"What if I combine this with the Square Demon Eye?" Zero Point asked himself, the answer being obvious: in the final battle, even he could pose a threat to the clone Zheng Zha, and this threat absolutely could not be ignored... It was as if he had slain Luo Yinglong in one fell swoop, like in The Lord of the Rings. Although the clone Zheng Zha's strength would certainly be far greater, in an almost evenly matched fight, if he struck unexpectedly... "But... will Zheng Zha allow me to intervene in their fight?" Zero Point was not the carefree sort like Cheng Xiao. Having fought shoulder-to-shoulder with Zheng Zha almost from the beginning, he understood Zheng Zha better than most. Precisely because he knew too much, he also knew one thing... the antagonism between Zheng Zha and his clone was almost a fated enmity; this was a destiny that could not be mediated by others, and the most crucial battle Zheng Zha had to face alone, success or failure notwithstanding, this was his fight and his alone... "The final battle. Will we still fight side-by-side? Or will it still be... until death..." Zero Point murmured this line, then turned and walked toward his room. He had already purchased all the materials needed to modify his firearms.
The rest of the work was entirely up to Chu Xuan, and then... the final battle.
Speaking of Zero Point, one had to mention Overlord.
Assassins and mercenaries—these professions seemed intimately close; in fact, both lived in the same world.
One dealt in cold, hidden assassination.
The other, in fiery, direct kills.
Overlord, who had been in a deep slumber since the Hell Night incident, finally awoke.
Though, from his perspective,
it felt as if he had merely slept for a while, at most enduring a remarkably vivid nightmare.
Yet, a significant shadow remained deep within his core.
"...In a nightmare, I saw my comrades... such a vivid nightmare, as if I truly saw them..." Overlord gazed at the blonde beauty bustling before him, speaking with a slight distant look in his eyes.
During Overlord's sleep,
the one most worried about him was this very blonde beauty. During their time in the 'Main God' space, she had been the one meticulously caring for him. Although Overlord had designed this blonde beauty with a sexy and frank personality,
he had also incorporated the characteristic of deeply loving him.
So, no matter how direct and forthright this woman was, as long as she loved him deeply,
she would always be genuinely dedicated to him.
And see, ever since Overlord had returned to normal status in the 'Main God' space, this woman had worn a continuously joyful smile.
She had even personally cooked meals for him.
All this indicated that this woman truly adored him.
However, Overlord was preoccupied with heavy thoughts and seemed to miss these details.
The blonde beauty was chopping vegetables. Hearing Overlord speak,
she immediately knitted her brows. "Stop dwelling on that nightmare. Since it was a dream, it proves everything in it was false. Isn't life in reality worth more of your attention than a nightmare?" Overlord paused.
He let out a couple of loud laughs, pulled the blonde beauty close, and kissed her fiercely, until she was breathing rapidly.
Only then did he declare loudly, "That's right, that nightmare was illusory. Only reality is true... Hahaha..." Overlord's hearty smile returned.
After having dinner with the blonde beauty, he went alone to the basement.
He sat there, silently recalling memories of his former comrades.
These memories were etched deeply into the core of his soul. As a man who had dedicated nearly his entire life to the mercenary world,
his existence was combat. Comrades, combat. Comrades.
So, even though he told himself it was a nightmare, he still couldn't forget them... Forget it; if I can't forget them, I won't. Just win the final battle, was Overlord's thought, but he didn't realize... this was precisely the loophole in his heart, the biggest one...
Regardless, even while asleep, Overlord had accumulated a considerable amount of reward points. As for side plot scenarios, he could simply ask other team members; after the bountiful harvest the Central Continent Team had enjoyed, they could surely spare a few side plots.
Overlord redeemed a high-grade Werewolf bloodline. Chu Xuan used the Electromagnetic System to fabricate a Gauss railgun for him. Of course, this wasn't a cannon in the broad sense; it was designed to launch Gauss slugs across a wide area, so one might as well call it a submachine gun or autocannon. This massive weapon weighed over three hundred pounds, something only a man of Overlord's stature could wield flexibly. Its destructive power was no less than Zero Point's Gauss sniper rifle, though its range and accuracy were significantly weaker.
