There can't be a Harvest Moon in the RimWorld.

"Mr. Rhodes, the organs inside these monsters' stomachs are also strange!"

After accomplishing this feat, I saw that the organs that flowed out were actually strange, deformed, and swollen pieces of flesh. From any angle, they did not resemble the internal organs of the body, let alone serve any purpose.

"This is the priest using the power of the god he believes in to perform the Transformation of Light. The Lord of Light can transform all living things, so these monsters undergoing transformation have all been imbued with the divine power of the Lord of Light. Their organs have become mindless flesh and blood, devouring each other within their bodies, thus slowing down their metamorphosis!"

These chunks of flesh were blackish-red, covered with swollen blood vessels and connective tissue, and their skin had undergone layers of proliferation, forming a rough and terrifyingly tough outer layer. Even stranger, these chunks of flesh also had faintly exposed bone spurs and mucus, constantly wriggling and trying to devour the surrounding flesh and blood, turning it into nutrients for their own growth.

...This Lord of Light's actions don't seem to be anything honorable. The organs appear to have had their genetic material damaged by high-energy rays, resulting in severe cancerous changes, similar to an overdose of nuclear radiation.

It's only thanks to the Deep Ones' exceptional physical abilities that they maintain a balance between regenerative and destructive capabilities; otherwise, these monsters would have long since collapsed due to genetic disintegration, turning into a mass of writhing, disintegrating flesh.

"Boss, this 'King of Light' you mentioned sounds like the King of Nuclear Radiation! We were just exposed to its light, is that really okay?!"

Mr. Rhodes broke free from another monster's attack and took a moment to reply, "What else did you think? The King of Light is a secret religion that originated in the far north civilization area, and was once even identified as a cult! Their scriptures are full of terrifying rituals involving alienated life forms! But these lights only have a drastic transformative effect on believers, and our exposure just now will not cause any problems in the short term."

"What do you mean 'short-term'?! Why is there such a dangerous religion on this island?!" I finally found an opportunity to throw my parallel world self's corpse back into the pit to prevent it from being accidentally injured or damaged by these monsters.

“I’ve searched many places, and only the Church of the Lord of Light is willing to help. Other groups all say they are powerless as soon as they hear about the existence of the ‘Deep Sea Cataclysm’! At least on the grounds of preventing the indescribable appearance of the Deep Sea, we are in the same boat!” Mr. Rhodes explained helplessly.

My combat abilities have been enhanced by the Colonizer System, reaching unimaginable levels in terms of endurance and power ceiling. But witnessing Mr. Rhodes's battle today, I realized just how terrifying the Investigator truly is.

This burly man, wielding a crowbar in one hand, effortlessly charged through the rain, each swing precisely targeting the monster's vital points. He then used his other hand to dislocate the monster's joints. He was like a tireless fighting machine, each attack imbued with the beauty of power and skill. Even his ordinary attacks revealed a multitude of combat styles and martial arts techniques, like a piece of steel forged through countless trials, capable of handling any complex situation.

"But that's dangerous! The King of Light almost trapped both of us just now. If it does something else, won't we be attacked from both sides?"

During the battle, I discovered that my speed in severing monster limbs was gradually falling behind their regeneration rate, so I changed tactics and started using Orichalcos gauntlets to headshot them one by one.

"Get ready..."

Mr. Rhodes' voice rang out again. Although it was raining cold rain all the time, this man in front of me still seemed keen to pour cold water on me.

"All the transcendent beings in this world have turned their attention to this small island."

"Some beings, like the Lord of Light, want to stop the 'Deepsea Cataclysm' from escaping, while others are fueling the flames. And many more are simply watching from the sidelines, happy to stir the waters even more!"

"This time, we are not only attacked from both sides, but the whole world is our enemy! We must find a glimmer of hope amidst this global hostility..."

Chapter 409 The Unspeakable

Through Mr. Rhodes' description, I learned that the most obvious difference between this parallel world and my own world is that there are many inexplicable and transcendent beings in it.

Humans can call them gods, demons, or simply label them with titles like "savior" or "destroyer."

Because they don't care. Even the most comprehensive human language and writing system cannot describe even a fraction of their existence.

Without the Holy Light Church's relentless suppression, countless strange entities were generated at various distorted points in the world, which became the source of religions.

