Moments later, the roaring tide grew increasingly frenzied.
Within the water that had already spread across the B4 Load Zone plaza.
Surging waves churned.
A terrifying monster as massive as a building.
Revealed its true form at the end of the crossroads.
Pitted, twisted flesh formed a body like a ball of meat.
At the tips of countless tentacles were human heads that had long since turned livid.
Six sharp claws covered in thorny barbs gleamed coldly at their tips.
Fleshy wings resembling torn spiderwebs spread across dozens of meters.
The monster before them was grotesquely twisted.
It seemed unlike any similar creature Lin Chen could remember.
Nor could words easily describe what the hell it was.
Around the terrifying beast, the once-clean water.
Turned as black and fathomless as a midnight sea, as though ink had spilled into it.
As the uncanny creation appeared before everyone.
The stench of rot spread instantly as well.
"Damn thing... You certainly have a unique look!"
Looking at the indescribable horror before him, Lin Chen felt his face twitch slightly.
He could not help offering his heartfelt praise.
If distortion and chaos counted as beauty, this thing would probably score pretty high.
"Clack, clack, clack..."
Her pretty, adorable face turned deathly pale in an instant.
March 7th's hand began trembling slightly as she gripped her crystalline ice bow.
Ugh... That's terrifying!
March 7th swore that, of all the planets the Astral Express had visited.
She had never encountered anything this disgusting.
March 7th felt that the monster before them, which seemed to be the source of The Uncanny.
Ought to be sent into a simulated black hole by Uncle Yang and annihilated.
Unfortunately, neither Dan Heng nor Uncle Yang was aboard the Astral Express anymore.
Perhaps the only thing she could rely on was the weapon in her hands.
Asta seemed little better off than March 7th.
Although she had confidently declared that she would protect Herta Space Station's future.
When a monster beyond all common understanding.
And twisted to the very limits of horror appeared before her.
The young lady froze in place as well.
A chill crept down her back.
The battle began in the blink of an eye.
The terrifying uncanny creation whipped up a towering, ink-black wave.
Its grotesquely twisted body rode the tide.
And rushed toward them at tremendous speed.
"Die, monster!"
"You demon who ravaged the space station and took my comrades' lives! I'll make you suffer ten thousand times over!"
Gripping his brilliantly lightning-wreathed blade in both hands.
Arlan shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow.
The massive blade swept sideways, carving a fierce, powerful arc of light.
And cleaved straight through the surging black wave.
Then Arlan leaped dozens of meters into the air and delivered a heavy slash from above.
Boom!
A thunderous crash rang out as Arlan swung his blade.
And unleashed a dazzling bolt of lightning that struck the twisted monster's enormous body dead-on.
Black blood sprayed in great sheets.
Hundreds of the uncanny monster's appendages, which resembled both necks and tentacles.
Were severed in an instant.
Large, charred patches also scarred its formerly grayish-blue, tumorous body.
"Roar!"
Letting out a furious roar.
The uncanny creation swung its huge, bladed claws like a mantis's forelegs.
Clang, clang, clang!
With his exceptionally keen combat instincts, Arlan rapidly swung his blade.
Exchanging dozens of blows with it in an instant.
Finally, under an all-out strike from the uncanny creation.
Arlan hurtled backward like a cannonball fired in reverse.
Tearing a momentary gap through the black tide.
Bracing himself with both hands on his blade, which he drove into the alloy floor, Arlan.
Only just managed to stop.
"So this is the power of a Pathstrider? Arlan is really strong..."
Although he pretended to remain composed.
After witnessing Arlan's battle with the uncanny monster firsthand.
Lin Chen was deeply shaken.
Even setting everything else aside, the strength and speed Arlan had just displayed.
Would have let him cleave a heavy tank from Lin Chen's previous life in two with one stroke.
As far as Pathstriders went, Lin Chen had only seen March 7th's abilities before.
If March 7th's power to control ice and snow was wondrous.
Then Arlan combined lightning and swordsmanship.
Displaying a warrior's courage and extraordinary prowess in the simplest, most direct way.
Of course, Lin Chen had noticed.
That after returning to their battle line, Arlan's hands trembled around his blade.
Clearly, in a contest of sheer strength.
Even after giving everything he had, Arlan was still at a disadvantage.
"My lady, support me!"
"We can't let this battle drag on. We have to end it quickly!"
His voice cold and decisive, Arlan stood at the forefront of the battlefield.
His eyes blazed as he stared fixedly at the uncanny monster he had barely managed to drive back.
Although that last slash.
Had severed many of the monster's outer tentacles.
Those limbs, resembling elongated necks.
Writhed like leeches in the black tide.
Then an inexplicable force drew them back into the monster's tumorous body.
In less than ten seconds, the severed flesh.
Had already knitted back together.
Even the lightning burns on its tumorous body.
Healed at an unbelievably terrifying speed.
Watching the battle unfold, Lin Chen was quite anxious too.
But compared with these Pathstriders, he was utterly useless in a fight.
The only thing Lin Chen could do was wait for the Conqueror Legion's soldiers to regroup.
The uncanny monster before them had moved at an almost unbelievable speed.
As though it had teleported using a Realm Anchor.
The Space Marines he had dispatched to destroy the water tower.
Were probably still on their way back.
"Yes! I understand!"
"We have to crush it completely, or this battle will never end."
Nodding quietly, Asta focused her lake-blue eyes.
After Arlan's probing exchange with the monster.
Asta had recovered from her fright and reached a rough assessment.
For now, this uncanny monster's strength did not seem beyond what they understood.
They still had hope of defeating it.
"O key that yearns for the mysteries of the stars, grant the trailblazers your true blessing!"
The pink-haired girl raised her mechanical Staff high in both hands.
As the top of the Staff unfolded, a deep, resonant chime echoed throughout the plaza.
A vision of a star-filled sky flashed past, and a huge astronomical theodolite spun rapidly.
The next instant, pure starlight turned into countless tiny motes.
And settled onto everyone present.
"Huh? My body suddenly feels so much lighter?"
"Asta's ability... Is this the power of Starlight Blessing?"
Frowning slightly, Lin Chen stood enveloped in the mysterious starlight.
And felt a power too wondrous for words.
Without a doubt, the thoughtful Lady Asta had given him a buff too.
Unfortunately, it seemed pretty damn useless. He had no combat ability anyway.
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