Chapter 885: Chapter 882: "How to Forcefully Retain.
Su Ming’an couldn’t tell what he was seeing.
A luminous green light enveloped everything; a tsunami surged, a gigantic black wave rushed towards the sky, as if a meteor shattered the dawn, the dark clouds fell, overturning the heavens and earth.
Bright and dark flashed before his eyes constantly, strange fish emitted cries, bizarre birds circled the horizon, as if some mysterious creatures were awakening at this moment, and his ears were pierced by a whale-like grating hum that passed a certain tone across his eardrums and stabbed into his brain.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa."
This seemed to be a mental influence; one moment he could recall the scenes before him, the next, those scenes were like waves on a beach, and his memory was gradually devoured completely.
When he came to his senses and wanted to retreat, he felt a warmth on his cheek, as if the sky had begun to rain heavily.
The next moment, his entire hand was instantly stained crimson. When he looked up to the sky, he realized it was not rain at all, but a blood rain pouring down.
—A luminous green tentacle had unknowingly emerged from the seabed, carrying the pitch-black waves, destroying all the houses by the sea, and smashing everyone inside into fine fragments.
Blood water mixed with rainwater poured directly down, drenching his head and body.
Su Ming’an’s pupils contracted slightly, the thick blood rain streaming over his face, the air filled with fragmented bodies, bits of flesh, bone, and cloth.
"Ah ah—ah ah ah—!!" The survivors cried out, staring fearfully at the increasing number of luminous green tentacles on the sea surface, stumbling and falling within a few steps.
Those tentacles were not the octopus tentacles Su Ming’an had expected, rather, they looked like plant buds, vibrant and energetic. If not described as "tentacles," they were more like "beautiful plant shoots." Although there were only a few tentacles on the sea surface, it was enough to imagine what kind of gigantic creature hid beneath the waves.
Why did this thing suddenly appear?
Su Ming’an stared at those tentacles.
... Was this really just an ancient-style game about a royal struggle for power?
...
[sanity value: 45 points]
...
Su Ming’an stretched out his hand, a spatial vibration infused with 3000 mana points was fiercely launched, hitting the largest luminous green tentacle.
"Boom—!"
The air seemed to tear with this strike, the violent aftershock turning the entire Lighthouse into dust, as if the sea and sky trembled for it.
The spatial vibration collided with the tentacle, causing it to fracture inch by inch, like a vine being twisted and sinking into the water.
"Ah ah, ah ah ah—" his ears were filled with the frantic cries of the villagers. They ran about wildly like buzzing flies.
Some villagers realized Su Ming’an’s strength and hoped to survive under his protection. But before they could take a few steps, they suddenly screamed and began tearing their own faces, shouting bizarre words like "fusion, assimilation, resurrection," and plunged into the sea.
The sea surface started to churn again, with more tentacles sprouting crazily.
Su Ming’an couldn’t figure out the conditions and principles for the tentacle’s appearance for the moment, he just wanted to take Chao Yan away from this place—Chao Yan’s house had already collapsed, and all the villagers with her were reduced to flesh and blood. He didn’t know if she was still alive or had already become part of the blood rain.
"Swish!"
He used spatial displacement, appearing above Chao Yan’s house.
However, as he landed, a tentacle appeared right at his landing spot, as if prepared.
Su Ming’an’s expression shifted slightly, just as he was about to perform another spatial displacement, he felt a sudden stabbing pain in his head, as if attacked by something intangible; his spirit wavered, and the preparatory gesture for spatial displacement halted instantly.
—In this shadow state, his mentality points stood at 282. An extreme mentality distribution, unrivaled below the sixth rank, but something actually surpassed his mentality points and initiated a control judgment.
In that instant, Su Ming’an realized he might have demonstrated his specialty again, starting off by hitting a boss.
He initially thought the power system of this world was somewhat low, and the lauded Yi Zhongyu was merely at a peak fourth rank level—in reality, the world’s challenge lay not in humans, but "exotic species."
This gigantic tentacle monster lurking beneath the sea was the legendary terrifying and bloodthirsty "exotic species." Unlike Bai Lian, who took human form, it retained all its power and scale, capable of crushing humans into blood rain in an instant.
