"Ark Project?"
"Yes—a giant city built on the principle of world destruction. It has all the resources necessary for human survival."
The high-ranking officials of the Hero Association who heard about this plan all widened their eyes.
"Based on the previous alien incident and that rift, developing space travel is not wrong. But can our technology really support this seemingly grand plan? Moreover, within the visible universe, we haven't found any habitable planets suitable for immigration that harbor life."
Hearing the doubts of these high-ranking officials, McCoy gritted his teeth, his gaze firm.
"The Ark Project is an insurance plan for human survival. Mr. Akira has agreed to be responsible for the construction of the Ark, and our major financial groups will provide him with money. He is responsible for the technology and construction. But we are not doing nothing—selecting elites from humanity who are qualified to enter the Ark is our current nationwide audition plan, to be implemented for every individual. Every profession, every person, must be evaluated according to certain standards, and they will study, live, and train at Ark Academy a week later."
The high-ranking officials of the Hero Association widened their eyes. This was clearly something that could no longer be accomplished by a single Hero Association.
"From a national scale, this scope is too large and too energy-consuming."
"Other shareholders of Skyscraper X will also take action."
Hearing this, all the high-ranking officials were shocked. That was truly a concentration of financial groups from across the nation working together.
"But where does Akira's technology come from, and where do the construction teams come from? Such a big commotion certainly can't be in the city, but what if monsters cause damage in the suburbs?"
A series of questions were raised, but McCoy, with an unknown source of confidence, simply said, "It's a secret."
The same thing happened simultaneously at the shareholder meetings of various financial groups. After a long period of debate and research, this project—named Ark and led by Akira—entered its first phase.
Startup capital. The construction of Ark Academy.
Payment notifications made Akira's phone vibrate incessantly. The strings of numbers made Akira lose interest just by looking at them. Too much money, and it just became a string of cold numbers.
However, this way, the legitimacy of the funding sources could be resolved with proper justification. As for the remaining construction, it was about letting everyone witness a miracle unfold. Only a miracle could ensure the smooth progress of this plan; even if the effects of Cognitive Distortion and Bewitch Heart wore off, there would be no problem with him spending this money.
The first step of the Ark Project—Ark Academy. It would be based on Skyscraper X.
Of course, Akira wasn't doing this to save all of humanity. Instead, he was concentrating his targets at Ark Academy. This saved him the trouble of having to travel the world to find his targets. By directly building it into an academy, and having them all become his staff or students, it would be more convenient to target them.
Ding!
The elevator announced its arrival. But besides Fubuki, Esdeath, and Sakurajima Mai, there was no one else here.
School. The curse of high school students. Unless it's the apocalypse, you have to go to school. Even when a Dragon-level alert was issued nationwide, cities far away would still continue normal urban operations.
However, Akira was considered to be close by. They should have evacuated to nearby shelters. Psychokinesis cannot sense low-energy objects, but it is very sensitive to psychokinesis. So Akira also walked to the wall and listened intently, activating Wall Hugger.
Akira took in everything within a three-kilometer radius. Everyone had evacuated from the building now. So, now was the time for renovation.
He took out his phone, and according to his conception, a transparent blue crystal shaped like a water droplet completely enveloped the 500-meter area Akira possessed. Sets of facilities catering to various human needs appeared one after another. Besides steel, green vegetation was also reasonably arranged by Akira.
In just a few minutes, an incredibly modern, taller building than the skyscraper rose from the ground. The scenery outside the window constantly changed with Akira's operations, eventually becoming a dual rush of steel torrents and vegetation.
Tsk—I really have to thank the hostile system for not only providing me with the materials and technology for Boros's spaceship, but also for incorporating Psykos's "biological technology." Otherwise, it would be impossible for the trees here to take root amidst the steel flood and remain as lush as ever.
"This… this!"
Fubuki didn't recognize Psykos as her sister's former subordinate. After all, back then, Psykos wore black-rimmed glasses, had pigtails, and was dressed in a sailor uniform, looking like a "bookworm." But now, she had wavy hair, was fashionably dressed, and had a fiery figure.
However, before the few of them could introduce themselves, they all noticed the astonishing changes to the exterior of the building.
"Is this a miracle?"
