Chu Xuan stood not far behind Zheng Zha, nonchalantly taking a bite from an apple he held in his hand. The man offered no reply to Zheng Zha’s words, merely sitting there and consuming his fruit.

“...Stop chewing that apple, please. You can’t even taste it anyway. I’m talking about something vital here. The final battle might be imminent. Before that happens, I need to be as strong as the copy, or at least possess the power to fight him. Otherwise, our Central Team...” Upon hearing this, Chu Xuan finally paused his chewing. He looked up and said, “Have you finally acknowledged the gap between you and your copy?” “A gap?” Zheng Zha had been on the verge of anger, but Chu Xuan’s question immediately plunged him back into deep thought.

“While the disparity in raw power is undeniable, I believe the greatest difference between us is one of ideology. Though we are the same person, we have experienced completely different things, leading us down two separate paths. No, his thinking leans toward the more extreme aspects of the darkness. Therefore, I, who stand in the light, truly cannot comprehend his motives.”

“But!” Zheng Zha stood up from where he’d been sitting, drawing a deep breath. “I cannot understand what he’s thinking now, but I can understand his pain. No matter how powerful he becomes, it only serves as a source of greater agony, because he cannot die... If I’m not mistaken, he seems to be searching for release, but because he cannot attain it, he grows ever stronger. The stronger he gets, the less chance he has of finding that release. Thus, his suffering intensifies, perpetually cycling... I must grant him that release!” Chu Xuan let out a cold laugh. “What bandit logic. You assume that because you perceive him as suffering, he must accept the finality you offer? Don’t be ridiculous. Should the final battle commence now, your strength is completely inadequate to serve as an equal piece against the copy. Why not think about my requirements? Increase your strength so I can create a more effective deployment, instead of droning on here.”

Zheng Zha heavily slapped his own thigh. “So... I must become stronger... If I have already lost to my copy ideologically from the very beginning, then I must at least catch up to him or defeat him in terms of sheer power. That is what I must accomplish now... While the ‘Annihilation’ technique might be sufficient against the copy from the Resident Evil 2 scenario, so much time has passed; I refuse to believe he hasn't improved at all. And from what we’ve gathered, this man has become terrifyingly powerful—to a degree that inspires dread. Consequently, to fight him, I too must possess a power equally terrifying...”

“Actually... the conviction you hold might not necessarily lose out to his hatred. You just haven't figured out how to wield it yet...” Chu Xuan finished the apple expressionlessly before continuing, “What kind of power do you desire? Do you plan to use the Mobile Cannon to bombard other teams?” Zheng Zha shook his head. “Impossible. During the final battle, ‘God’ should restrict weapons of that caliber. Otherwise, wouldn't the final confrontation be far too much of a farce? So, the Mobile Cannon likely cannot be used in the final fight. That’s the first point. Secondly... if I actually used such a weapon, it would be an insult to him. In a fight against him, it must be only me, and I must face him personally. No one, and no power, can interfere. I must be the one to end him; it is my obligation... If you ask what kind of power I seek, I have only one in my heart.”

“I am not a tactical person, nor am I an intellectual combatant. All I truly desire is to survive—not just myself, but everyone with me. That's why I can so acutely feel the sorrow and pain in his heart. I cannot use skill or wisdom to finish him; I can only use the most formidable strength, disregarding any tactics or flashy maneuvers. The only power that can match and contend with him... Primordial Chaos! The Sundering of Heaven and Earth! That is the name I give this technique.”

“In the beginning, Heaven and Earth were a single chaos. Following the separation, the pure rose to become Heaven, and the turbid sank to become Earth. If these two were forced back into a single union, it would regenerate chaos, enacting the very process of the creation of the world... Mixing True Essence Power with Demonic Power, allowing these two forces to violently clash within my heart—this conflict is the source of the Mobile Cannon’s destructive force, and that very energy is the origin of the new technique I have created...” Zheng Zha clenched his fists, continuing, “I don’t know the power of this technique after use, nor whether my body can withstand the shockwave. I’ve never tested it. Every time I think of trying it out, the opportunity isn't right, or I feel like I might suddenly explode like a balloon. Wouldn't that make the other teams laugh themselves senseless? Regardless, I absolutely must find time to test it properly.”

“Then... I will create an opportunity for you to test this technique. Just once. Make sure you seize it...” Chu Xuan tapped his forehead and stated calmly.

