Chapter 216: Devouring Millions of People

Xiao Zhong said with a tense expression, “While it’s just the three of us here, I need to report to you, Miss Kamiyu, that something has happened with the Fear Emperor Tree.”

“What happened?” Kamiyu asked.

But she immediately followed up with a self-deprecating remark, “Good things never come my way, but troubles always find me in droves.”

Xiao Zhong also forced a bitter smile and said, “Originally, the Black Sphere’s live feed couldn’t detect the Fear Emperor Tree because it was covered by a thick fog. Whenever the camera tried to zoom in, it would automatically ‘bounce’ back.”

“Now it’s different. The fog has disappeared, and the Black Sphere can observe the city center and the trunk of the Fear Emperor Tree clearly.” Xiao Zhong took out a tablet, manipulated it a few times, and showed Kamiyu the live footage.

Jack raised his eyebrows, thinking to himself that this kid was impressive—he could even remotely control the Black Sphere.

Kamiyu directly praised him, “Wow, you’re amazing! You can even do this.”

Mephisto also said, “It feels like you have more talent than the inventor of the Black Sphere.”

Xiao Zhong scratched the back of his head sheepishly and said, “I still rely on your care, Miss Kamiyu. If it weren’t for you and Big Brother Jack arriving in time, we Players would have probably turned on each other and killed one another in chaos.”

Immediately after, Xiao Zhong pointed and drew on the tablet, zooming in on the image.

“Look, Miss Kamiyu, there are millions of people gathered around the Divine Tree.”

“So many? Impossible. Are these humans or Ability Users?” Kamiyu asked in surprise.

Upon hearing that there were millions of people, Jack frowned tightly. If they were humans, and these millions were used for a Blood Sacrifice, what would be created—a Fifth-Tier or Sixth-Tier Ability User? If they were Ability Users, how could they possibly fight against millions of them? Would they have to use nuclear bombs?

No wonder even the usually calm and playful Kamiyu had now become serious.

Xiao Zhong said, “Fortunately, it’s a stroke of luck amidst misfortune—they’re just humans, not Ability Users.”

Kamiyu saw that they seemed Bewitched, all worshipping the Fear Emperor Tree and then lining up to commit suicide. Yes, they were lining up to commit suicide—it was bizarre to the extreme.

Men, women, the old, and the young—each human stood naked, their eyes filled with fanaticism, prostrating themselves in worship before the Fear Emperor Tree. Then, using knives made from Tree Branches, they slit their own throats, blood splattering everywhere. The Fear Emperor Tree’s branches, like Tentacles, grabbed these fresh lives and threw them into a large, mouth-like Tree Hollow.

Although the Black Sphere footage had no sound, Kamiyu’s mind still heard the terrifying, crushing, and chewing sounds of “crunch, crunch” as flesh was ground to pieces.

“This is too evil, this Fear Emperor,” Kamiyu said, handing the tablet back to Xiao Zhong.

“I didn’t show this footage to anyone else, worried that it would shake morale,” Xiao Zhong said.

“You did the right thing. Fear Emperor has the power to Bewitch people with terror. We can’t let him scare us,” Kamiyu said.

“Hehehe,” Mephisto chuckled strangely again, “Fear Emperor has sped up. He can’t wait to return to the Real World and rule this World once more.”

“You need to hurry. These millions of people are just its appetizer. You’re right—the Fear Emperor has the ability to distort facts and invert right and wrong, turning white into black and black into white. You can never persuade it, nor its believers.”

“What? How can something so evil exist in this world?” Xiao Zhong asked, his eyes wide.

“And its believers. These millions of people willingly let themselves be devoured. Weren’t you the first to see their images? Didn’t you see how much they enjoyed the process?” Mephisto retorted.

Xiao Zhong fell silent. He had indeed seen it—these millions of people were not only willing but fanatically eager to be devoured by the Fear Emperor. They even fought and killed tens of thousands over queue disputes.

Xiao Zhong couldn’t understand why these people were so fanatically rushing to their deaths. Were they even human anymore? Why would they do something so insane? Among these millions, was there not a single person who was clear-headed? Not one who dared to resist or flee?

In fact, he had seen children try to escape, only to be slapped hard by their parents—so hard their teeth flew out—before being brutally killed as offerings to the so-called Divine Tree.

Xiao Zhong could only lament how utterly mad this world had become. This Fear Emperor was nothing but a cruel and malevolent evil god who took pleasure in killing and devouring people.

Witnessing its atrocities only made Xiao Zhong trust and rely on Kamiyu even more. He believed that only Kamiyu could save the world.

The people of the Sanctuary and the other Veteran Players must unite to completely annihilate this tyrant, the Fear Emperor.

Jack asked, “What about these millions of people? Should we save them?”

Kamiyu replied disinterestedly, “Kind words can’t persuade those destined to die; mercy can’t save those who seek their own doom.” If they’re so eager to die, why stop them?”

She didn’t care about the lives of these fanatical believers. She was no Holy Mother.

Jack pressed further, “But if the Fear Emperor Tree devours them, it will become even stronger, making it much harder for us to deal with.”

“Future problems can wait. If you want to save these people, how would you do it? Shout through a megaphone, ‘Don’t kill yourselves! The Fear Emperor is Bewitching you!’?”

“I bet you’d just be driven away by them instead.”

“This is their fate. They deserve it,” Kamiyu said impulsively.

Both Jack and Xiao Zhong fell silent. Indeed, Kamiyu wasn’t omnipotent—she couldn’t save everyone. Her words were harsh but true. If she tried to rescue these fanatics, she’d only bring trouble upon herself, achieving nothing but her own frustration.

Some things simply can’t be saved. If anyone pointed at Kamiyu and accused her of not doing enough, she’d likely throw that person in front of the millions and say, “Here, oh great saint, show me how it’s done first. If you succeed, I’ll follow.”

Mephisto let out another sinister laugh. “Gahahaha! Truly my granddaughter—ruthless and heartless.”

“Ah, you’re wrong. I am ruthless and heartless, but not emotionless. Those who want to die, let them die. I never stop them, just like those who left the Bunker.”

In summary: “What does it have to do with me? And what does it have to do with you?”

Before long, the Hummer drove back to the Sanctuary. The dramatic changes to the Sanctuary instantly shifted the chilly atmosphere inside the vehicle.

The outermost line of defense walls had all been constructed, causing the Sanctuary as a whole to resemble an illegal building, continuously being stacked higher and thicker.

The outer walls stood as tall as twelve stories, just barely not blocking the fifteenth-floor Magic Cannon position in the core apartment building.

“It seems the fifteenth floor is still a bit too low,” Kamiyu remarked, wanting to build the Artillery Position even higher so it could shoot farther.