The Worldwide Special Events Coordination And Management Committee's broadcast was essentially an official declaration that supernatural phenomena indeed existed.
This news was earth-shattering, causing unprecedented turmoil on social media platforms worldwide—countless people in Europe and America frantically spread the broadcast's content using information tools.
Many families rushed to churches seeking refuge. Large supermarkets were filled with people panic-buying daily necessities. Even gun stores, both small and large, were crammed with European and American residents purchasing firearms and ammunition.
For a long time, church culture in European and American nations had been exceptionally strong, and many still believed in the existence of demons. Furthermore, the long-term effects of "happy education" had resulted in a low level of education for many Europeans and Americans. This, compounded by a large number of less-educated immigrants, led to plague-like riots erupting in major cities across Europe and America after the global broadcast ended.
Fortunately, the authorities in Europe and America weren't sitting idle. They had issued orders before the global broadcast: major cities immediately entered martial law, armored vehicles took to the streets, and the unrest was suppressed. They also arrested a large number of thieves and pickpockets looking to take advantage of the confusion, as well as individuals attempting to promote prophecies of Armageddon or end-times as part of pyramid schemes. Those who surfaced at such a time were either foolish, malicious, or both.
While European and American regions could still be controlled by local authorities, West Asia and North Africa were in even worse condition. Some militants seized the opportunity to stir up trouble, making the sounds of gunfire and explosions more intense than usual.
South Asia wasn't faring much better, where the chaos of street riots starkly contrasted with the government's slow response.
Interestingly, regions like Africa and Latin America did not experience such tumultuous unrest. Many residents there lacked internet or TV access and hadn't even received news of the Worldwide Special Events Coordination And Management Committee's impending broadcast. Even if they had, they lacked the energy or means to incite riots.
These areas were already unstable, with armed groups operating unchecked and violent conflicts occurring daily. It felt indistinguishable from the so-called supernatural disasters.
Truly dark humor.
As for East Asia, any unrest caused by the global broadcast was controlled by local authorities to a relatively low degree. After all, it was early morning in East Asia, and many people had not yet awakened. Even those who were awake generally stayed indoors as advised by official text messages, avoiding going out recklessly.
Amidst the chaos and confusion, the Yin City residents staying in temporary tents on the outskirts endured the turbulent Mid-Autumn night.
「The next morning,」
Li Ang lined up at the water supply point, obtained a bucket of water, and using the toothpaste and cup distributed by the shelter, he brushed his teeth at the designated area.
The shelter's management system was essentially equivalent to an emergency management system during natural disasters. Moreover, because the infrastructure both inside and outside the city was undamaged, vehicles transporting emergency supplies, as well as management and logistical personnel, arrived promptly and swiftly.
Around eight in the morning, the various shelters began to broadcast. The Special Affairs Bureau had established nearly a hundred such shelters, using tents and modular container houses on Yin City's outskirts. Neighboring cities also accommodated many Yin City residents.
The announcement stated that Yin City had been declared completely safe by the official scientific research team. Residents could return to the city by bus or by driving their own vehicles, according to a schedule.
Yin City is considered safe already... Li Ang, hidden among the crowd, thought. Either the Special Affairs Bureau has found a way to completely seal the Demon Prison, or they've confirmed that the Demon Prison has left Yin City.
After some thought, Li Ang felt the latter was more likely. According to the Drought Demon, the Demon Prison possessed self-awareness and was capable of sprouting legs to flee. Moreover, when the Drought Demon departed the prison, the intense solar heat it released had indeed inflicted heavy casualties on numerous demons. Maybe the Demon Prison has now fled to places like the Mariana Trench or the West Coast of America...
The real problem still lies with the Demon Tide... If the Demon Tide becomes too fierce, can the Special Affairs Bureau really hold it back? Li Ang was burdened with heavy thoughts, but he didn't let it show on his face. Instead, like the other Yin City residents listening to the broadcast, he showed a relieved expression.
According to the shelter's announcement, all residents were to return to Yin City in batches, under official supervision, to gradually resume their work and daily lives.
This process would likely take three to four days.
After the broadcast ended, Li Ang and the other residents returned to their tents.
Besides Li Ang, the tent housed two local Yin City families and four teenagers who were visiting for the city's comic convention.
Li Ang lay on the makeshift bed playing with his phone, browsing the internet. He could occasionally hear the neighboring families discussing in hushed tones.
Both families were quietly deliberating whether to return to Yin City or seek refuge in another city—the shelter center did not prevent residents who wished to leave Yin City.
The teenagers who had come for the comic convention were a mix of nervous panic and excited restlessness. Exposed to various creative works since childhood, they were familiar with concepts such as demons, immortals, superpowers, Spiritual Energy, martial arts, witchcraft, ninjutsu, and more. Knowing now that supernatural powers truly existed, how could they contain their restless hearts? They eagerly began collecting available online data about the Killzone Game, and freely shared their speculations on social media platforms (internet supervision units were especially busy at this time).
In the same tent, a teenager dressed in an anime costume sat on his bed and whispered to his companion, "Look, the official website of the Worldwide Special Events Coordination And Management Committee states that player eligibility for this Killzone Game is primarily determined by random selection via its System. According to currently available data from various countries, individuals with outstanding personal qualities have a higher probability of being randomly selected as players. I think I can."
"You can do jack squat," a teenager with a buzz cut rolled his eyes. "Did you ever pass the five-year college entrance exams or the three-year simulation tests? Have you passed the physical fitness tests at school? Have you fully developed in terms of moral, intellectual, physical, artistic, and labor education? You're perennially bronze rank in Honor of Kings, can't land a shot in chicken-eating games, and your screen is always black and white in the League. With that kind of skill, if you became a player, you'd just be cannon fodder."
"Damn it," the anime-clad teenager retorted, clearly annoyed. "As if you could be a player."
"I never said I could," replied the buzz-cut teenager, smirking. "Without a Vajra Drill, don't take on a ceramic job. To wear the Wang Guan, one must bear its weight. I have a good measure of my own capabilities. If I were really asked to give up my current, relatively peaceful life for one lived on the razor's edge, I wouldn't do it."