment. The ruins were filled with dust and the smell of decay, which was disgusting. Occasionally, there were a few roars of mutant creatures, which were creepy. Each roar seemed to be a call of death, filling their hearts with fear.

"Help! Someone needs help here!"

A faint cry for help came from under the rubble, and David Clark immediately rushed over with his team. They moved through the ruins like agile cheetahs. They moved the heavy stones with their bare hands. The stones seemed like small mountains, pressing on their hands and making their fingers bleed, but they did not retreat at all.

A dying old man was rescued.

"Old man, are you okay?" David Clark helped the old man up and handed him a bottle of water. His eyes were full of concern and tenderness, as if he was taking care of his own family.

The old man took the water with trembling hands, looked at David Clark gratefully, and said weakly: "Thank you... I thought I would be trapped here to death..."

"Don't worry, old man. We will take you away from here." David Clark comforted the old man and carried him to the car, and sent him to a safe shelter with other rescued survivors. His figure looked particularly tall in the afterglow of the setting sun, like a guardian angel, bringing hope and courage to people.

Along the way, David Clark told the survivors about the concept of the Earth Defense Alliance and called on them to join the team to resist the invaders. "We are all part of the Earth. Only by uniting together can we overcome the difficulties in front of us and rebuild our home!" David Clark's words were sincere and powerful, which resonated with the survivors. They witnessed the brutality of the invaders and the destruction of their homes, and their hearts were filled with anger and hatred, and they longed to fight for their own destiny.

"I want to join! I want to avenge my family!" A young man clenched his fists and said indignantly. His eyes were full of determination and resolution, as if he was a fearless warrior ready to fight for his homeland.

"I want to join too! Although I can't fight, I can help take care of the wounded!" A middle-aged woman also stood up and said. Her eyes were full of tenderness and kindness, as if she was a guardian angel, bringing hope and courage to people.

Seeing more and more people responding to the call, David Clark was filled with hope. He knew that this team would grow stronger and stronger, and eventually become an unstoppable force to drive the invaders out of the earth.

Meanwhile, old man Morse White was busy in the temporary base of the alliance. He shared his years of knowledge and experience with the alliance members, instructing them on how to use limited resources to improve their survival and combat skills. His figure looked particularly tall under the lights, like a wise elder who brought hope and courage to the people.

"Remember, in the end times, knowledge is power and unity is hope." Elder Morse White said earnestly, "We must learn to use all available resources and constantly improve ourselves, so that we can be invincible in the battle against the invaders."

Under the guidance of old man Morse White, the alliance members began to learn how to identify edible plants, how to make simple weapons and tools, how to use the terrain and environment for defense and attack... They were like sponges, greedily absorbing the nutrients of knowledge and preparing for the upcoming battle. Their eyes were full of determination and resolution, as if they were fearless warriors ready to fight for their homes.

"William Davis, what are you going to do next?" Emily Wilson handed William Davis a piece of organized intelligence and asked, her eyes full of expectation and trust.

"I plan to personally visit some powerful superpowers and invite them to join the alliance." William Davis took the information, with a gleam in his eyes, "Only by uniting all forces can we win this war!"

"Have you convinced them?" Emily Wilson frowned and asked worriedly. William Davis had just returned from a half-collapsed office building on the edge of the city ruins, where a team of superpowers was entrenched, led by Li Gang, the "Iron Fist" who could manipulate metal. This team plundered resources in the ruins, and its strength should not be underestimated, but its style of action was tough and overbearing, and its attitude towards William Davis' invitation to form an alliance was ambiguous.

"Li Gang is a smart man. He understands the principle of the loss of lips and teeth." William Davis crushed the metal block in his hand into powder. This was a "greeting gift" left by Li Gang, and also a test. "They will seriously consider my proposal."

"I hope so." Emily Wilson sighed and handed William Davis the latest intelligence. "This is the news we just received. Traces of large-scale alien creatures landing were found in the eastern coastal cities. The situation is not optimistic."

William Davis received the intelligence with a frown on his face. The invasion of alien creatures is getting bigger and bigger, and the Earth's defense is in danger. He must unite all the forces he can as soon as possible to fight for a glimmer of hope in this catastrophe.

"Notify David Clark. We will set off to the south overnight." William Davis made a decisive decision. "The 'Thunder Fury' mercenary group in the south has powerful thunder-type psychics. It is a force that cannot be ignored. I must go there in person."

As night fell, a modified off-road vehicle sped along a deserted road, its wheels kicking up clouds of dust. William Davis, Emily Wilson, and David Clark took turns driving, heading south. The vehicle seemed like a battleship sailing in the darkness, taking them toward an unknown destiny.

"William Davis, do you really believe those mercenaries will join us?" David Clark asked while driving the vehicle. "I heard that Thunderstorm, the leader of the 'Thunder Fury', is a mercenary guy. Will he really fight for the future of mankind?"

"Leibao is indeed a businessman, but he is not stupid." William Davis looked at the dark night sky outside the car window with a firm look in his eyes. "The invasion of alien creatures would be a disaster for everyone. I believe he will make a wise choice."

Three days later, William Davis and his team arrived at the camp of the "Thunder Fury" mercenary group. It was a fortress built in an abandoned factory, with heavy machine guns mounted on the towering walls, and it was heavily guarded. The fortress seemed like a castle made of steel, exuding a majestic and mysterious atmosphere.

William Davis was warmly received by Thunderstorm. After three rounds of drinks, William Davis explained to Thunderstorm the plan to establish the Earth Defense Alliance and sincerely invited "Thunder Fury" to join. The scene seemed like a diplomatic negotiation, full of tension and expectation.

"Captain Lei, I know you are a visionary." William Davis stared at Thunderstorm with his eyes sharp. "The ambition of the aliens is obvious. What they want is the entire earth! Only if we unite together can we resist their attack and defend our homeland!"