Watching the circuit pipes spread out like the blood vessels of this giant structure, the three women exclaimed in wonder. They had no idea that this was all Akira's doing.
"I think this is more like an attack created by some kind of monster."
After her initial shock, Fubuki conservatively chose the explanation she felt best accounted for the phenomenon before her. But as soon as she finished speaking, Akira patted her.
"This isn't an attack created by a monster—it's the headquarters of Ark Academy, and the part of Ark that's visible on the surface."
In the distance, a group of S-Class Heroes from the Hero Association were locked in a fierce battle with Elder Centipede. Suddenly noticing a building rising from the ground, their attention instantly shifted. Even the television stations immediately dispatched personnel to the vicinity to investigate the situation. As soon as they got close, they were stunned.
It was too tall—practically a gigantic monster that had sprung from the ground. Moreover, the surface of the monster was semi-transparent, and its internal structure could be vaguely seen. The level of shock was no less than when Dragon-level monsters like Elder Centipede appeared.
At the Hero Association headquarters, the high-ranking officials had not yet left the building when they suddenly saw the transformation of Skyscraper X, and each of them stood rooted to the spot in astonishment. Others might not know what it was, but they did. But knowing was one thing; the unbelievable surprise made them instinctively stand up, their mouths agape.
"Yes—this is Ark Academy, this is the Human Preservation Project. I knew Akira could do it."
The statements of the wealthy individuals controlled by Akira's Cognitive Distortion and Bewitch Heart were almost frenzied. But in the eyes of others behind them, this was absolute investment acumen and judgment. Since this Ark was funded by a consortium, tickets would surely include them. They truly looked forward to seeing what the Ark was like inside.
This massive commotion not only startled the people on the surface but also disturbed the "God" underground. He immediately looked toward Akira. As a higher-dimensional being, he could see information about anyone in this world—and communicate with them through a cube-like converter. But when it saw Akira, the "God's" authority could not be exercised. In fact, when it tried to touch Akira, its arm was directly destroyed by an electric current, like a system warning.
"Interesting—interesting. Is this another high-dimensional guy coming to play a game?"
The "God" returned to its original place and continued facing the wall. "Blast—you've thwarted my plans again and again. I wonder how you'll stop me this time."
The "God" was right. Akira indeed came from a higher dimension (in the physical sense of the real world). But what it didn't know was that Akira fundamentally didn't want this world to be destroyed; he was doing all this simply to protect his private property and to receive more Eroge rewards.
At the prompt of Eroge, Akira saw the "God"—and saw the awesomeness of Eroge. A single electric current was enough to make the "God" lose an arm. However, the "God's" regenerative ability was very strong; it recovered almost instantly.
Akira remembered its setting: a power entity from a higher dimension. That is to say, this world is not a single entity. Dimensions exist. Therefore, even if Akira becomes the strongest in a single universe, there is still room for advancement. The previous small goal was just a test run. Now Fubuki has been dealt with and has also become an S-Class Hero. Now is the time to set off for the cosmic stars.
Of course, before taking care of these Eroge markers, this plan can be postponed.
"Are you Ms. Hiratsuka Shizuka?"
Inside the active evacuation measures, Hero Association staff found Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Eh—I am."
"You have been specially appointed as a teacher by Ark Academy. We need you to come with us to one side, and then we will explain the specific situation to you."
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked around and found that not only her, but many colleagues and students in the campus had received invitations from the staff.
The door of the Izumi family was knocked. "Mrs. Izumi, we are staff from the Hero Association, here to tell you something important."
"Kitagawa Marin-san…"
"Yukinoshita Yukino-san…"
"Gotoh Hitori-san…"
"Amano Ririsa-san…"
For a time, elites from all walks of life, known and unknown to Akira, received notifications from relevant organizations. They had been admitted to Ark Academy, with paid schooling. The location of schooling: Skyscraper X, 80th–86th floors.
Now—Ark Academy.
"Everything is developing in a good direction."
The three women personally witnessed Akira's control over the entire building with a flick of his fingers, feeling that his strength had once again surpassed the limits of their cognition.
Sakurajima Mai could understand the existence of magic. But what Akira did didn't seem to be magic at all. It was creation. And it wasn't just a superficial showpiece; it was a usable creation. School buildings. Classrooms. Athletic fields. Canteens. And various categorized venues and training facilities. Encompassing all walks of life.
