"What? Say that again—thousands of them? How is that possible? How is that possible!!! In the 2012 World, China managed to reverse-engineer so many Arks? And they match the specifications of the template Ark? Even as a knock-off, that’s a miracle!"

"We obtained this intelligence by trading in Dark Gold ornaments, and it has even passed spatial notarization—could it possibly be fake? And don't forget, the population of that country accounts for nearly one-third of the world's total population. Although war in this era is no longer a contest purely of population, when it comes to manufacturing, especially mobilizing the entire nation to build Arks, population remains the deciding factor!"

"Heavens above, a thousand Arks... While each Ark was designed with a carrying capacity of only ten thousand people, that assumes a standard cabin configuration of thirty-five square meters (a double room with an en-suite bathroom). If we push it to the absolute limit, one Ark could hold at least one hundred thousand people! In fact, in the original plot of the movie, every single Ark carried one hundred thousand people and remained perfectly safe."

"So, even if the knock-off Arks only last half as long, the Chinese could save fifty million people... while all the other nations and races combined can only save four hundred thousand."

"You’ve already grasped the final outcome, haven't you? Humanity is, ultimately, a communal species. Four hundred thousand people dissolving into fifty million is like a pinch of salt thrown into the ocean! If things continue this way, in less than fifty years, the Chinese could become the rulers of the Earth without ever drawing a sword."

"If we could obtain verifiable, convincing data and then make it public, what kind of global upheaval would that cause? A Third World War might erupt even before the apocalypse! Just think what a staggering plot twist that would be! As the instigators, what incredible benefits would we reap?"

"So, you believe the construction site for the knock-off Arks is in Chengdu, China?"

"No, I still think it’s in China, but building Arks would definitely be managed and scheduled by the military. Given China's structure, the nation is divided into seven major military regions, and ** is within the Southwest Military Region. The headquarters for the Southwest Military Region is in Chengdu. We must proceed with extreme caution to follow the trail and find even the slightest clue."

"Hey, the main quest has appeared."

"To hell with it. Don't we have the item that grants immunity from the failure penalty?"

Italy Vatican City, St. Peter's Square, A powerfully built man, broad across the chest, stared at the sacred Vatican palace in the distance, then performed a chest expansion exercise, drawing a deep, invigorating breath: "Is this the air exhaled by the soon-to-be-destroyed Earth? Why does it feel exceptionally fresh to me?" He wore a garish floral shirt, unbuttoned low enough to reveal a distinct, crescent-shaped, blood-red scar across his chest, drawing the attention of everyone who saw it. Beside him, a man with a ponytail, who looked somewhat like Robert from KOF, laughed heartily: "This is great; not having to hear 'Your current main quest has failed' the moment we enter a new world. I’ve had enough of those freaks we encountered in the last world." The scarred man shrugged: "A pity, Carlos. It’s highly likely our main quest this time will fail as well." "Why?!" "Because I can already sense that thing’s aura. Yes, the Spear of Longinus is indeed stored within St. Peter's Basilica. This relic has been devoutly worshipped for millennia. Even though the physical body has long since decayed, it is more than sufficient to serve as the spirit-soul for my weapon!" "But the security around St. Peter's Basilica is legendary, and the Holy See has maintained its stronghold here for ages. The devout faith of hundreds of millions has continuously coalesced here over centuries. Under normal circumstances, even a Contracted party as mighty as us couldn't possibly fight against it." "So, under normal circumstances, we would be powerless. Only now, with the world facing its end, and even priceless artifacts like the Mona Lisa being evacuated, the Vatican certainly won't allow the holy relic to be permanently submerged beneath the sea. They will definitely send people to move it out—that will be our golden opportunity to seize it!" The Spear of Longinus is the Second of the Six Holy Relics of the Pontiff and the Fourth of the Thirteen Sacred Objects! Legend claims that anyone holding the spear can command the obedience of all within a one-hundred-and-twenty-foot radius, and the wielder can even dictate the fate of the world. However, those who lose it meet instant death. In the ancient Roman Empire, this spear was a symbol of power; many monarchs with storied battle records won countless victories holding this very spear. One legend suggests Hitler once possessed this weapon, but within sixty minutes of the Holy Lance falling into American hands, he died on the spot. For this scarred man to intend to use the Spear of Longinus as the spirit-soul for his weapon suggests only two possibilities: first, this fellow's strength likely reaches an astonishing level; second, it implies his own weapon is probably a peer to the Spear of Longinus in sheer power!! "But this main quest doesn't seem too difficult this time around. Completing it requires only placing in the top ten on the points board..." "Let me see: Assassinating the leaders of various nations to cause chaos. One leader is worth thirty points." "Assassinate the following key plot figures: Jackson Krost (Author), thirty points / Dr. Adrian (US Geological Security Consultant), thirty points." "Charlie (the neurotic broadcaster with the Ark map), twenty points; Karl Anhauser (Presidential Aide who later assumes the presidency, the fat one), twenty points." "Obtaining one Ark ticket is ten points. Destroying one Ark earns a thousand points. Destroying one non-official escape vehicle earns one hundred points!" "Whoa, that's intense. Someone chose the rescue route—killing an opponent team's Contracted party is worth thirty points!" "Hey, darling, I genuinely think we can cover both objectives simultaneously. With our combined strength, we could still secure first place even if we split into two groups. Think about it: transporting the Spear of Longinus must be secret; the Pope won't be leading the escort, at most it will be the most trusted Cardinal Anco. With your power, Boss, you could handle them alone! Especially with Razor and Steel File accompanying you?" "Carlos, let me think about this a bit more..."

