Category: This Necromancer Wants to Capture the Hearts of Deceased Beautiful Girls

Chapter 70: I’ll Pass

Abyss had no interest in the crystal.

He had initially considered taking it, thinking it wouldn’t hurt, but having successfully fought two Outer Gods, he quickly sensed something amiss.

Why had the information about the crystal’s value suddenly appeared in his mind? Why was he, usually decisive, experiencing such a desperate urge to take it?

The answer was obvious: it wasn’t his own thought but the Outer God’s usual tactic: mental suggestion.

This mental suggestion lured mortals down a dark path, offering them a taste of power. They would become increasingly convinced of their righteousness, gradually accepting the Outer God as their true master.

Mortals had a knack for self-deception. When they believed their actions were justified, or refused to admit their mistakes, they would constantly reassure themselves. At this stage, the Outer Gods didn’t even need to continue their suggestions; the mortals would chain themselves to the Outer God’s ship, refusing to leave.

But Abyss wasn’t an ordinary mortal. He lacked their greed and wouldn’t be tempted by such paltry gains. Accepting the Outer God’s power without first conquering him would make him a slave, not a master, forever trapped within the Outer God’s grasp.

“Sorry, Lord of Bullying, I don’t want your power. Give it to someone else, just not me. I’m leaving this lovely place to rejoin my companions. Please don’t stop me,” Abyss announced to the empty stands, bypassing the floating crystal and walking towards the arena exit.

He stepped through the doorway without hesitation. He had nothing to lose. If the Lord of Nightmares wanted to harm him, he would have done so already. He wasn’t afraid of this unknown doorway. Outer Gods couldn’t directly influence this world; the rules set by the Creator God – the world’s rejection of foreign entities – was his greatest protection.

Abyss vanished through the exit. The jeers in the arena gradually subsided. The crystal, formed from the fish-man leader, lost its buoyancy and sank to the ground.

The seawater in the arena slowly receded, not draining through any system, but simply disappearing. The arena became dry. The marks from the fight and the bloodstains vanished, as if nothing had happened.

“Heh heh heh…”

A deep, booming laughter suddenly echoed through the arena.

…

Abyss, passing through the doorway, saw a flash of blinding white light before the scene shifted.

He was back in the underwater temple. The first thing he saw were the bodies of several fish-men floating in the water, clearly killed while he was in the arena.

“Abyss!”

Leona’s joyful cry reached his ears. Before he could respond, a small body slammed into his side, a tiny cannonball of force, followed by a pair of small arms wrapping around his waist.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Abyss looked down to see Leona’s silver head. He patted her head. “Did I pass out or something?”

“You suddenly disappeared! With that big fish-man!” Leona looked up, her face slightly flushed with anger. “Where did you go? Why didn’t you tell us? We were so worried!”

“Ah, sorry, it wasn’t my choice. That fish-man used the tooth given to him by the Lord of Bullying to pull me into an arena-like place for a forced duel,” Abyss explained, glancing towards the inner chamber. Flora, standing inside, seemed relieved, giving him a charming smile.

“You’re back?” Rebecca’s voice echoed in his mind. “You scared us to death, you know? Leona was frantic, almost crying. Flora had to comfort her.”

“I wasn’t! I didn’t! Don’t lie!” Leona protested.

“It’s okay, I’m back now. That fish-man leader was utterly defeated in our duel. According to the arena’s rules, he was transformed into a crystal as my spoils of war, but I didn’t want it, so I came back,” Abyss explained through the mind link. “How are you guys doing?”

“I wanted to search for you in the surrounding waters, but Flora and Rebecca stopped me,” Leona, seemingly realizing her embrace was a bit too clingy, blushed and released him. “Flora said she believed you’d be fine and that we should wait, and Rebecca suggested we take care of things while you were gone so you wouldn’t have to worry. I had no choice but to listen to them.”

“You did well. You can rest assured now; I’m perfectly fine, thanks to the potion Rebecca gave me,” Abyss ruffled Leona’s hair, which felt exceptionally soft in the seawater.

“You used the potion?” Rebecca’s voice was filled with surprise. “That’s great! It seems all those contingencies I considered weren’t in vain. Was the enemy strong? Was one potion enough?”

“Just enough. I tricked him near the end, making him think I had plenty more, so he surrendered,” Abyss chuckled. “The enemy was incredibly strong and fast. I’ll tell you the details later. If it weren’t for that potion, I might be dead.”

“Sigh, it’s still my fault. I’ll improve the formula and extend its duration next time,” Rebecca sighed.

“You’ve already done an amazing job condensing such a powerful potion into such a small pill, Rebecca.”

If the deceased fish-man leader, whose soul had been devoured by his master, could hear this conversation, he might be resurrected from sheer rage. Only part of what Abyss had told him was true; the “I have plenty more potions” part was a complete lie. To conserve space in his ring, he only had one, and it was nearly expired. Unwilling to kill, Abyss had chosen to deceive his opponent, forcing him to abandon all hope and accept his demise.

“By the way, how are things here? Are the victims alright? What about the root? How did these fish-men die?” Abyss asked, glancing curiously at the floating corpses.

Chapter 69: Abyss, the Master Negotiator

Thud!

Abyss punched the fish-man leader again, sending him flying. Battered and bruised, his strength was greatly diminished. This was with Abyss holding back; otherwise, he would already be dead.

Abyss, standing opposite, gently rubbed his nose. The fish-man leader’s attacks were frantic. Even with Abyss’s enhanced reflexes, he hadn’t been entirely unscathed. The fish-man leader had landed a punch on his nose, thankfully not breaking it, but it still stung.

Abyss felt no pity for the fish-man. Despite his current pathetic state, resembling a desperate warrior, he had been quite smug while sacrificing those innocent peasants. Abyss hadn’t forgotten the mutilated victims in the temple chamber.

“I will win… the Lord will grant me power…” The fish-man leader’s eyes were filled with despair, repeating the mantra like a self-soothing delusion.

“I think I’ve figured out your master’s personality, my fish-man friend,” Abyss said suddenly, a smile playing on his lips, just as the cornered fish-man leader prepared for another desperate charge.

