Chapter 100: The True Main Villain

Lei Yao’s private Sanctuary was built on a cliff, with the Main City Kaijistan visible in the distance.

He had chosen this location for his Sanctuary precisely because it was strategically advantageous—allowing him to constantly monitor the movements within the Main City and, at the critical moment, descend upon it to seize control.

Now, that critical moment was approaching.

“We are going to occupy Kaijistan,” Lei Yao stood up, looking down at the Main City Kaijistan not far away.

As soon as these words were spoken, the advisors in Lei Yao’s private Sanctuary all showed expressions of shock.

Main City Kaijistan was the stronghold of the Civilian Players, currently gathering over 3,000 players, while the Official Players had less than 1,000 troops.

One advisor player asked, “During the Hell Tide, every Official Player must defend the Sanctuary. Moreover, we have two Sanctuaries to protect. How can we possibly occupy Kaijistan?”

The advisor’s implication was clear: if they could barely protect themselves, how could they seize someone else’s territory?

Lei Yao calmly and indifferently watched the bustling players in the Main City and said, “Sanctuaries are easier to defend than the Main City, and the players inside are more likely to survive.

When the time comes, we will open our Sanctuary, and naturally, people from the Main City will come to help us defend it.

As the Main City loses people and we gain more, the balance will shift. Once the Main City’s strength is sufficiently depleted, we will send our troops to occupy it.”

Lei Yao did not regard the lives of players as lives. His plan would worsen the Main City’s defenses, and this self-serving behavior left the advisors in silence.

By then, one or two thousand people would likely die. Worse still, the Altar of Heavenly Father Inarius in the Main City might be destroyed by Demons and Aberrant Beasts, allowing Monsters to break through the barriers and spread the Hell Tide into the Real World.

An advisor with a slight sense of justice asked, “General Lei Yao, what benefit do we gain from occupying the Main City? We already have two Sanctuaries. If we continue to develop steadily, we will undoubtedly become the strongest Power Faction on the Crimson Earth.”

Ye Feixuan immediately stepped forward and rebuked, “Do not question General Lei Yao’s decisions.”

Several advisors immediately lost their desire to speak.

Lei Yao turned around and looked at everyone. “Feel free to voice your opinions. Even an Emperor must listen to the advice of his ministers, and I have no intention of becoming the Emperor of the Crimson Earth.”

Only then did Ye Feixuan calm down.

The advisor from earlier asked, “Then why are you doing this, General Lei Yao? This will cause the deaths of many people.”

There was an unwritten rule among Beta Tester Players: during the Hell Tide, they would close their Sanctuaries to prevent outside players from entering. The purpose was to ensure these players did not desert but stayed to defend the Main City.

As for the Sanctuaries, they functioned like satellite cities of the Main City, serving as watchtowers to monitor and share the pressure of Monster attacks on the Main City.

Lei Yao’s plan to open his Sanctuary and provide refuge for outside players was essentially undermining the defenses of Main City Kaijistan.

It might even be considered acting as a “Human Traitor.”

That was why every advisor wanted to speak up and stop him.

Lei Yao sat down, his tone shifting from calm to sharp and resolute. With a piercing gaze, he said solemnly and emphatically, “These so-called self-governing and cooperative Civilian Players are the ones who will doom everyone on this planet.”

His words instantly stunned everyone in the secret chamber, even Ye Feixuan was shocked by Lei Yao.

Ambition, ruthless ambition, an immense ambition—Lei Yao didn’t just want to be an emperor; he aimed to become a ruler of an even higher level.

Lei Yao did not approve of the Civilian Players’ childlike, self-governing playstyle. Such a model could never withstand powerful enemies.

To truly resist the invasion of the Hell Tide, it was necessary to enter Martial Law Mode, where everyone must obey orders.

What Lei Yao had been doing, and continued to do, was precisely this: annexing Civilian Player Factions, defeating the Official Players, and forging his own path.

Lei Yao’s ideal was to use his Martial Law Mode to resist the Hell Tide, even to reverse its advance, leading all Players in a counteroffensive against the Aberrant Beast Demons, thoroughly cleansing the Crimson Earth.

His ideal, his path, could be summarized in eight words: “Military Control of Players, Saving Humanity.”

That was why he always insisted on being addressed as “General”—to prepare everyone mentally in advance.

Indeed, although Lei Yao was the top figure in the Official Camp, he never gained the trust of the old-timers in the official ranks.

The old-timers only cared about their own interests. The second Sanctuary was confiscated, and another Bai Zhan was propped up to counterbalance him.

Lei Yao had also been biding his time. If the old-timers wanted to take benefits from him, they could take whatever they wanted—Legendary Weapons and Armor he obtained were freely given away.

Even the usage rights of the most important Sanctuary could be transferred to another Official Player they supported.

Lei Yao had been quietly clearing maps, leading his core members and direct Troops to level up and acquire equipment.

He had sacrificed so much, given so much, all while waiting for the right moment to realize his ideal and save humanity in his own way.

He did not approve of the free, self-governing playstyle, believing it would be shattered in an instant by the powerful, frenzied, and reckless Aberrant Beast Demons.

Only military control could save the World.

There were no fools in the secret chamber. After hearing Lei Yao’s words, they strongly agreed and immediately expressed their support.

One person thought to himself, Exactly, only iron-fisted management of these undisciplined Players is the way. Only this method can truly save the World.

“I pledge my life to follow the General!” Ye Feixuan stood up fervently and shouted.

“I pledge my life to follow the General!” the other five staff officers echoed in unison.

Afterward, Lei Yao discussed the follow-up plans in detail with his staff officers.

It wasn’t until late at night that Lei Yao finally asked about Kamiyu.

“What’s the situation with the 13th Beta Tester?” Lei Yao asked Ye Feixuan.

“Not worth mentioning,” Ye Feixuan replied succinctly with four words.

“But hasn’t she been clearing the Valley of the Deathly Echo all along? Her map-clearing speed is incredibly fast, surpassing everyone in history,” Lei Yao inquired.

There were no secrets on the Crimson Earth—only whether someone was willing to expose them. As an Official Player, or more precisely, as part of Lei Yao’s elite Troops, they knew exactly who Kamiyu was role-playing and where she was.

“She’s still playing her childish role-playing game. For almost a week now, she’s been clearing the Valley of the Deathly Echo. Based on her Level, she can hardly gain any more Experience.”

Then why not go grind the next instance dungeon to level up? This proves she doesn’t know how to play at all, only relying on shortcuts like secret passages to level up.

It shows she’s someone who fears difficulty, dares not tackle hard instance dungeons, and lacks resilience under pressure,” Ye Feixuan said disparagingly.