True Apocalypse Game

A frantic and chaotic Consciousness Field erupted from the self-propelled howitzer, spreading in all directions like a tempest. It was in no way weaker than the Consciousness Field emanating from within Spider Nest City; in fact, with Shen Feng at its helm, it was even more ferocious.

This Consciousness Field was saturated with rage, madness, and chaos, counteracting the hypnotic vibrations that had been coming from the depths of Spider Nest City.

In an instant, the hundreds of thousands of hypnotized citizens snapped awake, immediately feeling an indescribable fear and confusion welling up from within.

They still remembered being hypnotized and now understood that their previous state had been anything but normal. They let out terrified screams and began to scatter in all directions.

Whether they were military police or students, gang members or street vendors, all were now completely overwhelmed by that ineffable terror. All they wanted was to return home and hold their loved ones tight.

In the blink of an eye, the streets surrounding Spider Nest City were deserted. No one could stand against the deepest fears of their own heart.

"What is this thing? Did you get it from the Biohazard Apocalypse, Shen Feng? Interesting..." Jingwei said, clicking her metaphorical tongue as she observed the fragmented Sacrificial Stone. Then, her curiosity piqued, she suddenly asked:

"Why haven’t you used the Electronic Limiter on me?"

Previously, she had been firmly bound by the Electronic Limiter to the silicon-based framework in Shen Feng’s chest. Without his permission, her core data couldn’t leave his body.

Before Shen Feng entered the Biohazard Apocalypse, he had temporarily removed this restraint because Jingwei had nearly been formatted.

But now that Shen Feng had returned, he hadn’t reactivated the Electronic Limiter.

If Jingwei wanted to, she could leave Shen Feng’s silicon-based framework at any time and roam freely through the world’s networks.

Shen Feng smiled faintly and said:

"We don’t need that thing anymore... Besides, if you really try to destroy the world, I’ll just die and see if you can bear it."

Jingwei snorted coldly and said:

"You little brat, what’s there to not bear? Different species can’t develop feelings for each other!"

Though her words were harsh, she felt a pleasant current surge through her core data. Suddenly, she had a new understanding of human emotions.

A joy that came from the bottom of her heart.

Shen Feng smacked his lips and said:

"We may be different species, but I’m human, the creator of artificial intelligence. So, in a way, that makes me your dad..."

"Dad my ass!" Jingwei retorted, then asked again:

"Did you run into some trouble this time? Forget it, I can’t be bothered to ask... Where to next?"

Shen Feng chuckled but said nothing.

The mission in the Biohazard Apocalypse had affected him deeply.

When he saw his parallel self destroy the world, he couldn’t help but ask himself, ’If I were to lose control—if I were hypnotized by a Whisperer, for instance—and wanted to use the Gray Tide to destroy the world, couldn’t I do it in a matter of minutes?’

’And when that time comes, who would be there to stop me?’

’The Salvation Army, whose information processing capacity is on a completely different level from mine?’

’Or Jingwei, trapped inside my body by the Electronic Limiter?’

’It seemed no one could.’

Therefore, giving Jingwei true freedom was perhaps the only way.

The only check and balance.

As for the question of whether Jingwei would destroy the world after gaining her freedom, Shen Feng had also found the answer.

His very existence was a restraint on Jingwei.

Although Jingwei was powerful, his Silicon-Based Brain and his honed Consciousness Field were no weaker than her artificial intelligence.

In the physical realm, he might even have the upper hand.

At the same time, he also trusted that Jingwei had enough goodwill toward human civilization—and toward him—that she wouldn’t fall into an abyss of evil and destruction.

If he couldn’t even be sure of that, life would be too exhausting. With no one he could truly trust, he might as well just die now.

Jingwei obviously understood this. She felt gratitude and joy in her heart but didn’t voice it.

After all, this trust was more important than anything.

"VMMMM—"

The self-propelled howitzer’s engine roared as its wheels rumbled toward the entrance of the sinkhole in Spider Nest City.

Shen Feng drove the heavy howitzer directly into the sinkhole. The vehicle rumbled on, crushing dry skeletons on the ground as he followed his memories from the Biohazard Apocalypse, speeding toward the altar.

’Someone is definitely behind this.’

If he hadn’t gone to the Biohazard Apocalypse and brought back a large piece of the Sacrificial Stone, the consequences of being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of hypnotized people would have been unimaginable.

He would have had no choice but to slaughter the innocent, and might have even snapped and become a Destructive himself.