Another person who awoke from slumber, Zhan Lan, felt completely different from Overlord. For some unknown reason, upon waking, she felt refreshed, as if she had shed the burdens from the depths of her heart. Although the shadow of her former boyfriend remained, it was now only nostalgia and the initial spark of love; she was no longer bound by that obsession. While she hadn't completely overcome her inner demon, the mental flaw was no longer prominent and was even beginning to vanish.
Even Zhan Lan herself didn't realize this. When Zheng Zha called out to her in her mind, she actually wanted to respond; even subconsciously, she wished to reply to Zheng Zha's call. But the circumstances at the time were almost beyond her control; she could no longer govern her own consciousness. This is why, after waking, she asked Zheng Zha that question—not because she wanted to be by his side, but out of genuine gratitude and affection for him.
Zhan Lan was wearing a crisp, light-colored dress. She hummed a tune while cooking. Five days had passed since their return to the 'Main God' space, yet she seemed entirely unhurried or anxious. Each day, she simply read a novel, watched a movie, and then prepared delicious food. In the afternoons, she would brew a pot of black tea and play on the computer,
or perhaps take a nap. This young woman acted as if she were in the real world, like an ordinary, slightly affluent Shanghai woman—relaxed and at ease, without worry for tomorrow.
Moreover, Zhan Lan didn't waste her reward points or side plot scenarios. If any other team members or newcomers needed something, she helped them redeem it to the best of her ability. As for herself, she exchanged for spiritual power enhancements,
and another new spiritual skill called 'True Sight'—an active skill that consumed immense mental energy, allowing her to forcibly break through an opponent's mental barrier for a short time. Though it only lasted a few seconds, this window of True Sight was enough to alter many tactical layouts.
Other than that, Zhan Lan made no further moves, nor did she approach Zheng Zha to speak,
nor did she seek out Chu Xuan about the final battle. She simply enjoyed every day happily, as if this wasn't the reincarnation world at all.
(Burying my love for him deep in my heart, standing beside the former him—these are my most precious memories. What will happen in the future, no one knows. Perhaps I will meet a better man, or perhaps I will meet another 'him'... Fate is ordained; I will absolutely not destroy his happiness with her. So be it. I... can live well on my own.) A girl like this... so beautiful and composed... Zhan Lan was indeed too leisurely.
She was perhaps the most relaxed person in the entire Central Continent Team. In contrast to her tranquility, the rest of the Central Continent Team were training hard, wishing they could stretch time out several times over, as the final battle was fast approaching. Each of them could potentially be the critical force to turn the tide, especially those with a heavy sense of responsibility... Wang Xia was likely one such person. He might be the least selfish person in the entire reincarnation world, or perhaps the most selfish. First, he entered the reincarnation world via hypnosis,
unlike the others. He abandoned his comfortable, peaceful real world for this terrifying and dangerous one for the sake of his homeland. The possibility of ever returning was slim, and his death could be extremely gruesome, considering that most horror movie worlds weren't like the natural disaster of Perfect Storm; they contained ghosts, aliens, viruses,
and everything else. To enter this reincarnation world, knowing its nature beforehand, truly required immense courage.
Wang Xia was such a man, entirely without regret. As a soldier, he had his honor and responsibility, so he trained with a fanatic intensity. To ensure victory in the final battle, to keep the possibility of returning to the real world alive, he had to become stronger! For some unknown reason, as he continuously grew stronger and kept using his Bomb Domination skill, he gradually noticed changes in it. For example, the demonic energy provided by the skill became richer, he could dominate more bombs, the power of the bombs he controlled increased, and even the types of bombs he could manifest grew more varied. Of course, if dominating a miniature nuclear bomb required 10 units of demonic energy, then creating a bomb with power similar to a hand grenade required 10 to 20 units, and fabricating bombs of especially immense power required even more. Therefore, domination was more cost-effective than creation, especially when the team had an inexhaustible supply of bombs provided by Chu Xuan.
