In the makeshift command room of Apocalypse Base.
William stood before a massive screen, which was split into dozens of surveillance feeds.
The scenes were busy: peripheral fortifications, recruit training grounds, point exchange counters, and the Intelligence Analysis Center.
He had just received a message from Lilith.
[Within these three days, near the Cave, any intruders—kill!]
William's face showed no surprise, only deep solemnity.
Because he knew what this meant; every time the leader designated the area around the Cave as a forbidden zone, earth-shaking changes would occur by their next meeting.
Without exception, the leader became more powerful every single time.
"Pass down the orders."
William turned and spoke to Rick behind him.
"Designate a ten-kilometer radius around the Cave as an absolute forbidden zone. Set up defensive arrays and activate life-detection warnings. No one is to approach without my direct command. Those who violate this..."
William paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
"...shall be executed on the spot!"
"Yes!"
Upon receiving the order, Rick immediately relayed it.
Although his own strength wasn't great, as the messenger by William's side within Tianqi, no one dared to contradict Rick's orders; their eyes held only deep envy.
Because they knew that in Tianqi, strength wasn't the only thing valued.
After Rick went to execute the orders, William looked at the update announcement for this Main God Game.
What he needed to do now was figure out how to utilize these precious ten days to acquire more Points.
Trading platforms, land, and scarce intelligence—these were strategic resources Tianqi had to secure.
It wasn't just for intelligence, but also to occupy a seat among these ten platforms, proclaim their power, and attract more experts... Outside the base gates, the scene was different from previous days.
A passage quickly laid with simple steel plates and concrete wound its way out, extending over three hundred meters.
On both sides of the passage, a guard stood every meter, wearing a uniform black combat suit and a Tianqi armband.
The weapons in their hands weren't for show; they were firearms with energy attributes actually exchanged from the Main God Space.
These weapons were both their life-saving tools in dungeons and Tianqi's armed force for deterring enemies.
The people in the ranks were of all sorts.
There were veterans with fierce gazes and ability users with cold temperaments.
They were all armed forces cultivated by Tianqi, and now Fenrir had brought them here to arrange their next tasks.
Fenrir looked at these people, his eyes sharp. Standing two meters tall, he exerted a powerful sense of pressure just by being there.
"Tianqi is about to open its gates to welcome visitors from all directions. During this period, Tianqi's order is an iron law that cannot be touched!"
"Anyone who allows even the slightest mishap is trampling on Tianqi's face. Do you all understand what I've said!?"
Fenrir scanned the crowd; everyone stood ramrod straight and roared loudly!
"Nightfall—!!!"
As the words fell, everyone held their firearms, their gazes sharp, as a murderous aura filled the entire area.
Then, they began to be assigned. On the field, hundreds of people were directly divided into 20 teams, with 10 people per team, each having a captain.
These individuals had all reached E-rank in their evaluations; whether in combat experience or talent, they were the elite of the elite.
And they were the patrol teams planned by Tianqi, responsible for Tianqi's security and order while simultaneously showcasing Tianqi's power.
Meanwhile, on the other side, seeing these high-spirited teams, the Reincarnators who had traveled thousands of miles to get here had glints in their eyes.
The murderous aura, the strict order—wasn't this exactly the sanctuary they dreamed of?
At this moment, more people gained a more intuitive feeling for Tianqi's order.
With the existence of patrol teams, at least here they wouldn't have to worry about their safety every day like in other places, or be dragged into various factions to serve as cannon fodder.
"Next."
The officer at the screening office spoke in a flat voice, yet it carried unquestionable authority.
From the crowd, a bald, muscular man nearly two meters tall stepped forward. He had a hideous scar on his right cheek and a defiant gaze.
"Name, former profession, awakened talent, rank, and why you want to join Tianqi's combat department."
"Rayleigh, underground fighter, C-rank talent [Steel Skin], F+ evaluation."
The hulking man's voice was raspy as he continued.
"I'm sick of hiding and being stabbed in the back! I heard that here, might makes right, the leader is strong enough, and the rules are tough enough. I want to find a place where people can fight, dare to fight, and can fight their way out together!"
The officer recorded quickly on a tablet, looked up at the man, and continued.
"The entry fee is ten Points. After entering, there's a three-day basic assessment and rule-learning period. If you fail the assessment, the Points won't be refunded, but you can stay in Tianqi as a civilian and live a stable life. As long as Tianqi exists, we can ensure you a worry-free day."
"However! If you violate Tianqi's rules, you will be punished with point fines, hard labor, or execution depending on the circumstances. Any questions?"
"None!"
The man grinned, revealing pearly white teeth, and paid the Points readily. What he valued was exactly this straightforward, cold order.
The people behind stepped forward in turn and began their introductions. These people were relatively strong, and they shared a common goal: not only to join Tianqi, but to join Tianqi's War Department.
To fight for a bright future for themselves!
"I am a representative of the Ultron Guild. I want to talk to your leader about cooperation..."
A man in a suit tried to pull out a business card.
"Inspection personnel, entry fee is 20 Points. For cooperation matters, please make an appointment with the External Relations Department first."
The officer didn't even lift his eyelids as he spoke directly.
See the leader directly? Who do you think you are! 'Ultron Guild'? Never even heard of it.
The suited man's expression shifted, but he eventually gritted his teeth and paid the Points. The order he had received was to infiltrate as much as possible and understand Tianqi's true situation.
Once it was confirmed that Tianqi didn't have an SSS-Rank Hunter, then Tianqi would be a choice morsel for all of America.
Before the trading platform arrived in ten days, they would be a target for various factions to pressure.
After all, Tianqi was too prominent, and its wealth made all factions salivate.
William watched all this from the monitoring room with a calm gaze. Beside him, an adjutant approached and began to report.
"Leader, we've received 1,350 applicants today. Among them, 127 want to join the War Department, 21 need focused observation as suspected spies for other factions, and the rest just want a stable life in Tianqi."
"Mm."
William nodded and continued.
"File them under Categories A, B, and C respectively. Category A has high potential and relatively clean backgrounds—focus on cultivating them. Category B has average ability but high loyalty—assign them to suitable posts. Category C are spies or those with ulterior motives—settle them properly and assign people to monitor them appropriately."
Pausing, William looked at the long queue on the screen, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
"Before the platform opens, we need to absorb at least a thousand truly usable combat elites and reserve 500,000 Points."
"Notify the Logistics Department to open point loans for some low-level equipment. The interest can be low, but the repayment deadline must be strict. Let everyone understand that in Tianqi, opportunities and risks coexist, and contribution is proportional to reward."
"Yes!"
The adjutant responded solemnly and immediately began making arrangements.
The entire command room returned to silence.
"Order is the most luxurious power in a chaotic world."
William whispered to himself, as if speaking to the various faces on the screen, or perhaps reaffirming his own conviction.
"And we are selling that luxury."
His gaze turned toward where Lilith was, a smile touching the corners of his mouth.
He knew Tianqi's current situation all too well.
Because of this, Tianqi could use the opportunity to reveal its true strength to the world.
And the factions behind those spies could be lured out... Nightfall.
Pronunciation: /ˈnaɪt.fɔːl/ (Naite-fuo)
Meaning: Literally translated as "Night Descending." It symbolizes Tianqi's rule covering the earth like the night, unstoppable, bringing an end and a new order.
Whenever Lilith's shadow sweeps across the sky, it is the time of "Nightfall," and the enemy shall fall into silence.