“What do you mean?” The fish-man leader hesitated, eyeing Abyss warily. He wanted a moment to rest.

“I said, I’ve figured out your master’s personality,” Abyss shrugged. “I advise you to stop resisting. As you said, only one of us can survive. I don’t want to die, so it has to be you. I’m guessing if you give up, you’ll be painlessly executed by your master, right?”

“I don’t want to die either! There are still riches and glory waiting for me; I haven’t enjoyed them yet!” The fish-man leader snarled. “You want me to just wait for death? Your potion must have a time limit, and I will eventually receive the Lord’s aid…”

“Your master despises the weak, my friend,” Abyss laughed. “Even I, an outsider, can see that. He’s the Lord of Bullying; his philosophy is survival of the fittest. How can a loser like you expect his help?”

The fish-man leader stared at Abyss, eyes wide with shock and anger, speechless.

“Let me guess, your promised riches and glory came from your Pope or some such figure, right? Endless wealth and supreme status if you successfully contaminate the Sacred Tree. But have you considered why he would actually give it to you?” Abyss lowered his voice. “You followers of the Lord of Bullying can accumulate power, right? If I were the one making the promise, guess what? I’d give you some power, let you grow stronger, but not too strong. Once you’ve accumulated enough, I’d eliminate you. Reap what you sow.”

Abyss’s words stunned the fish-man leader, his faith shattering like a rock subjected to extreme temperature changes.

“And you don’t really think I only have one potion, do you?” Abyss stuck out his tongue. “You’re so naive. I have plenty. If you want, I can torture you for eternity. But let me remind you, your ending will be the same: defeated by me, then eliminated by your god.”

The fish-man leader wasn’t stupid; he knew Abyss was using psychological warfare. But even knowing this, he couldn’t prevent despair from consuming him.

Every word Abyss spoke made sense… He seemed truly trapped.

His only chance was to defeat Abyss and, with the Lord of Bullying’s grace, seize the powerful Druid’s power. But that required defeating him.

Impossible! The fish-man leader hadn’t anticipated such a powerful potion. Facing this predicament, the once high-ranking “High Priest” was helpless.

His fighting spirit evaporated, replaced by icy despair.

He felt his limbs numbing, losing sensation. The pain from his injuries intensified, as if conspiring to torment him. He wanted to scream, to clutch his wounds, but he was utterly drained of strength.

“Listen to me, old friend. It’s not too late to surrender,” Abyss smiled, his eyes cold. “You must pay for your crimes, and now is your chance. Don’t let it slip away…”

“Boo…”

Boos rained down from the invisible audience in the stands, cursing in their unknown language. Abyss couldn’t understand them, but the fish-man leader could. His expression grew more desperate, the light in his eyes fading to ashes…

Flames erupted from the fish-man leader’s ears, eyes, and gills, burning brightly in the seawater. Bubbles formed and popped as the flames enveloped his entire body.

The audience howled like wolves, still cursing the fish-man leader in their unknown tongue. The noise assaulted Abyss’s ears.

Ooooh… A deep horn blared, and the drums beat fiercely.

The bubbles vanished, and in the fish-man leader’s place, a diamond-shaped crystal floated, larger than the ones Abyss had received from the merchant, radiating a beautiful multicolored glow, like a star within reach. A glowing doorway silently opened in the arena wall.

This was the crystallization of the fish-man leader’s power, containing the essence of the many sea creatures he had consumed. Absorbing it would grant immense power, making one the master of the ocean. The dangers of the Stormy Sea would transform into infinite possibilities, and nothing on the planet could stop Abyss.

Absorbing it would be immensely beneficial. Even if the power was tainted by the Outer God, it was worth taking, not out of greed, but for the greater good.

Abyss smiled, stepping forward. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Let’s see how powerful it is.”

He reached for the crystal without hesitation.

But just as his fingers brushed against it, he pulled back.

“Ah, well… not yet.”

He placed his hands behind his back, grinning at the empty stands.

Chapter 68: Unorthodox Tactics

In a flash, the fish-man leader’s claws attacked again. He aimed viciously at Abyss’s groin, attempting a decisive blow.

Abyss wouldn’t allow it. Though unable to move quickly in the water, his limbs were free. He brought his legs together, protecting his vulnerable area, then kicked the fish-man leader in the face.

The fish-man leader was kicked squarely but managed to leave several deep scratches on Abyss’s thigh. Blood gushed from the wounds.

“Heh heh!” A ferocious grin spread across the fish-man leader’s face. Though sent flying by Abyss’s counterattack, he had achieved a significant victory – he had injured Abyss’s leg!

In the water, such wounds wouldn’t close easily! Abyss was already struggling against the fish-man leader’s agility underwater; the blood loss would only weaken him further.

The fish-man leader saw victory within his grasp.

So what if he was a powerful Druid? No matter his mastery of magic or Dou Qi, within this “Divine Arena,” he had to abide by the rules! In terms of pure physical strength, the fish-man leader was confident; a mere human couldn’t possibly defeat him!

Abyss, however, wasn’t fazed by his injured leg. The recoil from his kick had pushed him back, creating distance between him and the fish-man leader.

As the fish-man leader smugly adjusted his posture, preparing to charge again, Abyss did something unexpected.

He pressed a ring on his finger. A faint click echoed, accompanied by a stream of tiny bubbles, as a gem on the ring flipped open like a pocket watch.

A tiny pill, the size of a fish egg, fell out. Abyss caught it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed without hesitation.

The fish-man leader was dumbfounded.

The wounds on Abyss’s leg instantly closed, new flesh growing over them. A glint flashed in his eyes as his body surged with power!

“You! What did you do!?” the fish-man leader cried out in alarm.

“Me?” Abyss pointed at himself, smiling. “I didn’t do anything, just took a potion to enhance my physical abilities, within the rules you set. Oh, you probably haven’t seen potions in pill form, have you? Shall I explain?”

“You! You cheated!” The fish-man leader’s smugness turned to anxiety.

Abyss spread his hands innocently. “That’s not fair. I didn’t cheat. Your rules forbade Dou Qi, magic, and Divine Arts, not potions. And look, I successfully consumed the potion, and it worked.”

The fish-man leader erupted in curses. “You despicable villain! Coward! You’re fighting dirty!”

