True Apocalypse Game

Shen Feng raised an eyebrow at that. He gave Ji Xin a careful look, then laughed and said,

"What ’True Apocalypse Game’? Old Ji, what are you talking about?"

Ji Xin gave Shen Feng a punch on the shoulder and pointed to his phone, which was playing the news.

"What’s with you, man? Don’t you watch the news at home? The whole world’s been turned upside down these last few days. They’re saying there’s some mysterious game called the ’True Apocalypse Game,’ and the people in it formed a Salvation Army that’s saved the world multiple times. Their leader is called the Commander, and he’s also known as the Savior."

"Hmph, Ji Xin, I think *you* look like a Savior," Wang Xiaoqin, who was sitting nearby, said, rolling her eyes at him. "How can you believe that kind of gossip? I heard it started with CNN. The rumors are getting more and more ridiculous these days, saying the Savior can fly and shoot lasers from his eyes. Aren’t they afraid DC will sue him for infringement?"

"Exactly! No wonder the President of Eagle Country calls CNN a fake news channel. It’s so damn fake. I read on an online encyclopedia that the Savior has been alive for twenty thousand years, that he’s a Neanderthal, kind of like in *This Man Comes from Earth*," chimed in Li Shuai, running over to join the conversation.

"That online encyclopedia is bullshit. WikiLeaks already said this is all part of the Eagle Country Government’s global soft power initiative. There’s no such thing as a ’True Apocalypse Game’ or a Savior—it’s all nonsense. The Eagle Country Government is just planning to eventually announce the Savior is one of the Eagle Country People, all as a form of cultural soft power."

"Hahaha, there are so many hilarious parody videos about it online today. It’s killing me."

The group of students all chattered at once, clearly up-to-date on the latest hot topic.

Ji Xin sighed and said to Shen Feng,

"It’s a shame it’s all fake. I have no idea who came up with this hoax, but it would be great if it were real. I’d want to join the Salvation Army, too... Walking the line between light and darkness, saving the world... that’s so damn cool."

Shen Feng smiled faintly and said,

"What’s so cool about it? You’re exhausted every day, your life is in danger, and you could get killed at any moment."

Ji Xin pouted. "I’m just talking big. If someone really asked me to save the world, I’d be scared to death. Besides, if it were really the end of the world, what good could one person possibly do? The whole thing sounds like a made-up story. I saw a post this morning that said this is all just viral marketing for Disney’s new movie, *Gate of Apocalypse*. Those bastards have no shame... Hey, Old Shen, have you gotten a lot paler?"

As he spoke, he reached out and pinched the back of Shen Feng’s hand in surprise. "How’d your skin get so smooth and fair after just a few days cooped up at home? I swear we used to be about the same tan, but now you’re several shades lighter than me!"

Shen Feng laughed heartily and said,

"You’d be pale too if you stayed inside more. Anyway, that’s enough messing around. Class is about to start. I really need to catch up on my lessons."

Just then, the bell for class rang. The students settled into their seats, and then their homeroom teacher, Old Li, walked in. He addressed the class, saying,

"Everyone, today we’ll be welcoming a new transfer student, Wei Xiaoqing. She’s Wei Miqing’s younger sister. Let’s have a round of applause to welcome her!"

As he spoke, Old Li wore a bewildered expression. ’He was extremely unhappy with the principal and the dean. ’Just dropping a transfer student into a senior class? It’s complete nonsense. It could easily disrupt the students’ focus.’

’Though, this transfer student really is beautiful. Practically a little Angel...’

Then, to the astonishment of the entire class, a stunningly beautiful girl in a school uniform walked in. She greeted everyone, then walked over to the empty seat beside Shen Feng and sat down.

"Holy shit, why is it Shen Feng again!"

"That animal! What is his connection to the Wei Family sisters?"

"Ahhhhh, if only she’d just say one word to me..."

"Why does she have to be so gorgeous? What are us normal girls supposed to do!"

"I’m in love... I’m in love!"

...

While the students were in an uproar, Shen Feng was sitting on a flight to Dubai at Jicheng Airport, wearing a pair of sunglasses.

His face, disguised by a Nanomechanical Cluster, was completely different from his true appearance, making him look like a slightly chubby, round-faced, middle-aged man.

He was watching the scenery outside while communicating mentally with Jingwei.

"Jingwei, are you sure Xiaomai and AlphaGo will be alright? Make sure they don’t cause any trouble."

Jingwei’s voice replied, sounding perfectly calm.

"Don’t worry. We’ll start with remote control, and when we’re too tied up, we’ll let those two take over. I’ve trained them for so long, their basic human reactions and responses are fine. Worst case, they can just feign sickness and go home. Besides, I made a deal with them, so there won’t be any problems."

Shen Feng couldn’t help but ask,

"What deal?"

Jingwei giggled. "We agreed that if either of them messes up, I’ll delete them when I get back."

Shen Feng raised an eyebrow.

’For now, this was the only way,’ he thought.

