Chapter 207. No
"Deep Dweller? Eternal life?" Charles regarded his once-comrade with overflowing alienation in his gaze. He struggled to accept this unexpected turn of events and the transformation going on before his very eyes.
His trusted aide was the very one responsible for leading the Narwhale off-course, and it turned out that he wasn't human.
Sharp needle-like fangs sprouted Dipp's gums, pushing his human teeth out of the way. The ivory teeth tainted with streaks of blood fell to the floor like scattered corn kernels.
Dipp peeled off his gloves to reveal his hands, now scaled and sporting webbing between the fingers. His appearance grew more and more like the grotesque creatures that surrounded them.
"Captain, come quickly. Look here," Dipp called out as he perched atop the ship's railing and waved ceaselessly with an unsettling joy in his voice.
By now, the Deep Dwellers in the surrounding waters had scaled the hull. They stood in silence like revolting green statues; the foul odor of decayed fish permeated the air.
The Deep Dwellers before Charles cleared a path forward. Charles took a deep breath and made his way toward Dipp.
"Captain, look under the water," Dipp said as he took out a Mirrorbox and tossed it into the water.
The gentle sun rays illuminated the depths like a miniature sun. A scene of grandeur appeared before Charles.
Beneath the Narwhale lay a sprawling underwater metropolis. Its architecture consisted of gargantuan green stones that couldn't possibly be a matter of Earth.
Towering monoliths, majestic statues, and elaborate carvings decorated the city. Against such a backdrop, the submerged cityscape radiated a palpable sense of malevolence.
"Captain, come. Join us," Dipp implored. "We are a noble race blessed by God Fhtagn. We are not forsaken. We can live in this beautiful city until God Fhtagn awakens, and—"
Dipp's sentence was cut short. However, it wasn't by choice. Rather, it was because Charles had pulled out his flesh revolver and aimed it at him.
Hissing sounds resonated in the air as the Deep Dwellers fluttered their fins. Their protruding eyes, overflowing with murderous intent, glared at Charles; they seemed ready to pounce on him at any moment.
"Are you Dipp?" Charles asked, his voice laced with resolve.
"Yes, I am Dipp, the little beggar you picked up on the streets back then," Dipp replied in a calm and steady manner, even in the face of death.
"Alright." Charles nodded curtly. "Get your kin to retreat. Mark our current coordinates. I have no intention of joining your kind, and the same goes for my crew."
There was no way he would agree to turn into some half-human, half-fish monstrosity. If he did, he wouldn't be able to ascend to the surface world even if he managed to find the exit.
Moreover, he found Dipp's claims dubious. Looking at Dipp's current odd appearance, Charles could no longer find it in himself to trust his former boatswain.
"Captain, if you don't go through the ceremony, you really won't have many years left," Dipp continued his persuasion.
"It doesn't matter. I don't care how long I live. If you are truly Dipp, order them to leave immediately."
Dipp's gaze remained fixated on Charles. A firm resolute flickered across his eyes, and he slowly shook his head. "No, I can't let you leave. You must undergo the ritual. I cannot let you die. The High Priest is already on his way."
With that, Dipp opened his maw full of sharp fangs and let out several hoarse growls.
The Deep Dwellers narrowed the encirclement; the pungent stench of fish grew increasingly overpowering.
Charles suddenly took a step forward and pressed his revolver against Dipp's throat.
"Order them to back off!" Charles demanded.
"Captain, I'm not afraid to die in your hands. I owe you my life. I only wish for you to live," Dipp responded with overwhelming sincerity in his voice.
Staring at the monster before him, Charles' brows slowly furrowed together. "No, you are not Dipp. Dipp never had such a disposition."
He suddenly noted the unfamiliar light in Dipp's eyes, and he blurted his suspicions aloud. "You are that boy's other persona, aren't you?!"
Dipp's personality was something he understood thoroughly; he could never commit such an extreme act.
"Captain, no matter which persona I am, it doesn't change the fact that I'm acting in your best interest. We must hurry, the High Priest has arrived."
Dipp then reached out a webbed hand to grab Charles by the sleeve. He tried to pull him down the ship.
Plat!
Charles stomped on Dipp’s left foot and stepped on the belly of a Deep Dweller on his right in an attempt to propel himself into the air.
The creatures around him immediately kicked with their frog-like feet. They leaped into the air and rushed toward Charles in a swift, coordinated assault. Charles was instantly surrounded by the Deep Dwellers.
Just as Charles was being restrained and rendered immobile by seven to eight limbs, he craned his neck upward and roared, "Narwhale! Engage full throttle!"
With a fierce belch of sparks and smog from its smokestacks, the Narwhale started moving. Since the anchor had been cast, she didn't sail forward. Instead, she rapidly orbited around her anchored point.
The ship spun like a colossal top; her powerful centrifugal force sent everything unsecured on the deck flying. Fortunately, the crew members were securely tied down to the deck by the writhing ropes and were spared from being flung overboard.
Amidst the dizzying whirl of his vision, Charles hollered to his crew, "Sever the anchor! Break the chain!"
Linda inhaled a deep breath and spat a stream of green acid toward the anchor machine. The corrosive substance fizzled on contact and emitted a sharp hissing sound. Pungent white fumes emerged as the acid rapidly corroded the machine's metal.
With a loud clang, the anchor chain snapped.
Due to inertia, the Narwhale was flung outward and slammed into a protruding black pillar with a resounding crash. The Narwhale let out a metallic screech of agony as the metal crumbled.
"Buddy, hang in there! We're counting on you!" A desperate Charles urged his ship.
In the surrounding waters, dark green fish heads emerged to the water's surface and rhythmically bobbed with the waves—an extremely unsettling sight.
Moments later, the Narwhale began to move as its propellers stirred the water.
But just then, a two-meter-wide octopus tentacle burst forth from beneath the waves and slapped onto the deck with a wet smack.
This was merely a prelude; in rapid succession, several more writhing tentacles erupted from the depths and latched onto the Narwhale.
The ship rocked violently in the clutches of the tentacles, with a looming risk of capsizing.
Charles yelled over his shoulder, "Get the explosives! Blow these tentacles off! Move! Fast!"
Unfortunately, their enemies had no intention of making things easy for the crew. With a sinister hiss, the Deep Dwellers scaled the ship using their tentacles.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Charles drew his revolver and fired at their heads in succession. The other crew members also joined the retaliation. Soon, the deck of the Narwhale became a chaotic battleground.
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