“I’m not sure who’s more despicable, but I think you should worry about your own safety rather than our moral standing – here I come.”

Abyss grinned, kicking off with incredible force, propelling himself forward at astonishing speed!

The potion in Abyss’s ring was, of course, specially prepared by Rebecca. The pill was stored in a hollow ring, a popular accessory among Necromancers for carrying bone dust for bone magic. Abyss now used it for potions.

This potion was Rebecca’s masterpiece. It instantly healed external injuries and significantly enhanced muscle strength, physical resilience, and reaction speed. After consuming it, Abyss’s physical strength rivaled a seasoned mid-tier Dou Qi Master, not to mention his vastly improved reflexes.

This was one of Rebecca’s trump cards for Abyss in critical situations. Thanks to her masterful craftsmanship, its potency was undiminished.

Wham!

Before the fish-man leader could react, Abyss’s fist slammed into his face! The force sent him spinning uncontrollably in the water. His face numbed, his neck nearly snapped by the torque, sending jolts of pain through his spine. He saw stars, his mind a blur.

Crack!

Abyss gave him no chance to recover. While the fish-man leader was still spinning, he stomped down hard on his claws.

The fish-man leader’s body, ultimately biological, had sharp, incredibly hard claws, but they could still be broken with sufficient force from the side. Abyss’s stomp shattered both claws at their base, blood gushing from the wounds.

Only then did the pain in his face register. Abyss’s punch had been powerful, and the rings on his fingers, normally inscribed with magic arrays for spellcasting, now served as deadly knuckle dusters.

Before the fish-man leader could cry out, Abyss delivered a swift kick to his chest.

“Ugh!” The fish-man leader screamed, teeth flying from his mouth, trailing blood as he slammed against the arena wall.

The invisible audience roared in savage approval, unconcerned with who had the upper hand. Abyss’s precise, brutal attacks seemed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Abyss, using his enhanced strength, quickly regained his balance. He coldly regarded the fish-man leader, who was struggling to get up, eyes bloodshot.

He didn’t want to kill him. Even though the enemy was no longer human, as a sentient being, he still fell under the Necromancer’s creed.

But Abyss had to win.

“I’ll kill you! I will leave this place alive! I still have treasures and women to enjoy! I can’t die like this! The Lord will grant me power! You’re doomed!” The fish-man leader roared hysterically, blood dripping from his mouth, charging at Abyss again!

Chapter 67: The Outer God’s Arena

“Where is this place?”

Abyss couldn’t see the fish-man leader but remained calm, asking loudly.

“Druid! You might be strong, but you’ve lost! Lost to your own arrogance! Did you think I, the High Priest of the Lord of Bullying, wouldn’t have a contingency plan to deal with you?”

The fish-man leader’s voice was filled with arrogance. His naturally sharp, grating voice was even more unpleasant now. But Abyss wasn’t angered; he looked up, searching for the fish-man leader with interest.

“Since you say you have a plan to deal with me, can you tell me what it is?”

The fish-man leader, seemingly anticipating Abyss’s lack of fear, said, “Hmph, it seems you haven’t considered your current situation. Do you recognize this place?”

“Yes, it’s an arena, something ancient people enjoyed. Even now, the Western Empire still holds duels of honor in ancient arenas,” Abyss nodded honestly.

“You’re trapped in this space created by my Lord’s divine power, with no escape. To leave, you must defeat me in a fair duel…” The fish-man leader’s voice lowered slightly. “The victor will gain the loser’s power. Conversely, the loser will become nourishment for the victor, body and soul!”

“Why bother? Can’t you just defeat me?” Abyss shrugged, asking.

“Because this duel has rules! And I make the rules!” The fish-man leader’s voice boomed, deafeningly loud. “Druid, you’re strong, but if I restrict your abilities, how strong can you be? Don’t you Druids love nature? Now, I’ll let you fight against true natural power!”

Abyss, hearing this, seemed to realize something. He tried to access his magic reserves but found them sealed. Even his Dou Qi, amplified by Leona, was stagnant within his muscles, unusable.

“This is a one-on-one duel, taking place in the depths of the sea. The match ends when one party loses the ability to fight. The loser will be executed by the power of the Lord of Bullying, their power offered to the victor as nourishment.”

The fish-man leader began announcing the rules.

Abyss raised an eyebrow. If the fish-man leader wasn’t bluffing, defeat would have severe consequences.

Abyss wasn’t afraid of death, but the transfer of power meant that if he lost, his three companions would become the fish-man leader’s property – an outcome he absolutely couldn’t accept.

“After the match begins, neither party may use magic, Dou Qi, or Divine Arts. The fight must continue until one falls.”

The fish-man leader continued reciting the rules.

“This match does not recognize draws. There must be a victor and a loser; only one can leave the arena alive. Once the rules are set, they cannot be changed after the match begins. Both parties must fight to a conclusion.”

Abyss began warming up. He wasn’t entirely unskilled in combat; he had learned some techniques from Leona during their time together.

Leona wasn’t a professional fighter, but her moves were modified versions of royal self-defense techniques, brutal and effective in a brawl. She took pride in her “self-created martial arts”. Since Abyss wanted to learn, she had happily taught him everything she knew. This had elevated Abyss’s combat skills to the level of a skilled thug. While not systematic, his moves were effective, and Leona’s influence ensured a certain degree of elegance.

After reciting the rules, the fish-man leader began chanting in the unknown language Abyss couldn’t understand, perhaps repeating the rules. Abyss suspected it was the language of the Lord of Bullying.

This meant the arena was a form of Divine Art, and a powerful one at that, capable of affecting Abyss despite the divine power he carried.

After chanting the rules in Ghanakleba’s language, the fish-man leader finally said, “Alright, Druid, it’s time for our fair duel. I’m ready. Are you?”

“Not yet,” Abyss shrugged. “Let me warm up a bit more.”

The fish-man leader fell silent, seemingly at a loss. Clearly, the arena required both parties to confirm their readiness before the duel could begin. Of course, Abyss wasn’t naive enough to believe the match wouldn’t start if he kept stalling; there was surely a time limit.