Lei Bao pondered for a moment, put down the wine glass in his hand, and his eyes became sharp: "Mr. Wen, I have considered your proposal. 'Thunder Fury' is willing to join your alliance, but we have one condition..."

"My conditions are very simple," Lei Bao said calmly but forcefully, "I want you, Mr. Wen, to be the leader of the Earth Defense Alliance!"

William Davis was stunned. He did not expect that Thunderstorm would make such a request. He wanted to nominate General Matthew Cooper or other more prestigious people as leaders, and he would concentrate on fighting and formulating strategies.

Seeing the hesitation on William Davis' face, Thunderstorm continued: "I know what you are worried about, but you are the most suitable candidate! You have great strength, firm will, and more importantly, you have a sincere heart to fight for the future of mankind. Only you can unite all forces and lead us to victory!"

Lei Bao's words were like a thunderbolt, exploding in William Davis' heart. He knew that Lei Bao was right and he could no longer evade his responsibility.

Three days later, the founding meeting of the Earth Defense Alliance was held at a secret base. Specialists, military representatives, and survivors from all over the world gathered together to witness this historic moment. The scene seemed like a grand celebration, full of hope and courage.

At the conference, William Davis was unanimously elected as the leader of the alliance. He walked up to the podium, his eyes swept across the weathered but hopeful faces below the stage, and an invisible sense of responsibility surged in his heart. It was a mission from the depths of his soul, a determination to fight for the future of mankind.

"Everyone," William Davis said in a loud and firm voice, "We stand here today for a common goal, which is to defend our homeland and protect the people we love! The alien invaders want to take away our land and enslave our people, but we will never surrender! We will unite and fight to the end until we achieve final victory!"

William Davis' speech was passionate and inspiring, and the audience burst into thunderous applause. At this moment, the fire of hope ignited in everyone's heart. It was an indomitable spirit and a determination to fight for justice.

After the meeting, William Davis, Emily Wilson, David Clark and others immediately began intensive defense preparations. They developed a detailed defense plan based on the characteristics and advantages of each party, making the best use of limited resources and manpower. The scene was like a tense military meeting, full of wisdom and courage.

"William Davis, according to our latest intelligence," Emily Wilson said, pointing to a red mark on the electronic map, "the next wave of attacks by alien creatures is likely to be concentrated in the eastern coastal area, which is one of their landing points."

"I understand," William Davis frowned, "We must prepare in advance and never let them set foot on our land again!"

David Clark clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fighting spirit: "Let them come! We are ready to fight, and we will make sure they never return!"

Just when everything seemed to be on track, a sudden piece of news broke the brief peace.

"William Davis, we just received news," said old man Morse White, his face more serious than ever before, "Phantom Shadow, he appeared again..."

William Davis' heart trembled, and an ominous premonition came to his mind. Phantom Shadow, the mysterious mastermind, has always been a thorn in his heart. What conspiracy is he planning? Can the Earth Defense Alliance respond in time?

The night enveloped the earth, and a bigger storm was quietly brewing...

Morse White's words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became solemn, and everyone's eyes were focused on the old man, waiting for his next words. The scene was like a tense trial, full of expectations and worries.

"Where did the news come from?" William Davis suppressed his uneasiness and asked in a deep voice. Phantom Shadow was like a ghost, always lurking in the dark, and every time it appeared, it would bring great chaos and destruction.

"The source of the information is reliable," said old man Morse White, with a solemn look in his deep eyes. "Phantom Shadow has been active in South America recently. He seems to be looking for something, something that can change the entire war situation."

"What is that?" David Clark couldn't help but ask. His eyes were full of curiosity and anxiety, as if he saw the endless danger ahead.

Old man Morse White shook his head. "We don't know exactly what it is, but we can be sure that it is definitely not a good thing. Phantom Shadow is extremely ambitious, and he has been trying to control the world. If he gets that thing, the consequences will be disastrous."

Emily Wilson frowned slightly, tapped her fingers on the table, and analyzed: "South America is one of the birthplaces of ancient civilizations. There are many mysterious relics and legends there. Could what Phantom Shadow is looking for be related to these ancient civilizations?"

"It's possible," William Davis nodded, "Phantom Shadow has always been interested in ancient civilizations and mysterious powers. He has tried to use ancient artifacts to enhance his own strength before."

"No matter what he's looking for," David Clark said with a determined look in his eyes, "we can't let him succeed!"

"That's right," William Davis took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination, "We must stop him! Emily Wilson, contact General Matthew Cooper immediately and ask him to keep a close eye on the movements in South America and report any abnormalities to me immediately."

"Understood!" Emily Wilson nodded, turned and walked out of the conference room, and began to arrange intelligence work. Her figure looked particularly beautiful under the light, as if she was a guardian angel, bringing hope and courage to people.

"Mr. Morse White," William Davis turned to the old man, "You are well-informed and know more about ancient civilizations and Phantom Shadow than we do. What suggestions do you have?"

Morse White pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Phantom Shadow is a cunning man. It is not easy to find his trace. I think we should split our forces into two groups. One group will continue to strengthen defense work to prevent alien creatures from invading again; the other group will go to South America to find the whereabouts of Phantom Shadow and prevent him from getting that thing."

William Davis nodded in agreement. "Just as you said! David Clark, you will go to South America with me, and Emily Wilson will stay at the headquarters to be responsible for intelligence collection and coordination."

"Okay!" David Clark nodded excitedly. He couldn't wait to compete with Phantom Shadow. His eyes were full of determination and resolution, like a fearless warrior ready to fight for his homeland.

A new storm is brewing, and the fate of the earth is once again hanging on the edge of a knife...