These changes in demonic energy were undoubtedly positive, so Wang Xia wanted more time to train this skill. Thus, he became the first person in the team to enter a horror movie world for training, preceding even Zheng Zha. Before entering, he asked Chu Xuan for a large supply of plasma bombs, taking nearly all of Chu Xuan's existing stock. Since he already had a stockpile of miniature nuclear bombs, these high-power but short-range plasma bombs were no longer essential; it was better to use them for training. Beyond that, he also redeemed over ten thousand regular bombs, filling several spatial bags before entering the horror movie world... He chose to enter Starship Troopers, an extremely terrifying horror movie world. That swarm of insects covering the mountains... even if the current Central Continent Team were transported to the insectoid planet, they might not be able to retreat easily or completely unscathed...
"Here is the antidote you requested. I'm not entirely sure if the bugs here carry venomous elements or if this antidote can counteract those toxins, but using the modified T-virus as a test specimen, this antidote can resolve viruses at the genetic level. It should be able to eliminate most viruses. Take it."
Chu Xuan handed a spatial bag to Wang Xia. A few other team members were gathered around the 'Main God' Plaza, waiting for Wang Xia to enter the horror movie world.
Wang Xia did not hesitate. He took the bag and casually asked, "Uh, thanks... This antidote kills viruses at the genetic level, so it won't cause issues for the human body, right?" "Uh... if one has unlocked the second stage of the Genetic Lock, I suppose it should be fine..." Chu Xuan stated calmly. "...Having said that, why did you turn your eyes away?" No matter what, Wang Xia was going to the Starship Troopers world. Before redeeming his entry, he suddenly turned to look at Chu Xuan. "Chu Xuan, I've been thinking about what you said a while ago... Our country's political system isn't suitable for the entire world, or at least not for a status like America's current one. Is that right?" Chu Xuan nodded affirmatively. "Yes, correct. Absolute power equals absolute corruption, regardless of which individual or which political system holds that power. As long as it's the singular 'one,' it will inevitably result in corruption. When the power of enforcement, legislation, and supervision are all concentrated in one political body, what do you think?"
Wang Xia lowered his head mournfully, then suddenly raised it and stated solemnly, "I love my own country... I will always love my country, no matter what. Strip away any talk of political parties, personality cults, or military dominance. I only want to tell you: I love my country, and I will love it forever!" "Uh, I understand... My father did too." Chu Xuan showed no other reaction. He remained calm. "...I'm leaving."
Wang Xia then redeemed the entry time for the Starship Troopers world. He held nothing back and didn't need to redeem any other skills, so he redeemed a substantial amount of time, consuming nearly all his reward points. In an instant, before the surrounding people could process it,
Wang Xia appeared before them, dressed in the tattered uniform of a Starship Troopers field-grade officer. Wang Xia looked utterly miserable; blood and wounds covered his body, and his face was blackened with the soot from explosions. But his spirit looked excellent; he was vibrant, showing none of the dejection one might expect after such trauma.
"Good, good, long time no see, everyone. How have you all been recently?" Wang Xia laughed heartily.
"...This is rather convenient." A shared thought arose among the onlookers. It was somewhat absurd, hard to articulate, but overall, this method of training in a horror movie world seemed quite effective.
"How did it feel?" Zero Point asked Wang Xia curiously.
"Feelings?" Wang Xia paused, then laughed again. "Not much, really. Once I joined the army there, it was non-stop fighting, struggling for survival every single day. There were also times of easy rest on the carrier, and even pretty girls hitting on me. My achievements were significant; I was quickly promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. And the human army over there seems to be in serious trouble, utterly battered by the bugs, losing planet after planet. As for the Bomb Domination skill... guess what new skill I recently created?"
The others shook their heads, but seeing Wang Xia's massive improvement, several of them were now considering going to a horror movie world for training.
"Actually, saying I created it isn't quite right; this skill required a massive number of bombs for me to control anyway... I mastered Fusion." Wang Xia said mysteriously, then pulled out a small container from his pocket.
