Monsters Are Coming

Chapter 1373 - 357: On the Scientific Harvesting of Fear (2)

As for the potential risks of defying the world.No matter how rebellious the creatures of the Small World are, they are still vulnerable in the face of absolute Strength.

It’s just that the handling process might be a bit cumbersome.

The second plan is to take the stealth infiltration route.

The core idea is to use fear as bait, weaving a web through the hands of others.

The constructed horror experience venues will not reveal any connection to Extraordinary Power or any strong creatures from other worlds.

The advantage of this approach is that it aligns with the cognitive level of the Small World, avoiding turmoil in the reality layer.

Harvesting Shock Value continuously through voluntary participation.

The benefit is reducing operational complexity, using local creatures as fronts, with minimal interference once established.

It can even allow the native creatures responsible for operation to gain some benefits.

Appointing them as his agent in the Small World.

The premise of this model is that the creatures of the Small World enjoy seeking thrills, willing to experience the horror and thriller atmosphere through Horror Scenes.

If the creatures of the Small World have no demand for "horror-oriented" content.

The first plan might be simpler and more direct, attracting Challengers through benefits.

The third plan is more straightforward, which is to descend as the Destructive Demon King.

Bringing Destruction and death to the Small World.

The advantages and disadvantages of this plan are very extreme.

The advantage is gaining massive Shock Value returns in a short time.

But it’s not feasible for long-term operation.

The world destruction plan requires a large involvement of death and destructive Elements.

If it’s just mere "world-destroying intimidation," it might yield Shock Value initially, but when the creatures of the Small World realize it’s all thunder and no rain, it won’t be possible to continue harvesting Shock Value.

True world destruction, bringing absolute oppression to the Small World in Demon King form, still results in short-term gains.

The fear emotions from the struggling-to-survive creatures of the Small World will gradually lead to despair, numbness, even self-abandonment.

Might give an intense initial harvest, but eventually, the Small World will be essentially ruined.

Rebuilding the Small World to restore normal order is too cumbersome, requiring vast time and effort.

Thus, the "Destructive Demon King" plan falls under the category of exhausting the pond to catch the fish.

The pros and cons of the three plans are very clear, but Wei Shan hasn’t decided which to choose yet.

However, he leans more toward the first two plans.

He plans to play the Monster World game for a lifetime, so sustainable development is his primary consideration.

If a Small World is ruined within half a year, when the next Small World will appear is still unknown, and there’s no replacement for now.

So this Small World should be played cautiously.

Additionally, considering the impact that world destruction has on the conscience.

Although it’s just a game, the realism of Monster World has blurred the boundaries between virtual and reality.

The fear and desire to survive reflected in the eyes of creatures before they die show no trace of deceit.

Many times, he almost forgets this is a game.

As a player, he can indeed act recklessly, but he also has an ingrained sense of ethics.

Melting cities in magma, turning rivers blood red, making parents hug their children and cry desperately in ruins... just imagining those scenes feels too cruel to him.

He’s okay with using Nightmare Illusion Realm to harvest Shock Value; after all, it’s a mental experience that won’t truly take Life.

He’s also comfortable using violent means to plunder wealth, as the gain or loss of wealth is far lighter than the weight of Life.

But world destruction utterly crushes hope for an entire world, leaving countless innocent creatures without a foundation to exist.

For many players, this behavior doesn’t matter.

But in his view, it’s pure malicious release, followed by inevitable guilt.

Most importantly, he prefers the kind of Shock Value that can be repeatedly harvested, with multiple layers.

Thus, he decides to initially test the first two plans.

If it doesn’t work... then think of another way.

If truly necessary, being the Destructive Demon King for once isn’t impossible.

Time can wash away feelings of guilt.

With clear thoughts, Wei Shan begins to devise a detailed implementation plan, refining the framework into executable steps.

Many ideas are improved during the thinking process.

Next is the weaving of Horror Scenes.

For this aspect, he needs reference materials.

Wei Shan chooses to visit the Imperial Tomb Village library, browsing horror stories to use them as a blueprint for weaving Nightmare Illusion Realm.

Just as he sits down with a relevant book, a message pops up in his livestream:

Visitor No.1: No need to look up data, first consult Guidance for a detailed understanding of the culture and customs of the Small World.

Seeing that the message comes from the famous Visitor No.1, Wei Shan feels a solemn reverence.

Unexpectedly, in his unpopular livestream, there’s a visit from this forum legend.

But with curiosity in his heart, he can’t help but ask:

"Master, I don’t understand what you mean?"

Just voicing his doubt, Visitor No.1 sends a reply.

Visitor No.1: The essence of fear is cognitive shock; if you simply apply Earth’s horror system template, it might not fit the Small World’s conditions. You need to deconstruct and reorganize the native culture symbols of the Small World, turning them into blades that are both familiar and strange to them... For example, weave fear from the customs they revere, making them witness everything they trust devour them in the most familiar environment. This kind of fear based on cultural foundation touches the soul far more than fabricated Horror Scenes and can geometrically increase the efficiency of Shock Value harvesting...

After reading Visitor No.1’s analysis, Wei Shan suddenly comes to realization.