Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 610 The Final Showdown (Part 1)

Time flies, and a year has passed since the first interdimensional expedition.

In that year, the Red Empire completed its magnificent transformation from a mortal empire to a transcendent empire at a speed that astonished the world. At the heart of all this was the divine artifact suspended in the core forbidden zone of the imperial capital, named the "Eye of the Empire."

Through the tireless research of Doyle Hawkins' team and the personal guidance of Li Zhongren, the Empire's understanding and application of "psychic script" has reached a whole new level.

All "Sacrifice Gloves" have undergone a revolutionary upgrade and have been renamed "Hands of the Empire".

Its greatest transformation lies in the fact that each "Hand of the Empire" has established a deep and inseparable spiritual link with the obsidian eye through a built-in array of psychic runes that are of the same origin as the "Eye of the Empire".

This means that the wearer can not only draw upon their own spiritual power and blood crystal energy, but also remotely access the immense power of the "Eye of the Empire" originating from the heart of the Outer God through the gloves!
The energy output became more stable, controllable, and powerful than ever before.

More importantly, Li Zhongren could use the "Emperor's Eye" to macroscopically monitor and even directly intervene in the operation of each glove when necessary, ensuring absolute control and security.

"The Hand of the Empire" began mass production at an unprecedented efficiency, with priority given to equipping the Imperial Guard and major legions.

Extraordinary armies, clad in black standard uniforms and wearing dark red metal gloves on their left hands, were rapidly deployed to every province and every important city, like the nerve endings of the empire.

Meanwhile, the dramatic changes brought about by the global "revitalization of spiritual energy" have completely erupted and are spiraling out of control.

Twisted anomalies are spreading like a plague around the world.

Streets in some cities suddenly "come alive" and swallow pedestrians.
The ancient forest was transformed into a bloodthirsty labyrinth overnight.
A maddening song echoes from the depths of the ocean, luring ships toward the unknown abyss.
The sky might even crack open, raining down corrosive spores or unleashing invisible spiritual pollutants.
Countless small countries and regional powers crumbled in the face of this incomprehensible disaster, and the flame of civilization was suddenly extinguished.

Even those long-established powers have fallen into an unprecedented period of growing pains, with social order on the verge of collapse, and can only rely on heavy firepower and huge sacrifices to maintain stability in a few core areas.

The Red Empire alone became the only indestructible ark in this chaotic ocean.

The Imperial army, equipped with the "Hand of the Empire," demonstrated astonishing efficiency in suppressing rebellion.

When the sewer system of a border city mutated into a nest covered with slimy tentacles, the stationed "Anvil" battalion immediately went to the scene. The soldiers worked together to activate the military formation, and the dark red energy field crushed the nest like a branding iron. All the tentacles turned into charcoal amidst their screams.

When an ancient royal estate is occupied by "Mirror Ghosts" from the spirit world, attempting to drag reality into a world of reflection, the "Hounds" squadron is ordered to eliminate them. The exorcising runes on their gloves emit a mental shock like an invisible blade, tearing the ghost and its distorted domain apart.

These suppressed and destroyed twisted entities and remnants of anomalous phenomena were continuously sealed and transported to the newly established "Imperial Bureau for the Management and Application of Extraordinary Phenomena" in the capital. There, Doyle's team and countless newly recruited researchers conducted frantic research and analysis on these "materials" as if dissecting corpses.

"The core bark of the Corrupted Treant, after being imprinted with the psychic runes 'Toughness' and 'Growth,' can be made into lightweight armor with self-repairing capabilities."

"The remnants of the Banshee's vocal cords, combined with the words 'resonance' and 'fear,' can be used to develop targeted psychological weapons."

"The phase hound's core is the key catalyst for constructing a short-range spatial teleportation array..."

The Empire’s arsenal of extraordinary weapons is expanding and diversifying at an unprecedented rate.

Extraordinary power is no longer the sole domain of the military; under strict control and guidance, it has begun to be integrated into the civilian population to a limited extent.

