The system is four years ahead of schedule, but Weird is still a cub.

After confirming that this "fleet" was likely the "New God Cult" of this world, Shen Ge suspected that the "lighthouse" was not a relic of the pioneers at all, but very likely a true... Ghost King, or rather, the "New God Cult" that worshipped in this era—

New God!

The so-called "purification" and "rules" are nothing more than "pastures" that this "new god" has demarcated on this sea using His power.

He doesn't need the fanatical sacrifices of believers; He only needs everyone to give up their ego and become quiet, docile, and waiting to be harvested... "livestock."

That final invitation was not a gesture of goodwill at all, but a final ultimatum—either actively enter the circle and wait to be "harvested," or stay outside the circle and experience the fear of death after all resources have been "dispersed."

The appearance of the "bell" seemed to drive away the deep-sea monster, but in reality, it also "dispersed" the fish in the sea, turning this area into a forbidden zone of the Dead Sea.

When Shen Ge had been sailing in this forbidden Dead Sea for more than twenty days and had exhausted his resources, the Ghost Fleet descended like "saviors".

At this point, how many people would choose to decline such an invitation?

Shen Ge and the others finally understood why each ship in that ghost fleet looked so different – ​​it was simply a hodgepodge of different ships.

After the Faceless Messenger returned to the fleet, the massive ghost fleet continued its slow but steady journey as if nothing had happened, gradually disappearing into the distance.

It did not attack "Ark One" and even completely ignored their existence.

But a "punishment" more terrifying than any attack has already quietly descended.

"Brother! The chart... the light on the chart... is gone!" Roca cried out in terror.

Shen Ge picked up the nautical chart piece and saw that the bright energy path that had guided their course had been completely extinguished.

The entire nail plate turned into a plain, cold bone.

They were…blacklisted by the “lighthouse” navigation system. Once again, they were like a lone boat adrift on this boundless sea, having lost its way.

“As expected.” Shen Ge now even suspects that the “Prophet” is a fugitive from the Ghost Fleet. He kept this nautical chart, possibly to wait until he “couldn’t make it” or successfully ascended to godhood, and then go back to devour the “new god” of the New God Cult.

Unexpectedly, the "Prophet" failed to ascend to godhood and was intercepted by Shen Ge, the "Original Mysterious One" who appeared out of nowhere, who also took the sea chart.

When you put all of this together, it all makes sense.

"Crash-"

Suddenly, the No. 1 Ark, which was moving, came to a sudden stop, and that unsettling dragging sensation, as if something was tangling around it, came from the bottom of the ship again.

The stench of rotting flesh began to permeate the air once again.

The fleet's departure also means that the eerie domain unleashed by the "New God" has gone far away, and the true deep-sea monster king of this sea, who was driven away, has returned!
"Tsk. You cowardly bully. When the fleet was here just now, why didn't you come up and jump around a bit?" Shen Ge cracked his neck and said disdainfully.

"Or... do you think I'm easier to bully than those bastards from the New God Cult?"

The foul-smelling wind blew again from all directions, carrying a biting chill and a nauseating stickiness.

The speed of "Ark One" is decreasing rapidly. An invisible, spiderweb-like resistance is coming from the seawater from all directions, dragging their hull tightly.

Kyle watched in horror as the seawater, which had just been "purified" by the bells and restored to its azure blue, was once again stained with that ominous scarlet red, centered on the ship.

This outbreak is happening much faster than the last one!
“Brother…it…it’s back!” Roca’s voice was hoarse with fear. He could feel that the enormous, suffocating energy fluctuation from the deep sea, which had once been frightened away by the bell, had locked onto them again.

This time, without the deterrent effect of the "bell," its will was free of "hesitation," leaving only the purest killing intent—the desire to tear them apart and devour them completely.

"What are you all standing here for?" Shen Ge's voice remained calm.

Everyone looked at him blankly, only to see that he had somehow taken out a large bundle of incredibly strong ropes made of strange tendons from the cabin.

"Allais, Ellie, pack all the usable supplies in leather, the more secure the better."

"Kyle, Roca, go and lower our two sails and fold them up."

