Chapter 100: First-Rank Sorcery - Fear Aura

Chapter 100: First-Rank Sorcery - Fear Aura

"Monster!"

"A monster is breaking in!"

"..."

A panicked cry echoed within the Dragon King Merchant Guild's headquarters, though no one knew when it had started.

Several merfolk scaled the courtyard walls and rushed into the compound.

Although the knights swiftly dispatched them, the commotion they caused was far from minor.

More and more merfolk were gathering outside, quietly amassing and beginning to charge at the compound's main gate.

"Report!"

Someone came running in a hurry:

"The Sea God Guild's headquarters has fallen, and the Scythe Brotherhood can no longer hold them back. We request assistance."

"Reinforcements?" Emma scoffed:

"Even if we put the past aside, we can't save ourselves, let alone help them."

"Lula!"

"What should we do now?"

Although in her eyes, her daughter Lula was weak-willed, unlike the Dragon King Zimorman, she was very smart.

When faced with problems, she handled them more steadily than Emma herself.

"Due to the fog, the situation in the city is still unclear."

Lula pondered, her eyes narrowed:

"We don't know how many merfolk have landed, where they came from, why they are attacking Free Harbor, or if there are other strange creatures."

"However..."

"If the Sea God Guild and the Scythe Brotherhood can't hold them back, we most likely won't last long either."

She straightened up and spoke in a low voice:

"Has the Lord of Sodan's Manor been contacted? Why hasn't he sent troops to suppress the situation?"

"Gather all our people. If we really can't hold them back, we'll temporarily retreat..."

"Free Harbor supplies nearly seventy percent of the sea goods to Duke Ferdinand's territory, and its importance is irreplaceable. He will never ignore this."

"Send someone out of the city to inform the Duke of the situation. Even if we can't hold the compound, as long as we can hold out until reinforcements arrive, we can still reclaim Free Harbor."

At this moment, Lula displayed the aura of a leader, making various arrangements in an orderly fashion.

Her decisions were impeccable.

"Boom!"

A loud noise came from the west side of the compound, and the exclamations and shouts that followed caused the faces of those in the hall to change.

Had they been breached so quickly?

Rushing out of the meeting hall, the entire compound was now brightly lit by countless torches.

The western stone wall had collapsed, and several thick, black tentacles were wildly flailing, ensnaring numerous figures.

These tentacles were as thick as a person's embrace, and with a casual wrap around, they effortlessly tossed aside the Dragon King's guards.

"Haa!"

Emma took the lead, rushing forward and planting her feet firmly on the ground. The ground beneath her feet rippled, and countless vines burst forth, entwining the black tentacles.

"Rumble..."

The intertwined vines covered the tentacles and pulled downward with force.

"Boom!"

A terrifying creature was pulled out from the darkness.

"Squid...?"

"Octopus...?"

Everyone was astonished. No one had ever seen a creature of such a terrifying size, whether it was a squid or an octopus.

Its massive head resembled a small mountain, and its dozens of tentacles formed a web-like pattern, each one as thick as a tree trunk, writhing like a group of frenzied giant snakes.

Its skin was a deep, dark black, as if it could devour the surrounding light, making it difficult to discern its true appearance. Its body was covered in countless eyes of various sizes, like stars in the night sky, but with an eerie, uncanny twist.

Each tentacle, several dozen meters long, was covered in sharp suckers, each one like a toothed maw that could easily tear prey apart.

As its true form came into view, an indescribable sense of oppression and fear washed over them.

It was like death had arrived, causing the Dragon King's guards to scatter and flee, unable to mount any resistance.

"Rumble..."

The tentacles rose, and with their immense strength, the vines shattered, causing Emma to lean back, her face paling instantly.

"A legendary creature!"

Lula's eyes narrowed:

"All together!"

Before she could finish her sentence, a figure beside her transformed into a wisp of mist and shot towards the monster.

Crow!

Crow was not just a person's name but also a Supreme Seal.

Supreme Seal - Fog Crow! Its body could transform into mist, gathering and dispersing at will, giving it a significant advantage even against stronger opponents.

Its only weakness was its relatively weak attack power.

"Swish!"

Crow's hands, equipped with sharp claws, slashed across the monster's tentacles, tearing open a long gash.

However...

In the face of the monster's terrifying size, the gash seemed insignificant.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, Crow was knocked back.

As he was about to fall heavily, his body transformed into mist, gathering and reforming nearby.

"Be careful!"

Crow's face showed fear:

"Its body emanates a terrifying power."

The power of fear? Karl, holding his sword, charged forward, his body and mind suddenly filled with a sense of danger.

Danger!

Danger!

...

An uncontrollable sense of panic emerged, causing his heart to race, his mouth to go dry, and his sword-wielding hands to feel weak.

