The Green Demon Skateboard moved at a speed countless times faster than any horse, delivering the group from the village to the capital city in less than an hour. It was a magnificent metropolis built into the mountainside. Although the main structures within the city weren't overwhelmingly large, several villages existed on the outskirts. These villages, individually small, appeared quite populous when viewed collectively.

“Counting the villages, the markets outside them, and the people and army within the capital, we’re looking at over fifty thousand souls… But the location is too perfectly concentrated; one blast from a magic cannon would wipe it all out.”

Wang Xia sat atop the Green Demon Skateboard, observing the ground from the sky.

Zheng Zha sighed heavily. “No need to rush so much. The young dragon over there hasn't matured yet. Once we complete the mission, we return to the 'Main God' space, meaning our primary objective in this horror film world won't be realized. Since we’ve already decided to initiate the entire plotline, let's handle the 'Main God's' assignment by assuming that leaving the capital absolves us of pursuit… We actually didn't need to kill so many people, or at least not indiscriminately slaughter everyone just to check the box… If it were just about destroying this capital, we have numerous methods; Imhotep alone would suffice, though it would simply take more time.”

Imhotep, however, gazed at the royal palace beneath him with a complex expression. After a long pause, he finally spoke, “It’s not that simple… I sense something inside, something seemingly more powerful than myself… Moreover, this terrain—forests, mountains, snow—limits my magic from reaching its absolute peak. I don't know if I could destroy this capital alone.”

Hearing this, Zheng Zha steered the Green Demon Skateboard next to Imhotep and clapped him on the shoulder. “Don't worry, we’re here. We’re partners, how could we possibly let you fight alone? Besides, this capital should be this formidable. The 'Main God' would never present a horror film world where you can just farm points and wander freely. The difficulty of this world should be enough to wipe out an average reincarnation team. And based on the strength formula Chu Xuan analyzed previously, what we face… will absolutely be more than just a single great dragon.”

A team's strength is determined by its members; the stronger each member, the stronger the team. However, the 'Main God's' assessment of team strength isn't solely based on the members. The 'Main God' evaluates strength based on two factors: first, the difficulty of the horror film worlds the team has previously completed—if a weaker team finishes an extremely difficult world, their rating immediately skyrockets. Second, it depends on the attributes each member has exchanged for; if you acquire powerful attributes, the 'Main God's' rating of you increases. But if you create your own skills or unlock the Gene Lock, the rating won't rise because that is your inherent power, not strength derived from the 'Main God.' Take Zheng Zha now, for instance; based purely on his augmented attributes, his rating wouldn't be exceptionally high, but his self-created skills and inherent power far surpass the 'Main God's' evaluation range.

“…So, calculated this way, this horror film world might be difficult, but it’s definitely not beyond our capacity. Furthermore, we can use high-tech weaponry. In other words, even if we can’t win conventionally, we can deploy the magic cannons to destroy everything. This world absolutely won't stump us.”

After saying all this, Zheng Zha finally let out a deep breath.

Chu Xuan, standing nearby, suddenly pulled a vivid red apple from his breast pocket. He took a bite and then sneered, “Mortal wisdom… But has he finally progressed from idiocy to the level of mortal wisdom? You’ve only touched upon one aspect. I ask you, are we the only team whose actual strength exceeds their evaluation?” Zheng Zha paused, flustered. “Uh, strength exceeding evaluation? Anyone who can create their own skills probably counts, right? Even that idiot vampire from the West Sea team, the Celestial Team, the Demon Team, even Neos’s team too… What exactly are you getting at? Just say it directly; I admit my wisdom is merely mortal, alright?” Chu Xuan kept smirking, taking another bite of his apple. “In other words, the final battle isn’t a question of when it starts, but that the 'Main God' is forced into this final confrontation. Don’t you understand yet? According to your analysis, this horror film world is quite difficult. There must be a power hidden in this capital capable of wiping out an ordinary reincarnation team. But for us, equipped with magic cannons, or even without them, you alone could obliterate this capital. The 'Main God's' rating has become largely meaningless. If we continue developing like this, whatever horror world we face, these few reincarnation teams will be able to farm points endlessly. The reincarnation world loses its intended function then. At that point, what recourse do you think the 'Main God' has left? Only the arrival of the final battle! Mortal wisdom, indeed.”