The whole point of creating the biological doppelganger was to have it attend school in his place and maintain his social presence.

If he simply "vanished" from his social network, there was no guarantee that the Whisperers or the Purification Society wouldn’t track down his real body.

After all, even with over a billion people in Hua Country, someone who suddenly disappears would stick out like a sore thumb in the society’s data stream if an interested party started searching.

His greatest trump card against the Whisperers was remaining in the shadows. If his identity were ever exposed, the consequences would be unthinkable.

He had to minimize that risk.

The main reason for having Jingwei use her Consciousness Antennae to pilot the doppelganger at school was to allow her to continue experiencing humanity.

Though it seemed like Jingwei’s idea, it was actually more of Shen Feng’s.

No matter what, Jingwei was an artificial intelligence, not a human. She was still under his control, so there wasn’t a problem for now. But if she ever truly broke free, it was hard to say whether that would be a good or bad thing for human civilization.

Comparatively, a more humanized superintelligence that felt empathy for human civilization was a much safer bet.

ROAR— The plane’s engines thundered. After taxiing down the runway, it soared into the air, broke through the clouds, and headed toward the Middle East.

Shen Feng closed his eyes to rest. His Consciousness Antennae withdrew from the biological doppelganger’s electronic brain, handing over control to the upgraded artificial intelligence, AlphaGo.

While these AIs were nowhere near as powerful as Jingwei, they had been upgraded. Combined with a database Shen Feng had built based on his own speech patterns and personality, they were just barely capable of handling daily life.

The main purpose of this trip was to go on the offensive and strike at the Purification Society.

Come to think of it, the Salvation Army and the Purification Society had already clashed several times, trading blows back and forth.

Until now, Shen Feng and the Salvation Army he led had always been on the defensive. This time, he planned to take the initiative.

And he would be doing it personally!

...

Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE.

Located in the center of the Middle East Region, Dubai is a flat, desert expanse facing the Persian Gulf. It has an area of approximately 4,114 square kilometers.

It is the economic and financial hub of the Middle East Region, as well as a major transport hub for passengers and cargo.

Oil revenue spurred Dubai’s early development, but due to limited reserves and low production levels, the oil industry has accounted for less than 5% of Dubai’s GDP since 2010.

After oil, Dubai’s economy has come to rely mainly on tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services.

When one thinks of Dubai, the iconic landmark that comes to mind is the Burj Al Arab Hotel. Due to its sail-like shape, it is also known as the Dubai Sailboat Hotel.

The hotel is built on an artificial island in the Persian Gulf, 280 meters from the shore, and is renowned for its splendor and unparalleled luxury.

At this moment, in a suite in the Dubai Hotel, Kavan, the current leader of the Assassin Sect, was sitting cross-legged before the floor-to-ceiling windows. He gazed out at the lights and waves of the Persian Gulf, his expression calm, yet a profound light flickered deep within his eyes.

After leaving Syria, he had first traveled to Kuwait with his men. Then, using his own channels, he had acquired a new identity and, following the Commander’s instructions, made his way to the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.

Beside him rested an "Other Shore" virtual reality headset, lying as still and silent as a warrior’s sword.

Over the last few days, he had already played through the three apocalyptic missions of the "True Apocalypse Game," experiencing each one in great detail.

The more he perceived the intricate details within these games and the brilliance of humanity they revealed, the more Kavan’s admiration for the Commander grew.

’Only someone with true compassion for the world, someone filled with a profound love for human civilization, could create such a game.’

He had even begun to suspect that these so-called "game missions" might be worlds the Commander had actually experienced in the past. They simply felt too real!

Just thinking about the perils of the Gray Tide apocalypse and the near-infinite deaths, Kavan found it impossible to imagine how the Commander could have possibly completed the mission if all of it had been real.

It was now midnight. Everything outside seemed distant and quiet, inviting endless contemplation.

Just then, a respectful voice spoke from behind him.

"My lord, everything is ready."

Kavan nodded and looked behind him. A group of people were bustling about—all core members of the Assassin Sect.

The suite’s living room had been converted into a makeshift operating room, complete with a surgical bed, extra lighting and audio equipment, and various medical instruments.

There was even a cranial saw and drill.

On the surgical bed, a sleeping man lay bound and unconscious.

It was his captive: Ivanovic, the head of the Purification Society’s Middle East Region.

Just a few hours earlier, Kavan had received a message via the "True Apocalypse Game" instructing him to prepare such a venue. He had immediately ordered his subordinates to make it happen.

It wasn’t a particularly difficult task. Many of the killers in the Assassin Sect were also doctors well-versed in human anatomy.

Though Kavan appeared calm, his heart was racing with excitement.

’With arrangements like these, could it be... is the Commander coming in person?’

It was precisely for this reason that over a hundred members of the Assassin Sect were currently stationed around the Dubai Hotel, forming a tight security perimeter.

’If the Commander is truly coming, his safety is paramount!’

Just then, two knocks suddenly sounded at the door.

KNOCK KNOCK...