87: Humanity is doomed? Go and summon Joan of Arc!

Uchiha Madara's announcement of the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" was clearly heard by everyone through the hijacked global signal.

Above Hiroshima City.

The massive meteorite, over thirty meters in diameter, hung silently like a divine punishment suspended by the Sword of Damocles.

Its shadow became the shared nightmare of the entire world.

Fear instantly seized the hearts of all... In Kyoto, Huaguo, at the Ninth Bureau Command Center.

The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

On the main screen, satellite footage showed Hiroshima in real-time, with every crater on the meteorite clearly visible.

"Infinite Tsukuyomi..."

Chen Jianguo frowned, repeating the unfamiliar term.

"Immediately organize linguists and cultural consultants to analyze the origin and exact meaning of this term!"

The order was quickly relayed.

A few minutes later, a young analyst, wearing black-rimmed glasses and appearing to be only twenty-five or twenty-six, walked quickly to Chen Jianguo with a tablet computer.

His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and his voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.

"Director... professors... we... may have found a source."

"Speak."

Chen Jianguo was concise.

The young analyst took a deep breath and turned the tablet screen towards everyone.

The screen displayed a Sakura Country manga that had concluded decades ago—naruto.

He swiped his finger, and the image finally stopped at chapter 677 of the manga.

In the image, a character strikingly similar to the man above Hiroshima was activating a technique called "Infinite Tsukuyomi."

"According to the manga's setting, 'Infinite Tsukuyomi' is an ultimate genjutsu that can drag everyone in the world into an eternal dream world, thereby creating a 'perfect world' without war and suffering."

The young analyst's voice grew softer and softer.

Because he saw that all the experienced old experts and professors in the command center were looking at him as if he were insane.

Explaining a world-ending supernatural crisis with a manga?

This sounded utterly absurd.

However, Chen Jianguo stared intently at the manga content on the screen, then looked up at the hovering meteorite on the main screen.

His expression was unprecedentedly solemn.

A similar scene was also unfolding at the Supernatural Threat Response Command (PTRC) in The Pentagon... On the global network, the first to react were always the young people immersed in the ACG cultural circle.

When Uchiha Madara uttered the words "Infinite Tsukuyomi," they understood the terrifying meaning behind them faster than any official government agency.

"Holy crap! Infinite Tsukuyomi? Is it the Infinite Tsukuyomi I'm thinking of?"

"Don't joke! This script isn't right! How did a final BOSS intrude into the Holy Grail War?"

"Don't be silly upstairs! Look at the meteorite above Hiroshima! That's Heavenly Restriction: Planetary Invasion! It's definitely Heavenly Restriction: Planetary Invasion!"

Panic spread geometrically on social media.

Countless anime fans took screenshots of the manga pages detailing the setting, activation conditions, and ultimate effects of "Infinite Tsukuyomi," paired them with live satellite footage of the meteorite, and frantically posted them to every corner of the internet.

Meanwhile, in the "Holy Grail War Folk Research Society" Discord server.

The atmosphere here had shifted from initial excitement and curiosity to bone-chilling dread.

A tech expert performed a pixel-level comparative analysis between the live satellite footage of the meteorite and the manga's depiction of Uchiha Madara unleashing "Heavenly Restriction: Planetary Invasion."

"...Through shadow and known building proportion calculations, the meteorite's diameter is approximately 34.7 meters, almost identical to the manga's portrayal."

"This is not a projection, nor is it an illusion created by some high-tech weapon."

"Everyone, that is a real meteorite, forcibly pulled down from outer space."

After this analysis report was pinned, the server fell into a long silence.

It completely shattered the last shred of hope in everyone's hearts.

This was not a drill.

This was not a movie.

A fictional villain from a manga, with his world-destroying plan, had descended into reality.

#HumanityIsDoomed#

#GoodbyeHiroshima#

#WillWeAllDream#

Tags filled with despair surged to the top of trending lists on all global social platforms in just over ten minutes.

Small-scale riots began to break out in cities around the world.