United States Nevada Virginia City It was the dead of night, and a torrential downpour drenched the city, making the entire urban landscape feel submerged. The occasional roar of a motorized vehicle sounded like the city’s mournful cry. Suddenly, a streak of electricity flashed, an angular bolt that ripped across the sky. It momentarily illuminated a rooftop where, a second before, no one stood, but now, bathed in the lightning's glare, four figures appeared. Four people of varying heights and builds. A short, stout man, instantly soaked by the cold rain, shouted: "Damn it!! Why did the world switch from a golden twilight to this black downpour in the blink of an eye?" A slight, thin man noted: "It seems the passage of time in this world jumped forward a full seventy-two hours within the last few seconds." "How could that happen? KD?" A one-eyed man hurried toward the cover of an awning, cursing loudly: "Damn it, I hate feeling wet." "It must be a special privilege granted to the team that chose the salvation route, designed to offset their strategic disadvantage," the thin KD replied. This man wore a contraption that looked like a hybrid of spectacles and binoculars, giving him a peculiar appearance, reminiscent of a 20th-century aviator. However, when raindrops struck his lenses, they were instantly flung outward, as if hitting high-speed rotating propellers—a truly bizarre effect. The stout man started yelling again; he seemed rather high-strung and prone to panic: "The new main quest has refreshed—wow, it doesn't look too hard..." "Ignore those damned main quests," KD snapped coldly. "Before the Will of the Patron is executed, we must remain entirely focused! Do not forget, the Patron's power is limitless!" KD's words instantly quieted the group. For a moment, only the sounds of the wind, rain, and thunder echoed on the rooftop. After a pause, KD spoke calmly: "Since the opposition has been granted a three-day buffer, they will certainly use the impending apocalypse as leverage to forge alliances and build rapport with the legendary figures of this world, perhaps even providing data parameters to aid them in building escape vehicles. Their interests are deeply intertwined. Therefore, if we try to force our way through, it will be highly unrealistic." "However, while the Spatial System might favor them due to their disadvantage, it would never allow their influence to expand limitlessly! So, the legendary figures they can ally with must be capped at a certain number; they cannot be allowed to align with every single legend." "Since the government is also building Arks and imposing controls on rare metals, private manufacturing efforts will inevitably lead to resource contention. The core of this struggle is the competition for survival—it will be brutal, with no possibility of reconciliation. Therefore, our best opportunity is to strike when conflict erupts. Even if the opposing side possesses superior strength, with the backing of the Patron's Will, we are certain to achieve victory. That is my assessment." At this point, the last figure, tall and powerfully built, finally spoke. This man’s muscles bulged, but they were not the bulk of a bodybuilder; they resembled those of an NBA player or a long-distance runner—muscles defined by explosive potential. He spoke slowly: "According to the latest intelligence, the Patron has assembled three teams to counter those people. We are only one of them. Only one team will claim the final bounty! Let's all give it our best shot. Move out!" (This site... Your support is my greatest motivation).RT

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