Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

"Then let's break through head-on and directly defeat this army."

“Alright, then I’ll leave it to you.” Alice replied indifferently, turning her head to look at Zheng Zha, who stood on the roof of another car with a gloomy expression—the conversation had undoubtedly been shared by Xiao Honglu with the other veterans of the Zhongzhou team through some channel. He didn’t seem very happy at the moment. When Alice’s gaze met his, he simply nodded casually to indicate that he was alright.

Was it because the newcomer died?

Alice didn't know, but her predictions were never far from the truth. And since Zheng Zha had no intention of talking, she naturally wouldn't waste her time.

The vehicles beneath her feet began to move. She casually created a rain shield around the three-car convoy carrying all the newcomers, main characters, and veterans—it wouldn't stop bullets, but it would effectively expand the drivers' field of vision. At the same time, it would slightly diminish the convoy's presence, preventing some busybody from 'coincidentally' noticing it and 'casually' snapping a photo to upload online.

The likelihood of this happening is very high; if we don't take precautions early, the chance of it happening is practically 100%.

If such bad luck were to actually happen, Zheng Zha and Xiao Honglu's brains would likely be burning for a long time. Especially Zheng Zha, whose poor brain cells would suffer even more. But... it doesn't matter.

Let them suffer through their headaches.

Alice thought to herself as she casually began weaving spells around her, creating shields, preparing magic, and activating pre-prepared items. Then, she waited for Zheng Zha and the others to begin their performance.

Because she simply didn't care about those few armored divisions. For her, dealing with tens of thousands of elite troops wasn't a particularly difficult task.

—They are nothing more than mortals who can be cursed to death by a single, widespread curse.

She had done it once before in the Transformers universe, using satellite networks and the computing power of the Great Library to unleash her Death Curse spell across the entire Earth. While the Great Library doesn't exist now, and satellite networks are less effective, the difficulty for her is actually not that different.

Creating a directional high-energy infrasound wave isn't difficult, at least not for Alice. In her understanding, these ordinary soldiers—without physical enhancements, without any physical modifications, and not even equipped with power armor, only wearing bulletproof vests—are actually not much different from weeds.

The denser the grass, the easier it is to cut.

The mortal armies of this world had never dealt with an enemy like her, and naturally, they weren't armed to the teeth, both physically and mentally, like the anti-mystical forces of outsiders. Since they lacked proper defenses, they were nothing more than easy prey under her magic.

She wasn't worried about losing at all. The reason she didn't intervene was simply to allow Zheng Zha and the others to demonstrate their abilities and earn captaincy. At worst, she could clean up the mess herself, and with defeat not yet apparent, she had no intention of breaking her promise to Zhang Jie.

There was only one thing she was truly worried about.

Why do the Vatican's ritual magic fail?

Just now, she had tried several ritual spells derived from papal mythology. Some succeeded, some failed, but without exception, all the ritual spells involving the concept of 'angels' failed. And this meant a terrible fact… a very terrible fact, far worse than those three armored divisions.

The principle of ritual magic is the application of idolatry. By imitating the behavior of heroes and gods in myths and epics, it draws magical power and transforms it into authority that only deities can possess. In other words, the essence of ritual magic is to deceive messages in space, making them believe that the caster is the hero or god himself, thereby directly simulating divine authority.

Alice tapped her head. She knew perfectly well that she wasn't one of those novice magicians—those clumsy fellows, if they wanted to invoke the power of Jesus in mythology, would have to wear a crown of thorns, be nailed to a cross, perhaps even find twelve people to replace the twelve apostles, and have a spearman stab them to successfully complete the ritual and cast the ritual magic. For her, all those complicated steps could be skipped. She only needed a few simple actions and a self-suggestive prayer to complete the spell.

This was the culmination of her own experience and talent, and she was quite proud of it. Under these circumstances, there was only one possibility that ritual magic could not be performed.

That means that angel truly exists in this world. And if all angelic ritual magic is unusable... then it means that the mythical heaven may very well be a real place.

The true kingdom of heaven, the true gods.

And they... might not simply watch the reincarnators of the Central Continent Team peacefully end this cycle of reincarnation.

Section 18 - Peeled Too Much

She should have understood my implication and has a general idea of ​​how complex this world can be.

