Surprise

The bullets sank into the darkness without producing a sound. It wasn't the sensation of missing a target, but rather a complete lack of feedback, as though they had flown into another dimension entirely.

Hm?

Before Lynch’s brain could even register that something was wrong, the change occurred without the slightest warning.

The world before his eyes seemed to split into two overlapping layers. In the wake of the gunfire, the two spaces rapidly separated and began to shift at blinding speed.

Just as he comprehended what was unfolding, relevant information surfaced in his mind right on cue:

【Authority, Space, Ability, Mirage】

Both spaces were the very watertight compartment he was standing in. However, the empty one was fading away into nothingness, while the other—furnished with tables, chairs, a bed, and a battered trunk resting on the floor—solidified, replacing the previously vacant hold.

In the blink of an eye, the surrounding scenery had completely transformed. At that very moment, the creature overhead revealed itself before him.

It resembled a human, yet possessed the head of a fish. Prominent gills on either cheek opened and closed rhythmically, lending its face a hideous, terrifying appearance.

It wore no shoes; duck-like webbing connected its exposed fingers and toes. Beyond its limbs, eight thick, pitch-black tentacles protruded from its back. Now fully exposed, the eight tentacles shot down from above like sharp arrows, hurtling straight toward Lynch.

The tentacles were already halfway to their target by the time the shrill screech of tearing air echoed through the cramped hold.

Holy shit.

Lynch's hairs stood on end in an instant. Reacting with maximum haste, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Rick!”

Immediately, he felt his collar tighten as someone yanked him backward by his clothes, dragging him clear of the spot.

A split second later, several massive tentacles plummeted from the ceiling like ballista bolts, impaling the spot where he had just stood. The sharp tips plunged deep into the wooden floorboards of the hull, leaving several gaping holes.

Lynch’s feet hit the deck, and he staggered back several paces. Without daring to hesitate, he raised his gun once more, aiming right at the airborne fish-headed monster. Yet the creature was simply too swift. Before Lynch could pull the trigger, it had already ripped its tentacles out of the decking, detached itself from the ceiling, and lunged toward him through the air.

So strong.

A foul, fishy stench rushed into his face. Lynch emptied his cylinder into the fish-headed monster without a second thought. As gunshots rang out, power surged within his body, and his alienated soul began to manifest behind his back.

Right at that moment, a gentle draft stirred behind him. A single finger reached past Lynch’s shoulder and tapped lightly toward midair.

While the fish head showed no expression, the lunging monster suddenly froze in midair, suspended in a manner that defied all laws of physics. Then, hairline fractures appeared across its body, leaking a strange, polychromatic light.

【Authority, Stars, Ability, Starlight Burst.】

Like shattering glass, radiant cracks proliferated across the fish-headed creature’s surface. The outstretched finger slowly retracted, clenching into a fist.

The instant the fist closed, the light inside the monster swelled explosively. The blinding glare illuminated the hold as bright as day as the monster's body abruptly blew to pieces, dissolving into the swirling starlight.

Bang.

Lynch's backward momentum finally halted as his back hit the wall. The entire exchange had taken less than a second. In the spark of a flint, a formidable monster had completely disintegrated before a single finger.

Is this the true might of rank six authority?

Though the starlight before him was still shimmering, a chill ran through Lynch's spine. For the first time, he truly grasped the terrifying nature of a powerful Soul Severer.

If I were ambushed like this, I might not even have time to unleash my Divine Authority before being wiped out. I must stay vigilant at all times from now on and never give an enemy the chance to launch a surprise attack.

“Hmph, as expected of a fugitive on the run for years,” Rick said, pulling back his devastating finger with an indignant snort.

“Hm?”

“It escaped. When it impaled the hull, it deliberately severed a piece of its tentacle. I destroyed its main body, but by the time I realized what happened, that tentacle fragment had already slipped away.”

Lynch looked down in surprise. Only then did he realize they were at the very bottom of the vessel. The tentacles had pierced through the hull directly into the ocean. Seawater was now surging through the holes, and the severed tentacle was nowhere to be seen. It was clear the creature had planned its escape from the very beginning.

