CHAPTER 1002: CHAPTER 195: THE GOD WHO JOINED THE PARTY...

The wriggling, spreading waves escorted Him onto the shallows.

"Finding the next body is your new task."

The oracle echoing in the heart seemed near and yet far, as He released an aura related to the Tentacle Cultist but more mysterious and vast.

"I’m only human."

The Tentacle Cultist occupied the Eye of the Ancient God, or was the God of the Deep Sea manifesting through a shell? Lu Li couldn’t tell. He no longer wanted to be entangled in the vortex of the God of the Deep Sea.

It was clear that the one claiming to be the God of the Deep Sea viewed Lu Li differently, bestowing supreme glory: "Bring back a new shell, and I shall allow you to call Me by My true name."

Lu Li ignored this glory that drove believers into a frenzy, calmly replying, "You can have your believers do it."

"They... are no longer reliable."

He candidly stated a fact.

Lu Li thought of the chaotic emotions of the Tentacle Cultists, realizing something. But after consideration, he still refused the Divinity’s invitation.

"Allow me to refuse."

"You have no right... to refuse."

A shadow beneath the unknowable cloak released a firm stance. But amidst the hostility of Ophelia and the cultists, He turned toward the deep sea, being pushed and lifted by the waves, ascending like a fountain, landing on the deck of the waiting Andrea nearshore.

Andrea’s hull suddenly sank several meters as if burdened, with a low hum echoing deep within its structure.

"The weight of a god is its own," Ophelia read out cautiously and continuously.

This was recorded in the history of the Ancient Loran Kingdom: During a ritual held by the kingdom’s pontiff, the Divinity descended, crushing the prepared stone platform.

Though the platform was carved into hollows by craftsmen, it could easily bear the load of dozens of carriages. The enraged King intended to kill the craftsmen, but the investigating officials found the stone slab where the Divinity stood the day before execution—covered in cracks, its interior turned to powder.

The official saved the craftsmen, and from then on, people knew, "The weight of a god is its own."

This indicates He might truly be the God of the Deep Sea.

"What shall we do next?"

Ophelia asked the pondering Lu Li.

"He is not an enemy."

Lu Li could sense He bore no malice, as previously mentioned, ants should not meddle in human battles. "Wait to see if He changes His mind."

After all, humans wouldn’t let ants take part in battles.

Before leaving, Lu Li had the believers leave marks on the beach and a few wooden boxes, then boarded the rowboat back to Andrea beside the deeper draft line, ascending the deck. The waiting God of the Deep Sea took the steps and entered the Captain’s Cabin on the upper deck.

He knew everything about Andrea, gained from the memories of the Tentacle Cultists.

Buzz——

Below, Andrea emitted a low steam whistle, and this time Lu Li understood: "The big sister has come home."

With another low hum from Andrea, Lu Li let it set sail for home.

Distant Seaview Cliff.

...

Lu Li and Ophelia returned to the Captain’s Cabin. Puxiu shrank in a corner, trembling, completely unaware of what had transpired on the ship.

"Can you conceal your aura?" the pondering Lu Li asked Him.

"I can."

Yet He did nothing in response.

"If you don’t restrain your aura, your enemies might find their way here," Lu Li said.

"My power has not yet recovered..." He whispered. The mysterious vast aura under the hood retreated like tentacles, and the voice also shifted from reverberating in the heart to being spoken from within the hood’s shadow, feminine yet seemingly male.

"A body lies in Ailen Peninsula, in the Shadow Swamp," He said.

The Mother of the Marsh used to be there, along with the unknown presence of the northern marshes. Which is His body?

But Lu Li refused once more: "I will not accept another commission."

At present, the power the God of the Deep Sea held was not daunting, at least not enough to command Lu Li—especially with the aid of the Steam Contour.

"I can grant you Divine Power."

"I won’t use the power of twisted thought."

The premise of possessing Divine Power is faith, and faith is a deeper-rooted force than blood ties, able to alter one’s mind. And there’s that saying from the lighthouse:—How naive to think you’d be worry-free after accepting their favor.

"I can help you find your love," He said again.

"...I will find her."

After a moment of silence, Lu Li spoke.

The conversation once again ended fruitlessly.

On the way back to Belfast, He did nothing, but with the increased time of contact, Lu Li pieced together the truth: The God of the Deep Sea long fell ages ago, but Divinity does not die so easily, like the slumbering Lord of the Deep Sea. His consciousness called upon remaining believers to find a body representing His power, leading to everything Lu Li encountered.

Even the God of the Deep Sea was listening.

According to Ophelia, the God of the Deep Sea was not very clever, or rather somewhat dull and uninformed—she had never seen anyone earnestly converse with Puxiu.

After all, He was merely using an eyeball as a vessel. Until He acquired more bodies, He wouldn’t regain power, nor would He change His character.

Just a few days of interaction taught the God of the Deep Sea something from these humans, wraiths, and different species, like how to persuade.

"I will expel those invading this world."

Approaching the Ailen Peninsula, as the dim skeletal swamp emerged at the horizon, the God of the Deep Sea said to Lu Li.

Lu Li was silent for a long time, still refusing the enticing invitation of the God of the Deep Sea.

"Why. As a native life form, you should aid Me..." He released confusion.

"I’m only human."

Lu Li never indulged in arrogance born of flattery.

Whether in Midnight City or Vena Ice-Free Port, when proclaiming his great name, Lu Li never abandoned rationality.

He understood how fragile he was as a human. It didn’t take the anomalies themselves—a winter, a storm, or even an illness could kill him.

All his legendary experiences were the accumulation of caution, luck, and coincidence. Lu Li might continue his success, but it couldn’t last forever.

Eventually, Lu Li would die burdened by success itself.

Andrea docked offshore, along the sinister and strange skeletal grove coastline.

"You will... regret this," He stopped persuading, simply issuing a cold whisper.

"Yes, I hope you succeed."

Lu Li never doubted the Ancient God’s conviction to expel invaders.

He took a deep look at Lu Li, then ascended the rising fountain, heading towards the shore.

Watching the silhouette of the God of the Deep Sea vanish behind layers of weird shadows, Ophelia asked, "Where to next?"

The trial at Vena Ice-Free Port remained unresolved, and the investigation of Paradise Valley had to be temporarily deferred.

Before answering, Lu Li’s upturned black eyes noticed a sensation from the inverted pentagram mark on his wrist. As the God of the Deep Sea distanced, the mark deepened, acquiring warmth.

Something was tracking Lu Li through the inverted pentagram mark.

The presence of the God of the Deep Sea had masked Lu Li’s location. But when He left, Lu Li was exposed under the watch of the tracker.

Whether an unspeakable coincidence or a destined event, Lu Li gazed towards the Twisted Jungle where the God of the Deep Sea had disappeared.

"Catch up with Him."