Zhang Jie tremblingly pulled out a cigarette, the blood on his fingers igniting it, then he let the cigarette drift slowly across the void toward Zheng Zha, saying with a faint smile, "This good flavor was exchanged in the 'Main God' space; you can’t buy it outside." Zheng Zha had heard Zhang Jie say these words back when he first entered the horror movie reincarnation—in that eerie, terrifying Resident Evil base, amidst the constant threat of infection and death, everyone depended on each other. Hadn't Zhang Jie offered him this cigarette then, as a companion with whom he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder? Zheng Zha took the cigarette, used his Red Flame to light it gently, and then took a deep drag from the bloodied mouthpiece. A sharp, acrid taste shot straight into his lungs—the taste of brotherhood.

"Everyone in A Nightmare on Elm Street died, even I died, becoming this undead guide. If I hadn't accidentally created her, perhaps I wouldn't even have had the courage to live on." "After that came endless reincarnations, the addition of promising newcomers, and challenging many horror movies. But because I was both the captain of the Central Continent team and the guide, the 'Main God,' sensing something amiss, deliberately began increasing the difficulty of the horror movies our team faced. For example, the difficulty for Resident Evil, which only had a few of us, ultimately only allowed us to barely escape death—something other teams likely wouldn't experience." Zhang Jie took a light breath, quietly watching the classical beauty walking toward them in the distance.

Her face was covered in tears, yet her expression was gentle and serene, perhaps even carrying a hint of happiness. She walked silently to Zhang Jie’s side and took his trembling hand in hers. "In the classification of horror movies, technology-based horror is the simplest, followed by sci-fi, such as Alien. Next is fantasy, then ghosts and monsters.

The truly difficult ones are science fiction warfare and the bizarre, inexplicable type. And the Final Destination series falls under the inexplicable category. Besides this classification of difficulty, the number of installments in a horror movie series is also a factor. If we entered Alien 1, the difficulty would definitely be less than Alien 2 or Alien 3, though, of course, there are exceptions." Zhang Jie’s voice was growing weaker as he took a slow puff of his cigarette: "Some horror movies also have unexpected variables—this is the 'Main God’s' random plot alteration pattern based on chance.

Once this pattern appears, a team wipe is almost certain, without question. Didn't we encounter that situation in Alien 1? But we were lucky; you managed to unlock your Genetic Lock during that movie, allowing us to scrape by!" Zhang Jie suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a large mouthful of blood mixed with organ fragments. The classical beauty beside him took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of his mouth, but the tears on the woman’s face could not be stopped.

"My existence does not comply with the 'Main God’s' regulations, so I am often forced into situations. For example, Zhan Lan, you might not know this, but the 'Main God' has already copied your genes—a person like you who unlocked the second stage of the Genetic Lock based on your attributes—and transferred them to the 'Demon Reincarnation Squad.' Furthermore, you yourself are continuously improving. In light of this, the 'Main God' doesn't want anyone to drag you down; it wants you to evolve to a new level. That’s why, after you fell into danger in Ju-On because of Zhan Lan, the 'Main God' decided to use me to kill Zhan Lan." Zhang Jie slowly looked toward the classical beauty, smiled faintly, and tightened his grip on her small hand, continuing: "That time, I was truly compelled, but I wasn't entirely constrained by the 'Main God,' so I sent you a message asking you to save her.

After that, as soon as you learned about other reincarnation squads, you immediately encountered one. This situation is quite extraordinary. Generally, before encountering other squads, teams are given several easy horror movies with large reward points and side quests to improve their strength, especially those who have unlocked their Genetic Locks, so they can face other squads. Due to my involvement, the 'Main God' constantly increased our team’s difficulty.

And because I attacked one of their members in the previous movie, this time we were forced into the Final Destination series, specifically Final Destination 2. Based on the normal progression in this installment, with our current strength, death is a certainty." As Zhang Jie spoke, a Boeing airplane slowly flew over the city high above their heads, gliding silently overhead. Just then, a screw popped out of the plane’s engine, followed by another. "Horror movies like Final Destination usually carry the potential for a team wipe, brother.

This is as much as I can do. Take care of yourselves from now on." As Zhang Jie finished speaking, his head lolled to the side, resting in the classical beauty's embrace. The cigarette slowly rolled from his fingers onto the ground, where it was immediately extinguished in the pool of blood beneath him. "No!" Zheng Zha roared softly, the tears in his eyes finally bursting forth.

But before he could move closer to Zhang Jie, his mind suddenly jolted, forcing him into a state between sleep and wakefulness. To an outside observer, Zheng Zha slowly levitated off the ground, and points of light emerged from Zhang Jie’s body, pouring continuously into his own. This scene resembled receiving attribute enhancements exchanged in the 'Main God' space; countless points of light flooded into Zheng Zha’s body and then vanished. "Central Continent Captain—Captain status activated.

