Chapter 84: The Mutation of the Water Monster

Chapter 84: Mutation

The sun, after waiting an entire night, finally welcomed its new rise. It cheered and leaped, tearing through the darkness with its rays, defeating the moon at the meeting point of sea and sky.

At the horizon, a pale white spread instantly, tender and delicate, making people wish they could reach out and pinch it.

Such beauty was the signature of Loch Ness, renowned and captivating. Yet now, all of it had become a thing of the past, swept away, devoured in one gulp by the roaring, gaping-mouthed lake monster.

Around Loch Ness, more than a hundred adventurers each held powerful binoculars, observing the true form of the water monster from afar. The Soaring Adventure Team did the same, four forming a formation, three groups linked head and tail, preparing to confront the charging monster with their strongest, sharpest attacks.

What did it look like?

No one could say for sure. Though it was dawn, the sky remained dim, and apart from the massive figure charging forward, all that could be seen was the torrent of lake water it carried—sparkling, surging with waves.

This creature seemed as if it were made of the lake itself, the rushing waves forming the scales of its armor, supple and fine.

Two huge, hollow eyes flickered. The monster soon locked onto its target, roared, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged forward.

Its fangs were at least a foot long, easily able to pierce a human body; its claws were sharp and dazzling, enough to make one's heart tremble.

Within seconds, the monster had reached the southwest shore, biting and tearing without hesitation.

"Ready, fire!" Feiyang's brows drew tight, grave but unflinching.

Twelve people raised their small grenade launchers in unison, and a barrage of grenades shot out. From prior experience, adventurers had learned that this unknown water monster was nearly immune to all cold weapons. This time, the Soaring Adventure Team had made meticulous preparations, securing permission to borrow grenades from the city police department. These weapons and their ammunition were all specially marked with serial numbers, so there was no worry of misuse.

Twelve grenades, powerful and aimed precisely at the monster's chest and mouth, delivered the first wave of assault.

Boom, boom, boom!

Just as the monster was about to come ashore, muffled explosions erupted across its surface, one after another. Perhaps startled, or simply in pain, the monster let out a series of roars and, for the first time, appeared to retreat.

"Is it withdrawing?" a young E-rank adventurer in the distant forest asked his companion, excitement in his voice.

"Withdraw? Are you kidding?" his friend sneered, "Look at how ferocious it is—how could it possibly retreat?"

"You never know. The more formidable a creature is, the more likely it is to bide its time and seize the right moment to escape," another nearby offered their opinion.

Hearing this, the watching adventurers began to form their own camps, eager to see how things would unfold.

"Captain, we got it!" Feili cried out with delight, shifting his position slightly.

"Feili, stand still!" Vice-captain Wen Hui, quick-eyed and sharp-tongued, hastily warned.

Awooo~~~

Though it had endured heavy attacks, the monster still keenly detected Feili's movement. Enduring its agony, it charged straight for him.

Feili's reflexes were sharp enough; he narrowly dodged disaster.

This time, however, the twelve did not use their grenade launchers again—each had only been issued two rounds, and another task awaited. They could not afford waste.

"Brothers, this monster is strong. The results of our first attack are unclear, so stay alert," Feiyang quickly cautioned, commanding a new round of assault.

Their formation opened into a triangle, surrounding the monster. Each of the twelve unleashed their strongest skills.

Shouts and curses rang out, weapons clashing, sunlight glinting off them in dazzling colors.

Charge! Thousand-Blade Slash! Lifting the Cauldron!

The Soaring Adventure Team seized the moment while the monster was still reeling from the grenades, launching two more rounds of attacks. The monster howled and screamed in pain, clearly on the back foot.

What a formidable team!

The other adventurers whispered in amazement, full of envy. No wonder twelve dared to charge the monster's lair—they had real strength.

Thirty seconds passed in a flash, and the Loch Ness monster had weathered at least five waves of assault. The sky grew lighter, the monster's roars and wails rang out, but the vast shroud of lake water around it had only thinned and dulled; it hadn't dispersed. Some could now glimpse within, where something red seemed to move.

The water rippled, and the red form flickered in and out of sight.

What kind of monster was this, with a red body? The adventurers pondered, but the Soaring Adventure Team on the southwest beach was beginning to tire.

Their strongest techniques were spent. Though effective, they had paid a heavy price. Eleven looked to Feiyang, awaiting his decision.

Suddenly, the monster roared and lashed out with its tail, flinging a teammate—who had his back to the lake—into the air. The tail moved with such speed and force that no one could react in time.

Splash! The D-rank adventurer crashed hard onto the lake's surface, spitting blood, the water turning crimson. Furious, Feiyang and the others moved to strike, but the monster suddenly accelerated, plunging into the water.

"Block it—don't let it escape!" Feiyang bellowed, and Wen Hui instantly understood.

The two sprang forward, skills flaring as they raced after the monster. But the creature was faster still, swallowing the fallen adventurer in one gulp.

"Damn it! Are you looking for death?" Wen Hui raged, ashamed that a B-rank team couldn't protect its own, not even recovering the body—an utter disgrace.

Along the shore, many watched, waiting for their chance.

"Quick, retreat!"

Suddenly, Feiyang's expression changed dramatically. With a panicked shout, he grabbed Wen Hui's arm and pulled him back.

"Captain, what—" Wen Hui started, but fell silent.

They had barely retreated twenty meters when the surface of Loch Ness erupted in towering waves. A massive vortex of water spiraled upward, forming a colossal waterspout. In seconds, the whirling column soared a hundred meters high.

A hundred people watched in shock, faces paling as they rushed to take cover.

Awooo——!

The monster, enraged beyond measure, let out a thunderous howl from above, like the crash of thunder.

Atop the hundred-meter-high waterspout, the enormous beast leapt out, eyes wide as bells, fangs like blades.

With a roar, its body began to grow at a speed visible to the naked eye, countless gallons of lake water lifting and wrapping around it.

"What is it doing?" someone asked, wounded.

"I think it's mutating."

"Mutating?" Panic erupted as people screamed and scattered.

"This is bad! Captain, it's mutating—what do we do?" Wen Hui cried out, his face wild with alarm.