He continued his warm-up, adapting to the water’s resistance. The arena was filled with seawater, putting him at a disadvantage in underwater combat. He had to ensure he was in peak condition to avoid falling for the fish-man leader’s tricks.

“Are you ready? The Lord’s patience is wearing thin,” the fish-man leader asked again after a few minutes.

Abyss finally nodded, adopting a fighting stance. “Alright, let’s begin. I accept your challenge.”

“Begin!”

The fish-man leader’s voice echoed throughout the arena, followed by a loud horn blast. The phantom cheers from the invisible audience intensified, accompanied by the booming of drums. They roared in Ghanakleba’s language, their savage excitement filling the arena with noise, assaulting Abyss’s ears.

A subtle shift in the water alerted Abyss’s skin. Despite his lack of underwater combat experience, he reacted instantly, pushing off with all his might, propelling himself away.

Just as he dodged, the fish-man leader appeared behind where he had been standing, a sharp claw slashing through empty water. If Abyss hadn’t moved, he would have been decapitated.

“Druid! Without magic or Dou Qi, how can you fight me, a natural-born warrior? I will show you the true meaning of survival of the fittest!”

The fish-man leader roared, kicking off with his webbed feet, launching himself towards Abyss like an arrow, claws aimed at his throat.

Abyss, momentarily unbalanced from his dodge, was facing the fish-man leader with his feet first. Seeing the enemy charge, he didn’t try to adjust his posture but prepared for a head-on collision.

“Useless!” The fish-man leader lunged, claws outstretched.

He could see that Abyss, unfamiliar with underwater combat, had no chance of winning!

Chapter 66: Any More Tricks?

The fish-man leader’s ink was effective, turning the seawater in the temple into a thick black cloud.

Abyss found himself blind and deafened within the ink. He knew the fish-man leader had collided with his barrier, but he couldn’t see the creature’s expression.

He also felt a toxin seeping into his skin, causing an itching sensation.

However, Abyss’s poison resistance was exceptionally high. The initial itch quickly subsided as his body adapted. This concentration of toxin might have incapacitated an ordinary person, leaving them to drown, but for Abyss, it was trivial.

Boom!

The fish-man leader, still struggling, unleashed another lightning bolt, striking the barrier sealing the temple entrance.

The thick magical lightning had no effect. The barrier remained unmoved, the lightning dissipating upon contact.

The fish-man leader finally realized the strength of Abyss’s barrier.

After receiving the power bestowed by the Lord of Bullying, he had tested its limits. The lightning he casually unleashed rivaled a mid-tier mage’s spell after a lengthy incantation. This power gave him confidence against a mid-tier mage, but against Abyss, it was utterly insufficient, unable to even shake his defenses.

The fish-man leader turned, his specialized vision piercing the ink to see Abyss standing unfazed, even smoothing his slightly disheveled hair.

The surrounding magic had been drained, so Abyss was relying on his internal reserves. But normally, mages couldn’t store excessive magic within their bodies; large-scale spells required drawing magic from the environment. How vast were this mage’s internal reserves? It was absurd!

“Mr. Fish-Man, do you have anything else to do?” Abyss finally asked calmly. “When can I question you?”

“Questioning me is the same as killing me. Those who receive the Lord’s power and betray him will be killed,” the fish-man leader, though disheveled, sneered defiantly. “I advise you to give up. I won’t cooperate. Either kill me or let me go; you have no other choice.”

“I don’t kill sentient beings. So, I can only let you go?” Abyss shrugged.

“Stop wasting my time!” The fish-man leader roared, charging towards Abyss. Abyss’s seemingly provocative, nonchalant tone had enraged the High Priest. He was losing control.

The ink seemed to distort sound underwater. Abyss and Leona could only hear the sound of the fish-man moving through the water, unable to pinpoint his approach.

“Should I just cut him down?” Leona asked Abyss through the spell link. “He seems to be coming towards us.”

“Not yet. I want to see what he does next. He might have other tricks,” Abyss replied. “I don’t believe the Lord of Bullying, a rather experienced Outer God, would choose an incompetent High Priest.”

An eerie silence fell. Flora was comforting the captured civilians, inquiring about their condition, her voice inaudible through the ink. The fish-men, beaten and bruised, lay or sat trembling, not daring to speak. Abyss and Leona, waiting to see the fish-man leader’s next move, stood still. Only the fish-man leader moved silently through the water, the scene almost comical.

But the fish-man leader wasn’t humiliated by the silence. His unsettling smile widened.

He wasn’t targeting Abyss. He knew Abyss was a powerful mage, skilled in both magic and Dou Qi. Direct confrontation was impossible.

His target was the tooth on the ground, the one Abyss hadn’t picked up, wary of the Outer God’s power!

As a high-ranking follower of the Lord of Bullying, imbued with a portion of his favor, the fish-man leader could clearly sense the location of the bestowed tooth. He quickly snatched it and swallowed it whole.

Intense heat surged from his stomach, rushing up his spine and into his skull. His eyes glowed under the influence of the power. He extended a webbed finger, pointing it at Abyss, who seemed to sense something and looked towards him.

Whoosh!

A strange sound echoed.

Leona, holding Abyss’s hand, suddenly felt his grip vanish. Startled, she reached out but found nothing.

Abyss had vanished into thin air.

Leona frantically tried to contact him through the necromantic link. She could sense his presence; the link still sustained her and Flora, yet she couldn’t reach him. It was as if her messages were being intercepted, unable to reach their destination.

“Ah, where is he!?” Leona clutched her head in frustration.

…

Abyss, in a daze, found himself in a different place.

It was a strange space, resembling an arena, but the empty spectator stands, the stone walls, and the rust-red iron railings were all twisted and deformed, as if molded by some force. The sky was pitch black, yet an unknown light source illuminated everything with an ambiguous glow.

Abyss was still surrounded by seawater, standing in the center of the distorted arena. Cheers and jeers echoed from the surrounding stands, yet he saw no one.

“Now, it’s time for our duel, Druid.”

The fish-man leader’s voice came from above.

Chapter 65: Pitiful Cultists

“Flora, try to enter the room behind you and see if you can comfort the victims. If any of them are injured or sick, please tend to them,” Abyss said, turning to Flora while stepping on a fish-man’s back and dusting off his hands.