This was...

First Rank Sorcery - Fear Aura! The monster might not have been a wizard, but this mental and physical effect was similar to what was described in the books.

"Careful!"

With a low cry, Karl had no time to think further. His body transformed, growing to a height of five meters, as he swung his sword with the weight of his fear.

Combat Aura - Gale Slash!

The heavy sword shadow, enveloped in gray stone-like petrification power, collided with the approaching tentacles.

The monster's massive size and destructive power were terrifying, and he was no match for it.

So...

Zero-Ring Spell - Minor Force Field!

Zero-Ring Spell - Gravity Distortion!

Zero-Ring Spell - Water Vortex!

Enchanted Artifact - Gravity Control!

Various spells and enchanted artifacts were cast in unison, thanks to the increase in mental power, the power of Zero-Ring Spell was also enhanced, and the cumulative effects of multiple spells could even affect legendary creatures.

The wildly dancing tentacles suddenly slowed down.

"Bang!"

"Bang, bang!"

The loud noise reverberated in the area, Karl's muscles were tense, and he still had to retreat step by step.

If it weren't for the weakening effects of the spells, he would have been severely injured on the spot.

The suckers and sharp teeth on the tentacles were frantically gnawing at the giant sword, emitting a crisp cracking sound, which was even more chilling.

'This is bad!'

'Even with the spells weakening it, its power is still far beyond mine, and this thing is even immune to petrification!'

Karl gritted his teeth and struggled to support himself, his eyes darted back and forth, and various analytical data flashed through his mind.

If it was a one-on-one fight, he had no chance of winning.

Meanwhile...

"Go!"

Lula's hand produced a huge cleaver, and together with Odysseus, they slashed towards the monster's tentacles.

Numerous vines descended from the sky, coiling tightly around the monster.

Crow attacked the monster's eyes.

"Roar!"

A terrifying roar exploded in the air, several people were knocked away, and the vines shattered into countless fragments.

The rolling sound waves seemed to be tangible, sweeping across the entire residence, and the windows of the nearby houses were completely shattered.

Compared to Karl, the others were even less able to withstand the impact, and they were knocked away with just one touch.

Fortunately, this was the residence of the Dragon King Merchant Guild, stocked with various powerful weapons, including some that could heavily damage legendary creatures.

"Shoot!"

"Boom..."

A powerful crossbow, which required several people to pull its string, trembled violently, and several-meter-long arrows shot out with a flash of electricity.

"Puff!"

"Puff, puff!"

The monster's body leaned back, and its head was instantly pierced by several arrows, blue blood gushing out.

But that wasn't all.

"Boom!"

The gunpowder hidden in the arrows exploded, instantly enveloping the monster's entire head, causing it to let out a miserable scream.

"Fire!"

Lula's eyes lit up:

"It's weak against fire!"

Although the previous attacks from several people caused some injuries, but to the monster, they were all insignificant.

The exploding flames instantly dealt heavy damage to it.

There was no reason for such a huge disparity in the effectiveness of the attacks, the flames must have had an additional effect on it.

"Bang!"

The ground trembled, and Karl was the first to make a change.

Fire Seal!

"Whoosh..."

Two flames appeared on the giant sword in his hand, and he slashed at the monster's tentacles.

"Puff!"

Accompanied by the sound of burning, a section of the tentacle fell heavily to the ground, the suckers and sharp teeth on it still wriggling.

Indeed, the flames had an additional effect.

Just now, even the petrification spell had little effect on the monster, but the flames could easily sever its tentacles.

"Go!"

Lula roared, wrapping a burning cloth around her cleaver, and together with the others, they charged towards the monster.

Burning vines, splashing oil, and a swarm of attacks enveloped the monster.

"Bang!"

"Boom..."

The sound of collisions continued.

The monster, enveloped in flames, wailed continuously, its numerous tentacles wildly flailing, wreaking havoc in the guild residence.

Its size was too terrifying, comparable to a small mountain, and it was impossible to burn it all at once.

Only Karl could stand up to it head-on.

The others could only assist from the side.

Combat Technique - Sacred Judgment!

The flames danced and spun in the air, slashing into the monster's body, and a terrifying power burst forth.

"Boom!"

The mountain-like monster was lifted into the air.

After a long period of fighting and maintaining gigantism, Karl's body trembled, and he felt weak and exhausted.

At this time, the power of the Sea Whale Bell rang out within him, and another surge of power emerged within his body.

"Again!"

"Boom!"

"Boom, boom..."

After a long while...

Karl shrank back to his normal size, his body trembled, and his face turned pale.

"Is a legendary creature really that powerful?"

