Chapter 333: New Dungeon, Civilization Trial

Chapter 333: Chapter 333: New Dungeon, Civilization Trial

When the instance opened.

Without Seraphina Sullivan’s Control.

At that time, he would be a Level 3 enemy with a bizarre Talent who harbored a deep-seated hatred for her.

He was no different from a time bomb that could detonate at any moment.

"Sigh..." Seraphina Sullivan sighed, a flicker of resolve in her eyes.

’If it really comes to it, I’ll just have to deal with him before the next instance is forced to open. Eliminate the problem for good.’

Though she had no desire to bloody her hands,

in a kill-or-be-killed apocalypse, showing mercy to a proven threat like Jordan Quade was a cruelty to herself and those around her.

She had to make the safest choice.

...

In the final moments before the instance’s arrival, Seraphina Sullivan still hadn’t figured out what to do with Jordan Quade.

’Sigh, if only I still had something like the Spirit Mutation Spider Silk that could provide long-term, stable mental control...’ Seraphina lamented with a sigh.

Such a rare, serendipitous item seemed all the more precious now.

However, reality had no ’what ifs’.

As the countdown to the instance’s opening neared zero, she had to make a final decision.

In a remote corner of the Scavenger’s Farm Space, Seraphina Sullivan stood before the still-unconscious Jordan Quade, her expression complex.

Finally, she made up her mind.

She couldn’t leave behind a ticking time bomb so dangerous and full of hatred.

Nor could she give him the chance to wreak havoc in the real world after he recovered.

Seraphina Sullivan summoned Moe.

She had it use Petrification on him.

Then, Seraphina Sullivan slowly raised her hand.

The Crimson Gemstone materialized on her forehead.

The Energy gathering in her palm was not for healing or sedation, but a pure, destructive Energy refined from her [Crimson Gemstone] Talent.

The motion was clean and swift, leaving no room for needless pain or struggle.

When the light from the Energy dissipated, Jordan Quade’s petrified statue crumbled into dust.

Thus, the man who had harbored a mad dream of emperorship and brought nightmares to so many,

helped Seraphina Sullivan test the attack Effect of her [Crimson Gemstone] Talent within the Space before his departure.

The Crimson Gemstone Talent was very powerful.

All that Jordan Quade left behind were the [Dimensional Pendant Chain] and the [Imperial Crown].

Having dealt with this burden, Seraphina Sullivan felt a weight lift from her shoulders, yet a new heaviness settled in its place.

In the apocalypse, survival and protection sometimes required such ruthless decisiveness.

...

Meanwhile, within the Vorlag City safe zone, a long-absent Aura of hope was quietly spreading among the ordinary survivors.

"Did you hear? It’s... not as cold outside anymore!"

"For real? I went out to take out the trash yesterday, and the wind didn’t feel like knives on my face!"

"Word from the higher-ups is that the temperature really is slowly rising! It’s been like this for several days now!"

"This is great! The heavens have finally shown mercy! This damn extreme cold is finally ending!"

"Yeah, yeah! Once the snow melts and the roads are clear, maybe we can go out and scavenge more, or even go back to our hometowns to take a look..."

People gathered in small groups, rare, relaxed smiles on their faces, their chatter much livelier than before.

For people who had shivered in the bitter cold for too long, even a rise of one or two degrees was enough to be interpreted as momentous news—a clear sign that the deep winter was ending and life was returning.

This simple joy diluted the gloom that had long weighed on their hearts, rekindling in many the confidence that they could ’make it through’.

However, not everyone was immersed in this optimistic atmosphere.

The atmosphere in the safe zone’s management conference room was grim.

Justin Brooks, Philip Jensen, and a few other core Players in the know sat gathered together, a crude graph of the temperature changes hanging on the Wall.

"The temperature is indeed rising steadily. At this rate, in half a month at most, the snow in most areas will begin to melt, and the extreme low temperatures will be a thing of the past,"

the Player in charge of meteorological observation reported.

But this did not bring any cheers.

Justin Brooks rapped the table, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable gravity. "Comrades, the retreat of the extreme cold is a good thing, but don’t forget the intelligence we received from the Central Base. What follows is very likely the ’Extreme Heat’ disaster. High temperatures, drought, possible fires, and even more extreme weather phenomena... We must begin preparations immediately."

Philip Jensen added, "We need to adjust our material reserves, increasing our stock of drinking water, non-perishable food, and items for heat relief. In terms of construction, we must consider ventilation and insulation. The medical team needs to start preparing for summer ailments like heatstroke and sunstroke. Additionally, the operational patterns and equipment for our scavenging teams will need to be adjusted."

"Of course, we also need to take advantage of the remaining cold to collect ice to prepare for the high temperatures."

Some listened in silence, their gazes falling on the ordinary people outside, who were smiling because of the slight warmth.

Their joy at this moment was real, but it was also fragile.

The apocalypse had never been merciful; it merely changed its methods of testing them, one trial after another.

The extreme cold taught people to huddle together for warmth.

The coming extreme heat, perhaps, would test humanity’s endurance, its wisdom in resource allocation, and its adaptability to another extreme environment.

Back with Seraphina, she touched the cool [Imperial Crown].

The conditions for establishing a "Kingdom of Dreams" capable of withstanding the disasters were harsh and seemed impossibly out of reach.

But before that, all they could do was their utmost to protect this small patch of land that could still be considered "safe," to lead more people to survive the difficult gaps between one disaster and the next, and to search for the true way out that might exist.

The turning point in the climate had arrived. The old threat had not yet fully dissipated, and a new challenge was quietly approaching.

The safe zone, and indeed all surviving humans on Azure Star, were about to face another great "test" of survival.

...

Just as Seraphina Sullivan and the people of the safe zone were rushing to prepare for the coming "Extreme Heat" disaster,

the familiar, cold, and grandiose system notification resounded once more without warning in the minds of every Player across the globe!

[Ding! The seven-day preparation period has ended!]

Unlike the previous instance selections that targeted individuals, this announcement carried an unprecedented, global sense of pressure.

[Ding! Scan complete. Over one-fifth of the Players on Azure Star have successfully advanced to Level 3, triggering the ’Civilization Advancement Trial’ condition!]

[Ding! The Disaster Game’s second phase—the ’Civilization Trial’—has officially begun!]

[Ding! The special crossover instance [Zombie Kingdom] has been forcibly loaded!]

[Ding! All Players at Level 2 and above will be forcibly teleported to the [Zombie Kingdom] instance in 60 seconds!]

The news exploded like a thunderclap in the minds of all Players!

’Mandatory participation?’

’All Players Level 2 and above?’

This meant that almost every Player with a certain degree of combat power and survival experience would be swept into it!

However, an even more terrifying notification followed close behind.