Deep Sea Hunter, but Deep Sea Titan

The water around the biological warship was instantly reversed into lava, causing the surrounding seawater to boil. The battlefield instantly turned into a giant seafood cauldron, and the terror fish completely lost its biological activity in the boiling seawater, turning into nothing more than cooked meat.

The colossal chitinous aggregate, its size comparable to a warship, was rapidly devoured by the direct contact with the lava. The solidified rock rendered the behemoth immobile, inevitably forcing it to silently sink into the seabed. Beneath the few remaining intact chitinous plates, the crust had likely already burned.

"Since it's about killing an enemy of Baron Nash's caliber, there should be some kind of special buff."

The Iberian coins that suddenly appeared around Skadi, Laurentina, and the Doctor have proven that this is part of the Baron's mechanics. The next step is to confirm the buff.

Sure enough, the status bar showed the buff name "Conqueror of the Wilderness". Its improvement to Lotin himself is not particularly significant at this stage, but like the original Baron's Power, it provides a high amount of buff to friendly soldiers, which means that it is not only the large group that can sustain the war through war.

"I felt power flowing into my body, it was such an amazing feeling."

Iberian hand cannons are known for their difficulty in control and immense power; even Elene, who has become a formal judge, cannot fully master her hand cannons.

But at the moment the giant died, Elena felt lighter than ever before, and her hand cannon, which was difficult to control, became as easy to control as a regular mercenary's crossbow.

"Accept it with gratitude; the Iberian army may be stronger now than at any time in history."

Lotin discovered that it wasn't just flesh-and-blood soldiers who benefited; like the original Baron's power, super soldiers and sports cars also enjoyed the boost. As a result, the Punisher's war machines could perform even better than their design specifications.

“Every giant monster bred by a large horde will become a sacrifice for my blessing.”

This is a situation that Lotin is happy to see. If his side can also be strengthened in a short period of time due to the war, then the difficulty of Hai Si's adaptation and evolution will increase again.

“Even if the ship is lost, I will fight those beasts to the end. Sailor, sink this ship before the hull is completely corroded by the Netherworld Mark. Rather than letting those beasts get away with it, it’s better to satisfy your desires.”

Captain Alfonso was already similar to that Tidehunter, except that he retained more rationality. Even without his ship, he could continue fighting the large group in the ocean.

His ship was doomed no matter what, which is why he asked Loting to take action.

"Endless stealth."

Lotin is no longer in a vulnerable state, so he can switch skins in time to face the original Deep Sea Titan, the first ship he encountered when he came into this world.

His companions on his shoulders, however, are protected by the shield provided by his W skill and do not need to worry about drowning.

The Fool's anchor once again towed the ship until the magnificent giant was firmly anchored in the depths of the ocean.

An era has ended; the golden age has ended.

Even if Iberia were to rise again, they would no longer celebrate that golden age of pioneering and progress. The new protectors have already displayed too many miracles, and Iberia, having accepted these miracles, will never be able to escape the shadow of Nautilus.

"Governor, do you have a way to contact the Agor authorities?"

"Is it theoretically feasible to use the Eye of Iberia, which utilizes Agor's technology?"

Lotin believed that the fallen ones of Agor, especially the so-called "Sage," were a huge destabilizing factor, and that their seductive behavior was more dangerous to the masses than Skadi, who was by his side and did not have to worry about Isamara.

"Do you really need the Agor authorities' help?"

Faced with absolute power, Goredia no longer dared to act like a true elder of the city of Agor. She vaguely sensed that Lotin was not simply seeking another ally.

"Proceeding deeper into the monster's lair will not affect the elimination of unstable factors along the way."

“The fallen of Agor are more destructive than the fallen of Iberia.”

Having gained experience in Kazimir and Kazdel, Lotin was quite familiar with effective methods for removing tumors.