Flora immediately nodded. “Yes! I understand. I’ll find a way!”

“Alright, now you can answer my questions – those of you who are still alive and conscious.”

Abyss and Leona had subdued all the fish-men. As Abyss had stated, even without magic, his physical strength was enough to overpower them, let alone Leona, whose combat prowess was unmatched.

After knocking out the fish-man leader, Abyss questioned the others. They seemed afraid of him, but none dared to be the first to answer. Abyss, showing no mercy to these murderers who performed human sacrifices, attacked with Leona.

Abyss controlled his strength carefully, his blows breaking only a few ribs. Leona, however, wasn’t so gentle; she had already kicked one fish-man to death against the wall. For a knight, encountering such villains warranted immediate execution. Leona was already showing restraint, knowing Abyss needed them alive for now.

“Please spare us! We won’t do it again!”

“We’re just ordinary followers. The High Priest, the one you knocked out, was in charge of the rituals. We didn’t kill those peasants!”

“The High Priest’s life doesn’t matter. Please, Your Excellency, have mercy and let us small fries go!”

The fish-men trembled and pleaded for mercy. Abyss frowned, his voice flat. “Oh? So energetic now, begging for mercy? I suppose you’ll answer any question I ask?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” The fish-men glanced at two of their companions lying dead against the wall, blood spreading from their mouths, clearly killed by Leona’s kicks. They eagerly agreed.

“Good. Now it’s quiz time. How did you become like this?”

“We worship the Lord of Bullying! If we receive his favor and consume the crystals of specific animals, we can evolve into higher beings!” One fish-man, seemingly trying to curry favor, blurted out. “We used the crystals of marine creatures to become capable of living in the sea and using magic within the Stormy Sea’s chaotic magic… Ow… my head hurts…”

The fish-man suddenly clutched his head in pain.

Abyss frowned, sensing something was wrong.

“My head… Ah… It hurts! It hurts so much!” The fish-man writhed in agony, emitting high-pitched screams.

The other fish-men trembled, terrified, not daring to speak.

Pop—

After writhing for a while, a soft popping sound came from the fish-man’s head. His struggling body straightened, convulsed violently, then went still. Bubbles gurgled from his ears, rising to the temple’s ceiling.

“I see. These crystals also ensure you can’t betray your master,” Abyss nodded. “It seems your master anticipated that people like you would switch sides if you encountered a stronger enemy. It’s rather sad; you worship him, but he doesn’t care for your reverence. If I’m not mistaken, you offered those poor people to him as well? No need to answer; I know you won’t tell the truth now.”

The fish-men were terrified. These pathetic creatures had believed that worshipping the Lord of Bullying would grant them power, allowing them to wield magic and become invincible. But Abyss’s appearance had shattered their dreams of omnipotence. They dared not defy Abyss, yet they couldn’t betray Ghanakleba, who held their lives in his hands. Despair spread among them.

“Abyss, I’m going in,” Flora’s voice came through the spell link.

Abyss glanced back. Flora seemed to have found a way to enter the fish-men’s barrier. She nodded at Abyss, then, chanting a prayer, walked unhindered through the barrier that had previously blocked all matter.

As Flora entered, a wave of wails reached them through her shared senses. The barrier seemed to prevent those inside from seeing out, so the elderly, children, and women screamed in terror at the sight of someone entering.

But Flora’s gentle nature and the faint divinity she exuded quickly calmed them. After their initial despair, they realized it wasn’t one of the ugly fish-men but a girl radiating holy light.

Flora, controlling her emotions, kept her expression neutral. She dried her clothes instantly with a Divine Art, then walked to the cages, addressing the prisoners with concern. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here to rescue you. The fish-men who kidnapped you are being dealt with by my companions outside. You’re safe now.”

“Kind lady, please take us away from here! We’ve been imprisoned for two days!” An elderly woman reached out from a cage, tears streaming down her face.

“Don’t worry!” Flora grasped the old woman’s hand, reassuring her. “The fish-men have been defeated by my companions. We’ll find a way to get you out!”

“They killed my sister…” a child cried loudly.

The child’s grief infected the others, filling the room with sorrow.

Flora chanted a prayer, using Divine Arts to soothe them, calming their panic.

Just then, the fish-man leader, whom Abyss had knocked out, suddenly awoke.

He looked around, then, without hesitation, spewed a cloud of black ink from his mouth and gills, desperately trying to escape.

Thud!

He slammed into an invisible barrier, his head spinning, nearly losing consciousness again.

“You think you’re the only ones who can use barriers? Sorry, but I sealed your temple the moment I entered,” Abyss chuckled. “I was conserving magic, not lacking it. Don’t be in such a hurry; we have much to discuss.”

Chapter 64: The Fish-Men’s Master

The illusory statue on the ground gradually disappeared. In its place, where the statue’s knee had been, where the fish-man leader had instructed Abyss to touch, a single remnant remained – a tooth, seemingly a canine from a large predator, white and sharp. It shifted in the water currents, occasionally clinking against the floor with a sound between metal and ceramic.

Abyss didn’t touch the tooth. He had caught a fleeting glint of malice in the fish-man leader’s eyes when he had instructed him to touch the statue’s knee – the creature, perhaps newly transformed, hadn’t realized its dog-like face allowed one eye to be seen even when turned slightly.

“This tooth… is it something your worshipped god gave you?” Abyss asked slowly. Though shorter and seemingly weaker than the fish-men, his aura subtly dominated them.

“Are you kidding me?” The fish-man leader abandoned his peaceful facade, his true colors showing. He glared at Abyss, snarling in his sharp, unpleasant voice, “Don’t you realize you’re in our territory? You can’t escape now, even if you had wings!”

“Who said we’re running?” Abyss coldly regarded the fish-man leader’s ugly, forced grimace. “Can you answer my question now?”

“You’re courting death!”

“I’m asking you a question!” Abyss’s voice sharpened. “That tooth, is it something your Lord gave you? Is it his artifact? Is your Lord’s name the Lord of Bullying? Answer me!”

The fish-men were stunned. They hadn’t expected Abyss to be so imposing even while surrounded. Some even took a step back, intimidated by his outburst.

