Will the kemonomimi encounter Alien Ranch Story?

"To be precise, we entered the battlefield between the Sealings and the Agors, underwater, in the city, and on the water. The Agors have been trying to stop the giant waves from engulfing the land, but this defense is no longer so stable. The explosion prevented our complete retreat, but..." It also almost destroyed the Agors' defenses, and the Sealings, no longer restrained by the Sea God, are not so obedient.

"So, how many people can you send to support us?"

"Is a thousand enough?"

"hunter?"

"hunter"

"That's enough." With the new weapons here, we can start the Demon Unrivaled right away. After all, compared to the billions of Sea Heirs, the Demons are at a great disadvantage in terms of numbers. As long as we solve the problem of mental pollution, it will be easy to deal with, especially since the Deep Sea Hunters are completely immune to Oripathy.

[PS]

This Judge, Terra Crane, with Skill 1 at Mastery 3, can lift enemies in three hits. Paired with Chen and relics that grant attack recovery and SP gain, he's simply unstoppable in roguelike games. With his built-in attack speed boost, he can land a hit every second, lift enemies for a second, land, and then land another hit to lift them up again...

The third skill is even more ridiculous: a 13-hit area attack that knocks the entire party into the air. Where did this "poisonous milk powder crane" come from?

Chapter Twenty: Iberia

Chapter 20

Simultaneously launching campaigns at both the north and south ends doesn't put much pressure on Kazdel itself, since it's difficult to transport Iberian resources across Terra to the Arctic, which also means that it's almost impossible to transport northern resources to the south.

The Iberians ultimately received less support than they had imagined; it was mostly technical and financial assistance, and they still had to rely on themselves for the actual manpower.

"Is Haisi's lair located just below your city?"

“More accurately, they were ancient research facilities.” Graceia pulled out a map and drew three circles. “These three locations are the cities of Agor, and beneath the abyss between them lies the lair of the Sea Si, well, the closest one.”

“We originally built the city on this site to prevent the sea creatures below from climbing up. However, their sea god eventually escaped through this area.”

"I have a question. How come you weren't killed when the antimatter exploded?" Old Xia was very curious. If you were that close, you should have been killed long ago.

“Because it didn’t fall here.” Grandia rolled her eyes. “The Sea Creepers aren’t mindless creatures. After being battered and bruised by our superior firepower as they climbed up from the abyss, they would naturally choose other methods and paths, such as the Netherworld Mark, which is like a fungal carpet that climbs up the rocks and corrodes the outer shell of our city.”

"So, that's why you're using melee weapons?"

"It's not that we want to use melee weapons. One issue is the technological iteration problem of Haisi. They have everything we have, and they can also differentiate things that we don't have. Another issue is that there's no way to burn away the Minghen underwater with a flamethrower; you can only cut that thing off with a knife."

"If we use long-range weapons, Hai Si won't be able to sense the presence of his comrades, so he won't hold back." This means that Agor will be able to use all sorts of torpedoes and underwater kinetic weapons without restraint.

"Seriously, now that the Sea God of Haisi is gone, or mostly gone, we can try to enter the research facilities below and subdue the facilities belonging to Agor. There should be something there that interests you."

“For example?” the doctor began, “I don’t know much about the orbital laboratory and the deep-sea laboratory, as I don’t manage them. So, what is it about them that makes you feel you can pay such a price?”

"The initial data on Haisi control."

"But you failed." The doctor knew what she meant; she was planning to deploy Haizi as a combat unit in the polar regions, wasn't she? To use magic to defeat magic?

"But there are successes. Do you know the legend of the Last Knight?"

"That guy from Casimir who challenges the sea and charges at the waves? Isn't that a bedtime story?"

“He did exist, but we don’t know what happened to him in the end. What we can be sure of is that he seems to have reached some kind of connection with Hai Si. It’s also possible that his mount, which merged with Hai Si, retained a part of its original consciousness. After all, this kind of thing is not uncommon.”

There are not many intelligent beings among the Sealings; most are mindless, instinctive creatures. Only the "messengers" who connect with the Sea God and deliver "divine pronouncements" can speak. Moreover, after merging with the Agorians, they can think and speak fluently.