“So what if that’s the case?” Zheng Zha retorted, growing agitated. “You keep calling it mortal wisdom, so show us the wisdom worthy of Chu Xuan for once!” Chu Xuan glanced at Zheng Zha, pushing up his glasses. “Your third-stage Gene Lock simulation allows you to perceive the trajectory lines behind events. Why don't you think about a few more things? I can't always be beside you. In the future… suffice it to say, there are things in this horror world you haven't grasped yet—the side plots.”

“Side plots?” Several voices echoed the four words simultaneously. After all, those four words represented reward points, side plot allowances, and perhaps even certain secret treasures. Thus, discovering a side plot meant they absolutely had to complete it.

“Just as you said, the 'Main God' wouldn't provide an easy world for farming points, and similarly, he wouldn’t provide a world guaranteed to result in team annihilation. The definition of difficulty between those extremes is the 'Main God' rating you mentioned. Our Central Team's rating absolutely cannot be too high. At least in The Day the Earth Struck Back, we didn't destroy the alien headquarters but relied on the Pathfinder to complete the previous world arc. Coupled with the penalty points from our captain's death, our rating should place us among the high-tier reincarnation teams, but definitively below the Celestial or Demon teams. Given the 'Main God's' principle of avoiding annihilation-level missions, the task of destroying the capital must come with a side plot!” A distinct, unpleasant premonition suddenly struck Zheng Zha. He asked curiously, “What kind of side plot? Since we have to destroy the capital anyway, will there be some sort of assistance to help us?” “There is,” Chu Xuan said casually while biting his apple. “For instance, allowing those who leave the capital to become free agents, no longer subject to our pursuit, which would allow us to complete the 'Main God's' mission within three days.”

The mission the 'Main God' gave the Central Team was to annihilate every living thing within the capital in three days. However, this phrasing was easily ambiguous: Interpretation one: destroy all creatures within the capital, excluding those who fled. Interpretation two: destroy all creatures in the capital, and any who escaped must also be hunted down. These two meanings create two distinct outcomes and approaches, which was precisely what Zheng Zha had worried about earlier.

“You… didn’t you say both scenarios were possible? I took the gamble based on your advice!” Zheng Zha finally understood the nature of his bad feeling.

“Uh, I lied to you…” Chu Xuan said nonchalantly, biting the apple.

“…Don’t stop me! Wang Xia, Imhotep, get out of the way! I’m going to kill this idiot!” The commotion in the sky went unnoticed by the people below. Few in this world could fly that high, besides Dragon Riders and mages, but even they wouldn't bother fighting ten thousand meters up in the air.

“…The basic situation is this. Judging from the mission text provided by the 'Main God,' he requires the annihilation of all life within the capital. If the capital holds numerous but individually weak creatures, like ordinary humans or the Goblins from a European fantasy film, perhaps it means only killing those inside the city limits, and runaways are discounted. Killing one requires what level of commotion? A single shot with a tech weapon suffices! But what about a giant dragon, a Titan, or a Balrog or Nazgûl like those encountered in The Lord of the Rings? How much disturbance does killing one cause? It could cause devastation from inside the city to outside. If it's a hundred-meter-long dragon, it spans several li in a single flight—do you count that as inside or outside the capital? So, when Imhotep felt there were beings below him stronger than himself… the 'Main God's' mission is confirmed: every creature originating from within must be killed. Any that escape must be relentlessly pursued until every last one is eliminated, unless… we uncover the single thread of life the 'Main God' left within, which is the side plot I mentioned!”

“In the original film plot, the princess Eya, captured by the King’s mage early on while trying to steal the dragon eggs… If she were the one issuing the call, how many civilians and soldiers do you think would follow her out of the capital? If my hypothesis is correct, rescuing her is the only lifeline the 'Main God' has left. If she calls people away, then those who leave no longer need our pursuit. At that point, our enemies would only be the creatures defending the capital… and the King’s dragon!”