"Civilian version of psychic script operators" who have undergone rigorous vetting and training have begun to emerge, using simplified and secure rune arrays to participate in urban development, healthcare, and even agriculture.

The empire's national strength has surged against the odds during this global catastrophe!

However, not all countries are in decline.

Far across the sea from the Rhône Empire, the West Coast Empire, also found its own bloody path in this upheaval.

The West Coast Empire has always adhered to the extremes of capitalism and the law of the jungle, with social Darwinism deeply ingrained in its people.

When supernatural phenomena occur, government agencies and major corporations almost without hesitation invest in human experiments and taboo research, regardless of cost or means.

Using the lives and souls of countless 'volunteers' as fuel, they also concocted all sorts of bizarre and bizarre "supernatural items" with unknown side effects, barely suppressing the chaos within their territory, and taking the opportunity to annex and harvest a large number of small forces in the surrounding area that were on the verge of collapse under the guise of "aid" or "takeover".

Among these many extraordinary items filled with instability and madness, one item stands out as particularly special, even "sacred".

It is a headband woven from some kind of golden tree branch that exudes a warm luster. Its design is simple and ancient. The person who wears this headband will seem to be enveloped in golden light and look extremely sacred.

Of course, that's only what it appears to be.

It's not very useful otherwise.

But it doesn't do any harm either.

Thus, after several transfers, this prop was finally presented to the pinnacle of power in the West Coast Empire, in the Golden Oval Office, and placed before the Grand President.

Clearly, this is someone below trying to curry favor.

After all, everyone knows that their president likes gold, and even the entire office is gold.

So, I'm sure the President will be very happy to wear this thing that gives people a golden special effect.

To everyone's surprise, after the president put it on...

He not only gained the golden special effect, but also unparalleled power from it.

Laws, blessings, resurrection, and the absorption of souls.
And so on and so forth.
This event took everyone by surprise and brought about dramatic changes to the West Coast Empire.

After gaining power almost comparable to that of a god.

The Grand Commander launched a massive purge within the West Coast Empire in the shortest time and with the most ruthless methods.

No one is stupid enough to be in this position. He didn't do anything before simply because he didn't have enough power.

But now, he has it.

In this chaotic era, the decentralized, capitalist-style rule of the West Coast Empire was destined to be no match for the Reid Empire. Thus, after a series of bloody crackdowns...

The Grand Commander established the West Coast Imperial Merchant Guild, and all West Coast capital was subject to it.
In a sense, he became the emperor of the entire West Coast.

However, he knew that his journey would not end there.

Ever since he donned the golden crown, a deep and seductive voice has repeatedly echoed in the depths of his soul, like an ancient revelation:

"Find it, kill its only obstacle. Become the sole god in the Eastern Empire."

It's almost time.
He had been keeping a close eye on the Reid Empire and knew that it had already taken off. If it didn't have the Golden Crown, the entire West Coast Empire would probably end up groveling at the feet of the Reid Empire.

But things are different now.
Inside the Golden Oval Office, the President—no, perhaps he should now be called the "Golden President"—was gazing at a huge world map on the wall.

His finger, adorned with the gold seal ring symbolizing the supreme power of the West Coast Chamber of Commerce, slowly traced across the map of the small West Coast countries marked as "assets pending processing."

Since donning that golden canopy, he has not only gained godlike power, but his thinking has also become more ruthless and efficient, like the most sophisticated capital operation machine.

He could clearly sense that the tree canopy longed to grow and crave more "nutrients," and the will of the tree canopy was his own will.

The whispering voice in his mind had now become perfectly integrated with his own ambition.

"It's time for a strategic asset restructuring."

The Golden Commander whispered, a cold smile curving his lips.

In his view, the populations of those small countries are nothing more than "liquid assets" that can be readily converted into cash on the balance sheet, and even sacrificed for higher returns.

The command was issued with the highest level of encryption.

The iron-fisted forces of the Western Coast Empire, along with the newly formed "Chosen Ones" force composed of fanatical "Golden Believers," acted swiftly, sealing off all the borders of those small nations under the pretext of "providing permanent divine protection."