This way, at least she'll be somewhat prepared for what's to come.

Qi Tengyi also stood on the roof of another car, controlling the tentacles that had transformed from semi-transparent to completely invisible to unknowingly destroy the small arrangements that the Grim Reapers had secretly made—arrangements that could not kill people but would slow down the convoy. At the same time, he pretended to be cautious and vigilant, looking around—even though he knew that there would be no enemies coming at this time.

He gently pressed the black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and an unusual sensation came from his fingertips—it wasn't human flesh, but something resembling wood or stone. Although he still looked human in appearance, to the witches who knew a great deal about such things, Qi Tengyi, concealed by his disguise, could hardly be considered human anymore.

However, their speculations and judgments could only go so far. Perhaps they thought Qi Tengyi had simply picked up the Seven Secret Chapters of the Mysterious Monarch, which had been cleared away by the main god, and was transforming his body and mind into something different in order to seek greater power and a longer lifespan. However, the truth... was far from what they imagined.

Qi Tengyi could no longer be considered human... not that he had become one of those indescribable anomalies, but that he... had transcended the concept represented by the word 'human'. At this moment, he... was becoming something.

—He knows too much.

It wasn't the kind of "knowing a lot of forbidden knowledge." In fact, what he observed had absolutely nothing to do with the ancient gods that Alice had so profoundly instructed him on—he saw things he could understand, but things he absolutely shouldn't have known. And these things would lead him to his death.

My body is about to give out; my life should end within the next few days.

[I wonder how many people will survive this time... Well, it makes sense, since what was originally a five-day survival story has become a twelve-day one, and the simple Final Destination universe has become a complex Apocalypse. And Zhang Jie, who should have used his guide privileges from the beginning to let the whole team survive this world unscathed, is now in his grave.]

In this fictional world, only one person will likely survive unscathed to the end... well, probably only one. No, maybe one and a half... or even one and a quarter. After all, I'm still stirring things up. Having caused such a huge mess, I have to find a way to give them a chance to live.

He looked up at the sky, his gaze seemingly piercing through the clouds to the Great Library in distant orbit. He knew Patchouli Knowledge was there, drawing massive amounts of high-energy rays from the sun to activate and power the robot army she had created in the world of Ju-on. And if all went well, she would descend after dawn and engage in a great war with the army of this world that would last for days.

However, this did nothing to change the outcome, because their enemy was never the governments of the various nations of this world from the very beginning.

Zhao Yingkong will soon return from the other side of the city, bringing back a high-ranking military officer. Miss Alice can extract some information about 'Apocalypse' from him through hypnosis. But that's not enough; he still knows too little. So I need to find a way to make him know more, at least to get the others out of this city and into Massachusetts, to reach that crucial city where they can understand 'Apocalypse'.

He thought to himself, and the invisible tentacles gently tapped a few times in the air. Then, subtle ripples spread out, crossing the city covered by the vast rain curtain and reaching another distant area—the battlefield where Zhao Yingkong was located. And it would soon take effect.

Alice, who was not far away, glanced at him with some doubt, but he just smiled casually and brushed the matter aside.

He quite admired Alice; at least as an 'outsider,' Alice truly belonged in the category of a good teacher and helpful friend. She didn't spend her days showing off and slapping others in the face, nor did she presumptuously try to 'reduce' the pain in others' hearts. Compared to the various overpowered and arrogant characters he'd seen in other storylines… she wasn't the best, but she was certainly among the better ones—well, that was a lie; her only advantage over Qi Tengyi was that she provided him with an opportunity to escape his foolishness.

Ah, yes, he saw it. He saw many different pasts and futures.

The origin is probably during the battle between gods and demons, when he controlled the burrowing demon insects and fought against Sesshouin Kiara—probably because their consciousnesses came into contact, his spirit was on the verge of destruction at that moment, but after being repaired by the main god, he gained an additional ability, an ability to observe his parallel world self.

No, it's not that simple. If it were merely an observation of parallel worlds, then at most he could see the experiences of many ordinary Qi Tengyis living quietly as ordinary people in their respective worlds. Because he knew very well that he was just an ordinary person, without great talent or a illustrious past life. Even if he accompanied the pure and untainted Central Continent Team to the very end, in the final battle he would only calculate the coordinates of a black hole, and then fade away like a mere cannon fodder.

