75: Chapter 75 The Courage of the Coward, Expansion
Meanwhile.
Great Xin Dynasty, Ghost Suppression Department Headquarters.
Mr. K watched the series of mobilization orders on the screen, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Quite a swift reaction..."
"Not only have they constructed a defensive line, but they're also taking the opportunity to expand their influence..."
"Gathering Believers... an Evil Buddha... intriguing! Truly intriguing!"
"Director!"
The members of the Think Tank beside him, however, were growing restless.
"He is openly expanding his power!"
"If he gathers all the surrounding survivors, won't Yanmang Province truly become his independent kingdom?"
"Shouldn't we do something?"
"Do what?"
Mr. K retorted.
"Dispatch troops to stop the fleeing civilians?"
"Or send someone to warn that 'True Buddha'?"
"This..."
The Think Tank Member was left speechless.
"Don't be foolish."
Mr. K shook his head.
"In times like these, whoever can ensure survival is justice."
"If we cannot offer those people protection, then we cannot blame the civilians for seeking shelter from that 'Ancient Buddha of Rebirth'."
"Moreover..."
His gaze grew profound.
"The greater the population, the greater the variables."
"When tens of millions of people gather in a narrow area, when more Taboo Rules and abnormalities revive..."
"Tell me... will those Taboo Rules and abnormalities set their sights on the sanctuary established by that 'Ancient Buddha of Rebirth'?"
...Somewhere in a Base City in the southern part of the Great Xin Dynasty.
It wasn't far from Yanmang Province and was also one of the areas potentially affected by the Beast Tide of the Strange.
At this moment.
The Base City was in utter chaos.
Countless survivors packed their belongings, dragging their families towards the city gates, desperate to flee this place about to turn into Hell.
And among the crowd.
Qin Yao stood atop a tall building, coldly observing everything.
His face was somewhat pale, but his eyes were exceptionally resolute.
"The Beast Tide of the Strange... I didn't expect it to come so quickly."
He tightly gripped a string of prayer beads in his hand, his mind constantly calculating and pondering.
As a Believer lurking within the Great Xin Dynasty, he had naturally also received Li Shanyuan's broadcast.
Furthermore, a long time ago, he had obtained some information about the 'Beast Tide of the Strange' from the Daxin Dynasty Government!
And... his location was less than five hundred kilometers from the border.
Once the defensive line fell, this place would bear the brunt of the attack.
"It seems I need to prepare on two fronts."
Qin Yao took a deep breath.
"On one hand, organize the Believers to evacuate north, back to Qinglong Prefecture."
"On the other hand..."
He looked towards the pitch-black night sky outside the city, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth... Meanwhile.
In another, more distant Base City within the Great Xin Dynasty.
Zhou Kai sat in a spacious, brightly lit office, holding a piece of intelligence that had just been delivered.
By now, he had successfully infiltrated and risen to the position of Director of the Ghost Suppression Department in this Base City.
Although it was only a medium-sized Base City, it still counted as being part of the local high command.
"The Beast Tide of the Strange..."
Zhou Kai looked at the contents of the intelligence, his hands trembling.
"Over three million Monstrous Beasts... how the Hell are we supposed to stop that?"
His first reaction was to run.
To take the Believers he had developed and run as far away as possible.
But... the thought of Lin Chuan holding firm in Qinglong Prefecture made him forcefully suppress this impulse.
"No..."
"If I run now, my standing in the Buddha's eyes will likely plummet drastically."
Thinking this, a flash of ruthlessness passed through Zhou Kai's eyes.
"Heroes emerge in troubled times."
"For the Buddha! For the millions of common people... even if calamity descends, I will bear it alone!!"
Zhou Kai abruptly stood up and pressed the red button on his desk.
"Issue my orders!"
"The entire city is under martial law!"
"All Ghost Controllers assemble!"
"Also... arrest all those who oppose me!"
"The reason? Just say they are... spies for a cult organization!"
...Qinglong Prefecture, southern border.
As time passed, that suffocating sense of oppression grew stronger and stronger.
On the horizon.
The black line had transformed into a towering, monstrous wave.
The ferocious faces of countless Monstrous Beasts were clearly visible.
"ROAR——!!!"
A deafening roar shook the heavens and earth.
The vanguard of the Beast Tide of the Strange had already charged up to the defensive line.
"KILL!!"
Xiao Hong gave the order.
Countless dazzling rays of rule-based light erupted from the defensive line.
A variety of abnormal abilities interwove, forming a barrier of death.
Tens of thousands of Monstrous Beasts charging at the front were instantly torn to shreds.
But the beasts behind seemed to feel no pain, trampling over their comrades' corpses to continue their frenzied charge.
And... what made people despair was that.
The corpses of those slain Monstrous Beasts were rapidly melting and reassembling.
Then... turning into new, even more powerful Monstrous Beasts!
[Taboo Rule: Replication!]
"Damn it! How can we ever kill them all?!"
A Ghost Controller responsible for defense shouted in despair.
"Shut up!"
Bai Ling decapitated a Monstrous Beast that had pounced on her, coldly shouting.
"We kill them even if we can't kill them all!"
"Behind us is Rebirth City! Your parents, wife, and children are also in the city!"
"If you don't want them to die, hold the line!"
"We have no way to retreat!!"
Just as the battle situation reached a stalemate.
"Ahem..."
An aged cough suddenly rang out on the battlefield.
Immediately after.
A terrifying, nearly S-rank rule fluctuation instantly swept across the entire field.
It was the Coughing Ghoul, controlled by Lin Chuan, making its move!
With just a light cough from him.
Tens of thousands of Monstrous Beasts ahead withered and fell to the ground as if their life force had been drained.
On another front.
"Wuu——!!!"
A mournful yet indifferent, strange cry suddenly resounded through heaven and earth.
The Fallen Heaven Resentful Spirit spread its wings and descended from the sky.
Wherever she passed, all the Monstrous Beasts went mad, beginning to fight and kill each other.
But the most terrifying was still the Weeping Blood Rakshasa.
Every time the blood-red Scale in its hand tilted, it would claim the lives of large swathes of Monstrous Beasts.
Those Monstrous Beasts killed by it wouldn't even leave corpses behind; they were directly devoured by the bloody light, becoming its nourishment.
With the addition of these two A-rank Abnormalities and one s-rank second order taboo.
The pressure on the defensive line immediately lessened.
But... the real crisis had only just begun.
Right at this moment.
Inside the [Buddha Kingdom in the Palm] space within the Rebirth Temple.
The book of omniscience, which had been imprisoned all along, suddenly began to tremble violently.
"Urgh..."
As if it had smelled something extremely foul, it made a retching sound.
"So foul... so foul!!"
"That smell... it's that thing!"
"That... thing that specializes in creating disasters and calamity!"
All the eyes on its cover opened wide, staring fixedly in the southern direction, filled with disgust and... fear.
"Boss! Be careful!"
"That thing... it's not merely S-rank eighth order!"
"Its true form..."
Before the book of omniscience could finish speaking.
BOOM!!!
A tremendous roar, as if the entire world had collapsed.
In the southern sky.
A gigantic, bizarre object composed of countless pitch-black rings slowly materialized.
It was like a massive black hole, devouring all light and vitality around it.
[ring of calamity]... has descended!