Relying on the combined effect of [Knight of Light] and [Mountain Barrier], Lotin can effectively distinguish those who are truly fallen, and once he has identified them, it's time for his most proficient task: the "picking up" phase.

"You want to cleanse the corrupted of Agor? But didn't you just make the judgment that the appearance of this biological warship most likely means that the governor who holds the authority to dispatch the coast guard has also fallen into the abyss?"

"They want to use Agor's defense forces as cannon fodder to cover for them."

Without realizing it, Greta stopped considering whether Lotin could handle both the large group and the coast guard at the same time; she knew that questioning the other side's strength was pointless.

She's just worried that if the other person gets angry, they might even wipe out some healthy tissues.

“I have a solution, Your Excellency. You just need to contact the Agor authorities.”

"This coast guard is acting just like that golden fleet in the Koprulu Sector, claiming to be the strongest conventional armed force in some world, but it's always either getting thrashed or fighting its own people..."

Lotin felt that the arrogant temperament and self-satisfied sense of human responsibility of these Agorians were exactly the same as that of a certain race in the Koprulu Sector.

Goredia's reason told her that Lotin had the ability to save Agor, just as he was now protecting Iberia.

If Agor refuses to lower his proud head now, he will forever lose the chance to extricate himself from the quagmire of the Haisi problem.

"I understand, Lord Nautilus. I will try to make contact. I hope the Iberians won't object?"

"Since it's about punishing those filthy and depraved people, how could the Iberians not be willing?"

Moreover, the Iberians are currently in a state of great excitement due to the continuous miracles, and Lotin's influence on Iberia is gradually surpassing the commandments that have supported its resistance against the Sea King for the past 60 years.

Lotin was more worried about whether the Agors were willing to lower themselves to negotiate the situation on land, fearing that he would have to give them a severe beating again.

Chapter 238: Signal Reception

Although the Eye of Iberia is no longer located close to the coast, thanks to the efforts of the Punisher's engineers, its signal transmission and detection functions have been restored. Therefore, it is theoretically feasible to use it as a base station to send signals to the nearest city, Agor.

It is a monument to the Golden Age, utilizing technology brought by the islanders, thus making it easier to integrate into the Argonaut model system.

At this moment, Loting was returning to shore from the area where the Fool sank. Buoregan's research records had been revealed, and Loting handed them over to Ling for review.

"Buoregan's research reveals the relationship between the behemoths and the sea god. Now, do you feel a sense of familiarity when you face those hideous flesh and blood?"

Because Loting is currently using the [Shan Hai Hui Juan], Laurentina, influenced by Loting, has mastered the Yan language and can translate the contents of Buoragan's Notes for Ling.

"If these enormous creatures had never existed in the ocean long ago, and they had all lived on land in this form—"

Goredia believed that the ocean was the origin of the giant beasts, and that the giant beasts on land were all produced by the migration of ancestors from the ocean.

The Agor people have a limited understanding of the land, and their research on megafauna has long been nonexistent. In the field of megafauna, the achievements of the Yan Kingdom are unparalleled in the world.

"No, lady from Agor, we have very little connection with our distant relatives in the sea. Since ancient times, many giant beasts have inhabited the Great Yan, some of which prefer to be close to the water. However, even in the memories left to us by 'Sui', we have never seen these mutated flesh and blood."

She searched through her knowledge, especially her memories from years ago, but found no creature that matched the current Hai Si. Her knowledge of these deformed creatures came from eyewitness accounts in several coastal cities in Jiangnan, but that was after Yan Country began to modernize.

"The anomalies in the ocean have their own unique and irreplaceable characteristics. Even though I can indeed sense a certain familiarity with the blood from those monsters, I don't know the specific principles and trajectory behind it."

Ling really likes human writing. She admits that Buoregan's research notes are more like a flavorful travelogue, but unfortunately now is not the time to explore its literary value.

She wasn't interested in scientific research; that was something her two younger sisters were better at—Nian, who was skilled in engineering, and Shu, an agricultural tutor who had some knowledge of biology because of her obsession with farming.

