Infinite Wealth System: Crazy Tasks, Insane Rewards!-Chapter 226: Real Sovereign War (VI)

Cloudbridge City was no longer the peaceful coastal refuge it had once been. From the moment the helicopter blades began to slow and the landing skids touched the cracked pavement of what used to be a quiet boulevard, Jayden could already feel the difference in the air.

The sky above the city had turned into a battlefield of smoke trails and blazing streaks of energy, and the once familiar skyline of homes and small commercial towers was now scarred with fire and rising plumes of blackened ash.

In the distance, Sovereign Protocol aircrafts hovered like metal vultures, releasing calculated bursts of destructive force that tore through structures with terrifying precision.

Jayden stepped down from the helicopter without waiting for assistance, his polished shoes touching ground that trembled faintly under the impact of distant explosions. Three of Harper’s soldiers followed closely behind him, their weapons raised, scanning the surroundings with trained caution as debris rained from damaged rooftops and the distant screams of civilians echoed between collapsing buildings.

From where he stood, Jayden could see entire sections of Cloudbridge engulfed in flames. The residential blocks near the water had been struck repeatedly, and the once serene marina was nothing but shattered docks and overturned vessels. Aircrafts belonging to the Sovereign Protocols continued to circle, firing measured barrages as though this was not war but a systematic demolition project.

His jaw tightened.

Every explosion felt personal.

Every burning building felt like a failure.

Jayden’s chest rose and fell heavily as anger began to build inside him, not the impulsive anger of revenge that had once defined his earlier years, but something deeper, heavier, more suffocating. This was his city. His nation. His responsibility. And the enemy was succeeding, even if only temporarily, in reducing it to ruin.

"We should get you back to safety, Your Excellency," one of the soldiers said urgently, stepping closer. His voice carried both respect and fear. "Lady Harper has ordered us to take you back to the island immediately."

Jayden did not take his eyes off the destruction unfolding before him.

"No," he said quietly at first.

Another explosion shook the air, and a column of fire rose from a distant street corner.

The soldier swallowed. "Sir, please. This isn’t a debate. The island is secure. Dominion City is fortified. If anything happens to you—"

Jayden turned to face him fully, and the soldier instinctively went silent.

"If there is anyone going back to safety right now," Jayden said firmly, his voice steady but burning with conviction, "it is certainly not me."

The men exchanged uncertain glances.

"I must save this nation," Jayden continued, his gaze returning to the chaos ahead. "I must save humanity."

At that exact moment, something shifted inside him.

A familiar chime rang through his consciousness, but this time it was different. It was louder. Deeper. Almost resonant.

[Combat Attribute has been completely maxed out to 100%+.]

Jayden’s eyes flickered slightly as translucent interface panels expanded within his vision.

[Combat Attribute has started manifesting. Manifestation of all Combat Features confirmed!]

He frowned faintly.

His Combat attribute had already reached one hundred percent after completing the first Black tier mission long ago. He had believed that to be the peak. The maximum.

But this... this felt different.

It did not feel like a number rising.

It felt like something unlocking.

Energy coursed through his veins in a way that was both controlled and overwhelming, like dormant circuits inside his body were suddenly lighting up one after another. His senses sharpened instantly.

The distant roar of aircraft engines became clearer. The rhythm of falling debris registered in exact intervals. Even the subtle vibration beneath his feet translated into precise information about structural weaknesses in nearby buildings.

[All other attributes are 100%+. Manifestation in progress.]

His mind expanded with clarity.

Strategic awareness heightened.

Physical coordination refined.

Reflex pathways recalibrated.

Jayden inhaled slowly, absorbing the sensation.

This was not just improvement.

This was transcendence.

He felt aligned. Balanced. As though every piece of him had finally synchronized into its intended form.

A wry smile curved across his lips as he lifted his gaze toward the enemy aircraft dominating the sky.

"So this," he murmured under his breath, "is what it means to step beyond."

The soldiers near him stared in confusion as his presence seemed to subtly change. It was not visible in any obvious way, but there was a difference. A weight. A quiet intensity that made even trained men feel like they were standing beside something far greater than a political leader.

Jayden stepped forward.

"Let’s get the party started," he said, his tone calm yet strikingly resolute.

Before he could take another step, however, a deep roaring sound erupted from behind them, louder than the Sovereign engines that had been dominating the sky.

The soldiers spun around immediately, weapons raised again.

Jayden turned slowly.

What he saw made him pause.

From beyond the coastal horizon, countless aircrafts surged into view, moving with incredible speed and coordination. They were unlike the Sovereign Protocol vessels. Sleeker. More dynamic. Their hulls reflected light differently, and their formation patterns were aggressive rather than systematic.

Within seconds, they reached engagement range.

And then they fired.

Bright streaks of energy tore upward toward the Sovereign aircrafts, intercepting incoming barrages and detonating mid air in violent bursts of light. Explosions erupted across the sky, turning the battlefield into a chaotic storm of clashing forces.

Jayden watched as one Sovereign vessel was struck directly, spiraling downward before crashing into the ocean beyond the city.

Another was intercepted by two of the newcomer aircrafts working in tandem, their coordinated attack shredding its wing structure before it could retaliate.

For the first time since he had landed, the pressure in Jayden’s chest eased slightly.

Relief.

Someone was fighting back.

The soldier beside him lowered his weapon slightly in awe. "Sir... those aren’t ours."

Jayden’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he analyzed their movement patterns.

"No," he said quietly. "They aren’t."

Above them, the sky transformed into a battlefield of equal forces, energy beams colliding mid air and shockwaves rippling through the clouds. The Sovereign Protocols adjusted formation quickly, attempting to regain control, but the new arrivals matched them strike for strike.

Jayden felt the Combat Manifestation inside him respond instinctively, mapping trajectories, predicting angles, calculating probabilities of victory.

This was not coincidence.

This was coordinated intervention.

Another explosion rocked a nearby structure, reminding him that even with help, the city was still under threat.

The relief he felt was cautious.

Because this was only the beginning.

As more aircrafts from both sides poured into the sky, the scale of the conflict expanded beyond anything Earth had ever witnessed. Buildings trembled. The sea churned from falling debris. The air crackled with overlapping frequencies of alien weaponry and unfamiliar defensive systems.

Jayden stood firm amid the chaos, wind whipping against his coat as flames reflected in his eyes.

Help had arrived.

But the enemy was far from finished.

And now that his attributes had manifested beyond their limits, he knew that whatever came next, he would not be the same man who once climbed his way to power through wealth and strategy alone.

This was no longer about economics.

No longer about dominance.

This was survival.

The sky above Cloudbridge burned brighter as another wave of Sovereign aircrafts descended from the clouds, responding to the sudden resistance with overwhelming force.

Jayden exhaled slowly.

The real battle had only just begun.