Several grand knights, over a hundred knights, and various powerful weapons in the entire residence, and they almost couldn't take down the monster.

Looking around, almost half of the vast residence had turned into ruins, and countless knights and their squires had lost their lives.

If legendary creatures were so strong, how were they hunted in the past? It's impossible for an entire force to mobilize every time they go to sea, right?

"No," Crow, tall and thin, rarely spoke, shook his head at this time.

"Ordinary legendary creatures are not nearly as strong, and creatures from the sea are even weaker when they come ashore."

"This time, we met an exception!"

"Karl, you take the last strike," Lula signaled.

According to the rules of the sea, whoever delivers the final blow to the prey gets the priority choice.

Karl nodded.

At this time, the monster's dozens of tentacles had been severed, and the remaining body was covered in burns, only its instincts were left to wriggle.

But as long as one got close, they could still feel the bone-chilling fear.

"Puff!"

Karl suppressed the fear in his heart, thrusting his greatsword, and as the blade stirred, the monster gradually stopped struggling.

At the moment of the monster's death, a familiar aura surged into his sea of consciousness, causing Karl's face to change slightly.

Hmm? Essence?

Before he could carefully discern it, a loud boom came from the residence's entrance, and countless merfolk roared as they charged in.

"Hold them back!"

"It's no use!"

Despair filled Lula's eyes.

After the monsters' rampage, the Dragon King Merchant Guild suffered heavy casualties, and the power of several Grand Knights had sharply declined.

It was almost impossible to mount a strong resistance against the invading Merfolk.

Moreover...

It seemed that another Legendary Creature was approaching from behind, and among the Merfolk, some were as formidable as Grand Knights.

"Let's go!"

"Let's leave this place first."

Amidst the chaos, taking advantage of the darkness and the fog, Karl swiftly stored the corpse of the Legendary Creature in the Fragment of the Divine Domain.

Then they hastily fled.

---

Essence: 0.2

It wasn't an illusion!

Karl's expression grew grave. When he killed that Legendary Creature, a surge of energy had flooded into his Spirit Sea.

That energy was indeed Essence!

'Killing a Legendary Creature actually grants Essence? Or does the LegendaryCreature itself contain Essence?'

'Or...'

'Maybe that Legendary Creature was special?'

If killing Legendary Creatures could grant Essence, then there would be another way to obtain it.

For him now, Legendary Creatures were still too powerful, but perhaps in the future, he could hunt them easily.

'Could it be that besides beings related to Deities, Legendary Creatures also possess Essence? Or perhaps this Legendary Creature has the bloodline of a Deity?'

"Uncle."

Aya's voice interrupted Karl's thoughts.

She was wrapped in a thin blanket, huddled close, her eyes flickering. After a moment of consideration, she spoke softly:

"I think I saw Lyon."

"Hmm?"

Karl snapped back to reality:

"An illusion, right?"

"Lyon died from the Aquatic Plague a long time ago, and you still can't accept it?"

"No." Aya shook her head, speaking in a low voice:

"It was a Merfolk."

"Though it had changed, I feel the Merfolk was Lyon. I... wouldn't be wrong."

Karl turned his head to look at Aya.

Aya's face was serious, not at all like someone whose mind was confused, but what she said was too absurd to believe.

"It's impossible..."

"I wouldn't be wrong!"

Aya clenched her teeth:

"Lyon and I grew up together, eating and sleeping together. Even if he changed, I would recognize him."

"Would he recognize you?" Karl asked.

Aya fell silent.

She had shouted Lyon's name desperately, but received no response, nearly getting killed instead.

Even so.

"It's not wrong, not wrong. That was Lyon, the Merfolk... even if Lyon changed."

"Uncle, I know you don't believe me."

She turned her body, lowering her voice:

"I was skeptical at first, but just now I heard a few people say that Miss Lula's brother turned into a Merfolk."

"Brother?" Karl frowned:

"The former President's son who died from the Aquatic Plague?"

"He didn't die; he was kept in a water tank using a special method, somewhere else." Aya said:

"A few days ago, he turned into a Merfolk."

Karl's eyes narrowed.

If Aya was telling the truth, then the sudden appearance of Merfolk in the Endless Ocean had an explanation.

People who suffered from the Aquatic Plague turned into Merfolk!

Bloodline Wizardry?

No, it was the power of a Demon God!

Some Demon God had been silently converting normal people into Merfolk.

Karl's voice was hoarse:

"Aya, do you know how many people are thrown into the water each year because of the Aquatic Plague?"

"I don't know the exact number, but people get it every day. On bad days, it can be dozens or even hundreds." Aya counted on her fingers:

"Over the decades..."

Her face turned deathly pale, her eyes losing focus, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

Hundreds of thousands!

At least hundreds of thousands!