"Then I'd like to trouble you to get me a copy for each of my two younger sisters, especially Sister Shu."

Millet was never idle; she traveled throughout the reclaimed Iberian territories, trying to restore agricultural productivity in these lands. The very restoration of a sufficient and stable supply of food would break through many of the dangerous temptations of the fallen.

"Xi-mei loves staying at home too much, but I wish Shu-mei could stay home more. How can she get proper rest if she's always running around outside?"

"Even though you've let go of your obsession, you still look so gloomy. Come find me for a drink sometime."

"It's too much of a strain to use my power to block the nerve signals of those monsters for so long. I'll go back into the painting and rest for now."

Back in Yumen, she only needed to use the mortal skills she had learned to face many dangers, but this time, she was truly engaged in a war of attrition with the large group, using the power of dreams and illusion to slow down the signal transmission between individuals in the large group.

"It is my honor to fight alongside you, Miss Ling. The Scroll of Mountains and Seas will always be open to you."

"Let's have another drink another day."

Luo Ting still doesn't understand why Ling is so interested in his mental state, but it's definitely not time to relax yet.

However, Luo Ting's gratitude towards her was still very sincere. He could see that Ling was truly using her power and the large group of people without reservation to exert herself, and the intensity was even higher than when the millet suppressed the demons of the Great Wilderness City. Without the healing of the Mountain and Sea Scroll and the replenishment of magic potions, she probably wouldn't have been able to hold on.

Now, the Eye of Iberia has become the front-line command post of the Punishing Army, and Carmen herself is once again in command.

"How is the Fool's ship, sir?"

Carmen hoped to salvage the Fool and continue using it, but he also deduced from the files left behind by the Fool before its departure that Lotin would scuttle this magnificent giant sword.

"He has returned to where a ship should have been 60 years ago. Alfonso is still alive, and after 60 years of torment, he has become unrecognizable. He intends to continue fighting those beasts in the ocean to the very end."

"But didn't you say the ship has sunk? Could it be that...!"

Carmen fell silent. He bent down and sat on the rock. Because it was far from the ocean, the rock had become very dry.

"Over sixty years, what kind of torture is this! Even criminals who have undergone the most brutal punishments cannot endure it for more than a year!"

While Carmen was surprised, she also recalled the first report of the Nautilus. That report was made nearly 60 years after the departure of the Fool. In other words, the salvage worker who was thrown off the ship had also survived for 60 years.

"In this respect, I am slightly inferior."

To be honest, Luo Ting's sentence was incomplete. He only endured the initial period through sheer willpower. After losing consciousness, he was put under system control.

"Next, I will ask the consul in Agor to contact the city of Agor. Is Iberia ready?"

Are you planning to seek more allies?

Carmen had long been prepared to make contact with Agor, but there was a lot of hostility towards Agor in Iberia, and he was also worried that this unpredictable and arrogant country would make it difficult to conduct normal diplomacy.

“No… the fallen ones of Agor are even more dangerous; they are the number one accomplices who caused these sea creatures to become what they are today.”

"If we cannot purge these corrupt individuals with ulterior motives, the possibility of evolution will bring many dangers, and seeking allies is secondary."

"In fact, the ordinary Agorians are quite friendly to visitors."

This was the conclusion that Lo Ting reached after knowing the plot of "The Road to Survival" in advance.

"Therefore, the lady governor beside me will temporarily use the Eye of Iberia to send a signal, and I request that the engineering corps of the Punishment Army be mobilized to assist."

Carmen was well aware of Lotin's influence within the Punishment Army and had no intention of interfering. Even though many Iberians held prejudices against the Agorians, they would not refuse to provide assistance in Nautilus's name.

The prestige derived from recovering lost territory and demonstrating miracles was immense.

