"The first page of the file contains our research findings on the new plague. It’s similar to the flu, with a very low mortality rate. The problem, however, is that it weakens people’s mental resistance, making them irritable and emotional."

"The second page is research on the Land of Crystals. The composition of the crystal ores there is a 93.7% match to the ores produced by the Crystal Disease. They are a product of the Crystal Disease having evolved several times. The danger level has reached S-Level. If not stopped, it could devour the entire country over time. Furthermore, the very existence of the Land of Crystals is a form of contamination. Its radiation extends for fifteen kilometers, causing large-scale mutations within that range."

"The third page details our research on the Overthrowing Matrix. This Matrix breeds Fear, making Enoch the greatest fear in everyone’s hearts. The Authority he wields is ’Fear.’ Once he has absorbed the fear of tens of millions of people, he may be able to open the Ascension Ladder.

"Under the effects of the new plague, the people of North Carolina have become more emotional, which has exponentially amplified the Matrix’s effect. In fact, every city has already descended into chaos; you just haven’t received the news yet."

’This is a huge problem...’ Zhou Chen’s heart sank. ’The more people consumed by Fear, the stronger Enoch will become. The fear contributed by tens of millions is enough for him to open the Ascension Ladder and climb its terrifyingly numerous steps.’

The emissary swiped on his tablet, and images of various cities appeared on the screen.

The cities were eerily silent. Countless people had stopped what they were doing, curled up in fear, and were trembling uncontrollably.

"Mr. President, I have absolutely no thought of resisting you! I am your most loyal slave..."

"O King, don’t kill me! I’ll do anything, just don’t kill me..."

"SOB... It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me... I never wanted to resist. The Salvation Army forced me to do it! I had no rebellious intentions... O King, how would lowly commoners like us dare to defy the Royal Family or the Government..."

Fear appeared on one pale face after another, as if they could see the rumoredly cruel and violent King of North Carolina standing right before them, looking down with cold indifference. Endless Fear welled up, devouring their sanity and even their Souls.

The education the common people of North Carolina received from a young age all taught them one thing: the King of North Carolina was an inviolable "Emperor"!

He was supreme, holding sway over everything in North Carolina. Any who disobeyed, rebelled, or insulted him would face a cruel death sentence and endless torment after death. The common people believed this without a doubt. They despised the upper class, yet they never dared to curse the King of North Carolina.

And now, with the new plague making people more emotional and the Fear Matrix turning Enoch into their greatest object of terror, the combination of factors had driven the common people’s fear of Enoch to an unprecedented level.

Amidst extreme panic and Fear, the first Corrupter was born.

Then the second, the third...

In just a few short minutes, dozens, even hundreds of people suffered mental breakdowns and degenerated into Corrupters.

Even after becoming mindless Corrupters, they still feared Enoch. Chains mutated from their bodies, fastening around their necks like the lowliest of slaves. They trembled, muttering indistinct words as if begging their master for forgiveness.

"That is the situation."

The emissary closed the real-time feed from the satellite Investigation Mirror. Inside the tent, the faces of the Salvation Army’s high command were ashen.

"How can we shut down the Matrix?" the leader of the Salvation Army asked, his expression grim.

"According to our calculations, the Core of this Alchemy Matrix is located here."

The emissary swiped his finger. A map of North Carolina appeared on the screen. As the map zoomed in, the Capital appeared. It zoomed in again, revealing the city’s clear layout, before the image settled on a single building.

—The Former Royal Tower of North Carolina!

Zhou Chen knew the place. It was North Carolina’s most important landmark, symbolizing the entire nation as well as the North Carolina Royal Family that once ruled it. Its status was extremely significant.

’The Matrix Core being in the Former Royal Tower is not good news.’

As a major symbol of the North Carolina Royal Family, the Former Royal Tower was itself a man-made Extraordinary Artifact. It was impregnable and indestructible, capable of temporarily withstanding an attack from a Tier Five Crowned King. Once it initiated a self-lockdown, it would be difficult to breach in a short amount of time.

And to reach the Former Royal Tower, they had to break into the Capital. To break into the Capital, they first had to defeat the Government Army. This brought them right back to square one.

However, things were different now.

The evidence of the North Carolina Government’s collusion with Fallen Paradise was right in front of them. The Star Association would definitely intervene.

The leader of the Salvation Army looked at the emissary. "Fallen Paradise has colluded with the government to help Enoch open the Ascension Ladder, endangering the lives of the people of North Carolina. I request aid from the Star Association."

"Naturally. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come."

The emissary nodded. "The Star Association will issue a restraining order to the Government Army, putting a definitive end to the North Carolina civil war. Then, suppression units will descend upon the major cities via Any Door to establish a blockade, cutting off the influence of the Fear Matrix. At the same time, we will dispatch Tier Fives to attack the Former Royal Tower, destroy the core of the Overthrowing Matrix, and arrest Enoch for his collusion with Fallen Paradise."

"The Salvation Army will cooperate to the best of our ability," the leader said seriously.

The emissary nodded, tapped the tablet a few times, and a bright red light appeared.

[Lock down all of North Carolina. Enter highest alert.]

[Temporary Operation Code: JK789. Operation Permit authenticated.]

[Authority delegation complete. Supreme command granted.]

"My name is Liu Tingnan, and I am the supreme commander of this operation."

Liu Tingnan pressed a button on the screen, then looked up at the crowd.

"The operation has begun."

·

「Mirror World.」

World-destroying waves of Essence Fluctuation erupted one after another. The Mirror World projection of the North Carolina Capital had already been razed to the ground, completely erased. The foundations had sunk by several hundred meters, forming unrecognizable basins and canyons. Indelible Essence and remnants of Rules lingered, permanently altering the environment and the laws of physics here.

Six Crowned Kings had been locked in a fierce battle for days without a clear winner. The three Crowned Kings on the Salvation Army’s side were intentionally drawing out the fight, maintaining a defensive strategy from the start. But regardless, this was a battle between Tier Fives, and the consumption of energy was terrifying.

There were disparities even among Crowned Kings. Enoch, whose talent was mediocre for his tier, was the first to show signs of faltering. A female Crowned King from America was bombarding him relentlessly, tossing out all sorts of expensive Alchemy Tools as if they were free. She had even brought out two B-Level Forbidden Objects. Her immense wealth left the others in awe. ’As expected of an American.’

Facing the near-frenzied assault, Enoch could only barely hold on. A large, bloody hole that refused to heal had been torn in his body. In another wound, an inextinguishable Karmic Fire burned, turning his flesh and blood to ash that scattered from the opening.

Just then, something happened that the other five Crowned Kings found unbelievable.

Without any warning, Enoch’s aura began to skyrocket!

In an instant, he went from being the weakest of the six to one of the top three.

"It’s finally starting."

The corner of Enoch’s mouth curled into a smile. He abruptly clenched his fist, and a jet-black halo erupted from his body. A sense of Fear, indiscriminate of friend or foe, rose in the heart of every Crowned King, causing their will to fight to plummet.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Enoch laughed hoarsely. A blood-stained Thorn Crown, wreathed in an aura of Darkness, appeared above his head.

That was his Authority as a king.

"Belivol, answer me. Are you afraid?" Enoch stared at that detestable face and asked coldly.

Before Belivol could answer, a chilling wind of Fear swept out, engulfing his enemies like a monstrous tidal wave.