For example, the "King of Light" is an ancient religion that has been passed down in the polar civilization area. It is said that a yellow aurora shone in from a hole in the atmosphere and bestowed upon those who were illuminated with infinite vitality and wisdom.

Within the "Lord of Light" cult, it is said that the first generation of Holy Ones, who have existed since ancient times, still murmur day and night in boundless dreams the magnificent scene of the night the "Lord of Light" descended, in a way that is both incomprehensible and terrifying.

"What we do know is that the 'Lord of Light' and the 'Deep Sea Cataclysm' are mortal enemies. That's why the priest came to this island under the divine decree. It has to be said that the 'Lord of Light' really likes to directly 'reveal' to believers—unfortunately, the believers' deaths are not very pleasant."

Mr. Rhodes and I had broken through the encirclement and escaped from the zombie deep-dwellers to the foothills of Mount Marcus, where we briefly escaped the pursuit by taking advantage of the complex mountain terrain.

He was breathing evenly, suppressing the fatigue that threatened to erupt within him, and he stood alertly ahead, explaining to me.

"As far as I know, the battle between the 'Lord of Light' and the 'Deep Sea Cataclysm' has lasted for countless eons, and what we know now is probably just the tip of the iceberg. They may have been fighting since the creation of the universe in different forms, in different ways, and under different names."

“During an archaeological excavation, I saw with my own eyes a Permian stone slab with an emblem that was exactly the same as the ‘King of Light’, firmly pressed onto a thirteen-armed ichthyosaur that had become a fossil.”

"But apart from the false name, I don't even know what it actually looks like."

I asked doubtfully, "Mr. Rhodes, didn't we see its image with our own eyes in the hallucination of the church? Isn't that thin, ragged, and strange shape its true form?"

Mr. Rhodes shook his head: "'Lord of Light' is just a description in religious texts. I have excavated ancient polar civilization sites, where the descent of the gods is recorded as a humanoid individual dressed in yellow robes and a soft mask, who plunged the entire city into destruction with a silent chant."

"...Do human records depict the image of a god? Is this some kind of illusory idol?" I asked curiously. If a god is subject to human will, then this thing is neither a god nor any concrete, objective entity; it might just be a fabricated legend.

Mr. Rhodes scoffed: “You may be confusing the concepts of objective and subjective. These so-called gods descended into this world, bringing with them endless disasters and destruction. Humanity has only found a way to coexist peacefully with them in the cracks. The balance of power formed by their struggles does not mean that humanity can intervene. Therefore, these descriptions of the gods’ appearances are simply because they want people to see them, not because people want to see them.”

"Among the different accounts of the 'Lord of Light,' there are two images: a faceless god wearing a yellow silk robe and a strange monster covered in black wrinkles with tentacles growing from its head. I suspect that these are just incarnations of the 'Lord of Light' that happened to be recorded by humans."

"This world is truly in dire straits..." I couldn't help but sigh. How did this high-risk parallel timeline come to this point? It sounds like the world could be destroyed if these Outer Gods sneezed.

Rhodes' eyes were heavy: "My alma mater, the University of Michigan, has nurtured countless exceptionally talented individuals who are active in every corner of the world, bearing the burden of the shadows for the ignorant and preventing the spread of terror. We all believe that ignorance is the greatest guarantee that people have been able to survive to this day, but knowledge is the last weapon that has allowed humanity to survive to this day. Even if we die in madness and darkness, we cannot give up this weapon—even if it is only used to cut our own throats."

A terrifying roar echoed through the woods once more, and the footsteps of the zombie lurkers turned into a soft murmur as they pursued us relentlessly.

The sluggishness and heaviness that had been present in those footsteps gradually disappeared, replaced by agile and savage running sounds, like a group of predators in a dense forest quietly surrounding their target, filled with a cold and cruel hidden emotion.

"The Deep Ones seem to be changing." That was my immediate conclusion.

Mr. Rhodes nodded and said, "The 'King of Light's' light is gradually losing its power, and the monsters' faith in the deep sea is gradually gaining the upper hand. Therefore, they will slowly return to their original appearance."

I've fought the Deep Ones before, and I vividly remember their ruthless, untamed vitality, their insatiable thirst for blood, and their extreme cunning and cruelty. If this island were filled with Deep Ones like them…

No, even for ordinary Deep Ones, this place would become a chaotic mess, and no matter how fierce the battle, they would be unable to break through the encirclement.

"Mr. Rhodes, where are you leading me? You must have some other tricks up your sleeve, right?"