He began issuing a series of commands that no one could understand.

At this point, what's the point of packing all this stuff? Are we going to jump ship and try to escape?
They couldn't understand it, but they would never question Shen Ge's orders. They immediately followed his instructions to make preparations, while Shen Ge returned to the bow of the ship.

He is waiting.

Waiting for the best opportunity.

"Gulu."

"Gulu."

Accompanied by eerie, unique swallowing sounds that echoed throughout the entire sea, the scarlet surface of the sea suddenly exploded!

One... no, it can no longer be called "one"!

It was a “living flesh and blood mountain range” that emerged from the water, composed of countless twisted tentacles, pale white faces, and shattered ship wreckage intertwined and fused together!

At its top, an enormous single eye stares indifferently at the "Ark No. 1," which resembles a toy model, and also at Shen Ge, who is as insignificant as an ant on the deck.

The moment it broke through the water, more than a dozen enormous tentacles, like battering rams, slammed down on Ark Number One with a whooshing sound that tore through the air.

Alai and the others screamed in despair in the cabin, just as the tentacle, powerful enough to smash steel into dust, was about to strike Ark Number One!
when!
when!
when!
The invisible barrier created by the Ghost Domain completely enveloped Ark No. 1, and the tentacles failed to penetrate the barrier created by Shen Ge.

However, his demonic energy was not fully restored; this single attack consumed one-tenth of his demonic energy.

He couldn't confront this deep-sea monster head-on, nor did he intend to.

Shen Ge infused his strange energy into the "sea chart" in his hand, and the originally dim patterns lit up with black light again.

In his view, since the "New God Cult's" fleet was able to find him using this nautical chart, and they were nearby...

Using one tiger to devour another is Shen Ge's most common tactic for dealing with the Ghost King!
He used his uncanny abilities to activate the "sea chart," rekindling the fleet's "interest" and delaying the Deep Sea King.

Previously, the Deep Sea Monster King would flee upon hearing the "bell," but now that such a large "offering" is placed here, you wouldn't refuse it, would you?

Sure enough, just a few seconds after activating the "sea chart," the ghost fleet that had disappeared from sight reappeared faintly.

We've returned to base!
"Tsk. As expected, they're all a bunch of brainless idiots who only know how to follow the monsters." Shen Ge said sarcastically, seeing that his plan had worked. So, the next thing to do was to keep this Deep Sea Monster King in check before the fleet returned.

Stay within the realm of the uncanny!

maximize!

This time, Shen Ge not only had to withstand the attack of the Deep Sea Monster King, but also had to completely envelop it, waiting for the fleet to approach.

when--

On the skeletal ship that led the way, the silent giant bell was struck violently for the first time outside of "ceremonial" time!
A bell tolling louder, more urgent, and more... filled with the corrosive power of eerie energy than ever before suddenly resounded throughout the heavens and earth!

The crimson sea was once again shaken up with towering waves. Shen Ge's magical abilities were almost depleted. He seized the opportunity and hid in the "safe room" built in the ship's cabin with Alai and the others.

This is a safe room built by Shen Ge using the most robust materials in the underground experimental base, capable of withstanding at least a level 5 or 6 bizarre attack.

As for how long it can hold out, that remains to be seen.

Shen Ge needs to use the little remaining ghost energy to "reinforce" the safe room, at least until the fleet completely eliminates the Deep Sea Ghost King.

As the bell tolled, invisible, eerie energy surged forth at speeds exceeding sound and light, instantly descending upon this crimson sea!
For the first time, the enormous single eye of the Deep Sea Monster King revealed a state of fear, as if its pupils were dilated.

Shen Ge and the others hid in the safe room of Ark No. 1. He tried his best to release his ghost energy to stay out of the ghost domain, and the whole ship rolled with the giant waves.

Alai Ai Li surrounded Mo Ya in the middle and held Shen Ge tightly, while the Roca brothers stood on either side of the four of them to prevent the safe room from warping and injuring them.

Time passed second by second, and Shen Ge's strange abilities continued to decrease.

On the sea, the Deep Sea King, unable to withstand the fleet, tried to escape.

But it's too late.