“Hiss... I've heard plenty about shedding a tail to survive, but having the tail itself survive on its own is a first for me.”

“No matter. There is still one who couldn't run in time.”

Both of their gazes shifted simultaneously toward Jefferson in the crowd behind them.

Surprisingly, the worldly journalists did not erupt into widespread panic. Though several had inexplicably foamed at the mouth and fainted the moment they laid eyes on the fish-headed tentacle monster, and another had frantically slammed their head against the wall until knocking themselves cold, no one paid them any mind. The rest of the reporters remained utterly entranced, fixing all their attention on Lynch and Knight Rick up front.

Everyone realized that the final reveal was imminent, and an explosive scoop was about to break.

“Mr. Jefferson, it appears you've lost this round. We found the item in the very first compartment we searched.”

Without even opening the wooden chest, Lynch could sense the warmth and familiarity radiating from within. Suppressing the unbidden swell of emotion rising in his heart, he glared at Jefferson with a sneer:

“Before the media of all Rhine, do you have anything to say for yourself? Care to dissect your criminal mindset and weep tears of repentance for your crimes? Or do you intend to resist to the bitter end and concoct some excuse to quibble? Freeze—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Lynch noticed the mysterious filth swirling around Jefferson fluctuating erratically. At the same time, the man's gaze turned exceedingly bizarre. Lynch instantly realized that the teleportation ability belonged to Jefferson, and now that the man knew he was utterly defeated, he intended to use it to flee.

“Fools who never learn, falling for it every single time.” Just as Lynch called for the priests and soldiers to attack, Jefferson flashed a sinister grin. “There are still plenty of days ahead. Just you wait for my vengeance! Hahaha, I look forward to our next meeting.”

With a flash, his body vanished into thin air with a soft poof, leaving behind a card depicting the Ancient Flicker on the deck where he had stood.

The journalists present erupted into an uproar.

What happened? Did the traitor escape? Should we pursue?

Yet in the next instant, light and shadow flickered again. A figure materialized out of nowhere in another corner, crashing headfirst into several priests.

The priests, having prepared in advance, seized the reappearing Jefferson immediately, pinning him firmly to the deck without daring to loosen their grip.

“Oh my, our next meeting came rather quickly, didn't it? Long time no see, Mr. Jefferson.” Lynch hadn't moved an inch from where he stood. Only now did he wave his hand with a beaming smile. “Sometimes fools actually do learn from their mistakes. Sorry to disappoint you.”

“You...”

“Back at the dock warehouse, you already pulled off an escape like this using a pre-planned exit route. Even the biggest fool would take precautions after that. Heh, why do you think we arrived so late and nearly let you slip away?” Lynch strolled over and nudged the card on the deck with his cane. “We deduced that your ability allows you to swap places with a prepared piece of paper to achieve teleportation. However, it has a distance limit, which is why you had to hide in that warehouse earlier—otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to board the ship.”

“So, using that distance as a radius, we drew a circle centered on this ship and conducted a meticulous sweep within the perimeter. Sure enough, we discovered a pre-arranged small boat hiding this very piece of paper. We weren't certain if our theory was correct, but to prevent you from blaming us for your lost property, we kindly brought the lost item along in secret—just to give you a surprise. Look at that, you truly couldn't bear to leave us and teleported right back to our side. Heh, well? Are you surprised to be reunited with your lost property?”

“Good, very good! Lynch Levive, you think you’ve won? You have offended the Master's majesty time and again and disrupted His plans. Do you truly believe the Master will spare you?”

Lynch's expression darkened as he asked chillingly, “What on earth is your Master trying to do?”

“Keep celebrating, you damned escaped sacrifice! The Master has been enraged by you and awakened from His slumber. He will come looking for you soon enough. Foolish sacrifice, savor your final days to the fullest! Hahaha—”

“Not good! He’s forcibly allowing filth to corrode his soul—he’s intentionally transforming into a Twisted One!”

Rick's expression warped. He reached out to seize Jefferson, but the man's body was already inflating at terrifying speed before detonating violently.

Bang.