The one targeting Chen Qi wasn’t an ordinary Deep Sea Toad.

From its size, the tougher grayish skin, and those deep red teeth, it was clearly a more powerful variant.

At that moment, Little Crow also noticed something unusual about this variant.

There were still so many injured who hadn’t recovered. In this situation, running away wasn’t even an option!

If she ran now, it would mean abandoning over a dozen wounded behind.

She diverted a sliver of her focus and said to Chen Qi:

“Take out the Sea Beast Oil and pour it over us. This oil has a mild hypnotic effect and can mask our human scent in front of sea beasts.”

Hypnotic aid? You’ve really got all sorts of weird stuff… Chen Qi took out the Sea Beast Oil and skillfully applied it to them.

Hope this works… Little Crow silently prayed.

Boom! Boom!

The variant moved five meters closer to them, then suddenly stopped again.

After applying the oil, Chen Qi turned around and focused on observing the variant’s behavior.

The huge blue eyes of the Deep Sea Toad stared at him. Chen Qi stared back.

Big eyes met small eyes.

This weird thing actually looks kinda unique… Can my Deep Sea Affinity work on it? Chen Qi wondered.

This Deep Sea Toad definitely counted as a deep sea-type monster.

“Roar!”

Suddenly, the toad opened its enormous mouth and roared in their direction.

The sound carried an ancient power, awakening primal fear in everyone!

The roar nearly sent some of the wounded into cardiac arrest.

Everyone except Chen Qi was visibly shaken.

Even Little Crow was startled. She was already preparing to halt her surgery in the next second.

If push came to shove, she was ready to let this blue toad taste the wrath of a medic!

But in the very next moment, the Deep Sea Toad turned and leapt back into the darkness.

“???”

Everyone was stunned, but they all let out a collective sigh of relief.

Only Chen Qi understood what had happened.

Because that roar—it was directed at him…

Instinctively, Chen Qi could interpret the toad’s penetrating voice.

The general meaning was:

“You eat.”

That monster hadn’t ignored them, nor was it disinterested.

It simply saw Chen Qi as one of its own—and the wounded as his “meals.”

I’m not into cannibalism… Chen Qi felt a small wave of relief.

He was now sure that Deep Sea Affinity worked on these Deep Sea Toads!

These terrifying monsters wouldn’t attack him. In fact, they showed some level of goodwill.

This place… was his domain!

Most of the pirates were busy fighting…

Which meant, right now, he could walk straight through the horde of Deep Sea Toads.

A perfect chance to escape.

But one thing worried him—

The ship’s medic behind him.

She might be a healer, but that didn’t mean she was weak.

She could very well snatch him back mid-run like an eagle grabbing a chick.

Should I really run?

Chen Qi lowered his head and calmly thought it through.

With Deep Sea Affinity, he could afford to wait for a better chance.

“And also…”

The inspiration he’d received when entering the Rift came back to him.

At the end of the cave, beneath those scarlet eyes—

There lay the treasure of the Deep Sea Hunter!

Captain Blackeye hadn’t been wrong—it was indeed a rare treasure.

That’s why these pirates were willing to risk their lives venturing into the Sea Beast Cavern.

He had Deep Sea Affinity. This treasure was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Chen Qi.

Under normal conditions, it would take him ages to develop enough to qualify for exploring this Rift.

But he didn’t fear the beasts of the deep…

This Deep Sea Hunter’s treasure, perhaps…

A bold idea surfaced in Chen Qi’s mind, and he lifted his head.

Another monster had locked onto him!

Above, on the ceiling, a man-sized bat flapped its wings, dark red eyes fixed on Chen Qi.

It was much larger and more threatening than the previous bats!

A Blood-Eyed Bat, an evolved form of the earlier monsters—this one was in the elite category.

The scent of blood had drawn this aerial predator.

The sea beasts had left because of Chen Qi’s Deep Sea Affinity, but this bloodthirsty thing wouldn’t.

“Trouble…”

Chen Qi took a deep breath, preparing to take down the bloodthirsty bat.

Luckily, unlike the Deep Sea Toads, this was a common monster in the game. As a hardcore player, he knew it well.

Usually, anyone with the power of a Tier 1 Transcendent could defeat one.

Chen Qi wasn’t a Tier 1 yet, but he’d used Yellow Needle and had the Collector’s Gun. In terms of weapons and stats, he was close to a Tier 1.

“Hiss!”

The Blood-Eyed Bat dove down!

Chen Qi didn’t shoot immediately. Instead, he gripped his curved blade, waiting for the right moment.

As it swooped in, he suddenly swung the blade, stabbing it into the bat’s body!

This type of monster didn’t fear pain—

As expected, even with a blade in its side, the bat lunged forward, trying to bite through his neck!

The bat’s head was its core—and the hardest part to crack.

At that moment, Chen Qi drew the Collector’s Gun with his left hand and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Three shots in a row! The bat’s head exploded like a water balloon!

【Killed Blood-Eyed Bat. Gained 51 Spirituality Points.】

51 Spirituality Points! That was a seriously good number!

Hell yeah! Chen Qi could feel the heat of the Collector’s Gun pulsing in his palm.

That should be it… Chen Qi looked around. Aside from that bat, no other creatures dared to contest the Deep Sea Toads for food.

The first mate lying on the ground looked at Chen Qi and sincerely thanked him:

“Thank you. Thank the Goddess. Thank the medic…”

“Nice work, my assistant!”

Little Crow thought, having just completed the first mate’s bloodletting surgery, successfully cleansing the Deep Sea poison from his body.

Her assistant was proving more capable than she expected.

After the bloodletting, the first mate stood up, rolled his shoulders, and picked up his weapon again!

Captain Blackeye was still battling at the front!

Piece of cake… Chen Qi clapped his hands and looked toward where the captain was fighting.

As the captain of the Sawshark, Blackeye was formidable, armed with a black blade made for slaying monsters.

Under immense pressure, he had carved a bloody path through the horde of Deep Sea Toads.

But their stamina wasn’t limitless—and the toads here were endless.

Worse still, many more terrifying deep sea monsters were lurking in the shadows, yet to reveal themselves.

Without a clear target, they’d eventually be overwhelmed and die in this cave.

“At this rate…”

Little Crow clenched her jaw, tiny fists balled tight.

With the combined influence of Chen Qi and Captain Blackeye, the toads’ offensive had weakened.

But the key—was their goal. The Deep Sea Hunter’s treasure still hadn’t shown any sign.

Just then, a scouting pirate appeared before Captain Blackeye.

He came in close, his face lit with excitement, and shared the intel he’d just found.

“Hahahaha! Wonderful, this is absolutely wonderful!”

Upon hearing it, Captain Blackeye’s furrowed brows relaxed, and he burst out laughing.

His laughter was like a battle drum, reigniting everyone’s morale.

Did they find something…? Chen Qi locked his eyes on the captain, gripping the Collector’s Gun tighter.

Captain Blackeye, drenched in blood, yanked his blade from a toad’s flesh and roared:

“Crew! The Sea Goddess is watching over us!

We’ve found it! The location of the Deep Sea Hunter’s treasure!

Everyone, cast off your fear and follow me with everything you’ve got!”