American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

"I presume I need to elaborate on the task at hand. Please collect your tools."

The fresh, yellowish-white cedar wood exudes a pleasant fragrance, and a two-meter-long ancient Roman-style spear lies quietly in a velvet lining.

Unlike the common shapes found in museums, it has two separate, side-by-side sharp blades, resembling a snake's tongue. Black and red rust and mottled marks cover its entire body, telling the story of the ancient years it has lived through.

The young man slowly placed his hand on the spear; wherever he touched, the rust quickly peeled away, revealing a fiery red sheen.

—That was the taste of war and destruction, of life and death.

Feeling the surging spiritual power like the ocean, Alex smiled sarcastically:

"Whoever wields this gun is the king within 120 feet, and can even control the fate of the world, but..." He grinned, his white canine teeth gleaming.

"Even Hollywood couldn't come up with such an absurd plot as having a vampire use such a sacred object!"

"For an official employee, the federal government is the only god; but for a researcher, everything can be analyzed, and there is no distinction between good and evil, right and wrong."

The middle-aged man's calm demeanor concealed an underlying arrogance, a confidence born from his dedication to this place. Even if those things... exist, they are merely materials under my microscope!

"I eagerly await your return with your research subject, which embodies divinity and eternity. I can't wait to unravel its mysteries!" His tone was tinged with a cold fervor.

"Tsk, we still have plenty of time. Since we're here, may I have the honor of taking a look around?" Alex said lightly, his gaze fixed on the magnificent scenery in the distance.

In response to his polite request, the middle-aged man calmly raised his large, calloused hand. "I'm very sorry, but according to regulations, you are not authorized to enter the [Forest Villa]. Our experimental work is quite demanding, so we won't engage in further conversation with you."

Despite being cleanly and decisively rejected, and even being forcibly kicked out, the once arrogant vampire king maintained his composure and offered no argument.

Having left the base built in another dimension, he vanished without a trace the instant he returned to the mountains and forests.

"This thing is definitely not the Spear of Longinus."

A heavy shadow moved through the clouds, and in the mind of the flying Alex, a strange voice quietly arose.

"Of course I know. If it were the real thing, I would have been vaporized by the holy light long ago."

The young man standing at the top of the dark creature sequence chuckled coldly.

"As a divine object representing dominion and conquest, the Holy Lance is extremely lenient in its application regarding the user's faith and even their affiliation. Historically, even the pagan emperors of the Roman Empire could unleash a small amount of its power, but that does not mean it would show mercy to non-humans."

He savored the sacred feeling within the spear, a feeling of pioneering, conquering, and creating everything.

"This is probably a pseudo-divine artifact they created using their so-called ultimate resources. Its energy level is high enough that even if I were to take a direct hit from it, I would likely perish on the spot."

"In short, you've successfully located the approximate location of the [Forest Villa]. You've done an excellent job." The strange voice chuckled.

"Now you go and complete the task they assigned you. Let us properly appreciate the power of the pseudo-holy lance and try to uncover the true nature of the Federation's trump card!"

Chapter 407 Silent Hill 1

West Virginia is geographically part of the Northeastern Region of the Union. The entire territory is located in the Alabachian Mountains, characterized by high mountains, deep valleys, and dense karst topography, hence its nickname "Mountain State".

The ancient mountain range, formed by tectonic plate collisions over millions of years, is like a vast treasure trove, contributing abundant mineral resources to the state. Reserves of oil, natural gas, clay, limestone, and other resources are all quite substantial.

But if we were to pick out the most well-known specialty from among them, it would undoubtedly be coal mines.

This area has a long history of coal mining, with the highest output in the country, and is an important location in the history of federal development.

During the pioneering era, trains laden with "black wealth" departed, acting as the arteries of the national economy, continuously supplying the vital lifeblood of the Industrial Revolution to factories across the states. This energy transformed into blazing, brilliant flames within the factories, illuminating the glorious path that laid the foundation for the superpower's dominance.

Once upon a time, local residents could look down on San Francisco on the West Coast with a sense of pride—gold, though precious, was rare and its mining was finite; black gold, though cheap, was plentiful and could guarantee generations of wealth.

However, the changes in science and technology often exceed human cognition.

The viscous liquid from beneath the earth gushed out from the drilling platform, replacing its close relative and ushering the world into a new era, while ruthlessly leaving coal and steam engines behind in the annals of history.

People gather because of wealth, and disperse because of wealth. People gradually move away, and many towns gradually fall into disrepair... However, this town in front of us is not included.

Its decline had other causes.