—It turned out this world was not about a survival war of "people vs. people," but a survival war of "people vs. world." Facing these horrifying, sinister, overwhelmingly powerful beings mastering the instant death rule, facing the black mist that could anytime envelop the last area of survival, facing the deities that easily orchestrated human destiny and death scenarios—how did fragile, insignificant humans strive to survive in such circumstances?
Su Ming’an’s heart tightened; he was uncertain of what he’d ultimately face.
The sea breeze brushed his cheeks, underfoot was the tentacle already ready to strike, a piercing pain shot through his mind, and before he could escape, the tentacle had already grabbed his ankle, carrying a cold sensation.
"Swish!" Su Ming’an immediately drew the Sword of Yarman, hacking down, only to hear an oceanic sound close at hand.
"Whoa—whoa—whoa—!"
At this moment, the terrifying creature from the depths of the sea revealed its contours, rapidly surfacing—it was a magnificently shaped gigantic tree creature, like an oceanic divine tree. Its luminous green tentacles reached towards Su Ming’an like branches; before Su Ming’an could slash down, a tentacle touched his cheek, extremely close to his neck.
Su Ming’an couldn’t avoid it in time; he initially thought his neck would be twisted, or his head directly penetrated. He relaxed his grip slightly, even prepared for dying once.
Yet, an unexpected scene unfolded.
—The tentacle did not attack him.
It merely brushed his cheek, wiping away the blood there with an action that could be described as "gentle."
"...Hmm?" Su Ming’an was slightly stunned.
The tentacle vibrated a bit, transmitting a mental wave, its message entering directly into Su Ming’an’s mind. Even without specific sounds, Su Ming’an understood the tentacle creature’s intention:
[He asks me to bring you a farewell gift.]
The tentacle curled around Su Ming’an’s neck, draping a necklace over him. This necklace was looped with hemp rope, dangling a wooden eye that seemed alive, constantly trembling.
Su Ming’an felt a chill down his spine.
...Who? Could it be a deity?
The "farewell gift" was this necklace? But he had never met with a deity—was it Su Wensheng who had previously seen one?
His neck tightly encircled by the tentacle, capable of being snapped any moment, Su Ming’an remained motionless, refraining from using any skills rashly.
People were crushed by fear, sitting down with minds filled with chaotic emotions, unable to comprehend the scene—why could this outsider coexist peacefully with the tentacle monster?
Dark clouds surged on the horizon, the black waves unceasing, another mental wave from the tentacle reached Su Ming’an:
[Will you come with me?]
This mental transmission was more intense than before, akin to a cold, long needle piercing the brain, causing Su Ming’an brief disorientation, his mind blank, even the bullet comments experienced a temporary lull, affecting people outside the screen."
Soon, Su Ming’an regained his rationality.
"Go with you, sink into the sea? I refuse." Su Ming’an decisively rejected. In any case, following such a tentacle creature was undoubtedly a poor choice. Even for solving puzzles, this couldn’t be done; spiritual status cannot be recovered. Just look at the mad old man Wang to understand.
The tentacle creature quivered, this time the transmitted mental pressure was even stronger:
[This world is very dangerous, don’t you understand?]
[Ubiquitous exotic species, terrifying instant death rule, deities arranging human destiny.]
[Yet the more terrifying thing, you haven’t even touched upon. You’ve just arrived here and cannot comprehend what your enemies are. If you continue this way, you will not achieve a good result.]
[I know your desire, I know your purpose—just follow me, and I will reveal everything to you. Just nod, and you will achieve happiness, I promise.]
The overwhelming sense of mentality suppression from these words felt like a towering mountain pressing down on him, squeezing into his brain. Su Ming’an hesitated for a moment, and the tentacles swiftly climbed up towards him, dragging from his ankles upwards.
—No hesitation, this is temptation.
"I refuse." Su Ming’an gritted his teeth and insisted on refusing.
The tentacled creature’s glowing green tendrils swayed. It continued to seduce gently:
[Everything you desire can be achieved.]
An extremely strong mentality attack, like an invisible hook reaching into his mind, attempting to drag away his resistance.
[Everything you hope for can be offered to you.]
The grotesque light spread, and the mental impact intensified.
[—Just nod, and everything can be yours. Including passing the game.]