“Good! Give me one chance to try this technique. Just ensure I don’t die. I cannot die yet; I still have reasons to live! I cannot die yet!” (...I thought I told him already, I can’t die. Is this his response? Damn it, Chu Xuan!!) Zheng Zha stared blankly as the beam of energy rushed closer. If he were alone, in his current state of Primordial Chaos and Sundering of Heaven and Earth, he could evade it entirely. But could he evade it now? If the choice of captain fell to him, the entire Central Team would certainly perish. And if he let his copy take the full impact, assuming Chu Xuan’s calculations were wrong, they would surely be... “Forget it! Trust him!” Zheng Zha closed his eyes. Inside his body, the scene was already a wreck; most of his meridians were shredded. If he didn't receive treatment soon, even with his physical resilience, he would die within minutes—and that was assuming he didn't use the power again. If he used it one more time, he wouldn't even have ten seconds before being pulverized into dust.

(After all, he is a living being, unable to wield this power, which legend says only Immortals and Demons can use—no, perhaps even Immortals and Demons would never use it. It is too terrifying. Can even the formidable physique gained from the Hidden Dragon Transformation not withstand it for more than thirty seconds? And this time, the shattering wouldn't just be physical; it would be a molecular breakdown, as the overload of energy would exceed what the most basic elements of my body can endure...) Zheng Zha closed his eyes, his thoughts churning. After a long silence, the anticipated pain and disorientation never arrived. When he opened his eyes, the light beam had halted just a short distance from where he stood. Everything around him was frozen: his teammates, and even Julian, whose eyes were wide open—everyone was completely motionless. Not only that, but his own injuries had also paused their progression; the agonizing pain was gone, nor was it worsening. In short, everything around him, except for a sphere of light, had stopped.

Where Yang Xuelin had been lying, a luminous orb now hovered. Yang Xuelin’s body had vanished, or perhaps, she had transformed from human form into this sphere of light.

“Team Member of the Central Team undergoing the trial, I am the Guide of the Central Team. Among this team, you are the one who most closely embodies the role of Captain. Upon completion of my trial, this horror movie world will conclude. The next step is your choice: whether to accept the mantle of Captain of the Central Team. You will then receive partial authority over the ‘God’ space and enhancements to your physical restoration. Do you accept?” A voice suddenly resonated directly within Zheng Zha’s consciousness, much like the voice of ‘God.’

Zheng Zha let out a breath. He then asked, “Does this mean the entire horror movie world ends now, or merely my combat within this world?” This distinction mattered for every member of the team and was Zheng Zha’s primary concern at the moment.

“The entire horror movie world will end immediately. Do you agree to become the Captain of the Central Team?” Hearing this, Zheng Zha’s entire being relaxed. Only then did he have the space to contemplate whether he should become the Captain.

Yes, this was the source of Chu Xuan’s deployment and plan—the situation Zhang Jie had once revealed concerning the role of the Central Team Captain: passing the trial set by the Guide would instantly terminate the current horror movie scenario. How was one to pass this trial? It required demonstrating either strength or potential. And why did Chu Xuan only activate the Mobile Cannon at this precise moment? All previous battles had merely been to give the Guide the necessary opportunity to test them.

(It seems Chu Xuan’s plan succeeded. Once the Guide confirms who the Captain is, when that person faces mortal danger, the entire horror movie world is simultaneously frozen... Perhaps only consciousness can continue to function; everything else is rendered immobile. Looking back, Zhang Jie truly died an unfair death. His fate in A Nightmare on Elm Street had nothing to do with external damage; it was purely a spiritual backlash. As long as his spirit remained active, or he couldn't break through the block, the damage would persist. That is why he died even after becoming Captain...) Simultaneously, Zheng Zha began to understand Chu Xuan’s inner demon. An inner demon, he realized, is formed by the thing one cares about most intensely. For Zheng Zha, it was the pursuit of release, manifesting as the Great Freedom Realm. Chu Xuan’s deepest desire was for emotion, and the others were the very people capable of evoking it in him. Therefore, his inner demon was likely the destruction of all his companions... And then... becoming Captain again, leading every member of the Central Team to survive together, regardless of the obstacles, the enemies, or the challenges they faced... They must survive! “I am willing!” Leaping to