"This is a hydrogen isotope. If several miniature nuclear bombs are detonated simultaneously at a single point, the resulting energy and heat are enough to meet the requirements for fusion. Its power is tens of times greater than a standard miniature nuclear bomb, almost reaching the level of a true tactical nuclear missile. This is a technique I acquired after many attempts," Wang Xia chuckled, telling the others.
By this account, Wang Xia's strength had truly increased immensely, and rumor had it he had already unlocked the third stage of the Genetic Lock. In a sense, the life-and-death crucible of the battlefield truly trained a person better than anywhere else, both in skill and in character... "Speaking of which... a large part of unlocking my Genetic Lock to the third stage is thanks to Chu Xuan's antidote. Those few times I used it were agonizing, making me wish for death, but I didn't die, and the Genetic Lock improved significantly... Chu Xuan, don't leave yet..."
No matter the circumstances, Wang Xia's success seemed to signal something. The second person to enter a horror movie world was an unexpected figure: Zhang Heng... Since returning to the 'Main God' space, Zhang Heng had remained shut away until the day after Wang Xia's return, when he finally emerged to the 'Main God' Plaza. Then, he did something very strange: he gave up his Silver Metal Bow and instead redeemed the weapon he used when he first entered the horror movie world—the ancient bow, Sky-Shooting Wolf. This bow was utterly inferior to the Silver Metal Bow, at least in terms of its scattering skill. If one didn't count that, judging purely by Zhang Heng's Exploding Arrow, there wasn't much difference between the ancient bow and the Silver Metal Bow.
After redeeming the ancient bow, he went to knock on Ming Yanwei's door. In fact, Ming Yanwei had been secretly watching Zhang Heng. Though she thought she was careful, nearly every member of the Central Continent Team had noticed her small movements; only she remained unaware. When Zhang Heng opened the door to redeem the Sky-Shooting Wolf, she saw everything through the crack. As Zhang Heng walked toward her room, she firmly shut her door, ignoring his knocking. She simply leaned back against the door, sinking down weakly, staring blankly.
Zhang Heng knocked for a while, then finally fell silent. After a long pause, he spoke: "I'm going to Starship Troopers too... I'm not Wang Xia; I don't know the military inside out, nor do I have command talent, and I won't become a field-grade officer. I'm terrible at close combat, and I don't possess Wang Xia's large-scale destructive power... I just want to become stronger, so I have to train myself there..."
"I might die in there and never return. I wanted to see you one last time, Wei. I won't speak of the next life... My mistakes might be irreparable in this life, but I hope you don't use my errors to harm yourself. If I die, live on well..." Zhang Heng took a breath, turned, and walked toward the 'Main God'. He had only taken a few steps when the door behind him burst open. Ming Yanwei stood there, opening the door and sneering. In her hand, she held an oil-green longbow. No one knew when she had redeemed this bow, but it looked perfectly natural in her grip, not at all out of place.
"You want to escape punishment through death? I won't let you die that easily. Even if you must die, I want to see you die... I'm going with you to Starship Troopers. I want to see you torn to shreds by bugs!" Ming Yanwei said coldly to Zhang Heng.
"...Good. If you can be by my side when I die, I won't be afraid of hell," Zhang Heng was momentarily stunned. He smiled at Ming Yanwei and walked toward the center of the 'Main God' Plaza without looking back. Ming Yanwei hesitated for a moment, then followed him with a cold smile trailing behind.
As per custom, Chu Xuan also gave Zhang Heng and Ming Yanwei a bag of antidote each. According to him, this was an "'improved' antidote, its efficacy definitely much better than the last one..." "Do you think I'd believe you?" That was Zhang Heng's initial response, but regardless, he took the antidote and then reached out toward Ming Yanwei.
Ming Yanwei reacted strongly, freezing momentarily before shouting loudly, "What are you doing?"
"Holding your hand... Time spent in the horror movie world is but an instant in the reincarnation world. If we don't go in together, we might miss the timing and enter separately... Hold my hand..." Zhang Heng looked directly into Ming Yanwei's eyes. The girl hesitated for a long time before finally placing her hand in his. The moment their hands met, their souls seemed to tremble, and then, they both entered Starship Troopers... Jump to
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