V2: Chapter 50: A Battle Between Two Monsters

Why is she suddenly getting so close?

Liang Di, wary, shifted her body, keeping her distance from Erica. They had only met once before, also at a ball. It was already quite impressive that Liang Di recognized her immediately, but this girl was being so enthusiastic, actively leaning against her?

Something wasn't right. Out of a hundred things that seemed right, a million things didn't.

Liang Lin was also surprised. She looked at Liang Di, then at Erica, mouthing the question without uttering a sound: "You two know each other?"

Liang Di understood, silently shaking her head at Liang Lin to indicate she didn't.

"Miss Liang Di, my father often praises you to me. I remember seeing you once before, and I was immediately struck by your white hair. Seeing you again, and looking closely, you truly are a first-rate beauty." Erica's words were sweet, praising Liang Di fervently.

Unfortunately, Liang Di wasn't like Liang Lin; she wasn't buying it.

She chuckled and retorted, "You flatter me, Your Highness. You are clearly much more beautiful than me."

Listening to their mutual flattery, Liang Lin glared with her deadpan eyes, chuckled back, picked her ear, and looked on with disdain.

Doris clenched her fists secretly. She knew this was someone sent by the King. The King's second daughter, Erica, was quite loyal to him. Even knowing her mother's death was suspicious and likely related to the King, she still fawned over her father.

Doris didn't think she was foolish; she thought Erica was clever. The former Queen was dead, and Erica and the eldest princess had no one to rely on. They would inevitably be arranged to marry someone else. Therefore, it was better to ingratiate herself with the King while she was still in the palace; a happy King meant greater rewards.

Conversely, compared to Erica, Princess Atlante was quite foolish. Since her mother's death, she had always maintained a cold demeanor towards her father, offering only a perfunctory greeting when they met. Upon seeing Doris, she would merely snort coldly, ignore her, and walk past her. Although she hadn't done anything to disobey the King, how could he possibly like her attitude of treating others as if they owed her a fortune?

Therefore, as soon as Atlante came of age, the King immediately arranged her engagement, without paying attention to whether her fiancé was a respectable young man, only focusing on the family background and whether they could bring him any benefit, and how much.

On the day of Atlante's engagement, Erica even confronted her sister, leading to a major argument and a bitter parting. After that, the two never saw each other again.

Liang Di had, of course, heard about this incident, and her impression of Erica wasn't particularly good. However, she had a vague feeling that there was more to the story than what everyone said.

Erica began to boast, occasionally praising Gael and giving him meaningful glances.

Liang Di and Liang Lin's impression of Erica worsened. This woman was nothing more than a persuader, or an annoying matchmaker.

Gael found the compliments very pleasing.

Erica didn't leave. Finally, she suggested they all stroll through the back garden. Then, she gave Gael another meaningful glance.

Gael understood immediately, stood up gracefully, and extended his hand.

"Miss Liang Di, may I invite you to stroll through the back garden with me?" He addressed Liang Di, but his eyes were fixed on Liang Lin.

Hearing that he was inviting Liang Di, Liang Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Great, I can escape the torment of my appetite.

So, she looked at Liang Di with smug satisfaction.

Liang Di smiled and stood up.

"Sister Liang Lin, let's go." She then grabbed Liang Lin's arm.

Liang Lin: "???"

What did I do to deserve this? I just wanted to watch the fun, and this is annoying.

Erica was taken aback.

"Miss Liang Di, I can accompany Miss Liang Lin for a stroll in the back garden~" Erica stood up, her intentions incredibly blatant, practically stating it outright.

Liang Di, ignoring Liang Lin's willingness, continued, "My sister can't be alone. I have to stay with her. If there aren't any familiar faces around, my Sister will be scared..."

Liang Lin: "???"

Fine, fine, keep making things up. Who can out-make things up like you?!

I'm used to it. 

I'm used to having my delicate, helpless mind constantly manipulated by this tentacle-wielding lady.

Liang Di, damn it, just went straight for the kill!  

“Uh…”

Erica frowned, but Gael's face lit up with delight. Now, with two top-tier beauties accompanying him, how could he not be happy? He was practically grinning from ear to ear.

He displayed his lecherous nature to the fullest extent.

Stepping into the back garden, what came into view was a sea of ​​lush green vegetation. The lawn was like a vast green carpet spread out beneath one's feet. Various plants were arranged in a pleasing, varied way, creating a vivid ecological picture. Tall trees provided shade, bringing cool coolness to the back garden; low shrubs and flowers dotted the landscape, adding endless vitality to this green world.