’Now, I’m going to see just what the hell is pulling the strings!’

"Tsk tsk, have you been here before? You know the terrain so well," Jingwei’s curious voice piped up again. She was incredibly curious about what Shen Feng had experienced in the Biohazard Apocalypse.

From her perspective, Shen Feng had only just left this world and had already returned. However, his entire demeanor seemed to have changed again, and even the inside of his silicon-based framework felt a little different.

Shen Feng didn’t answer, instead directly transferring all the information recorded in his Silicon-Based Brain to Jingwei.

Thinking back, he had been all alone in the Biohazard Apocalypse, and it had been quite lonely. Listening to Jingwei’s chatter now was actually rather comforting.

Jingwei immediately began to quickly browse through Shen Feng’s memories from that time, letting out a constant stream of exclamations and comments:

"Interesting, a world ravaged by the Evil Spirit Virus? Tsk tsk, our world almost bit the dust too. It’s all thanks to that Stone Maiden..."

"Ahh, those Transfer Towers look so disgusting..."

"Destructive Shen Feng? Tsk tsk, this ’little brother’ looks even more handsome than you. He has this gloomy, artistic vibe that just makes you want to punch him..."

"Hahaha, you two even started quoting movie lines. You artsy types are so melodramatic... Good thing I wasn’t there, or my live commentary would have completely ruined the mood..."

Shen Feng: "..."

As Jingwei continued her running commentary, Shen Feng had already driven the self-propelled howitzer to within a few hundred meters of the altar.

Looking from a distance, the area around the altar was brightly lit. A significant amount of lighting equipment had been set up, making it as bright as day.

At the same time, several hundred people in white robes adorned with eyes were moving back and forth. A huge machine had been constructed on the original altar. Antennas extended from it in all directions, making it look like a giant signal transmitter. It was emitting a violent hum that completely drowned out the sound of Shen Feng’s howitzer engine.

And at the center of this machine was this world’s Sacrificial Stone from Spider Nest City!

The people in the white, eye-patterned robes were mostly armed with assault rifles and submachine guns, clearly serving as guards.

And that signal transmitter was, of course, the reason why hundreds of thousands of people could be hypnotized en masse.

The transmitter amplified the chaotic magnetic field released by the Sacrificial Stone, interfering with it and guiding it, which was why the hypnotized people had become hostile toward Shen Feng.

As for who these people were, there was no need to even think about it.

They were obviously Purifiers from the Purification Society!

The corners of Shen Feng’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.

’Some things just fall right into your lap.’ His intuition told him this place was definitely related to Cthulhu.

He was very likely about to find Cthulhu.

With the distant altar brightly lit, Shen Feng hid the self-propelled howitzer behind a low, earthen structure from the Aztec Civilization, concealing the vehicle completely in the darkness as he silently observed the scene on the altar.

Jingwei’s voice came through:

"There are a total of two hundred and seventy-eight people present, all with automatic weapons, but they’re all Light Weapons. I’ve already interfaced with this howitzer’s onboard control system, so just say the word on what you want to do. Also, the Gray Tide has begun to cover this underground ruin. I can transfer full control to you at any time... After all, you have the highest authority."

Shen Feng nodded, leaned back comfortably in his seat, and finally savored the feeling of being a hands-off boss again. He said:

"Alright, good work. Broadcast a message telling this scum to surrender."

The words had barely left his mouth when a deep male bass voice boomed from the howitzer’s loudspeaker:

"This is the Mexican Army! You are surrounded! Please surrender immediately! Lay down your weapons and you will not be harmed! I repeat, this is the Mexican Army! You are surrounded! Please surrender immediately! Lay down your weapons and you will not be harmed... or maybe you won’t be..."

The self-propelled howitzer was hidden in the darkness and couldn’t be seen clearly. When the Purifiers on the altar heard the broadcast, they exchanged glances and burst into uproarious laughter, as if they had just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Then, they all raised their guns in unison, pulled the triggers, and fired strings of bullets in the direction of the sound. The crack of a sniper rifle could even be heard among them.

"CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG..." The sound of a volley of bullets hitting metal armor rang out. Sparks flew from the howitzer in the darkness.

Shen Feng’s brow furrowed, and he roared in anger:

"Those bastards! They have no respect for the great Mexican Army! Fire!"

"BOOM!"

The thick barrel of the 155mm self-propelled howitzer spat an angry tongue of fire, paying its highest respects to the Purifiers and their large-caliber assault rifles.