novelraw Chapter 169: This Version Doesn't Match
Chapter 169: This Version Doesn't Match
Dark clouds gradually dispersed, allowing a sliver of moonlight to fall upon Chen Qi's face.
"Waku waku! (Help! Master!)"
The Deepsea Water Spirits wailed in the ocean as if a colossal mountain had emerged from the seabed, charging toward the ship.
Storm, darkness, torrential rain, mutations, cement, raging fire...
Countless fragmented scenes flashed through Chen Qi's mind in an instant.
Crew members slaughtering each other over uneven loot distribution, young lovers throwing themselves into the sea to escape noble oppression, a youth setting his ship ablaze fearing paternal punishment, a witch exiled after being parasitized by sea monsters...
All horrifying, disjointed visions.
His brain—his brain was trembling!
Chen Qi clenched his right fist and suddenly punched himself in the jaw.
When he regained awareness, a massive wave was already crashing toward him!"Damn it!"
Chen Qi desperately gripped the ship's railing, struggling not to be swept away by the towering wave.
Yet as the waters receded, countless pairs of crimson eyes had already appeared before him.
BOOM!
With an earth-shaking roar, the ship was lifted by a massive pillar-like monstrosity, nearly capsizing in the open sea!
"Waku waku! (Master!)"
Terrified Deepsea Water Spirits leaped from the churning waves onto Chen Qi, trembling violently like malfunctioning motors.
Amid the towering waves, Chen Qi slowly raised his head to behold the colossal entity rising before him.
The behemoth continued ascending—black, thick, and impossibly long...
The tower-like pillar creature was wreathed in indescribable black mist, within which countless blood-red eyes gleamed.
Their density resembled stacked honeycombs!
Its gargantuan form pierced the clouds, rendering even the Coastal Apex Predators insignificant as feeble ants before it.
CREAK! CREAK!
The sound of a centipede's writhing echoed through the massive waves.
Cluster after cluster of crimson eyes twisted and turned, scanning the ocean for prey.
Then in the next second, those glowing red orbs locked onto the ship—onto his very body!
"Holy shit!"
Chen Qi's eyes bulged like copper bells. It had been ages since he'd experienced this sensation—of being an insignificant insect, of being prey.
This version doesn't match!?
What kind of monster appears in coastal waters?
Most crucially, this creature wasn't a sea beast, but some shadow-type entity!
Damn it... Chen Qi sprinted toward the ship's cabin.
"Water Spirits One, Three, Four! Adjust the external ship lights! Aim them at that thing!
Five and Six, hold onto me tight!"
Judging by appearance, this was likely some shadow-type creature.
It probably feared intense light, explaining why it hadn't attacked immediately.
Maximum speed! Maximum brightness!
Chen Qi slammed all the ship's light controls.
At the bow, massive searchlights blazed to life, dispelling the darkness.
Then he grabbed the helm, executing a sharp turn to direct the searchlights at the sea monster.
"SCREECH!"
When illuminated, the creature emitted a crow-like wail that reverberated across the ocean.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
It rapidly submerged to escape the blinding glare.
The waves and wailing gradually faded...
The turbulent sea returned to stillness.
"Whew..."
Still shaken, Chen Qi leaned against the console and exhaled deeply.
What the hell was that just now...
Rubbing his throbbing temples, he struggled to recall the creature's appearance.
Mental contamination, colossal size, eerie whispers...
The Pillar of the Abyss—one of the Rift Sea's thirteen legendary terrors, representing shadows.
Legend said those with high Inspiration would see visions of the past when meeting its gaze.
The higher the Inspiration, the more vivid the hallucinations.
Such monsters specifically targeted high-Inspiration Transcendents!
Fortunately, while his Inspiration was high, his profession's moderate mental resistance had blocked the psychic assault.
Against the Pillar of the Abyss, even military ships could only flee like rats.
Only fourth-tier legends or hunter squads fully equipped with C-tier dimensional rift weapons stood a chance against it.
Why would such a monster appear in coastal waters?
What version is this?
This was like challenging the Baron at level six! How?
Chen Qi comforted the trembling Water Spirits Five and Six, then looked up.
The moon peeked weakly through pink-tinged clouds.
Still normal—not yet the Smiling Moon phase... he thought privately.
The second phase of the Dimensional Tide, called the Smiling Moon period, manifested through reddened moons, swarms of Shadow Demons on the sea, mutated sea beasts, and frenzied crowds.
The Pillar of the Abyss was a calamity that only became active in the Rift Sea during the tide's second phase.
To encounter such a monster in coastal waters...
Why?
Was it Little Crow's summoning ritual? Or were the Deepsea Water Spirits too enticing? Or just terrible luck?
Chen Qi examined the shivering spirits in his arms.
Their potent deep-sea elements made them irresistible delicacies to many sea creatures.
No time for contemplation—another thunderous impact shook the hull!
BOOM!
The Pillar of the Abyss attacked again!
Below five thousand meters lay humanity's forbidden zone, a deathly hellscape rivaling the borderlands.
Above that depth, the Pillar moved freely.
Night and deep sea were its domain.
Still not giving up? Even with my Charm of Shadows... Chen Qi gritted his teeth.
His Charm of Shadows should have made him somewhat appealing to the Pillar.
Why no reaction?
Should he... dance for it?
The Charm of Shadows and Deep Sea Affinity weren't comparable talents.
His feeble shadow charm only made him more delicious!
Focusing entirely on navigation, Chen Qi steered away from the danger zone.
Now the engines roared at full capacity, emitting faint green flames at the stern.
His hand hovered over the most critical button—'Overload Mode.'
Through testing, he'd learned this transformed the ship into a ghost vessel wreathed in eerie flames!
But Overload's duration was severely limited!
Currently, the houseboat's maximum speed could only be maintained for ten minutes!
Amid towering waves, the ship raced like a panicked lamb, pursued by an enormous, indistinct wolf!
"Waku waku! Waku waku!"
The trembling Deepsea Water Spirits turned Chen Qi into a high-speed vibrator.
Terrifying wails echoed across the sea...
It's catching up... Chen Qi took a deep breath, preparing to activate Overload.
Then something unexpected happened.
Directly ahead, a battered merchant ship appeared amidst floating wreckage.
Before the debris, a cloaked elder slowly raised a lantern and spread his arms.
Taking a deep breath, the old man proclaimed:
"Praise the Sun!"