Shock—deep shock.
Although her divinity had been completely conquered by Akira, this did not prevent Sakurajima Mai's initial impression of Akira from being negative. However, now she could understand Akira's actions at the time. A "God" should indeed feel bored with overly mundane emotional changes—thus choosing these strongly fluctuating emotions to bring him a different experience. It was just her bad luck that she happened to use a power that made others unable to see her, or even forget her existence.
Fubuki, on the other hand, was somewhat immune to these changes before her eyes. After all, yesterday she was summoned to another world, and today she was directly pulled here by Akira from her bed. But as she thought about it, Fubuki suddenly realized the great disasters and world-ending floods in ancient religious legends. Surely, in a few years, various disasters wouldn't appear on this planet, making it impossible for humans to survive.
Psykos was both shocked and breaking out in a cold sweat. It was a good thing she hadn't acted foolishly, otherwise, in the eyes of someone like a "God," wouldn't killing her be like crushing an ant?
Connecting the original part of the floor with the exterior, the floor area immediately became 500 meters by 500 meters. Although it was a vertical six-story building, the total area of Ark Academy reached 150 hectares, which was higher than or equal to the area of any university outside.
"After today, the nation's top companies will all relocate here. And provide free internship opportunities for students."
A grand gesture—this directly made Ark Academy the economic and financial center of the entire nation. Such terrifying connections and formidable strength were information Fubuki and the others had never seen from Akira.
"In the future, you will work here and study here. Teach what you are good at, and learn what you lack or are interested in. Perfect."
Akira finally finished this construction. When he tried to take out the dismantled parts and found that they couldn't be moved outside the designated space, he knew that this BUG couldn't be exploited.
Fortunately, Eroge was powerful and offered a relatively low price. The renovation of this building has only cost one trillion so far. As for below, they will dig out space floor by floor and then design it.
Outside, Elder Centipede finally died under the siege of the S-Class Heroes. Almost the next second, Tatsumaki flew rapidly toward Ark Academy. The closer she flew, the more incredible Tatsumaki felt. Then she saw her sister walk out of the building with Akira and appear on the extended balcony of the building.
"Fubuki—you finally made a correct decision for once, not staying with those who held you back."
Saying that, Tatsumaki looked at Psykos. She felt somewhat familiar, but ultimately didn't recognize her. Aside from Fubuki and those strong individuals she deemed worthy of attention, she didn't remember many faces at all.
However, Akira remembered her very clearly.
"Akira—what exactly is going on here? Why did such a building suddenly appear in the city?"
Akira smiled. "This building is Ark Academy, and it's my masterpiece. Are you interested in becoming a teacher at the academy? You can discipline students for fun when you have nothing else to do."
At the mention of discipline, the three people behind Akira all imagined something unpleasant, and their faces immediately flushed.
"I'm not interested in the weak, but you shouldn't change the subject. Are you really the one who built this building? Within an hour?"
Akira nodded with a chuckle.
In an instant, Tatsumaki's psychokinesis came directly toward Akira, blowing away the people around him. If it were before, Akira might have been a little wary. But with his current base stats—his mental power was far ahead, already reaching 450—even when facing Tatsumaki, he showed no fear.
In just an instant, Akira retaliated, directly binding Tatsumaki. Tatsumaki immediately felt that this was not a level that ordinary superpower users could achieve. Because those psychokinesis transformed into ropes, binding her body completely—one by one, like a tortoise shell.
Psykos next to him showed a somewhat deranged smile on her face. She didn't expect that Mr. Akira's promise to her would be fulfilled right before her eyes so soon. Tatsumaki—I never thought you'd have this day.
Fubuki felt that her sister was at a disadvantage, and immediately became a little worried. But when she saw the marks on Tatsumaki's body, she felt that her worry was a bit unnecessary.
Akira smiled, and Tatsumaki instantly floated over, held by Akira under his arm like a middle schooler.
"Disobedient children just need a good spanking. Come into the room with the teacher—I need to properly discipline you."
Tatsumaki struggled violently, kicking her legs, but this only made the ropes tighter. "Hey—what exactly did you do to me? Let me go, you bastard."