With such a number of Merfolk, not to mention in Karl's original world, without the intervention of a Deity, they could easily destroy a kingdom, and even Legendary Knights couldn't change the outcome.

"Swish!"

Karl stood up, his eyes piercing through the fog to the Free Harbor.

He had originally thought that although the Merfolk's attack on Free Harbor was strange, they would ultimately return to the Endless Ocean.

Humans were the true masters of this land, and they only needed to temporarily avoid the conflict.

But now,

they might lose Free Harbor forever.

There would be no Water Monkeys, no Rampage Potion, and no Divine Blessing...

No!

He had to do something!

...

At the Scythe Brotherhood's base.

A massive White Snake, dozens of meters long, crashed to the ground, its house-sized head rolling off its body.

The Brotherhood's leader, Aheng, holding a giant scythe, landed lightly, his expression not much better.

Among the leaders of the three major forces, he was the weakest.

Fortunately, the Supreme Seal Black Flame on his body could directly burn the opponent's life force, giving him an advantage against Legendary Creatures.

With many Grand Knights in the Brotherhood, they could barely hold against the overwhelming Merfolk.

Taking a deep breath, Aheng spoke in a muffled voice:

"What's the situation at the Lord's residence?"

"President," one of them sighed, "Several Legendary Creatures appeared near the Lord's residence. Our people can't get close."

"Even if they get in, they can't get out."

In short, no reinforcements had been found, and no news had returned.

"President."

The Second Elder, Berd, his eyes darting, spoke up:

"Shall I go?"

"You?" Aheng frowned, then nodded:

"Fine, you must bring reinforcements. If the Lord doesn't act, we can't hold much longer."

"Understood."

Berd's face was serious:

"I will bring reinforcements."

With that, he turned and leaped out of the base.

Outside, the fog obscured his vision, but it didn't affect Berd, who knew the Free Harbor like the back of his hand.

The figure flickered and instead of heading towards the lord's mansion, he made his way directly to his own residence.

Screams and wails filled the air everywhere.

The area around his residence was no exception.

"Hmm!"

"Going to find the lord?"

"If the lord could repel the merfolk, he would have taken action by now. The lord's mansion is probably already breached."

"Free Harbor is done for. I should leave early and find another way out. Staying here is just waiting for death."

With a change of mind, he leaped into the backyard, killing several mindless merfolk along the way.

"Chirp chirp..."

He took out a whistle from his pocket and blew into it.

Not long after,

The guards hidden in the courtyard emerged, with Little Jasmine in her red robe, protected by the others, standing in the center.

They looked panicked, but upon seeing Berd, they seemed to find their backbone, and their eyes steadied.

"Father!"

"Mhm."

Berd nodded to his daughter:

"Quickly pack your things. We're leaving Free Harbor."

"Ah!"

Little Jasmine's face paled:

"Is the situation that dire?"

Leaving Free Harbor meant abandoning decades of accumulated wealth and possessions.

"The Sea God Guild and the Dragon King Merchant Guild's headquarters have already been overrun by those monsters. The Scythe Brotherhood is no exception." Berd waved his hand:

"Time is of the essence. Don't ask so many questions. Hurry and pack what you can, and let's get going."

"..." Little Jasmine nodded, turned, and with the protection of the guards, rushed towards the warehouse.

Watching the group's backs, Berd stroked his chin and leaped towards a corner of the courtyard.

There was an inconspicuous room here, which looked like a storage room. Due to its location in the backyard, few people came by, and it was surrounded by overgrown weeds.

"Squeak..."

Berd pushed open the door and, after a quick scan to ensure no one was around, he slipped into the room.

He knocked on the wall bricks in a specific pattern, and in the corner, a thick section of the floor suddenly flipped up.

Seeing this, a hint of joy appeared on Berd's face. As long as these items were here, he could live a comfortable life even if he left Free Harbor.

"Tsk tsk..."

Just then, a light tsk sound came from the direction of the door, and a tall figure blocked the doorway:

"No wonder I couldn't find it after searching for so long. You've hidden all the good stuff here?"

"You..." Berd spun around, his eyes narrowing:

"Karl!"

"It's me." Karl nodded, slowly drawing his waist sword:

"Second Elder Berd, I believe this is our first time meeting alone?"

"What a pity!"

"Buzz..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a bright light suddenly appeared before his eyes, and it was a minor force field spell—Zero-Ring Spell! Gravity Control! Enchanted Artifact—Gravity Control! And beneath his feet, a water vortex appeared, pulling my swiftly:

"I'm here to help you, Hawk!"

Secret Technique—Gigantism! "Boom!"

A five-meter-tall giant appeared in the courtyard, wielding two three-meter-long giant swords and charging forward.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end