Chapter 250

Chapter 250

This pond was far from being as simple as it appeared on the surface. Beneath that murky green surface less than five square meters in size lay unknown depths that even a kilometer-long dive couldn't reach. The bluish-black stone statues on the hillside were not random totems of faith carved by the natives; they seemed more like deliberately placed barriers, standing silently for millennia, precisely to suppress or contend with the terrifying presence lurking in the pond.

The statues' hazy eyes remained fixed on the pond, their stone palms raised upward as if resisting something trying to break through the water's surface. That silent intimidation left an ancient, oppressive aura hanging in the air.

Evan's curiosity was thoroughly ignited, reaching an all-time high. He understood too well the survival rules of Supernaturals—they never grew in the comfort of a safe cradle, but forged themselves in turbulent dangers.

True supernatural power never emerges in a peaceful life. Only through constant battle, walking the line between life and death, and pushing limits could one hope to glimpse the threshold of advancement and elevate their spirituality and strength to the next level.

This adventurous instinct, etched into the bones of every Supernatural, meant Evan wasn't about to back down just because of the eerie suction his rat doll had encountered. The more unknown the danger, the more it stirred his innate desire to explore. Moreover, the secrets behind this pond were clearly tied to the First Island, and even the origins of the native tribes—he had no intention of turning around and leaving.

Evan raised his hand, and the Maid Doll beside him immediately understood, handing over the leather satchel slung over her arm. The satchel looked small but was a storage pouch made from supernatural beast hide, capable of holding far more than its exterior suggested.

Evan reached into the bag and pulled out three spherical dolls, each the size of a watermelon. Their shells were made of dark, blast-proof silicone, covered with fine patterns, with faint traces of gunpowder fuses and spiritual runes embedded inside—these were explosive dolls he had specially crafted using the empire's most powerful gunpowder and supernatural spiritual circuits. Their power was enough to blast through hard rock layers, and even Supernaturals would need to keep their distance.

His fingers brushed over the shells of the explosive dolls as he gently infused them with spirituality. The runes on the surfaces instantly glowed with a faint red light, emitting a low hum, like a sleeping beast that had awakened, poised to strike.

Evan stared at the placid pond, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. He wanted to see exactly what terrifying existence lay beneath this unfathomable pond, requiring an entire village's statues to suppress.

With a sudden burst of strength, Evan hurled all three watermelon-sized explosive dolls toward the pond. The spherical dolls cut through the air, splashing into the murky green water with loud plops, sinking instantly, leaving only fleeting ripples on the surface.

The next second, Evan quickly activated the spiritual runes and muttered, "Explode!" A violent roar suddenly erupted, shaking the ground beneath his feet.

A towering flame burst from the pond. Dark red tongues of fire, mixed with water and shattered rocks, shot dozens of feet into the air. Water cascaded down like a waterfall, slamming onto the shore. The entire pond shook violently under the blast's impact; moss and soil along the banks slid off, and rocks at the edge directly collapsed, tumbling into the water and stirring up even larger waves.

Before the explosion's aftermath settled, a massive whirlpool suddenly spiraled at the center of the pond. The murky green water, churned by an invisible force, formed a deep black funnel that furiously devoured everything around.

The whirlpool spun faster and faster, emitting weird "whoosh" sounds, as if some colossal creature was about to break free from the depths.

"Master, be careful!" The two Maid Dolls instantly shielded Evan behind them. The pistol launchers in their mouths silently extended, armor-piercing rounds at the ready.

Just then, a giant tentacle covered in suckers shot out from the center of the whirlpool. That tentacle was a meter in diameter, its surface coated with slippery dark purple mucus, the edges of the suckers lined with sharp serrations. It slammed heavily into the rocks on the shore.

"Boom!" The rock shattered into pieces. Amidst flying debris, more tentacles emerged one after another from the whirlpool, writhing in the air like giant pythons, exuding a strong smell of brine and decay.

As the water surged, a massive body slowly surfaced—a deep-sea squid far larger than normal. Its inky body lurked in the depths of the whirlpool, but even the exposed part of its head was as large as a house. Dozens of tentacles flailed wildly in the water, and a pair of crimson vertical pupils locked onto Evan by the shore, radiating icy killing intent.

"A Sequence 5 supernatural being's projection..." Evan's pupils contracted. Spirituality quickly gathered at his fingertips. "Its strength has been suppressed by two Sequences; now it's only at Sequence 7."

He himself was a Sequence 8 supernatural. Even with modified dolls aiding him, facing a Sequence 7 creature was still a tough battle.

The deep-sea squid, clearly enraged by the explosion, lashed one of its thickest tentacles like a whip toward Evan, accompanied by a whistling sound powerful enough to pulp a person.