I'm sure I'm completely baffled. Rhodes already has his own plans here; I don't believe he's just running for his life. The sea is now surrounded by terrifying malice, ready to unleash devastating waves and destroy the world at any moment. The town is full of mutated residents, driven by instinct to crave our flesh and blood. Simply running away won't solve the problem.

I turned my gaze to the gray gear mark in my field of vision, lamenting that the crucial time colonist system had malfunctioned. The reason for this was probably related to my unusual time travel.

If I die here, it'll be because of those two old scoundrels! I'll never believe their lies again! What do you mean by probability? This is clearly a suicide mission!

“Let’s climb Mount Mades first. I suspect that the reason this nameless island can withstand the presence of the deep sea is related to this towering and sprawling mountain range. The part that is visible above the ground is Mount Mades, while the part that is hidden deep underwater is probably the key part that suppresses and seals off the ‘Deep Sea Cataclysm’.”

"It's slowly exerting its influence on the land through thunderstorms and the mutated inhabitants, indicating that it can't directly land on this land yet. Whether it's making contact with the outside world or finding a way to escape, we only have one path left: to go up the mountain..."

Chapter 410 The Eternal Radio Wave

Standing halfway up the mountain and looking down, amidst the wind-swept mountains and fallen trees, the most striking sight is the water flowing in all directions from the foothills.

Just three minutes ago, the ground in the area we were about to step into suddenly began to shift. I gently stepped on it, and a large section immediately collapsed. Fortunately, Mr. Rod grabbed me and pulled me away from the collapsed ground.

The next moment, the collapsed land, like butter melting in the heat, instantly lost its solidified shape and turned into a dissipating and flowing mudslide, rolling down the mountain, crushing countless bushes and trees, and disappearing from sight with a roar.

The terrifying scene of a mountain disaster unfolded before my eyes once again, prompting me to quickly retreat and turn to ask Mr. Rod, "The landslides here are getting more and more serious. How are we going to get up the mountain?"

The middle man next to him pondered for a moment, then poked the ground with his crowbar. When the crowbar was pulled out, a pool of water could be clearly seen inside the hole, and in the blink of an eye, it flowed out of the hole in a continuous gurgling stream.

"The heavy rains of the past few days have submerged the entire mountain, and the soil inside the mountain is saturated with rainwater. Under these conditions, every slope we traverse is at risk of landslides and collapses..."

Below the mountain are deep-diving predators lurking in wait, while above the mountain are treacherous dangers lurking everywhere. Am I destined to die here today? Should I laugh out loud three times in the mountains?

“But that’s not the problem.” Mr. Rhodes sighed again. “The lagoons on the mountain have become huge dammed lakes, and that’s our biggest danger. If we want to reach the top, we have to safely traverse these areas.”

I shook my head: "With a road like this, even writing 'Fujiwara Tofu' on the car won't help. Mr. Rhodes, why are you so sure you want to look for clues at the mountaintop, instead of finding opportunities in the mountains?"

Mr. Rod gently shook the tree by the roadside, but before he could exert any force, the tree, like an opponent struck by the Great Sage Relic King Buddha, tilted lightly to the side of the road, then fell down with a thud, scattering countless broken leaves and branches.

“I didn’t even use any force, how did you fall down… Marcus, what did you just ask me?” Mr. Rhodes asked.

We were stuck in place, unable to move an inch, so we could only continue talking and trying to figure out a solution: "I'm asking why we absolutely have to go up the mountain."

"Oh...that's the question."

Mr. Rhodes said absentmindedly, "It's my gut feeling. Since 'Deepwater Horizon' is so determined to submerge this mountain and destroy its cage, the place farthest from it is most likely to hold clues. Is that an acceptable explanation?"

I said dismissively, "That probably won't convince me... Mr. Rhodes. It seems like you've focused your attention on me ever since I appeared, which is putting a bit of pressure on me..."

Mr. Rhodes chuckled, "What's wrong? I've saved you so many times, and you still don't trust me?"

I took a small step back and said softly, "Of course I have no objection to saving me, but it's strange. Mr. Rhodes has been searching for Lady Lilia's whereabouts and preventing Popuri from being transformed. But I feel that you don't seem to be feeling any sadness or discouragement right now? That doesn't seem very reasonable, does it?"

I felt something was wrong from the moment I started climbing the mountain.