A small town is nestled alone among steep, dark green mountains. The bright morning sun shines through the clouds, generously showering light and heat on every corner, but is firmly rejected by some inexplicable gloom.

The empty buildings mostly retain the style of the mid-20th century, with orderly residences and public facilities, and well-organized roads, telling the story of past prosperity.

As the sun rises higher, it seems as if moist vapor is rising, turning into a thin white mist that covers the view, creating a hazy, mirage-like scene.

To those watching from the mountaintop several kilometers away, this dreamlike and tranquil scene appears to be nothing short of a dangerous and desolate place.

"This is a scene straight out of a nightmare..." the elderly patriarch sighed, leaning on his cane.

Dozens of people dressed in various styles stood silently beside him, their eyes revealing the same worry.

After analysis by relevant experts, the authorities were well aware of the severity of the consequences of this interdimensional invasion. With all their might, they assembled an unprecedented force, including almost all the well-known supernatural organizations within the Federation.

As highly skilled industry elites, their keen eyesight allows them to see through the disguise and discern the indescribable, eerie power.

"If the Holy City has any concerns, we are willing to help." A calm voice took over the conversation.

The person who spoke was an elderly pastor with white hair and beard. Unlike the Catholic clergy who wore round hats and colorful, ornate robes, he and the clergy behind him were simply dressed in plain black suits without much decoration, at most holding Bibles and water bottles.

Anyone with basic religious knowledge can tell from the difference in their clothing that the latter is a high-ranking member of the Presbyterian Church, the Evangelical Fellowship, or other major branches of Protestantism in the New World.

Upon hearing this self-recommendation, which clearly carried an implied meaning, the over-ninety-year-old Rupert simply smiled faintly.

"There is no need for you to worry. Even though the world changes, the church has never backed down in the face of evil. We will take the lead in paving the way."

He coughed lightly and waved his chestnut cane. "Servants of the Lord, the time for devout offerings has come, and all defilement will surely be swept away!"

Hundreds of believers, dressed in simple greyish-white monk robes and linen belts, emerged from the woods at the foot of the mountain at his call. Their faces were solemn, and their eyes shone with determination.

"The Lord Almighty will protect them; they will devour their enemies and trample stones underfoot. They will drink blood and shout as if drinking wine; they will be like bowls full of blood, and like the four corners of a jar, filled with blood!"

"On that day I will wipe away the name of idols from the earth, and they will be remembered no more. I will also make the earth devoid of false prophets and unclean spirits," says the Lord God, the Lord of hosts.

Singing sacred songs in perfect unison, they leaped down the rugged mountain rocks with fervent eyes. The ethereal wings on their shoulders shimmered with crystal-like light, and they landed on the ground as lightly as goose feathers, their square formation perfectly intact.

Acceleration, immense strength, energy absorption, protection against evil... various blessing-like divine spells rose and fell, released in an orderly sequence.

Those with burly builds and expertise in melee combat stepped forward, while those with slender builds and expertise in spellcasting retreated, forming combat groups in an instant according to their class coordination.

The Arbiters' Legion, which once conquered Europe and eradicated numerous heretics and dark forces, has reappeared in the world in the blink of an eye.

This time, however, the enchanted swords and bows they carried had been replaced with Colt 1943 revolvers, and the steel chainmail linings had been replaced with lightweight ceramic bulletproof vests. Only the small cross emblems on the cuffs remained bright red.

The classic long gun barrel is etched with alchemical runes, and the embedded holy silver alloy patterns float with a soft white light, adding a touch of solemnity to the cold murder weapon.

Even if they are deeply devoted to their faith, how could God's servants be so rigid and inflexible? The combination of modern science and mysterious magic gives them a chillingly ruthless killing intent that resonates throughout their actions, making all the onlookers wary.

Perhaps a few top-tier large organizations could also field the same number of officially recognized superhumans, but none could match the disciplined and selfless military style of the orthodox religion.

"That rumor really is true..." Similar thoughts were running through their minds at the same time.

These days, there are no absolute secrets. Now that the incident has been exposed, everyone knows more or less the inside story.

They may not have the guts to snatch food from a tiger's mouth, but they're certainly full of the desire to fish in troubled waters.

"Your Excellency Patriarch is too kind. As brothers who share the glory of the Lord, how can we let our fellow believers face danger alone?"

The Protestant elders exchanged glances, responding with feigned humility but burning passion.

The Holy Mark of the Cross is a treasure that others can only use to exchange for benefits, but they can use it seamlessly. Who would complain about having too many powerful people in their own ranks?

"We are justified by faith. Jesus bore all our sins..."

