The masked figure's image remained, but the screen behind it now transformed into a breathtaking, real-time satellite feed of the East China Sea. The blue expanse of water stretched, seemingly calm, yet the timer on the screen continued its relentless countdown: 00:10:30... 00:10:29...
Then, the view zoomed in, impossibly clear, on a sleek, grey warship. Its hull bore the distinct red and yellow insignia of the People's Liberation Army Navy. Sailors moved like tiny ants on its deck, unaware they were being watched by billions.
The Seer's modulated voice, now tinged with a chilling prescience, spoke directly to the ship.
"To the CNS Silent Hunter ," the voice boomed, cutting through the global silence. "And to its commanding officer, General Jian Li."
A collective gasp swept across the world. No one could have known such specific information, certainly not publicly. In the Situation Rooms of Washington and Beijing, faces went ashen. How could this entity know the exact ship, the exact general?
The satellite feed zoomed in further, impossibly, onto the bridge of the CNS Silent Hunter . General Jian Li, a stern-faced man in his late fifties, was visible, caught mid-stride, frozen in shock as the Seer's voice, perfectly translated, reverberated not just through the global broadcast, but seemingly through his own ship's internal comms.
"Hello, General Li," the Seer's voice continued, a chilling politeness in its tone. "I trust the calm waters of the East China Sea have been uneventful this morning."
General Li's eyes, visible even through the satellite feed, widened in utter disbelief and stark terror. He instinctively grabbed his comms unit, speaking into it, his voice a strained whisper meant for his crew, but clearly audible to the billions now watching his every move. "Who is this?! Identify yourself! This is a secure channel!"
"General," the Seer interjected smoothly, as if reading his thoughts, "your channel is as secure as your privacy. I am the Seer. And I am speaking to you now, directly, not through your naval comms, but through the very airwaves you attempt to command. You were just contemplating the unexpected seismic readings your hydrophones picked up moments ago, were you not? A puzzling anomaly in a typically stable region."
General Li's face, utterly drained of color, confirmed it. His mouth hung open. He looked around the bridge, frantically, as if searching for the invisible intruder. His hands trembled.
"Do not attempt to sever this connection, General," the Seer warned, its voice firm. "It is futile. Instead, I ask you to look out. Look to your port bow, General Li, at the coordinates I am displaying for the world."
The satellite view on the global screens zoomed even closer to the water directly off the CNS Silent Hunter port bow, the ominous timer ticking down: 00:08:45... 00:08:44...
"In just over eight minutes, General," the Seer concluded, its voice gaining a chilling, prophetic quality, "you will witness the impossible. You will see a new land rise from the depths. And when you do, perhaps you will begin to believe what I have said. About my powers. And about the far greater truths I have yet to reveal."
The screen remained locked on the Silent Hunter, the visibly terrified General Li, and the tranquil stretch of ocean that, in mere minutes, was about to betray its calm facade. Billions watched, mesmerized, as the Seer had not just shown them the future, but had reached into the most secure military operations in real-time, pulling back the veil to reveal its terrifying, absolute power. The world held its breath, awaiting the impossible.