In that moment, Su Ming’an almost lost control and nodded. But most fortunately, his number of deaths far exceeded that of ordinary people, and his willpower far surpassed others. Even against this unreasonable mental temptation, he maintained the most basic rationality.
He sustained a painful calm amidst this tug-of-war of the mind.
The tentacle creature could have easily killed him or dragged him away, yet it kept begging for his permission, seemingly constrained by some [rule]. Once he nods, uncontrolled events may occur.
Su Ming’an gritted his teeth, preventing himself from losing focus.
[Why do you, such a small human, insist on resisting destiny?] it asked in confusion.
—Do not nod.
[I will bring you the happiest life, and your desired family will come back.] it tempted.
—Do not nod.
[You are concerned about those called "Lv Shu," "Noel," "Su Rin," "Yamada Machiichi," right? I will find them for you, protect them, let them safely pass these twenty days, and let them attain happiness.] It spoke at his ear.
—Do not be tempted.
Hmm?
The tentacle creature and the deity behind it—knowing he was Player Su Ming’an and not Su Wensheng?
At that moment, Su Ming’an’s determination to refuse surpassed the tentacles’ temptation. He suddenly heard a crackle, and the tentacles that had spread to his chest snapped.
Su Ming’an immediately tore off the sticky things, broke free, and instantly distanced himself from the tentacle creature on the sea, his sword tip directly targeting its immense figure that blocked clouds and the moon.
Its tentacles no longer gently reached for him, nor did it spew words of temptation. The massive figure quietly lay on the sea, surrounded by churning black waves.
In the face of the extremely cautious Su Ming’an, its mental waves only emitted brief words:
[...]
[...What use is force?]
The next moment, those glowing green tentacles were instantly retracted, sinking one by one into the water. Immediately, the entire enormous tentacle creature slowly submerged into the water, and in less than ten seconds, the once tumultuous sea calmed to a serene state, as if nothing had happened.
However, Su Ming’an knew that everything just now was real.
The wails of people still echoed in his ears, the dead could never return. The lighthouse fragments and house ruins by his feet, the remnants of human bodies and bones, all existed. The tentacled creature that suddenly caused a tsunami was undoubtedly a terrifying and murderous "exotic species."
But it unexpectedly let him go, even gently wiping away the blood from his face.
Su Ming’an touched his face, finding it clean, the blood already wiped away. He looked down at the necklace around his neck. The living eyeball on the necklace trembled slightly, staring unblinkingly at him, sending chills down his spine.
A system prompt popped up:
...
[Eye of the Old Days (hidden): "She gifted the dim light of dawn into the darkest eternal night—thus ’she’ became ’he.’"]
Durability: MAX
Physical Strength +30
Strength +30
Agility +30
Spirit +30
Skill (Foresee Destiny): Using this skill, you will foresee the destiny of a period of time, with no cooldown time and no mana cost.
Passive Skill (Unification): Wearing this item will prevent exotic species from harming you, and anomalies will not affect you.
Equipment Requirement: Possessor of Su Wensheng.
Note: "He" gave you this gift, drop blood on the necklace, and it will take effect.]
...
Su Ming’an only felt his scalp tingling—no matter how well this thing was described, regardless of its high quality, he did not think it was harmless to wear.
Just looking at the attribute point bonuses of this thing, it could add 120 attribute points. Any new player wearing it could instantly become a powerful veteran player, with no shortcoming in any of the Four Dimensions Attributes, not to mention having a skill as mysterious as "Foresee Destiny."
But seeing the skill’s "no cooldown time, no mana cost," it’s clear that this necklace is not a good thing. Su Ming’an believes in cost and gain; such a powerful skill cannot come without any deduction. If it doesn’t consume mana, then, what does it consume—?
Soul? Spirit? Sovereignty? Humanity? Rationality?
Su Ming’an immediately reached out, intending to pull off the necklace.
Just as he was about to remove the necklace, a system prompt popped up:
...
[Are you sure you do not want to wear the "Eye of the Old Days"?]
[Wearing the "Eye of the Old Days" can bring you many benefits. All your processes will greatly reduce in difficulty, and destiny will be visible before your eyes.]
[Wear/Do not wear.]
...