As the heavy bronze handbell rang, a clear and melodious metallic chime emanated from it, while pages of yellowed parchment scriptures floated and swirled around it.

Similar to, yet subtly different from, the aura of refraction and resonance, encompassing both offense and defense, enveloped the exorcist priests. Furthermore, thirty to forty skilled warriors of knight rank or higher guarded the area, wielding various magical artifacts to enhance the formation's power. Although lacking the imposing presence of its rivals, their combat strength was still considerable.

Seeing that the two rivals were about to clash, the other forces quietly distanced themselves and began to employ various tactics.

The golems, suspended by riveted steel plates, trudged heavily, with giant fire elementals leading the way, and continued along the mountain road.

Remember what I told you...

A subtle telepathic message rang in Zhu Mingyao's mind. He gave a barely perceptible nod to the several chamber of commerce directors and followed along, mingling with a group of guardian spirits and deities.

Chapter 408 Beginning

An old, winding road snakes around the mountain. The road administration department has not maintained the trees and vegetation on both sides for who knows how long. The bulging roots have squeezed the edges of the road, making them loose and cracked. Cement blocks mixed with asphalt slag are scattered all over the ground, black and white, like broken bones in the mud.

At the end of the road, a rusty iron bridge spans a deep ravine, stretching towards the town on the mountainside.

Blood-red characters were scribbled wildly on the Ming Emperor's proclamation board, with the strokes stretched to their maximum size as if afraid they wouldn't be clear enough, conveying a strong sense of warning.

"The underground coal mine is still burning, and the concentration of carbon monoxide gas is far beyond the lethal threshold. The area ahead is permanently closed. Anyone who enters without authorization will bear all legal responsibilities!"

West Virginia State Government, December 9, 1971

However, such harsh words did not seem to have any effect – the two barbed wire gates collapsed at the bridgehead, and judging from the dents, it seemed that someone had recently driven in and broken in.

And today, this place has welcomed new visitors.

"what happened?"

Zhu Mingyao turned around in surprise. He had only taken one step in, but the scenery had changed dramatically.

The blue sky and white clouds seemed to vanish silently at that moment. Iron-gray clouds, like a heavy curtain on a stage, completely blocked out the sky and sunlight, leaving no gaps.

A strong, acrid smell filled the air, and a thick, persistent layer of dust and haze floated by, blurring the boundary between heaven and earth. Everywhere one looked, there was only a vast expanse of chaos and haze, making it difficult to discern directions.

The iron bridge behind them had also vanished without a trace, replaced by a deep and unfathomable abyss, as if the town and the mountain it was on had been isolated from the real world, leaving people with no way to go to heaven or to go to hell.

However, what surprised him was not this. "This is still a town? It's practically a metropolis!"

Zhu Mingyao had anticipated the changes in environment and terrain based on his experience watching movies in his previous life.

But the buildings and streets that stretch along the mountainside in the distance are clearly dozens of times larger than the original story. As far as the eye can see, the buildings are numerous and boundless. Even New York, the number one metropolis in the Federation, is no more than this.

Compared to this seemingly vast and powerful alliance of extraordinary beings, it was but a drop in the ocean.

"This doesn't match the information we received, does it?"

The vice president of the Warlocks' House, an elderly male wizard with gray hair, frowned and said that during the preparation time in the past few days, everyone had not been waiting idly. They had used all kinds of investigation methods. However, the intelligence showed that although this space had undergone an anomaly and distortion, and was much larger than the outside world, it was not to such an exaggerated extent.

"Having devoured the souls of tens of thousands of innocent people, that demon was digesting itself a few days ago, and now its power is even greater than before." Father Antoine, the person in charge of this operation, stepped forward from the Catholic Arbitrators' formation.

With his burly build and scarred face, he looked more like a boxer than a priest, he explained coldly.

“The surrounding space is being eroded and transformed by the power of hell every moment. The longer we delay, the more complicated things will become. I suggest forming several teams to explore separately to speed things up. Once the target is found, call for support immediately.”

As Antoine spoke, he ordered his men to take out a large number of crystal amulets with added communication spells and distribute them to the expeditionary force, displaying his immense wealth.

"I'm sorry, isn't that too dangerous? Our meager strength is no match for that of you holy servants. I'm afraid we won't be able to withstand the ferocity of the target demon."

The leaders of several small and medium-sized organizations subtly voiced their objections. They were only there for the promised high rewards from the authorities and would simply stand aside and offer empty encouragement. They had no intention of sacrificing themselves to subdue the demons and approaching the core boss.