Yellowstone National Park, located in the heart of North America, is home to a "super volcano." Its geological activity is intense; the subterranean magma contains vast amounts of silicon dioxide, which traps immense quantities of explosive gas. Once this gas-rich magma builds up, it can trigger a massive eruption.
The Yellowstone Super Volcano has an eruption cycle of roughly six hundred thousand years, and the volcano is currently in the midst of one.
Triggered by megaton-class nuclear weapons, the super volcano had begun its violent eruption. Its magma chamber—approximately seventy kilometers in diameter and ten kilometers thick—burst through the surface like a nuclear bomb, spewing out immense clouds of volcanic ash and debris.
Simultaneously, a host of active volcanoes on tropical island nations also began to erupt explosively, the roiling magma turning those regions into a molten Hell.
But Shen Feng wasn’t after the volcanic eruptions themselves, but rather the high-intensity earthquakes they would generate!
Massive earthquakes, magnitude 9 and above, began to rock these regions. Buildings in the surviving cities collapsed, the ground fissured, and bridges buckled, turning everything to ruins in a matter of minutes.
The destruction wrought by these great earthquakes far surpassed that of a conventional nuclear bomb. The tremors toppled the stone statues—ones that seemed built to last an eternity—knocking them to the ground where they were subsequently smashed to pieces by collapsing buildings and falling debris.
Although it was still unclear how much damage the statues needed to sustain to harm the Myriad Wills, since destruction was the goal, the more severe, the better.
"The major earthquakes are ongoing. Cities like Jakarta and Manila have been reduced to ruins, and aftershocks will persist. The seismic waves from around the globe should be detectable from your position. By preliminary estimates, these eruptions and earthquakes have destroyed... hmm, three to five hundred million statues. Of those, about two to three hundred million are completely obliterated," Jingwei’s voice reported. The available data was too limited, allowing for only a rough estimate.
Shen Feng’s brow furrowed at the numbers.
’Not enough. This is nowhere near enough...’
But this was to be expected. While humanity was concentrated in major cities, the population was still dispersed from a global perspective. To destroy a billion statues simultaneously would require direct nuclear strikes on several hundred cities at the very least.
He needed worldwide nuclear strikes, coupled with massive, planet-wide volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
He needed more nukes.
At this thought, Shen Feng said to Kuafu:
"I need more nuclear weapons. Are there any more in the vicinity?"
Though he still didn’t quite understand what the Savior intended to do, Kuafu pondered for a moment before replying:
"I once went on a hunting patrol to the south. Along the way, I discovered several similar abandoned military bases. They had a lot of... strategic nuclear weapons. But those places are far away. It would take several days to reach them even on horseback."
Jingwei’s voice cut in again:
"He’s correct. Satellite imagery shows a military base four hundred kilometers to the south. Then, to the west, there’s a missile launch facility about a thousand kilometers away. There are quite a few similar bases, but they are all hundreds of kilometers from here."
Shen Feng nodded and said to Kuafu:
"Excellent. There’s no time to waste. We leave now."
Though he didn’t understand what the Savior intended to do, Kuafu didn’t hesitate for a second. He immediately bellowed an order:
"Ready the horses! We’re moving out!"
Shen Feng raised a hand to stop him.
"It’s too far. The horses aren’t fast enough. We’ll be driving this time. I only need you to come with me. Leave a few guards here and send the rest of the apes back."
As he spoke, Jingwei was already directing the Gray Tide to finish repairing several military jeeps in the base, filling their tanks with reconstituted fuel.
The tires on the jeeps had been mostly flat, but the Gray Tide was now re-inflating them, simultaneously sealing every crack and fissure. In an instant, they were as good as new.
Humanoid figures coalesced from the Gray Tide sat in the driver’s seats, activated the vehicles’ electronics, and started the engines.
Witnessing this display from Shen Feng, which looked for all the world like Magic, Kuafu couldn’t help but smile in understanding. He turned to the Ape Cavalry and said:
"Long Teeth, Gray Face, Nut Shell, you three will stay. The rest of you, head back. I must accompany the Savior on a mission."