They didn’t consider themselves cowards, but Abyss’s anger filled them with an instinctive fear, like wild animals encountering a predator. Their limbs stiffened, their hearts clutched by an invisible force. It was as if… their very being was suppressed by a presence far more powerful than any mortal.

Some fish-men tried to avert their gaze from Abyss, looking instead at the two girls beside him. But it was futile. Even though the girls, one cute and the other beautiful, were stunning, the oppressive feeling persisted, especially from Leona. Her hostile expression radiated a terrifying pressure.

“Yes! Our Lord is the Lord of Bullying, Ghanakleba!” The fish-man leader, after a long silence, seemed to have reached a decision. He roared, louder than Abyss, “He is the true god who should rule this world! What I told you to touch was a part of his great power! I pity you, for you have lost your only chance to be accepted by my Lord! You will soon die here, just like the weaklings in that room behind you!”

“Ghanakleba…” Abyss narrowed his eyes. “So it’s him. That explains everything…”

The Lord of Bullying, Ghanakleba. Abyss was very familiar with the name. His artifact – a scimitar – had been obtained and sealed by the Church. When Abyss had visited the Church headquarters searching for Kohler, the Lord of Nightmares’ minion, he had learned the scimitar was missing.

Furthermore, the Lord of Bullying was the one who had corrupted the Lord of Submergence, turning him into an Outer God. In Leona’s dream where she had interacted with the Twin Goddesses, Ghanakleba’s scimitar had appeared in the visions of world destruction, along with his massive, teeth-covered form after his successful descent.

This Outer God, having destroyed multiple worlds, wasted no time influencing this one upon his release. Granting animals magic was part of his plan.

The resulting ecological disaster wasn’t Ghanakleba’s true goal. He intended to exploit humanity’s greed for power, letting them destroy themselves!

By killing animals and consuming the crystals in their brains, anyone could gain power. No training, no oversight from the Church or state, just instant superhuman abilities. Based on Abyss’s rudimentary understanding of human nature, the ensuing events would likely be brutal and bloody.

How many illegal organizations would rise to power? What kind of power struggles would erupt among the continent’s rulers? These conflicts would quickly escalate into an arms race, everyone vying for the most powerful individuals, tirelessly seeking more crystals to enhance their forces…

The world’s power balance would be reshuffled. Any disruption, or even a threat to the bipolar standoff between the Eastern and Western Empires, could trigger large-scale war and devastation.

What a cunning Lord of Bullying! He played the game of survival of the fittest with such mastery!

“You damned Druid, I don’t know how you got here, but now that you’re here, you’re not leaving. Haven’t you noticed that all the magic around you has been drained? This is our territory; we can do as we please!” The fish-man leader grinned ferociously. “I’ll give you a choice. If you agree to be our spy, under our surveillance, and return to your pathetic Druid Council, I might consider sparing your life… Otherwise, I might just disembowel the two beauties beside you right in front of you, then kill you.”

Abyss indeed felt the surrounding magic depleted. The fish-men seemed to have discreetly erected a barrier, sealing the area.

“He seems to have misunderstood the situation. He thinks you’re weak,” Abyss turned to Leona and Flora, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Frankly, I’m not happy he’s using you to threaten me.”

“I don’t care; it’s just bullshit,” Leona scoffed.

Flora, however, apologized shamefacedly. “I am weak… I’m sorry…”

“Then you shall die!” The fish-man leader, enraged by Abyss’s lack of response, opened his mouth, unleashing a lightning bolt as thick as a man’s thigh towards Abyss!

Thud!

Before the bolt could reach him, Abyss dodged and punched the fish-man leader, knocking him unconscious.

“That’s it?” Abyss flexed his wrist. “Whether I can use magic or not, you’re no match for me. Now, my other fish-men friends, I have some more questions. Your leader doesn’t seem very bright; I hope you’re not like him.”

Chapter 63: The Temple’s True Face

After Leona’s kick shattered the statue, the surroundings rippled and transformed.

The walls became illusory, fading and disappearing amidst the watery distortions. The wall behind the statue also dissolved, revealing darkness – there had been no wall there to begin with. Leona’s divinely charged kick had torn through the seamless illusion.

The shattered statue now exhibited a strange state. It was indeed broken, but not like shattered stone with irregular edges. Instead, it resembled shredded paper, the edges clean and the fragments uniformly sized – a truly bizarre sight.

“Now, do you have any more lies to tell me, dear fish-man… or should I say, human?” Abyss asked calmly, hands clasped behind his back, staring at the trembling fish-man leader. “I must say, our sudden arrival might have been unexpected, but your strategy was quite good. If we were ordinary… or less powerful individuals, we might have fallen for your trap.”

The surrounding objects continued to fade, and the statue fragments on the ground became translucent, as if their color had been washed away by the seawater.

“You disguised yourselves as peaceful sea creatures and introduced your so-called ‘god’. I give your performance an eight out of ten; you did quite well, creating an illusion of warmth and peacefulness. Your illusion was also excellent; I only realized this wasn’t the real world after talking to you for a while,” Abyss continued, slowly approaching the fish-man leader. “But you still had flaws.”

“First, your Common Tongue isn’t perfect, carrying a subtle southern Western Empire accent. My friend, the southern Western Empire is inland. How did you learn to speak from an inland region?”

Abyss didn’t wait for the clearly panicked fish-men to answer, pressing on relentlessly.

“Alright, let’s assume your language was passed down, and the first human to teach you the Common Tongue was from the southern Western Empire. Then the next question arises: you’re marine creatures, you yourself said ‘for generations’, but what about your mannerisms? Why do you retain habits that shouldn’t belong to you?”

Leona and Flora had silently moved closer to Abyss, ensuring the safety of the Necromancer who was now conserving magic, preparing a powerful spell.

“When you were lying, several of your friends subconsciously touched their noses – but you don’t have noses; you breathe through gills, don’t you? You even dusted the statue, a truly mindless act. It wouldn’t have mattered if I hadn’t been suspicious, but since I was already intrigued, that act was a clear giveaway.”

Abyss took another step closer. He was smaller than the strong fish-man, but his aura dominated.