What he saw should have been parallel multiverses—an ability he couldn't possibly possess. He shouldn't have seen these things, but he did. And it was precisely because of this that he came to know his true nature.

[I'm probably just a minor character in this story. An insignificant character, someone whose presence or absence wouldn't make much difference... even a bit part. The real protagonists are the Central Continent Team, and the protagonists among them are Zheng Zha and Chu Xuan, who will be resurrected later.]

[And from this main story, many variations have emerged. Some people who shouldn't exist have joined this team, and some ordinary, mediocre characters have suddenly become abnormal. But regardless, the main stage remains this God's Space, and this Central Continent Team. And this cyclical accumulation of experiences… is truly tiresome.]

I'm tired of knowing so many parallel histories.

That's why I decided to change all of this—the same old protagonist, the same old script, and the same old future are just too boring. Whether it's the future of the Central Continent Team that I'm about to experience, Fuxi and Nuwa hiding behind the main god and secretly controlling everything, or that 'human destiny resonance' plan created by those idiotic saints and cultivators, all of it annoys me immensely.

So— He glanced at Alice, and an inconspicuous little trinket slipped quietly from his sleeve and fell to the ground. It was quickly washed away by the heavy rain.

I'm so sorry.

Chapter Nineteen: The Dagger Revealed

Aside from entering the city, Xiao Honglu's strategy was largely sound. Immediately shifting positions after the American attack was indeed a correct choice. Just two kilometers from the villa, a long-range bombardment using shrapnel, rockets, and vehicle-mounted artillery bombarded the area, leaving the villa virtually barren.

And thus chaos ensued.

Tanks entering the city in the dead of night is one thing, and thunderstorms during torrential rain are another—Americans do have some experience in self-preservation. Knowing that going out in such extreme conditions is tantamount to suicide, even if television and the internet don't mention it at all, they will remain patient and not attempt to go out in such a stormy, dark night.

But the American people are not fools. When shells fell and the continuous flames illuminated half the sky, even the most composed person couldn't lie peacefully in bed.

They were afraid, they were terrified, they were lost, they were uneasy.

As various messages spread online, this sense of unease intensified.

'Tanks are driving on the street, and they're firing!' — A resident of the city typed tremblingly as he looked through the curtains at the street engulfed in flames and explosions.

'The army bombed the city! The fires can be seen even from the outskirts!' — Residents living on higher ground frantically typed on their keyboards.

'A virus has broken out! The country is determined to wipe everyone out! Just like Raccoon City in Resident Evil!' — A paranoid, ambitious maniac's frenzy, spreading chaotic information to every corner of the internet.

Within minutes, this chaotic mix of true and false information, riddled with alarmist claims, flooded every corner of the internet. Like red-hot iron rods, it relentlessly irritated the nerves of residents already paralyzed by fear and dread. Worse still, the government and its official online trolls, who should have been there to quell the unrest and restore order… remained completely silent.

Fear begets fear, and the accumulated fear then transforms into the will to survive. Coupled with the instigation and fanning of the flames by certain individuals—riots ensued.

People lost their sense of security, and those who lost their sense of security naturally wanted to find a safe place. They screamed, carrying a few valuables and disheveled clothes, rushing out of their homes. They ran to their private cars or company vehicles, fleeing frantically towards the outskirts of the city. Meanwhile, many more people without transportation braved the heavy rain to crowd onto the streets, trying their best to get away from the sounds of gunfire.

In just a few minutes, the once empty night streets were filled with chaos. People screamed, jostled, and stumbled forward in the torrential rain. Families were torn apart by the crowds, and those who were left behind were trampled by vehicles and people after falling, becoming bloody messes. The rainwater quickly turned crimson, then flowed into the ground through the drainpipes.

No, there's no underground anymore. The drainage pipes are completely blocked.

“These lunatics…” Xiao Honglu muttered, looking at the chaotic street. “We’re going to be stuck in this city!”

He couldn't simply run over the chaotic street. He couldn't, and even if he could, Zheng Zha wouldn't allow him to—even if Zheng Zha were ruthless enough, these vehicles wouldn't have the power to carve a bloody path through this terrain.

