Die, Replay, Repeat

The comments beneath the news article were strangely uniform, with countless messages repeating the same worshipful plea:n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Oh, the great Dominator, Mr. Fang Xiu, I humbly beg for your mercy when you lead the Specters to rule the world. It was the poster who disrespected you, not me. I pledge to be your most loyal servant. When that day comes, I pray that your great and wise mind notices this comment amidst the forum."

"Same!"

"+1."

Not all comments were as reverent, however. Some were filled with alarm, particularly those with anti-Huaxia sentiments:

"The evidence is right in front of us. The Specter invasion must be a conspiracy by the Huaxia people. They're behind this. Today he destroys Isleland; tomorrow, he'll destroy the whole world. We must unite and take down Huaxia!"

These accusations were quickly drowned out by counter-comments:

"Oh, great Dominator, Lord Fang Xiu, please forgive their ignorance. They have no idea of the immense power you hold. I beg you to show mercy to humanity for their disrespect. I am your devoted follower."

Fang Xiu skimmed through the comments, noting how many of the "great Dominator" posts originated from Huaxia. The satirical humor of Huaxia's online culture shone through even in such a dire situation.

Surprisingly, some foreigners had begun imitating the trend, copying the Huaxia users with unnerving precision.

While many were simply playing along, their participation revealed a subtle acknowledgment of Fang Xiu's power.

After all, Specter numbers were rising every year, and their strength was growing.

If Specters weren't so intent on treating humans as prey and incapable of meaningful communication, factions advocating surrender might have already emerged. Now, Fang Xiu's rise seemed to offer hope to such groups.

To them, Fang Xiu wasn't just a destroyer who had unleashed Specters on Isleland—he was also the Chief Commander of Huaxia's Investigation Bureau. His existence hinted at the possibility of coexistence between humans and Specters, assuming he truly was an envoy of the Specter Gods.

…

The Director finally broke the silence, his disbelief evident. "Fang Xiu, how did you do it? We've known about your ability to summon Specter Gods' projections, but summoning real Specters? That's a whole different level. How many abilities do you actually have?"

All eyes turned to Fang Xiu, brimming with curiosity.

Fang Xiu's calm reply was unhurried. "I learned how to summon Specters from the future. In one of my visions, I saw the method and applied it in Isleland."

The group's expressions shifted in astonishment. To glimpse the future and extract knowledge of such magnitude was beyond comprehension.

Fang Xiu continued, "As for abilities, I have two. The first is foresight—the ability to see the future. The second is related to Specters. You all remember when I told you about Zhou Qingfeng and the Genesis Mask, don't you?"

The others nodded. After the battle with the Pokers, Fang Xiu had mentioned the Genesis Mask and its powers.

"Are you saying that summoning Specters is part of the Genesis Mask's abilities?" Li Xiaoru asked, his voice tinged with shock.

If true, the Genesis Mask wasn't merely a tool to break through the fifth tier—it was practically a terrifying artifact capable of summoning Specters.

"What kind of unimaginable power must Zhou Qingfeng have had to create something like the Genesis Mask?" he murmured, almost to herself.

Fang Xiu shook his head. "This power doesn't originate from the Genesis Mask itself. Instead, after getting the mask, its energy influenced me and awakened this ability. At its core, it's a Specter power."

The Director's face grew serious, his concern evident. "Fang Xiu, Ialways wanted to ask... You've been using Specter powers so frequently—are you certain it's safe? Won't it harm you?"

Fang Xiu answered calmly, "No, it won't. I've already found a solution from the future."

His words stirred envy in the room—the future. That phrase carried an almost mythical weight.

Before meeting Fang Xiu, the concept of "future sight" seemed like a vague, mystical ability, like something from a fantasy novel: cryptic visions or riddles that required interpretation, or hazy glimpses of events full of ambiguity.

But Fang Xiu shattered that notion.

His foresight wasn't vague; it was precise, actionable, and staggeringly effective. It didn't just win battles—it allowed him to surpass the fifth tier, discover numerous Spiritual Gadgets, and even uncover ways to combat psychic contamination.

Calling it "future sight" seemed inadequate. It was more like an omniscient ability.

The Director asked eagerly, "Fang Xiu, is this method of avoiding harm from Specter powers something that can be shared? If it could save psychics from dying or losing control of their Spiritual Energy, it would be revolutionary."

Fang Xiu's response was direct, a cold splash of reality. "It's a solution specific to me. It won't work for others."

"I see." The Director's excitement dimmed briefly, though he quickly regained his composure.

"What's your plan from here, Fang Xiu?" he asked. "Destroying Isleland's headquarters has created an international uproar. The news has spread globally within a day, and there's no way to suppress it. Right now, every nation is condemning you, accusing you of possessing large-scale Specter-summoning powers."

Fang Xiu's expression was cool, his smirk razor-sharp. "When people suspect you of possessing a large-scale destructive ability, it's best to actually have one. And as it happens, I do. So don't waste time on explanations. If they were bold enough to act, they wouldn't stop at mere condemnation."

His tone turned commanding. "Here's the next step: issue an ultimatum to those nations. Demand they return all the cultural relics they've stolen from us. Give them one month to comply. If they don't… they'll face the consequences."

His words echoed through the office, silencing everyone.

The Director and the other leaders exchanged glances, deeply moved.

It was clear that appointing Fang Xiu as Chief Commander had been the right decision. His decisiveness, cunning, boldness, and unshakable audacity set him apart.

Fang Xiu wasn't just ignoring the international backlash—he was using it to his advantage. He was likely the first person ever to weaponize the world's fear this way, turning condemnation into leverage.

In the high-stakes game of global politics, raw power wasn't the most frightening asset. What truly instilled fear was a person willing to overturn the table entirely—someone reckless enough to destroy the game and rebuild it on their terms.

Fang Xiu was that person. Not only did he have the power to do it, but he had the unyielding will to follow through.

By making himself a target and daring nations to act, Fang Xiu used their hesitation against them. He forced them into a corner where compliance became the only rational choice.

…

That very day, Huaxia issued an announcement to the world.

The message mirrored Fang Xiu's exact words.

There was no defense or explanation for the Isleland incident. Instead, Huaxia made a bold demand:

All nations must return the cultural relics they had taken from Huaxia. A one-month deadline was set, with a clear warning: refusal would result in severe consequences.

The announcement sent shockwaves across the globe.

No one had expected such an aggressive stance.

Despite the uproar, compliance came swiftly.

Why? Because no one wanted Fang Xiu to "visit" their country.

Previously, the world had viewed Huaxia's strength as reliant on Fang Moli, but now they realized Fang Xiu was just as terrifying—if not more so.

Fear of Fang Xiu quickly surpassed fear of Fang Moli.

Unlike Fang Moli, who relied on her psychic power and martial strength, Fang Xiu summoned Specters—entities capable of reducing cities to rubble and nations to chaos.

Worse still, he displayed no interest in diplomacy or restraint.

…

Back in the office, the Director discussed the next steps with Fang Xiu.

"Fang Xiu, the Isleland incident has reached the global media. Their psychic headquarters is in ruins, and Specters are running rampant throughout the region.

The Isleland government can't contain the situation anymore, and now even their general population knows about the existence of Specters.

"This news has caused rumors to spread wildly across Huaxia as well."

Fang Xiu nodded slightly. "It seems the timing is right. How's the preparation for the nationwide broadcast coming along?"

The Director replied, "Everything is ready. When do you want to begin?"

Fang Xiu's expression remained steady, his tone calm. "Start the signal adjustments. We'll go live in one hour."