The Maid Dolls reacted swiftly, both firing their launchers simultaneously. Dozens of armor-piercing rounds shot out in a fan pattern toward the suckers on the tentacle. The bullets pierced through the mucus, exploding into bloody holes on the tentacle.

The squid shrieked in pain, quickly retracting the tentacle, but immediately flung out several thinner tentacles, entangling the stone statues on the shore.

The bluish-black statues were violently struck, their surfaces instantly cracking like a spiderweb. One statue was even snapped in half at the waist, crashing into the pond with a huge splash.

Evan's heart sank. These statues were crucial for suppressing the squid. With one destroyed, the squid's aura markedly increased, its crimson pupils burning with even greater murderous intent.

He gritted his teeth, tossed his pet cat doll aside, and pulled several miniature explosive talismans from the Maid Doll's storage bag. With deft fingers, he infused them with spirituality: "You two keep its tentacles busy—I'll break its core!"

The two Maid Dolls responded instantly, their forms blurring as they continuously harassed the squid with bullets and spiritual attacks. Meanwhile, Evan used the cover to quickly circle to the side of the pond, his eyes fixed on the faintly glowing purple core on the squid's head—the weak point of this supernatural projection. Destroy that, and the squid would completely dissolve.

The battle by the pond erupted. The water was stained an eerie mix of blood and ink, while the broken statues seemed to silently foretell the greater crisis about to unfold now that this seal was broken.

Watching the squid's wildly flailing tentacles, a cold glint flashed in Evan's eyes. He sent the two Maid Dolls to the front line while pulling out two specially crafted repeating fire pistols from the storage bag. The guns were inlaid with spiritual runes, their muzzles aimed at the squid's tentacles as he pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The dense gunfire shattered the silence of the empty village. Silver-coated bullets poured out like a storm, precisely striking the tentacles' suckers and joints.

These bullets were no ordinary lead; they were specially made by Evan with armor-piercing powder and Ink-pattern Flower toxin. Each hit blasted a bloody hole on the tentacle, and the toxin seeped through the wound, temporarily stiffening the squid's movements.

The two Maid Dolls cooperated seamlessly, splitting into flanks. The Maid Doll on the left activated the pistol launcher in her mouth, firing thirty armor-piercing rounds in a fan toward the squid's eyes, forcing it to withdraw its massive head. The Maid Doll on the right pulled out a short blade embedded with a supernatural crystal from her waist. Taking advantage of the squid retracting its tentacles, she darted out like an arrow, slashing the blade across the edge of a tentacle, slicing off a large chunk of mucus-covered flesh.

"Hisss—" The squid screeched sharply, its crimson pupils blazing with fury. Several tentacles slammed into the water, instantly raising waves several meters high, mixed with icy streams of water shooting toward Evan and the dolls.

This was its Sequence 7 ability—Water Manipulation, which could turn pond water into blades to slice approaching enemies.

Evan was prepared. He quickly rolled backward while throwing a watermelon-sized explosive doll toward the water stream. "Boom!" The shockwave from the blast scattered the water stream in all directions. The hot, moist air hit Evan's face, but he didn't care. He sprang up from the ground, his pistols spitting flames again.

He knew that as a Sequence 8 supernatural, his spiritual intensity was far inferior to the Sequence 7 squid. But when it came to combat skills and weapon usage, his years mastering the Gunslinger fighting style were enough to bridge the gap.

Moreover, this squid was just a projection, confined to a pond less than five square meters, severely limiting its mobility compared to its deep-sea advantage—a fatal weakness he could exploit.

As he fired, Evan moved quickly, constantly changing positions around the pond. His steps seemed chaotic but were precisely placed in the blind spots of the squid's tentacle attacks. With each move, he unleashed several gunshots and a miniature explosive bomb. Those fist-sized bombs were accurately thrown into the suckers, causing enough damage to disable the suckers, making the squid thrash its tentacles in pain.

The two Maid Dolls matched his rhythm—one providing long-range suppression, the other engaging in close harassment. The Maid Doll on the left set her launcher to maximum fire rate, bullets streaming like a chain toward the squid's body, keeping it occupied. The Maid Doll on the right used the rocks and trees by the pond as cover, occasionally darting out to slash a tentacle with her short blade, retreating to cover immediately when the squid retaliated, never overextending.

The battle had become a one-sided suppression by Evan. The squid's water attacks were countered by explosive bombs, and each sweep of its tentacles was adeptly dodged by Evan. Meanwhile, it accumulated more and more wounds, its dark purple blood staining the pond water murky. Its movements gradually slowed, and a hint of fear flickered in its crimson pupils. It clearly realized it was no match for this human and wanted to retreat into the depths of the pond.

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Author's note: Happy New Year's Eve!!