Countless people flocked to supermarkets and convenience stores, frantically buying daily necessities, preparing for the impending apocalypse... In Rome, inside the presidential suite.

Jiang Ming leaned back on the soft sofa, quietly watching the light screen projected by mirror doll no. 2.

The light screen was split-displaying chaotic scenes from around the world caused by Uchiha Madara's arrival.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, on the fate selection system panel, the number representing emotion points was skyrocketing at an unprecedented rate.

750 million... 800 million... 900 million... 1 billion!

In just half an hour, the massive energy provided by the extreme negative emotions of "fear" and "despair" easily pushed his total emotion points past the one billion mark.

"Indeed, fear is the ultimate key to emotional harvesting."

Jiang Ming picked up the coffee from the table, took a small sip, and a satisfied arc curved at the corner of his mouth.

The Uchiha Madara card worked even better than he had expected.

Just as the whole world was immersed in the despair of the apocalypse.

Someone, it's unknown who, was the first to utter a faint cry on the internet.

"We... we still have hope!"

"Did everyone forget? In Tokyo, who eliminated the Berserker called Shuten-dōji?"

"It was Ruler! It was Saint Joan of Arc!"

"Right! The Ruler! The Holy Grail War still has an Ruler maintaining order!"

This comment, like a stone dropped into a dark abyss, instantly stirred up a thousand ripples.

People in despair finally grasped a lifeline.

They remembered the silver-armored maiden who descended from the sky, holding a holy banner, and single-handedly purified the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

Thus, a new wave began to gather on the internet.

Countless people flocked to the official social media accounts of the Vatican Papacy.

"Please! Quickly ask Saint Joan of Arc to act!"

"@Vatican Papacy, the world is ending! Where is your Saint?"

"Lord, please send your messenger again to save your lost lambs!"

"My Lord! Please save us!"

Requests, questions, prayers... messages in various languages poured in like snowflakes.

This online prayer, spontaneously gathered by global netizens, quickly coalesced into a torrent.

#SaintJoanOfArcSaveUs#

This new hashtag, in just thirty minutes, irresistibly surpassed all negative hashtags and topped the global trending list... In the Sistine Chapel, Vatican.

Above the dome was Michelangelo's immortal masterpiece, The Creation of Adam.

The aged Pope, dressed in solemn robes and holding a golden scepter, stood quietly before the fresco of The Last Judgment.

Before him was a large electronic screen.

The screen clearly displayed the ferocious meteorite above Hiroshima, and below it, the data of prayers pouring in like snowflakes from global citizens on social media.

Silence filled the chapel.

Only the heavy breathing of the Cardinals could be heard.

Behind the Pope, Joan of Arc, clad in silver armor, stood quietly.

Her golden hair flowed like sunlight, and her sapphire eyes were as calm as water.

After a long while.

The Pope slowly turned, his ancient gaze falling upon Joan of Arc.

"Your Excellency, Ruler."

"Do you have confidence facing such an enemy?"

Joan of Arc nodded slightly, her voice clear and firm.

"Your Holiness, Pope."

"The Ruler's duty is to uphold the basic rules of the Holy Grail War and to punish violators."

"This has nothing to do with winning."

Her answer offered no promises but conveyed an unquestionable resolve.

A flicker of understanding passed through the Pope's clouded eyes.

He understood.

Victory and defeat are mortal concerns.

While this one before him adhered to divine law.

The Pope said no more.

He raised the golden scepter in his hand and gently tapped the polished marble floor.

Emitting a crisp sound.

"In the name of the Pope."

He gave instructions to the Cardinal beside him.

"Issue an announcement."

Three minutes later.

The Vatican's official social media account updated its status, watched by billions worldwide.

It was an image.

The image showed the back of Saint Joan of Arc, holding a holy banner, standing alone at the church entrance.

Before her was the boundless light leading to the outside world.

Below the image, the caption was just one sentence.

A concise yet powerful declaration, issued simultaneously in classical Latin and modern English.

"She has departed."