Or rather, I've always had a lingering, subtle suspicion about the man in front of me that I just can't shake off.

He used to be a devoted family man and an excellent father, but his behavior was somewhat superficial. He wasn't worried when his wife disappeared, nor did he feel sorry when his daughter turned into a monster. Instead, he was focused on dragging me up the mountain.

Isn't such performance suspicious?

“Marcus, your suspicions are unfounded… You should know that our positions on the entire island are absolutely aligned, to the point that we share both prosperity and adversity. I would never harm you.”

Mr. Rhodes' expression was exceptionally sincere, spreading his hands as if trying to display complete candor. But I sneered, "No matter how aligned our interests are, we are still two independent individuals. High similarity doesn't guarantee complete agreement. I still have many unanswered questions, so the gap between us cannot be completely bridged. Even if you say the bigger picture is more important and we'll leave that aside for now, I have the right to know, don't you agree?"

Mr. Rhodes finally fell silent, then suddenly asked, "Have you discovered anything wrong?"

“It’s not really a problem. I just recalled a story from a parallel world that I believe also happened in your world—the mountain disaster that claimed the lives of Gotz’s wife and daughter.”

Mr. Rhodes frowned and said, "What does that prove?"

I shook my head and said, "I just feel that the mudslide occurred for a different reason than I imagined. Our world has never been fighting against 'deep-sea catastrophes,' but there have been terrifying mountain disasters. I always felt that the terror and mystery of Mount Madras was no less than that of the deep sea, so why did you describe the mountain as a precarious matchbox?"

A mountain that could have sheltered the "ultimate disaster" was soaked by heavy rain and collapsed into the sea.

Mr. Rhodes' expression changed slightly. "Your knowledge of Mount Mads is beyond my expectations."

I continued to shake my head and said, "I've also guessed many possibilities, trying to find out what's unusual about you, but your actions are completely logical, even too much like what I suspected, like... like a perfect intervener playing a role."

Mr. Rhodes suddenly spoke up in denial: "With less than a day's acquaintance with me, you are so familiar with my behavioral logic... Your insight is truly remarkable..."

This man was truly terrifying. Even when cornered and facing my aggressive and unreasonable questioning, he remained rational, constantly searching for flaws in my words, while astutely judging that I had no intention of turning hostile.

Ever since I set foot on Mount Mads, I've heard intermittent sounds, as if someone is trying to convey a message to me, but it's been severely distorted. From the fragments of speech, I hear someone repeatedly saying, "Be careful... Rod..."

I didn't intend to expose these things, and continued, "Mr. Rhodes, I don't want to argue with you about the slightest deception right now, but if this continues, we'll soon be buried with this mountain. Are you still unwilling to tell me your purpose for coming up the mountain?"

Mr. Rhodes' expression remained unchanged. He raised an eyebrow and pointed to the still towering Mount Mads, saying, "This mountain is the seal that seals the 'Deepsea Cataclysm.' Now, an indescribable power has enveloped this land. Only the highest point can break through its control and make contact with the outside world. Although my backup plan has been blocked, if we reach the top of the mountain, we will be able to make contact."

He looked at me intently: "How's that answer? Is there anything else you're worried about?"

"Not at the moment."

I brushed the dirt and grass off my clothes, focused my gaze on the mountaintop shrouded in heavy clouds and surrounded by thunderstorms, and took a step forward.

This step did not result in a collapse.

Chapter 411 Ghost Immortality

The rain poured down relentlessly from the sky, making the dark, gloomy sky seem as if it were about to collapse. At that moment, the wind chased the rain, and the rain chased the wind; together, they chased the dark clouds in the sky, and the entire world was enveloped in rain.

The trees were swept away by the gusts of wind, swirling like waves, their delicate branches and leaves blown into the sky, leaving only ravaged and devastated trees.

I wiped the rain off my face and said worriedly, "The thunderstorm on the mountain is a bit extreme. Could it be that some fellow cultivator is undergoing tribulation on the mountain? Will we ascend directly to immortality if we go up like this?"

On that short stretch of mountain path, I encountered numerous dangerous situations. Every step felt like a game of Russian roulette, with no way of knowing whether I would be safe or in danger. The mud splattered all over my body proves it.

Mr. Rod wasn't much better looking than me. He had been swept into the mudslide at least three times, but he managed to hold his body in place with a crowbar and forcefully break out of the collapse zone to lead me up.