However, this also means that the consciousness of the merger may in turn affect the body of the sea creature. If it refuses to merge into the collective consciousness of the "group", then the individual can maintain a part of its self. The deep-sea hunter's technology is derived from this characteristic.

"In other words, this means we can also create Deepsea Hunters or even more secure... Demon Hunters than Ursus's inner guards."

The Doctor has always had this idea, but he couldn't find a safe and effective way to fuse it. There are limits to using hormones synthesized from white crystals to enhance the operator's performance, and those limits are very low, because abuse can cause permanent damage to the operator's organs.

Therefore, the improvement provided by white crystal reinforcing agents is generally between 1% and 2%. However, with the continuous research and development of new reinforcing agents, it is eventually possible to achieve a more significant improvement of about 20%.

However, it is far from the combat power and vitality of an Inner Guard. Of course, it would be easier for the Doctor to become an Inner Guard, with a lower failure rate, but the side effects would be completely unacceptable.

"Perhaps, but one thing to note is that Haisi will not damage the research institute's facilities; in fact, they will maintain these devices and facilities to ensure their continued operation for a longer period, so..."

"All kinds of instruments and a complete reactor, right?"

“Yes, you were wrong about one thing before. HaiSi doesn’t exist to clean up pollution. Its existence is to maintain the underwater facilities and reactors of these early inhabitants. Whether they maintain a facility depends on whether they want to, not whether they can.” As long as HaiSi has a reason to maintain it, they can keep these facilities running almost like new.

“Understood. First, we need to repair the eyes of Iberia, which are those lighthouses. The lighthouses themselves are not important; they are communication towers built by Agor and also the access routes to the underwater Agor outpost.”

"So, the Iberians actually had the key to enter Agor all along, but they were completely unaware of it?"

That's what I mean.

"Then I'll run this trip. Give me Frostleaf and Red, plus Whisper, Extremis, and Rosemary, that'll be enough," Kal'tsit said, indicating that five people would suffice.

Extreme is in charge of communications support, Rosemary is in charge of fire reconnaissance and breakthrough, Frostleaf and Red are in charge of protection, Whisper is in charge of medical support, and you ask what Kal'tsit is in charge of? Of course, she is in charge of using the M3 to wreak havoc, and the others are just in charge of cawing.

"In addition, all those on Rhodes Island who are not participating in the polar exploration will be sent as reserves. However, they will mainly be engineers. We need to repair the Iberian fleet and then attack the Haisi's stronghold."

"And to reclaim the city of Argor, which has been occupied by the Sea Kings and cultists, I will go with you. Shark and Skadi will stay behind; they cannot go into the sea at will." If they become the new Sea God, everyone will be devastated, especially Skadi.

"Hey, aren't you taking me?" Ghost Shark was disappointed. "I wanted to go home and visit my family."

“You have a chance, as long as…” Grandia didn’t finish her sentence, but the Doctor and Kal’tsit knew what she meant and what she didn’t say—to obtain the initial research data and develop a serum or vaccine that could stabilize the Deepsea Hunters’ condition, in order to solve the problem of Deepsea Hunters being completely corrupted into sea monsters.

"By the way, there are actually ancient sea creatures. Do you Agor people still have records of them?" Kal'tsit suddenly asked.

"You mean, the most primitive kind?"

"Yes, the most primitive kind, the kind that haven't been touched or made any unpleasant noises by you, the true original sea monsters, or the true offspring of the sea. However, they seem to have hidden themselves away. I can't find them for the time being. I only encountered them once a long time ago, and I thought they were you Agor people, but now it seems..."

"Wait a minute, I have a question." Old Xia pondered for a while before asking, "Why did you give your tools a self? Since Kal'tsit can communicate with the other party, it can be assumed that the original Sealings—well, I should say those original beings that hadn't yet merged with the Sealings to become the sea monsters they are now—possessed intelligence and a self. So why did you give your tools a self?"

A tool is a tool. A tool should not have a self. For example, Haisi is a perfect tool, but unfortunately, it has a less-than-perfect control system. Giving a tool a self means either that you no longer intend to treat it as a simple tool, or that it will no longer be your tool.

"Who knows? This project isn't under my management," the PhD student said, adding that people shouldn't ask him about it, as he wouldn't make such a basic mistake.