“Third, this isn’t entirely your fault; it’s my ability. Your soul has been trembling since you started describing your god, indicating you haven’t spoken a word of truth since then. That’s a bit much.”

“Fourth, your temple, while seemingly flawless, is flawed precisely because it’s too flawless. Ordinary people might not notice, but unfortunately, I’m not ordinary. I often do superfluous things, like carefully observing the size of your temple from the outside, then measuring it again with my eyes once inside – and as expected, the temple is only half as large inside. While there’s nothing unnatural about it, I’ve fought illusions for a long time; I’m experienced, so this trick doesn’t work on me.”

“We knew you were lying while you were babbling on!” Leona declared, looking triumphantly at the dumbfounded fish-men. “You’re definitely up to no good! You’re the ones causing the Sacred Tree’s problems, aren’t you?”

“Damn Druids…”

The fish-man leader finally dropped the pretense, his dog-like face contorting in anger, his mouth opening slightly to reveal three rows of sharp teeth. However, clearly intimidated by Abyss’s power, he didn’t dare act rashly. Although not particularly cunning, he wasn’t foolish. He knew Druids capable of diving to such depths were not to be trifled with.

“You were all human once, weren’t you? What transformed you into this? An Outer God?” Abyss continued questioning the fish-men.

Flora glanced behind her, the sight shocking her.

The statue and the wall it leaned against had completely vanished. Behind the nonexistent wall was a dark, waterless chamber, some force keeping the seawater out. A single, flickering magical lamp illuminated the room. By its light and her own darkvision, Flora saw a scene resembling a slaughterhouse.

There was a stone table large enough for a person to lie on. Atop it lay a woman dressed as a peasant – dead. Her entrails were crudely pulled out, draped over her split-open abdomen. Her eyes were wide open, devoid of life, clouded over. Beside the stone table were several iron cages containing elderly people, children, and women, all dressed as peasants.

Below the table was a pile of severed limbs, human tissue, and several heads, some with closed eyes, others staring blankly in death…

Flora covered her mouth in horror. She could see the elderly, children, and women inside the cages weeping and screaming, but their voices were muffled, inaudible.

“Abyss…” she whispered, sharing her vision with the others.

Abyss, seeing the gruesome scene, fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly. “Another sacrificial ritual. You Outer God followers, is there anything you do besides harming your own kind? Oh, right, they were your own kind. You’re not human anymore…”

Flora, holding his hand, clearly felt the veins bulging in his grip.

Chapter 62: The Fish-Men’s Deity

Abyss, Leona, and Flora exchanged glances. Leona was fearless, but Abyss could see Flora’s hesitation – she didn’t trust these mysterious creatures.

“I want to see what they’re up to,” Abyss said to Flora through the mind link. “Don’t worry, I know they’re not as simple as they appear. I’ll be cautious.”

“Be extremely careful, Abyss. I’m ready to support you; I’m already waiting in the lab,” Rebecca’s voice echoed. “Do these creatures really think we’re fools? If I were a follower of the Nine Gods and a group of completely different-looking, different-believing marine creatures suddenly approached me during prayer, I certainly wouldn’t be welcoming.”

“Exactly, I’d rather bash their heads in. Heretics,” Leona added through the mind link, glancing at Abyss. “Although I don’t worship the Nine Gods.”

Flora silently grasped Abyss’s hand, still uneasy. Abyss quickly returned the grip; the familiar warmth eased her tension slightly.

The fish-men parted to the sides, and their leader, the strongest among them, gestured towards the temple’s interior, inviting them in.

“Esteemed visitors, please come in. Once inside, you’ll understand why we bear no ill will towards humans,” the fish-man leader’s voice was sharp, carrying powerfully through the water, yet his tone was calm, devoid of hostility.

Abyss nodded casually. “Alright, I’m also curious about your way of life.”

The fish-man leader gave an unsettling smile, leading Abyss inside. Flora, holding Abyss’s hand, and Leona, following close behind, entered the temple.

Inside, the scene became fully visible. The temple was filled with water, illuminated by magical lamps.

The interior was simple, even crude. Gray stone bricks formed the walls, floor, and ceiling. Aside from these essential elements, there were no other decorations. A life-sized statue stood against a wall, flanked by two magical lamps for illumination.

“Hmm? Your Lord is human?” Abyss glanced at the fish-man leader in surprise.

The fish-man leader gave another unsettling smile, his voice tinged with delight. “Indeed, our Lord appears as a human. That is why we don’t resent humans entering our holy ground.”

Indeed, the statue in the fish-men’s temple wasn’t fish-like, but human. It depicted a strong man with long hair and a full beard, his muscular torso bare, wearing simple linen trousers, resembling a prisoner.

The statue, carved from a single block of white stone, showcased impressive craftsmanship. Its surface was smooth and polished, lifelike, without any trace of chisel marks, as if a human body had been transformed into stone.

The man’s features and meticulously sculpted body hair suggested he was a typical Western Empire brute.

“Why is your god human?” Abyss asked, pointing at the statue. “Tell me about this person. Why did he become your god?”

The fish-man leader gave an ingratiating smile. “Of course. This deity is the supreme Lord of our fish-men tribe, higher than the Nine Gods. We have worshipped this great deity for generations, inheriting his blessings.”

“Oh… is that so?” Abyss mused, stroking his chin.

“Indeed. This god’s name is Cayeg, an ancient warrior who… conquered the ocean. Although he perished, his spirit lives on through us,” the fish-man leader spoke slowly, his tone solemn.

“So, you revere him simply for his bravery?” Abyss smiled, raising a question. “Didn’t he have any other remarkable qualities? Is conquering the sea enough to be considered a god?”

“Ah, no, no, dear guest. Bravery is but one of his many qualities. He became a god because of his immense power,” the fish-man quickly explained, hearing Abyss’s question. “Surely you don’t take us for simple, barbaric creatures?”

“Of course not, I didn’t mean to offend. I apologize if I did,” Abyss chuckled. “So, if he possessed immense power, could you tell me about it?”

The fish-men began chattering amongst themselves in their own language. Abyss had never encountered this language in any records, nor heard this strange tongue that even utilized teeth-gnashing as a form of pronunciation.