The "new god" has completely locked onto it with the eerie energy released through the bell, and this time, escaping back to the deep sea won't be enough to avoid it.

All that could be seen was those indestructible tentacles, starting from their tips, disappearing inch by inch without warning...

It wasn't broken, nor vaporized, but rather as if it had been gnawed away by an invisible insect, disappearing "out of thin air".

"Roar!"

The Deep Sea Monster King let out its first and last roar since its birth, a roar clearly tinged with "pain".

Its entire massive, "living mountain range"-like body began to "vanish into thin air." Large chunks of bizarre flesh disappeared into the sea.

This seventh-tier monster king, capable of easily destroying a country, was completely and cleanly erased from this world by this "dimensional reduction attack" that it could not comprehend at all.

The sea returned to calm. Only a huge whirlpool left behind by its disappearance slowly subsided.

Inside the safe house, Shen Ge was panting heavily, his face as pale as paper. Maintaining his position within the Ghost Domain had almost drained all the Ghost Energy he had just recovered, leaving him severely exhausted. If he hadn't been holding on by sheer willpower, he probably would have already passed out.

But he succeeded.

Shen Ge used his "progenitor bizarre cells" as a wager, and not only survived, but also eliminated a major threat with the help of the "new god".

Now, whether they leave with the fleet or stay in this area, they are at least "safe" for the time being.

When the storm subsided, Shen Ge and the others returned to the deck, only to find to their surprise that the fleet had not left this time, but had instead anchored beside the huge whirlpool.

The lead ship was stationed in front of Ark No. 1, making no further moves.

"Brother, what, what's going on?" Kyle asked in a low voice.

Shen Ge didn't really understand either. According to his plan, he should have used the nautical chart to lure the fleet back, let them "eat" the Deep Sea Monster King as tribute, and then they should have left according to the "original plan".

It's stopped here, as if... waiting for Shen Ge and the others.

why?
Shen Ge opened his eerie eyes and scanned each of the fleet's "ships." Some of them were ships, while others looked more like a dead body being used as a ship—a bizarre sight.

and many more!

Could it be that they've mistaken Ark One for "their own people" because of the cryptic nature of the nautical chart and its signals?
They did not attack the ship, much less destroy it.

What they have to do is... welcome.

Let's welcome this "kindred spirit" back into their ranks, and let it become the new "coffin" in this "mobile graveyard"!
"..." Shen Ge never expected that his routine operation of using one tiger to devour another would lead to such a ridiculous "misjudgment" from the "New God Cult" here.

Having figured this out, an even crazier and bolder plan than before instantly took shape in Shen Ge's mind.

He can neither run nor fight.

But he can… “act”!
Shen Ge gestured to Alai and the others to remain calm, while he walked to the bow of the ship without making any defensive or offensive gestures.

On the contrary, he straightened his tattered but still neat clothes, and slowly opened his arms, assuming a posture of embracing the world.

Immediately afterwards, he released the eerie energy from the "progenitor eerie cells" within his body, revealing his identity as an "oddball".

At the same time, he simulated the strange energy fluctuation frequency of the faceless messenger from before, and projected a thought full of "divinity" and "indifference" outward.

[...'Lost children'...your devotion...'I'...have received it...]

This thought, like a drop of cold water falling into boiling oil, instantly caused enormous "chaos" within the ghost fleet!
The gray-robed "living corpses" on the deck all experienced an unprecedented "shutdown" state.

Their empty "souls," which only knew how to perform rituals, were completely caught in a conflict of underlying logic after receiving this "divine aura" that was even older and purer than their "new gods."

Why are there two "new gods"?
That's right!

When Shen Ge discovered that the "New God" was releasing its strange energy through the "Bell" to erode the faith, but its true form did not seem to be there, he wanted to try to "turn" these believers by relying on the aura of the "Ancestor's Strangeness".

It is important to understand that all the strange and supernatural phenomena originate from the "primordial strangeness," which is the mother and the root of all strange existence.

If both Shen Ge and the "Faceless Messenger" are messengers of the "New God," then Shen Ge's aura is naturally purer than the Faceless Messenger's! (End of Chapter)