“So, we tried to eliminate their egos so that we could use them, and we gave them a sense of group consciousness, and that’s how the current problems came about,” Godia explained. “In short, there’s no point in pursuing this issue. Only by going deep into the abyss, destroying their stronghold, and finding their original research facilities and data can we reconstruct everything.”

"I find it hard to believe that a few people can break through the tens of thousands of sea creatures."

"It's not just a few people. The hunters and Agor's forces will do their best to draw our attention. And the route through the Iberian lighthouse is a safe one. Hai Si won't find out. No, they won't sabotage this route. They have their own logic, just like no insect would actively destroy its own nest and hatchery."

"In other words, we will only be facing a small number of Hai Si and Ming Hen in the passage, and will not be exposed to be besieged."

"Understood. I will also bring some other operators. It's best to keep the number of people in a standard hunter squad, which is no more than 12 people."

"Then it's settled." Half a month later, the Arctic Behemoth entered its final maintenance. At the same time, Rhodes Island arrived at the coastal town of Iberia. The town was shrouded in billowing smoke and dust. The residents looked confused and conflicted. The bonfires piled up in the streets had burned out, and charred bones and remains could be seen under the lighthouse statue.

“How nostalgic,” Kal'tsit said, arms crossed. “What do you mean?” The High Inquisitor frowned. “You mobilized 20,000 disciplinary troops and all the inquisitors. What did you say to your superiors?”

"It's nothing special. It's just that last time I came, I didn't see such scenes and behaviors characteristic of the Iberian state religion, so I felt a little uncomfortable. I'm much better now." Kal'tsit's sassiness has improved considerably.

She meant that she was surprised that the Iberian Tribunal had become so civilized since the last time she visited, without burning people at the stake. She felt a little uneasy about it.

This scene, reminiscent of a witch hunt from hundreds of years ago, is exactly the style of Iberia: cultists, sea monsters, and infected people are all thrown onto the stake and set on fire.

“Only fire can purify these sins; the Inquisition is not a butcher,” the Grand Inquisitor replied after a moment of silence. “At least not now.”

"Yes, and only now." Because of Saint Carmen, the Inquisition is much more reliable now. Compared to the past, at least half of those burned were genuine cultists.

“Our mission this time is simple: clear out the town, establish an advance camp, repair the Eye of Iberia, then find a passage into the city of Agor, wipe out all the Sealings, judge all the evildoers, and finally burn down their lair. Doesn’t that sound like what you’re thinking?”

"Dr. Kal'tsit, please don't mistake us for fanatics whose minds are filled only with killing and judgment. Are you implying this is a suicide mission? We're not stupid. Although every generation of the Inquisition hopes to burn these monsters to ashes in the flames of judgment, turning their lairs and their hideous bodies to dust, it's simply impossible." The High Inquisitor said with a wry smile. Just finding a way into the city of Agor was a problem.

As they were talking, an old man with white hair and beard was violently dragged out of the tavern's basement. The expressionless pungent soldiers tied him to a red-hot pillar, and a pungent, acrid smoke instantly rose from his back. Two other submissive townspeople poured grease at his feet.

"In the name of Iberian law, and in the capacity of a judge of the Iberian State Religious Court, Mayor Tineg, you are sentenced to be burned at the stake for harboring cultists and heretics and for colluding with monsters. This sentence is to be carried out immediately, without any objection." The executioner, holding a torch, approached.

"I have only one question, consider it my final prayer," the old man said weakly.

“Alright,” the relatively young judge raised his hand to stop the executioner’s steps. “Speak.”

"How many of those you burned were cult members?"

"Wait." The High Inquisitor stepped forward, but Kal'tsit stopped him. "Let him know, it's a good thing."

"More than half, after prior and post-incident investigations, more than half of all the towns that have been tried are cult members, such as this town." The judge was probably not very old in the profession, and he meticulously flipped through the records in his hand.

"The town has a total population of 2,268, of which 1,894 are cult members, 916 have been found to have traces of sea monsters on their bodies, 400 have hidden tarantulas or tarantula remains in their homes, and more than 120 have committed crimes of murder, cannibalism, and heretical rituals. In other words, there are fewer than 400 innocent people in the town, and we have protected all of them. Moreover, this trial was initiated based on reports from some righteous people."