The escaping convoy wasn't surrounded by the rioters, but it was close. People screamed and rushed out of every tall building on both sides of the street, and the chaos caused by herd mentality quickly spread to a wider area.

The roads weren't completely blocked, but the city's exits were certainly sealed off. Under the threat of death, finding a place to hide was virtually impossible. The sky was filled with thunder and lightning; flying over would be certain death. Even constructing a Faraday cage as a defense would be futile; in this kind of storm, with death watching and conductors everywhere, such tricks were utterly ineffective.

Needless to say, the underground area was already clogged with heavy rainfall. Even if it wasn't completely full... the cramped underground space was extremely disadvantageous for the Central Continent Team, who needed to take care of the newcomers and the main characters of the story.

Should we abandon them? Abandon the newcomers, abandon the main characters. Then escaping this city will become incredibly easy. Even if refugees block the roads, it won't be difficult to escape the city by jumping between buildings.

However, such a thing would not happen in the Central Continent Team. Among the people who make up this team, only a few are capable of personally pushing innocent people to their deaths.

So, there's only one way left.

"Escape is impossible now. We have no choice but to break through that third armored division head-on. Prepare for battle, everyone. They'll find us soon!" Xiao Honglu jumped out of the vehicle and looked at Zhan Lan, who immediately gave him a positive answer.

"At nine o'clock, four kilometers away! There are at least three hundred tanks and various light and heavy armored vehicles! The number of infantry is close to ten thousand!"

"Damn it, there are more than I expected! But I have no choice but to grit my teeth and go for it!" Xiao Honglu rubbed his head hard. He had indeed recently devised a strategy of confronting the unavoidable enemy head-on. But times had changed. Although the difference in combat strength between the two sides had not changed much, the overall situation was different from before.

The entire city descended into chaos… To say they would descend into such chaos simply because of artillery fire and thunder would be to severely underestimate Xiao Honglu's intelligence. Undoubtedly, the government had played a crucial role… no, merely a pawn—the entire city's inhabitants were bait, and the army was undoubtedly bait as well. Such a heavy price in lives, property, and public opinion, all to trap this Reincarnation Squad within the city. Therefore, the methods the government would subsequently employ were easily predictable.

The city has been abandoned; everyone inside is destined to die. The reason the nuclear bomb wasn't dropped immediately was probably due to political factors and a sliver of hope for rescue. But once time reaches a certain point, the enemy will use every means at their disposal.

Firepower, biological and chemical gas, nuclear explosions… no matter what, this city will be razed to the ground. And if they are delayed long enough, their fate will be to perish along with the city.

We must take immediate action...

He suddenly turned his head to look at Alice.

Section 20: Transformation

[We've reached a very dangerous situation. If this drags on any longer, forget about captain's authority; whether we can even survive this cycle of reincarnation is a major question.]

About a minute before Xiao Honglu's gaze fell upon her, Alice had already adjusted her thought process to its maximum. She activated all her bodily functions, rapidly processing the information she had gathered from the current world.

First, we need to figure out... who are our friends and who are our enemies.

The US military has already taken action. Judging from the scale of their firepower and the incredibly timely rain clouds overhead, there's little room for negotiation between them and us. They, along with their Awakened Ones, are our enemies… However, they are merely a weapon; it is the hand wielding that weapon that must be dealt with.

She looked up at the sky, and in the clouds that obscured her view, a skull-like face seemed to be faintly visible.

...Visual errors caused by psychological effects.

I must determine the true nature of Death. Is it the embodiment of order, a real deity, or a group of alien beings I cannot observe? I must ascertain this; only then can I…

Her heart skipped a beat. A spell, etched deep within her bloodline long ago and triggered instinctively, quietly activated—not some powerful magic or sorcery, nor a trump card to turn the tide in a crucial moment.

It was merely a reminder, a device like an alarm clock. Its only function was to alert her when her thinking veered in the wrong direction.

—'You've lost control.'

Alice silently looked at her hands, those fair, slender hands that had been idle for far too long. These hands should have been used to build fortifications, craft tools, and weave strategies or spells to break through the impasse using her knowledge. Instead, they were left here waiting for things to unfold naturally, drifting along like a salted fish.

[...I'm really indecisive. Is it because Patchouli is right beside me?]