The three members of the Ape Cavalry he named beamed with joy. The others cast a lingering, reluctant glance at Shen Feng before obeying Kuafu’s command and riding off.
Meanwhile, Shen Feng pulled open the door to one of the jeeps, and he and Kuafu got in. The engine roared to life. The small convoy of jeeps charged out of the missile base and sped toward the next one.
Feeling the powerful roar of the engine and running his hands over the various items inside the military jeep, Kuafu’s eyes flashed with envy.
Then, with a self-deprecating laugh, he said:
"We Brain Apes call ourselves the successors to human civilization, but we can’t even fix a car. It’s shameful... We’re nothing more than a bunch of monkeys who wandered out of a zoo and into human society."
Shen Feng gazed out at the passing scenery and said:
"Don’t sell yourselves short. The main issue for the Brain Ape Race is its population size. Two thousand Brain Apes are not enough to establish a sophisticated division of labor. Besides, your current resources are more than sufficient, you have no natural predators, and you’re sitting on a virtually limitless supply of materials. No one is motivated to expend a great deal of effort on complex developments under those conditions."
Kuafu nodded and said:
"You’re right. That’s why I’m so desperate for the Brain Ape Race to grow... But perhaps it’s just the foolish dream of a monkey. The Brain Apes aren’t really a people or a civilization—just a dreamlike mutation..."
Shen Feng nodded in agreement as well.
’It seems my previous words have taken root in Kuafu’s mind. He’s starting to genuinely contemplate the future of the entire Brain Ape Race.’
’Will they die with the title of Brain Apes, or live on as human beings...’
Shen Feng looked up at the gloomy sky and said:
"But you must understand that even if you become human, you and your Ape Cavalry will become my warriors. I have a grand plan, one I’ve never shared with anyone else, but I can discuss it with you... Whether human or Brain Ape, we are all just pawns for some higher power. They treat Earth as their personal playground and battlefield. The existence of the Brain Apes was just an accident in their game... I’ve had enough. Perhaps it’s time for us pawns to strike back, to let these players understand that human civilization has fangs and claws of its own..."
He then turned to look at Kuafu and continued:
"Once I completely master the technology for traversing the Parallel Cosmos, and after the Brain Ape Race has become human, they will become a sharp blade in my hand. They will conquer unknown worlds for me... alongside other human soldiers, of course."
Kuafu stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, sat up straight, and nodded solemnly.
"I understand, Mr. Shen. The Brain Ape Race must prove its worth to earn the right to survive."
Shen Feng leaned back in his seat and gave a faint smile.
"I think you’ve already made your decision... But there’s no need to rush. Everything depends on me dealing with our current enemy and surviving... On another note, the massive super volcano eruptions will obscure the sun with ash, blocking its radiation. Global temperatures will plummet, ushering in a mini-ice age. This world might become a lot less hospitable. Prepare to relocate."
Kuafu let out a hearty laugh, seemingly infected by Shen Feng’s words. The ambitious chieftain in him resurfaced as he boomed:
"Understood, Mr. Shen! Honestly, ever since I first heard you describe the magnificent wonders of the Parallel Cosmos, I’ve been getting impatient..."
As the leader of the Brain Ape Race, he had been shackled by the weight of responsibility for too long. Now, having had this breakthrough, the boundless ambition in his heart surged forth once more.
Having been confined to this one world, he was filled with curiosity and anticipation for the realms Shen Feng described.
Even if great terrors lurked behind those worlds.
The jeeps were far faster than warhorses and required no rest, only the occasional stop for fuel.
A few hours later, they had left the ruins of the Capital City far behind and arrived at a new missile launch facility.
The Gray Tide around Shen Feng immediately began to surge, commencing its methodical process.
Detect. Repair. Activate. Launch.
One strategic nuclear missile after another soared into the sky, heading for new targets—more ruined cities and designated locations.
Seoul, Karachi, Cairo, Istanbul, and on and on.
A Hell of fire and radiation was about to be unleashed.
But Shen Feng had no time to rest. He got back in the jeep and sped toward the next missile facility.
If it were necessary—and if he had the power—he wouldn’t have minded blowing up the entire planet Earth.