49 Apocalypse Rules

Fahe Country, one of the thirty-four nations of the Human Federation.

Three minutes after the earthquake began, a data collection team dispatched by the government arrived at the epicenter.

But just as they were about to approach the Earth Vein Pillar to collect data, a large group of people suddenly emerged from the surroundings. They were dressed in black clothes and black hats, almost blending into the darkness.

There were sixty or seventy of them, and they surrounded the government’s data collection team of fewer than ten people. Without a word, they blocked the collectors’ path to the Earth Vein Pillar.

The sudden situation caught the entire collection team by surprise. The team’s captain spoke up, asking, "Who are you people? What are you doing?"

The people in black remained silent, except for one who spoke in a solemn, almost chanting tone, "A divine relic of a god must not be desecrated."

"A god? A divine relic?"

The entire collection team was baffled. One member was the first to realize. "Are you talking about the Earth Vein Pillar set up by the Fire Thief?"

The crowd in black gave their silent consent.

The members of the collection team could hardly believe it.

"Are you kidding me?!" the captain roared, furious. "The Fire Thief is a demon who has killed countless people! The most evil being in the world—no, in the universe! And you treat a demon like a god, and the murder weapon it created like a holy relic? You’re completely insane!"

Upon hearing this, although their faces were hidden in the darkness, the rapid, heavy breathing from the people in black made it clear that rage had been ignited within them.

"Captain, there are a lot of them..." a team member whispered, grabbing the captain’s arm. "And we’re not armed. It’s best not to start a fight."

The data collection team was there to gather data on the Earth Vein Pillar, not for combat; they hadn’t brought any weapons or equipment. Facing a hostile group that outnumbered them nearly ten to one, they were clearly at a disadvantage.

"Three of the five minutes are already gone! What data can we possibly collect if we’re delayed any longer?!" The captain strode forward, trying to push past the crowd of black-clad figures. "Get out of my way! We need to collect data to save humanity! We don’t have time to deal with a bunch of lunatics like you!"

A few of the figures exchanged glances in the darkness and then parted to form a path. However, just as the captain stepped inside, surrounded by them, they suddenly attacked. One of them pulled a book from his coat and slammed it down on the back of the captain’s head!

THUD!

The captain, focused on getting to the Earth Vein Pillar to collect data, was completely unprepared for the attack from behind. He was immediately knocked to the ground, and then countless feet began to stomp on him.

"Captain!"

"Save him!"

"You’re insane! We’re the official government collection team!"

The collection team members were shocked and furious. They wanted to rescue their captain from the mob, but facing a group nearly ten times their size, they were blocked by a human wall as soon as they rushed forward. It was useless.

They figured that even if they used their Psychic Power tools, it wouldn’t be very effective against such a huge numerical disparity.

The remaining two precious minutes quickly passed during the standoff. A deep RUMBLE echoed.

Everyone turned their heads in unison, only to see the Earth Vein Pillar sink back into the ground and vanish. Once the five-minute earthquake period was over, it would disappear along with it.

"Dammit!"

The collection team members were livid. Their mission was to collect data by making contact with the Earth Vein Pillar to improve their analytical models. Now, this precious opportunity had been completely wasted because a bunch of lunatics who worshiped the Fire Thief had delayed them!

The goal of the black-clad figures was also clear. As soon as the Earth Vein Pillar sank underground, they immediately broke their encirclement and departed swiftly.

The collection team members felt completely helpless. They could only take their captain, who had been beaten unconscious, back with them and report the situation to their superiors.

...

The next morning, a remote meeting of the Human Federation was convened.

The nations exchanged the data they had collected on the Earth Vein Pillars. Just like last time, about half of the countries had failed to gather any.

But to the surprise of all the nations, North Star Country, the nation of the Chairman, and Fahe Country, a major power with tens of millions of people, had also failed to collect data.

The representative commissioner from Fahe Country was the first to explain the situation. After hearing his report, the other national representatives were stunned and speechless.

"Such an important data collection mission was sabotaged by a group of cultists? It seems your country’s preparations were somewhat inadequate."

"You should have had the collection team members carry weapons, or at least embedded a powerful Ascender in the team."

"How did those cultists know the location of the epicenter? Don’t tell me their members have already infiltrated Fahe’s government?"

"Groups that worship the Fire Thief don’t just exist in Fahe. In fact, every country has people like that, some of whom were even well-known scholars or professors... After all, the Fire Thief’s power is truly beyond human comprehension. It’s not surprising that it inspires worship," said the representative of a smaller nation.

"The only way to deal with these people is to kill them! Kill them until no one dares to jump out and worship any gods!" The representative from Sisiya Country was a bald man with a fierce demeanor, and his words were just as ruthless.

The representatives paused for a moment. His words were crude, but they weren’t wrong. In a situation like the one Fahe Country faced, a heavy-handed crackdown would be perfectly normal, as the cultists’ actions had seriously undermined and threatened the survival of others.

The Fahe commissioner looked rather helpless. "Fahe has always been a country with freedom of religion. The law allows people to establish religions and recruit believers. So even worshipping the Fire Thief and founding a related religion is, technically, legal."

Hearing this, the commissioner from Black Banner Country sneered, "What a bunch of idiots. At a time like this, when humanity is facing extinction, you’re still letting those madmen run wild? At this rate, I’d say Fahe will be the next country to fall."

The female commissioner from the Soloma Empire raised her chin with a touch of pride. "After the Apocalypse Rules appeared, a ’Fire Worshiper Cult’ also emerged in our country. But under the rule of our wise and great His Majesty the King, the main leaders of the cult have been all but wiped out. Only a few scattered remnants are left, posing no real threat."

"However, what I’m more curious about is why North Star Country, Chairman Gao’s nation, also failed to collect data this time. I wonder what the reason is?"

Following the Soloma commissioner’s question, the other representatives all turned to look at Gao Liangwei. In their view, a country with North Star’s power shouldn’t have failed like one of those nations with only a few million people.

Gao Liangwei did not hide the situation and answered truthfully, "Our data collection team arrived at the epicenter about two minutes after the earthquake started. However, the Earth Vein Pillar at the epicenter was already gone."

"Judging from the deep hole left in the ground, someone reached the epicenter before our team and dealt with the Earth Vein Pillar through some unknown means, causing it to disappear before the five minutes were up. The earthquake at that epicenter also stopped after it vanished. The total duration was one minute and forty-eight seconds."

As Gao Liangwei finished speaking, many commissioners stood up in shock. The ones who remained seated were also staring in utter disbelief.

The female commissioner from Soloma was the first to ask, "Are you saying that someone solved the Earth Vein Pillar and stopped the earthquake from continuing *before* your professional team even arrived?!"

"Yes."

"Lies!" the female commissioner’s voice rose. "Over ninety-five percent of your country’s population lives in urban Gathering Points and shelters. The only ones living outside are a few stragglers. You expect us to believe that one of them had the ability to find the epicenter immediately and stop the earthquake in just over a minute?!"

"It seems Commissioner Mary knows quite a lot about the living situation in our country," Gao Liangwei said with a stern expression. "But without evidence, please refrain from casually accusing others of lying. This is a multinational conference of the Human Federation, not some partisan squabble in your Senate. This is not a game!"

"You..." The female commissioner named Mary turned pale, wanting to retort but finding herself at a loss for words.

The representative from Sakura Prayer Country spoke up then. "Chairman Gao, does this mean there might be an Ascender or an organization among your civilian population capable of resolving this kind of earthquake disaster? Then the first priority must be to find this person or group."

"Yes. Our Strategy Research Room has already discussed this matter. We will try to find and seek the target’s assistance."