Cataclysm: Undead Dragons and Zero Empire

"Lost people, suffering people, look! The sacred tree has sprouted again! Messenger of death, punish sinners! May death fill the world!"

A man draped in a gray-black robe stood on a high place, like a medieval priest preaching, and shouted loudly to the gathering crowd.

These prayers are symbols that distinguish the two groups of "death followers": charlatans pray that death will bless everyone, while ambitious people pray that death will punish everyone.

In any case, when the victims are on the verge of a disaster, these prayers ignite suppressed emotions, which then erupt into an uncontrollable torrent.

Yes, the Tree of Peace suddenly appeared, firmly rooted right before our eyes, in the ruins of the city. Doesn't this prove that the belief in death is real and beyond doubt?

People have heard of the "Death Party" and the legend of the Tree of Peace more or less. Some have even dug up the scattered records in historical books and recited them on the spot. At this moment, this niche culture is spreading like wildfire, invading people's reason.

"My family is all dead, I have no possessions, I... I don't want to live anymore! I want to go back to Guishu!"

Those who have lost everything are the first to break down. Howard saw a disheveled and decadent middle-aged man in the crowd struggle to the front and stumble toward the underground cavern to embrace the roots of the Tree of Peace.

With a leader in charge, similar shouts and shoving erupted from the crowd. Without exception, everyone was unable to accept the losses caused by the earthquake. Countless people had struggled in the mire of life for most of their lives, only to have it all destroyed in one day.

Those who manipulate the masses patiently observe the commotion in the crowd. If the people standing here were charlatans who fanatically worship the dragon of death, such a scene would undoubtedly be what they hoped for. But those who seek to exploit death will not be satisfied with this.

"You who have lost your future, please hear me out!"

The men in black robes raised their arms high, as if embracing the sun, continuing to spread their ideas at the right emotional peak.

"The war has lasted too long. What have you gained? The families who died on the front lines? The compensation that hasn't reached you in years?"

"Is your life fulfilling, peaceful, and joyful? Do you weep for the suffering you endure, often lamenting your unjust fate at night? Is your life becoming increasingly difficult?"

"But please think carefully: were you born to suffer hunger and hardship? Was it an earthquake that destroyed your lives? No! It was the sinful people in this world who stole your happiness; they are the ones with the heaviest sins!"

"The calamity of earthquakes is death's dissatisfaction with the poisonous influences of the world, while the arrival of the Tree of Peace is death's angel of retribution! It will free the people of the earth from fear, and no one will weep day and night anymore. Ah, may death fill the world!"

After a brief silence, people began to notice the purpose of these conspicuous trees, which led to an unsettling uproar, with the focus shifting to the people in the crowd who worked for large corporations.

"Yes! It's the company! The company took my money, made me work myself to the bone every day, and still expects me to be grateful to them!"

"This man works for the company, he's an accomplice! Catch him! Let death punish this sinner!"

"This guy too! I saw him wearing company clothes! Don't let him get away!"

The conflict was completely shifted; people's resentment towards the earthquake was directed at the companies that had long harbored public grievances. Howard saw people in company uniforms being pinned to the ground in the crowd, seemingly about to be taken away to Guishu.

"I have sinned, I repent for my sins, Holy Tree, forgive me! I am willing to offer all my wealth to those who suffer!"

The man who worked for the company ate a mouthful of dust and wailed loudly. Instead of trying to escape trial by crying out for justice, he attempted to rely on repentance, raising high the bundles of banknotes in his hand, just like those who bought indulgences in the Middle Ages.

This tactic has proven effective time and again. After a disaster, everyone wants as much money as possible to live the rest of their lives, and many of the hands pressing on his back loosened their grip.

It is common knowledge that everyone hates companies, everyone wants to work for companies, and those people in suits are all extremely wealthy and are all big spenders who spend lavishly in nightclubs.

boom!

A gunshot shattered the clamor of voices.

The man in the black robe had somehow pulled out a pistol; the smoke from the gun hadn't even dissipated in the wind yet.

The bullet didn't go for the head, but it did hit the person in the company uniform, splattering blood and abruptly interrupting their loud words of repentance.

"My fellow displaced people! Think carefully: are you the only ones so unfortunate to have encountered an earthquake? Did you see any rescuers coming to your aid? The calamity of an earthquake is a punishment where death is the only equal punishment!"

"No one will gloat, no one will stand idly by, for death is so great! It overlooks us all! All the land!"

"Can these sinners escape the punishment of death? No! They will still be guilty, and they will still bring more misfortune!"

"Let death come! Let all be equal! Sinners should not enjoy wealth and longevity, nor should you bear debt and suffering!"

"Let sinners return to the trees! Let the messengers of death punish them, and may death fill the world!"

These words hit the nail on the head. People's thinking has not yet shifted from the old order. They still believe that disasters will pass and that the smell of money is still alluring, but they have never thought about what if the whole world suffers a disaster? Can the old order still be maintained?

If the person working for this company dies, who will care? Won't his wealth still be divided up at will? The city nowadays takes whatever it wants from anyone!

The definition of wealth narrowed rapidly at this point, becoming limited to precious metals, and people finally realized that money had lost its value.

The banknotes that once required hard work to earn were knocked to the ground by the crowd, covered in dust, scattered in a ball, and then trampled on, making the printed portraits on them blurry.

The people who worked for the company struggled desperately, their blood and dust mingling together, and they were dragged in a sorry state towards the cave of the Anle Tree, surrounded by the boiling crowd.

After the dust settled, Howard retreated to a more distant corner, watching as the group completed their indirect killing before scattering in groups to vent their emotions in more places.

What we are witnessing is probably not an isolated incident. These "death faction" members must have known something in advance, or even that an earthquake would occur.

But how is that possible? With current technology, even earthquake monitoring stations cannot accurately predict the occurrence of earthquakes.

While thinking, Howard suddenly grabbed the gun handle and turned to point at the several black-robed men approaching him from behind.

"Please don't be too nervous, Mr. Jones. We are not with those madmen who dream of overthrowing the world."

The leader raised his hands to show he meant no harm, but Howard still didn't lower his gun, waiting for the man to continue.

"Howard Jones, you are an unsung war hero, with over a thousand enemy kills by yourself and numerous victories in positional warfare."

"If you hadn't argued with your superior and beaten him to the point of hospitalization, you would be covered in medals, revered by all, and honorably discharged from the military."

These people recounted his past in detail, causing Howard's eyes to flash with a sharp, murderous intent. "What do you want to do?"

"You are special; we have been observing you for a long time."

The leader pulled down his hood, revealing eyes that Howard recognized—eyes that shimmered with a dark red light. Howard had seen a similar reflection of himself in Dr. Agnes's eyes before.

"Those chosen by the dragon will witness the death of Zero."

"We want to make a promise with you."