Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Humanity Reduction Scenario
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Zero One had his shadows complete all the preparations needed to reduce humanity.
All that remained was to carry out the humanity reduction scenario in the real world.
The supervolcano and the resurrection of the dead...
> And the ark's activation.
Thus, humanity would not face extinction but would live on eternally in this world under his plan.
He envisioned a future where the human species would rule not only the blue planet but countless galaxies.
Zero One's lips curved like a crescent moon.
Zero One touched the corners of his mouth.
For him, who had once posed as a mere observer of the past, contemplating humanity's future had always been a pleasure.
But it wasn't enough to describe the excitement now boiling in his chest.
"Dracula."
Zero One murmured the vampire's moniker from South Korea's tallest skyscraper.
Could the modern progenitor reach him?
Would he prove as formidable an adversary as the progenitor of old?
He eagerly anticipated what turning point this uncontrollable variable would bring this time.
Even if it held the potential to dismantle everything he had built, Zero One felt no fear.
He yearned to feel that emotion from centuries ago once more.
A world that spun along his plans without any variables was utterly dull.
Zero One gazed at his monitor.
It was time to set the society's monsters in motion.
Advances in communication had greatly aided human progress. The same held true for monsters.
It was time to unleash the rabid dogs from their leashes.
💬 Secret Society ⭐ Admin Broadcast — Zero One [Administrator] As announced recently, the society will now execute the humanity reduction scenario. ⭐ Admin Broadcast — Zero One [Administrator] Monsters assigned missions by the administrator, please carry them out faithfully. ⭐ Admin Broadcast — Zero One [Administrator] This announcement applies only to monsters without assigned missions. ⭐ Admin Broadcast — Zero One [Administrator] Slaughter freely. ⭐ Admin Broadcast — Zero One [Administrator] Everything visible to your eyes. ⭐ Admin Broadcast — Zero One [Administrator] Human or human-made objects—it doesn't matter. Indulge your primal instincts as you please. ⭐ Admin Broadcast — Zero One [Administrator] We'll meet at the ark once everything is over. ⭐ Admin Broadcast — Zero One [Administrator] I sincerely wish luck upon your futures. Zero One posted the announcement on the Secret Society.
The final message to the monsters would surely have reached Dracula as well.
Zero One gazed at Seoul's night view through the glass window.
The concrete jungle built upon the narrow peninsula was about to crumble.
By his hand, all of humanity's beautiful cities would turn to ruins.
Zero One envisioned two futures in his mind.
The cityscape visible beyond the glass window: one intact, the other in total collapse.
At the crossroads, he awaited Dracula with dignified poise.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The 21st Century Secret Society began moving in earnest.
Boldly revealing their long-hidden identities, they heralded the scenario's start.
Yellowstone suddenly kicking off volcanic activity, the grotesque phenomenon of the dead rising to slaughter the living, monsters exposing themselves and butchering people, and more.
The society's fangs sank into the world, plunging people into chaos in an instant.
📰 Breaking News Yellowstone is the second-largest volcano on Earth. Recently, ominous signs have begun emanating from Yellowstone. These have been confirmed as precursors to an eruption, and geologists speculate it will be the largest volcanic explosion since humanity appeared on the planet. 📰 Breaking News Would you believe me if I said the dead are rising and walking around unharmed? Unbelievable events are occurring simultaneously worldwide. This photo was taken at a U.S. national cemetery. Countless skeletons are clawing their way out of the ground and heading somewhere... 📰 Breaking News Viewers, do you remember the horrific terror attack in Academy City a while back? The perpetrators were identified as maladjusted students from the city, but suspicions have arisen of unknown entities behind them. Signs indicate they've started moving. Let's take a look. The media was ablaze.
Zero One's humanity reduction scenario became kindling atop people's preoccupations, and amid the unrelenting fervor, folks began trembling in anxiety one by one.
"They say if Yellowstone erupts this time, it'll be the largest explosion in human history..."
"We're far from any volcanoes here, so we'll be fine, right?"
"Idiot, haven't you seen the movies? The moment ash covers the sky, we'll all freeze to death. Places like Canada could drop to -100 degrees..."
Wandering the streets and tuning in, every conversation revolved around this topic.
Even the safety-complacent students who had chosen to stay in Academy City despite the massive terror incident were now taking this seriously.
This was the state of reality.
On the internet, where anonymity reigned, even bolder, more sensational tales proliferated across communities.
💬 Anonymous Community — Anonymous325 This time Earth really ends lol. Video from my friend in the US—skeletons are slaughtering people. The video uploaded by one anonymous community user captured countless skeletons tearing people apart barehanded.
The skeletons repelled gunfire from the military and continued their massacre.
The footage resembled a scene from an apocalypse flick. Yet its hyper-realistic quality dispelled any notion of it being fake.
— Anonymous325 Dunno if it's some new Dimensional Beasts or what... but the military seems useless unless they drop bombs. Word is even hunters are struggling. Anonymous325's post opened the floodgates, unleashing a torrent of testimonies from countless others.
It was the harbinger of doom.
— Anonymous135 America's bad, but China's in total chaos right now. Seems like ten times worse. — Anonymous238 Korea's not safe either... Monsters that don't look like Dimensional Beasts are slaughtering folks in Paju. Zero One possessed means beyond the queen to corner humanity.
Prices skyrocketed like during the financial crisis. Swept by anxiety, people began pointing fingers and cursing governments and public institutions.
This was merely the beginning.
If time dragged on like this, the situation would spiral into despair.
Once the supervolcano erupted, ejected rocks and massive earthquakes would devastate cities across western North America. Vast ejecta and gases would block sunlight, ushering in an ice age.
Massive cold snaps and the resulting famines would claim countless lives.
Every continent save the tropics would transform into uninhabitable wastelands.
Zero One's undead would then butcher the scant survivors.
Everything save what Zero One had prepared in his "ark" would meet its end.
Accumulation of turning points.
That was the sole card I could play against Zero One.
The moment the society stirred, I set my own cards into motion.
"Please."
"If that's true, a horrific catastrophe will befall this world. Understood. I'll contact the associations in other countries and take the best measures possible. Please take care of yourself."
Through Yang Su-hyun, I relayed the disaster's intel to the hunters.
Thus, the world's stalwart guardians would now view the monsters and the society as prey.
I also granted temporary freedom to Kang Chang-su, Ichika, and the Goat in prison.
"I got the gist from the community on my phone. I'll handle the society properly with these guys."
"Yeah."
"I'll manage these two myself, so no worries."
"Thanks."
I left Kang Chang-su and Ichika's oversight to the Goat.
In the end, I never heard Kang Chang-su's answer to my deal: help me wipe out the society, and I'll free Ichika.
No need for words, though. His blazing eyes spoke volumes.
My accumulation of turning points didn't end there.
The anti-society monsters gathered by Merlin and Aria began moving as well.
They unleashed their pent-up grudges and hostility, clashing with their own kind in deadly battles.
Fate wouldn't flow as easily as the society intended, not like in the original story.
Yet this was merely buying time.
To halt Zero One and the society, I needed a fundamental solution.
"Then, let's begin the final meeting."
To that end, I summoned the AOD members.
To forge the sharp blade that would pierce Zero One's heart.