"All of the above records have been photographed and preserved as evidence. Do you have any further questions?" The judge showed him some of the on-site photos in the manual.

"That's all." The old man paused for a few seconds, then gave a bitter smile. "Burn me to death, it's what I deserve."

"Why didn't you tell him the truth, instead of letting him live in hatred for so many years, only to have to bear this guilt and remorse at the end of his life?"

"Why don't you tell us what you actually know? The truth about the sea monster, everything about Agor, everything about Terra?" the High Inquisitor retorted. "The all-knowing immortal?"

“…” Kal'tsit did not answer, watching the executioner light the flames.

“We burn sinners to protect the living innocent, not to make them bear the blame for the dead.” Marlene of Tineg is a cult leader, and most of the people in his hometown are cult members.

It would be completely out of character for a Grand Inquisitor to live with such fear, guilt, and remorse, as well as the persecution he suffered at the hands of others. So he said nothing, and the outcome of the trial was simply recorded in the minutes and not made public.

This system is designed to protect the living, including family members of cult members, admirers, and informants. If the entire process and record are made public, the consequence will be that these living people will be subjected to a second round of trials by angry and ignorant people, a meaningless trial.

“Alright, I’m not interested in barbecue. Let’s go to the docks.” Kal’tsit reached out and covered Rosemary’s eyes to prevent her from seeing the cruel execution scene.

"The court has prepared a small boat; we can head to the lighthouse now. Oh, and we've also found the descendants of the craftsmen who built the lighthouse; perhaps we can unlock the secret."

"Hopefully," Kal'tsit certainly wouldn't pin her hopes on the Iberians. She brought a full set of scanning equipment and rosemary, using both methods to scan the entire lighthouse from top to bottom. She was determined to find it.

In the port of Iberia, the elderly boatmen somewhat clumsily prepared supplies for the vessel, added fuel, and coiled up the mooring lines. It was a standard small boat, weighing less than one hundred tons, powered by an Originium steam engine and sails, belonging to the category of motor-sailboats.

"Thanks to your help, we are now able to find enough sailors and shipwrights." Iberia's shipbuilding and shipping industries almost perished along with the Golden Fleet. Fortunately, with the subsequent cooperation with Kazdel, the large demand for fishing boats and fishermen revived the shipwrights and docks. Otherwise, it would be really difficult to find a ship to go there now.

"The lighthouse has always been within Haisi's control area. We sent a team of engineers before, and they never came back. You people had better not mistake the sea for land," the captain brought in by the Tribunal said. "Forget it, there's no use talking to you people anymore. Only by seeing the sea with your own eyes can you understand."

Chapter Twenty-One: The Cat Makes a Great Contribution

Chapter 21

The ocean, its dark waters pushed aside by the bow of the ship, lacks a large aquatic ecosystem, making Terra's oceans as polluted as the worst industrial planets in the Covenant, not far from murky mud. The further inland you go, the worse the situation becomes.

The overgrowth of blue-green algae turned the entire ocean into an extremely unhealthy dark blue. This black tide was enough to suffocate most life in the sea, and even the Agorians had to find ways to avoid these floating clouds of death.

"The weather is good, no storm, you're very lucky." The captain didn't say much. Only when the lighthouse came into view did he relax his tense muscles slightly and force an awkward smile.

For seafarers, such clear weather with moderate winds is extremely rare, and such conditions are usually the starting point for a great voyage.

The small boat approached the lighthouse dock and slowly drew closer. "Be careful, there are Hai Zi here, so be alert." Elena drew her Swift Sword, holding the sword in one hand and a hand cannon in the other, looking wary.

"There's no need for that," Kal'tsit said calmly. The operators she brought were all professionals, and even Rosemary, who didn't look particularly tall, was a terrifying force in a real fight.

"Float up," the cat whispered, clutching its laptop. The device on the luggage rack floated up, as if held by four invisible arms, assuming a standard dual-wielding stance.

Two molten greatswords are used for melee combat and defense, while two uniquely shaped gunblades are responsible for ranged attacks. The blades, which do not require bending, are shaped like willow leaves, with a six-shot molten hand cannon on the upper part and a high-vibration tool knife on the lower part.