Goredia quickly figured out how the Buoregan's arm worked, and a signal was sent to the nearest city, Agor. Moments later, Goredia received a reply: they expressed their willingness to make contact with the people on land—recent large-scale geological and hydrological events had become a major concern for them.

Chapter 239: Is Nautilus a living being?

The city of Milyalyum in Agor, the closest city to Iberia, is experiencing an unprecedented sense of unease as Lotin's efforts to raise the coastline have plunged its residents into a state of panic. The geological disaster early warning system, which has never failed to make a difference before, has proven ineffective this time.

The city's enforcers, with its enormous transparent dome, have consistently interfered with the Sealings' plans, using special bioelectric signals to induce their actions, mark their nests, launch long-range biological weapon strikes, and clear a safe passage connecting Agor to the land.

The project is called "Route".

The emergence of this plan at least demonstrates that the proud Agorians have reached a point where they have no choice but to condescend to seek answers from the land.

The proud and aloof giant finally tried to lower its head—in its own view.

“Advisor Brandos, we received signals from the land-based Agor’s usual frequency band. It’s possible that our compatriots on the land are requesting our help.”

"It is also possible that the land-dwellers have reclaimed the facilities built by their compatriots who landed at the time and are trying to contact us proactively."

The Agor who made the request was a fierce and dangerous lionfish. Whether on land or at sea, soldiers always share a similar temperament; they are the most disciplined and ferocious beasts.

Agor's clothing is characterized by streamlined decorative designs, but the soldiers' uniforms feature more rugged armor parts, and the helmets have a style reminiscent of old-fashioned diving masks.

Prior to this, he had reported on the tearing resistance of the Hysters to the Agor III Singularity Weapon, which evolved a special vesicular structure. The Hysters did not exhibit the large-scale collective adaptation that occurred at a certain point in time, unlike their adaptation to the first two weapon levels.

Some individuals who developed extreme tolerance to high heat were also reported, but Agor did not use thermal weapons, which were not very efficient, on a large scale in the sea, so they suspected that another armed force had launched a large-scale attack on the Sea Siblings.

"Advisor Brandos?"

The Agor officer noticed that the coast guard's chief advisor was not as focused as usual, as if something else had distracted him.

"It wasn't entirely unexpected, but we need more time to verify it further."

"Thank you for your hard work, Xikunda."

A disheveled Agor scholar named Brandos responded to the report by Coast Guard officer Sikunda.

He was as busy as any other public official in the city, and extreme exhaustion made his face look somewhat gloomy.

"As for the curious inquiries from my friends on land, I relay them back to my home territory through the appropriate signal ports."

As Brandos had a "little helper" care robot hand him a bottle of artificial tears to relieve eye strain, he answered another question from Siquinda.

"Clementa has authorized the deployment of a swarm of bionic drones to investigate the situation of our land-based friends, and I believe that the city will soon welcome its first land visitors."

"This can be considered witnessing history."

The careful choice of words and sentence structure effectively masked Brandos's nervousness; some little sea spirits had already told him through dreams that a terrifying metal demon was approaching his city.

Meanwhile, on the Punisher's beachhead, Dario and his students were watching the sea, and the Agorians responded without specifying the agreed time for the meeting.

Until a swarm of drones emerged from the sea and pointed out a waterway leading to the city of Agor, Agor warships appeared from the waterway as well, but the Iberians did not seem too shocked by the sight before them.

After all, they had already witnessed the Bronze Titan's immense power in splitting the sea during a tsunami, so any further technological displays by the Agorians would naturally fail to impress the worldly-wise Punishment Army.

"Is Agor's etiquette to fail to notify us of the meeting time without a valid reason?"

Lotin questioned Greta, rather displeased, why the other party had not given a specific time for the meeting.

"Of course not, your compatriots in those cities have not yet confirmed your great power."

While the Agorians are indeed proud, their worship of pre-civilizations and the degenerate worship of the Sea King among them also reveal a certain admiration for strength.