An invisible energy barrier and a physical blockade were established simultaneously, imprisoning millions of terrified and helpless people on the land they had lived on for generations, like livestock being raised for slaughter.

Meanwhile, an unprecedented project was launched under strict secrecy.

Countless metal stakes, engraved with twisted and blasphemous runes, were driven deep into the ground beneath the borders of these countries, and complex energy conduits spread like greedy veins, connecting every node.

The sky was gradually covered by a thin, ominous, pale golden energy film, which blocked out the sunlight and made even the daytime seem dark and oppressive.

A colossal alchemical array, vast enough to cover the territories of several countries, is quietly taking shape.

When everything was ready, Commander Krunp personally arrived at the core of the pre-designated alchemy array, located atop the highest peak in the former West Coast Empire.

He wore a golden canopy and a magnificent golden robe, like a god-king descending to earth.

Below lay a vast, desolate land shrouded in a magic circle, filled with death and despair.

Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his hands high, and the tree canopy burst forth with dazzling golden light, resonating with the massive alchemical array beneath his feet.

"In the name of gold, I offer you your humble existence, to forge eternal glory!"

His icy voice, amplified by the power of the tree canopy, echoed in every corner enveloped by the magic circle, like a pronouncement of final judgment.

The alchemy array has been activated.

The massive magic array patterns covering several countries instantly lit up, no longer a sacred gold, but a kind of viscous, scorching light like molten gold, carrying an aura of destruction!
The light descended from above, like a giant millstone, and began to crush and disintegrate everything within the magic array!
Buildings silently turned to dust in the golden light, and mountains and rivers were forcibly drained of their energy, becoming dry and cracked.

What is most chilling is the millions of imprisoned beings.

Before they could even scream, their bodies rapidly dissolved and vaporized in the golden light. Their life energy, their soul essence, and even the traces of their existence were forcibly extracted and stripped away by this cruel alchemical array, turning into streams of desperate, twisted, and visible milky-white energy that surged wildly toward the core of the array like rivers flowing into the sea.

At the summit where the Golden Ruler resided, or more precisely, at the greedy golden canopy above his head!
The tree canopy, like a bottomless pit, devoured the massive amount of life and soul essence. The golden light emanating from it grew stronger and more dazzling, even beginning to emanate a pressure that made one's soul tremble.

The tree canopy itself is also changing; it seems to have come alive, with tiny golden branches beginning to wriggle, grow, and extend.
Finally, when the last bit of life energy was completely devoured, the light of the alchemical array covering several countries reached its peak, and then suddenly contracted and collapsed inward!
boom! ! !
A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were splitting apart, did not originate from the material world, but directly shook all the souls that perceived this scene!

Behind Trump, a golden sapling of indescribable size burst from the ground and grew and expanded at an abnormal speed!

Its trunk is like a mountain range cast in gold, piercing straight into the sky!
Its root system seems to have penetrated the continental plates and reached deep into the core of the planet!

Its canopy spread outwards infinitely, its golden branches and leaves blocking out the sun, soon completely enveloping the original territory of the West Coast Empire, as well as the territories of those small countries that had just been sacrificed, in a shadow cast by it, carrying an aura of holiness and death!

This towering golden tree stands majestically, its leaves seemingly crafted from the purest gold, radiating a liquid glow.

It exudes an unparalleled and powerful energy fluctuation, while also radiating a cold, inhuman, and all-consuming will.

It stood there silently, overlooking the tiny planet beneath its feet and the only land in the distance that could still rival it—the land belonging to the Red Empire.

Standing atop the roots of the golden tree, King Krumper felt an immense power, as if he were one with the giant tree and could control everything, and let out a satisfied and maniacal laugh.

"Now...it's the East's turn."

"Has it started yet?"

The distant East.

The Reid Empire.

Li Zhongren was on the rooftop balcony of the palace, his gaze seemingly able to see through the planet, reaching the other side of the planet, where a golden canopy blocked out the sky.

He knew that the real showdown was about to begin.
(End of this chapter)