Genetic Lock strength inspection initiated. Base strength: Genetic Lock Stage Two unlocked, Evolution Tier One. Current Strength: Genetic Lock Stage Three—Fusion commencing." The 'Main God’s' voice remained solemn and level, entirely devoid of emotional fluctuation, but Zheng Zha was currently caught in his semi-conscious state and could not hear the 'Main God’s' solemn voice at all. In the city sky, the Boeing airplane's engine was now spewing thick black smoke and sparks.

The pilot frantically tried to correct the flight path, but as the engine suddenly exploded, the entire plane could no longer maintain control and began plummeting straight down toward the city, heading directly for the structure below. Given its direction and speed, the final impact point would undoubtedly be the top floor of the Television Broadcast Building! Zheng Zha knew nothing at this moment; he was forced to hang motionless in mid-air, allowing the light points to flow into his body. As the light points continued to emanate, Zhang Jie's body slowly became indistinct, until finally, his entire form completely vanished, and along with him disappeared the classical beauty, still holding his hand with a smile.

Even at the very end, the classical beauty maintained that smile. Zheng Zha seemed to feel all of this. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he ultimately sank deeper into that silent, half-awake state, with tears streaming down his face. The cigarette in his fingers had burned down to his fingertip, yet he still hadn't let it drop.

The Boeing plane’s descent toward the city top accelerated rapidly. Most passengers were screaming wildly, while a small number closed their eyes and prayed. The plane was getting closer and closer to the Television Broadcast Building's pinnacle. At this speed and given the plane's size, even if Zheng Zha had remained conscious, he absolutely could not have avoided this brutal strike from Death.

This was truly a dead end! "Fusion complete! Captain qualification obtained. Genetic Lock Stage Three opening in progress.

Central Continent Squad—mission complete." The 'Main God's' voice rang out in the final instant before the plane hit the top floor, followed by a deafening crash and explosion. The upper levels of the Television Broadcast Building were instantly engulfed in a sea of flames. It was that familiar state of half-dreaming again. He had no idea how much time had passed.

Perhaps an instant, perhaps an eternity. In any case, when Zheng Zha opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the familiar scene of the 'Main God' space—a gigantic sphere of light stood far above everyone’s heads, surrounded by the eternal darkness of the void. Two girls stood on the plaza, while Zhang Heng and Xiao Honglü lay on the ground. As for Zhang Jie and the classical beauty, they had finally vanished completely.

Zheng Zha quietly looked at the cigarette butt remaining on his finger. He let out a silent sigh, placed the butt into his coat pocket, and then began processing the information that had flooded his mind. The so-called Captain authority was not just a title; it had become a genuine command! First, a Captain could query items available for exchange in the 'Main God' space with extreme speed.

For instance, if Zhang Heng had enhanced his Elven Bloodline, the most suitable skills, weapons, and spells related to that bloodline would automatically appear when he connected to the 'Main God,' thus eliminating the risk of wasting reward points and side quest opportunities. This was one key aspect of a Captain overseeing the entire team. Second, the Captain had the right to know what the next horror movie would be, allowing them to prepare suitable weapons, study and familiarize themselves with the plot, and adjust the entire team’s strategy accordingly before the movie began—this was arguably the Captain’s greatest power. Third, the Captain also knew many things unknown to regular members.

For example, Zheng Zha now knew there were a total of 17 reincarnation squads in this horror movie cycle, categorized by ancient continent names, and that the Central Continent Squad was one of the largest in terms of territorial scope. Besides these, there were two special squads. One was the "Demon Squad," formed by the 'Main God' copying and combining the genes of the most capable members from various squads—it was arguably the strongest squad, which, according to the information provided by the 'Main God,' was intended to test which evolutionary conditions were most suitable. The other squad consisted of individuals who, upon becoming a Captain, were asked by the 'Main God' if they wished to join.

Thus, this squad was comprised of the strongest members from every other squad—though some who became Captains refused entry. Everyone capable of joining this squad had unlocked their Genetic Lock. This squad was named the "Heavenly God Squad," another possibility the 'Main God' was testing for evolution. Everyone was merely a small life form in this cruel reincarnation world, subject to any whim, any crushing blow, and even the so-called Captains struggled within it, desperately fighting for survival.

Zheng Zha touched the pocket where Zhang Jie’s cigarette butt rested. The 'Main God’s' inquiry—asking if he was willing to join the "Heavenly God Squad"—still echoed in his mind. "I refuse."

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