After their encrypted conversation, the fish-man leader turned back to Abyss with a fawning smile. “I just discussed it with my fellow believers, and we agree to let you witness our Lord’s power. But his power is difficult to describe with words.”

“So, what do you intend to do?” Abyss smiled amiably. “I’m very curious now; I must know.”

“It’s simple, esteemed guest. You just need to communicate with the statue directly,” the fish-man leader walked solemnly to the statue and gently patted its knee, as if dusting it off, even though the temple was filled with flowing seawater, precluding any dust.

“Hmm? Tell me more.”

“Our Lord possesses immense power, so even his image retains a portion of his divine power. Simply place your hand on his knee to meet him face to face,” the fish-man explained seriously. “Would you like to try? Of course, you can refuse if you don’t trust us.”

“You’re willing to let me touch your deity. What could be more honorable?” Abyss smiled, spreading his arms. “I can’t wait to meet your god.”

“Ah, good karma, good karma,” the fish-man said, delighted.

Abyss unhesitatingly reached for the statue’s knee.

Thud!

Just then, Leona suddenly kicked the statue, shattering it with immense force. Her kick was laced with faint lightning – the power of the Lord of Submergence!

“Surprise! You lying fish-freaks.”

Abyss’s smile vanished as he turned, coldly regarding the stunned fish-men.

Chapter 61: The Underwater Palace and Aquatic Monsters

In the dark depths, a faint, hazy light flickered in the distance, silent and eerie.

“That doesn’t seem like bioluminescence,” Rebecca said hesitantly. “Could there be luminous plants underwater? No… Luminous plants would probably be eaten by fish. It’s likely an artificial light source.”

“Artificial?” Leona stared at the light incredulously. “Should we approach at full speed or slow down?”

“Let’s slow down. We don’t know what’s over there. I’m worried about your safety if we advance too rashly,” Abyss said, squeezing Leona’s hand.

Leona nodded and slowed down.

As they approached the light source, the scene became clearer. Abyss quickly identified the source – it wasn’t bioluminescence but lamps, regularly shaped and arranged in a specific pattern.

As they drew closer, an even more surprising sight greeted them: a stone structure built on the seabed, attached to the submerged part of the island. Its style resembled an ancient temple.

“An underwater temple?” Flora exclaimed. “I never imagined such a structure underwater. Who built it?”

“Ah, things are getting more interesting,” Abyss narrowed his eyes. “Leona, can you hear anything inside?”

Leona, who seemed about to speak, immediately replied, “Of course, I hear something. There are living creatures moving inside.”

“Mortals, or some kind of marine life?” Rebecca’s voice held a hint of excitement. “Perhaps there’s a civilization underwater? Or someone who has mastered the art of living in these depths? I can’t wait to see… Of course, be careful. The creatures there might be hostile.”

Leona pulled Abyss and Flora closer to the eerie underwater temple. As they approached, the creatures inside seemed to react.

A head peeked cautiously from the temple’s main entrance, its appearance quickly registering in Abyss’s eyes.

The head resembled a dog’s, but not quite. Its skin was smooth and hairless like a shark’s, and it had large, round eyes. Numerous jagged fangs protruded from its long snout, giving it a rather ugly appearance. It had no nose, but distinct openings on the sides of its face, presumably gills.

Upon seeing Abyss and his companions approaching, the strange creature displayed a surprisingly human-like expression – its eyes widened, and its mouth opened slightly in astonishment. It then quickly retreated.

“What is that thing?” Leona pointed to the doorway where the strange creature’s head had appeared. “I’m not so keen on approaching it now. It looks too weird.”

“Could they be the cause of the Sacred Tree’s problems?” Abyss pondered. “What kind of creature is that? I’ve never heard of such a creature living in the sea, and it seems to possess some level of rational intelligence?”

“I’m worried they have the capacity to think, as that would make them more dangerous,” Rebecca’s voice warned. “Be very careful.”

“They can’t hurt us; they’re just fish living in the water,” Leona said dismissively. “I suddenly remembered a novel I read about legendary creatures called ‘fish-men’. Are these the fish-men from the legends?”

As she spoke, Leona had already pulled Abyss and Flora to the temple entrance.

The temple’s height was roughly the same as the small temples commonly found in Hai-Teweru dedicated to the Nine Gods, about six or seven meters. Its main entrance had no doors, just a stone archway. The interior was visible from outside – several monsters swam within, staring at Abyss and his companions in surprise.

These monsters had human-like bodies, with proportionally similar limbs, no tails, and webbed hands and feet. Their skin, like their faces, resembled shark skin. They were entirely blue, with only their eyes being black.

Their facial features varied. The dog-like one was just one of them; others had seal-like heads, some tapir-like. Their only commonalities were their body proportions and skin color.

“Hey, hello,” Abyss, unsure how to greet these fish-men, simply spoke in the Common Tongue.

After he spoke, Abyss saw one of the monsters’ mouths move, as if trying to reply, but for some reason, it stopped.

The scene was quite bizarre: three humans diving hundreds of meters deep, staring at several monsters inside an underwater temple. The silence made Abyss feel awkward.

Leona, however, was uninhibited. “Hey, you guys can understand the Common Tongue, right? Many of your eyes were moving when my companion spoke in the Common Tongue. Tell me quickly, who are you, what are you doing here, and what have you done to the roots of that tree?”

The monsters exchanged glances, opening their mouths to emit rhythmic gurgling sounds, seemingly communicating. Finally, the largest of the monsters swam forward, positioning itself at the front, and addressed the three.

“How did you reach these depths? If you were ordinary mortals, you should have succumbed to the immense pressure halfway down,” the leading monster spoke in the Common Tongue. “We are a sentient race living in the deep sea. This is our holy ground, where we worship our Lord.”

“Marine life that speaks the Common Tongue?” Rebecca’s voice, echoing in Abyss’s mind, was filled with bewilderment. “What are these things?”

“May I ask why you speak the Common Tongue?” Flora inquired politely. “Could you answer me? I’m very curious.”

The monsters exchanged gurgling sounds again. The leader pondered for a moment, then opened its fanged mouth, seemingly smiling. “If you esteemed visitors wish to know, please come in. We can discuss our civilization and our Lord within our holy ground.”