"Wow, it's huge."

Faced with this beautiful scenery, Liang Lin could only manage this one sentence.

She didn't enjoy admiring scenery. She'd much rather sit in a tavern, drink, than wander through the back garden.

Taverns were so much better.

Always filled with smoke and the aroma of alcohol, under the dim lights, people talked loudly, sang, and danced, the atmosphere lively and boisterous. On the tavern walls hung weapons and hunting trophies, displaying bravery and a spirit of adventure. This was the life Liang Lin longed for.

Doris didn't follow.

After an awkward, rambling conversation, Liang Lin and Liang Di prepared to go home. As they walked out of the palace, they encountered Doris again.

"Miss Liang Lin, Miss Liang Di, are you going home?"

By this time, no one else was following Doris.

"Yes, see you next time, Your Majesty." Liang Di nodded slightly.

"Give my regards to your mother, Miss Liang Di." Doris smiled sinisterly. 

"You should know which mother I'm referring to. After all, your biological mother died long ago, didn't she?"

"Pfft~"

Liang Di chuckled.

"Your Majesty, I will give her my regards, in your name."

The surroundings were quiet. Gael and Erica had been dismissed by Doris's servants. Only the three women remained, gazing at each other.

"Liang Di."

Doris took a step forward, her eyes unfathomable.

Liang Lin wondered if she was seeing things. She seemed to see countless honeycomb-like holes in Queen Doris's pupils, or more accurately, irregularly shaped large holes.

What was this?

Liang Lin rubbed her eyes and looked at Doris again, finding that the image in the other's pupils was still there. There was no mistake; it wasn't her imagination. This woman was definitely suspicious.

Early that morning, Liang Di had told Liang Lin that Doris was a half-monster, half-human. Liang Lin had assumed she was also a tentacle creature or a vampire, but now it seemed otherwise. Because Liang Di's eyes only displayed vortexes, not these dense, disgusting holes.

"Liang Di, you're afraid to look into my eyes."

Doris smiled, relying on her proud ability to create illusions. She was certain Liang Di wouldn't look into her eyes.

But she was wrong.

Liang Di calmly raised her head, meeting her eyes, staring directly at her, her expression perfectly normal. There were vortexes swirling in her eyes.

No, something's wrong!

Doris felt vortexes spinning before her eyes.

Meanwhile, Liang Di suddenly hugged Liang Lin, pressing her head into her chest. "Don't look into her eyes, hold me tight."

This was a battle between two half-monsters.

Liang Di was mesmerized. She saw a field of golden wheat. Sunlight filtered through sparse clouds, scattering across the vast field, the golden rays intertwining with the green foliage, like a vivid oil painting.

At the edge of the field, rows of neat trees stood silently, like guardians of this land. Their branches swayed gently in the wind, rustling softly, as if telling the story of the field.

Liang Di was somewhat dazed. She walked forward, suddenly forgetting what she had intended to do.

Deep in the field, expanses of golden wheat came into view. The wheat ears bowed their heads, as if paying homage to the earth. A gentle breeze rippled through the wheat field, creating waves of gold, like a surging golden ocean. The fragrance of wheat filled the air, intoxicating.

In one corner of the field, a stream flowed gently. The water was crystal clear, and fish swam to and from, playing happily. Wildflowers bloomed in profusion along the stream, red, yellow, purple… a riot of colors adorning every corner of the fields.

Liang Di remembered. Wasn't this the place where I and Liang Lin first met?

Thinking of little Liang Lin, Liang Di couldn't help but smile. Suddenly, her hand was taken; it was Liang Lin as a child, or rather, little Eli.

His face was chubby, like it was made of cotton candy, soft and elastic, making one want to gently pinch it.

Little Eli's face wore an innocent smile, a smile so pure and sweet, as if it could melt away all the sorrows and troubles of the world. His lips were slightly upturned, revealing a few white baby teeth, making him even more adorable.

He was a truly adorable little boy.

"Liang Di, I will protect you from now on. When we grow up, I will marry you and make you my bride."

Liang Di was stunned, her face flushing slightly.

Meanwhile, Doris's situation looked dire. Her face was deathly pale, and sweat beaded on her forehead. She had always been the one creating illusions for others, never the one being the object of an illusion. This was her first time experiencing one.

It was a vast ocean, the ocean she knew well, the ocean she hadn't returned to in so long. In this boundless expanse, darkness and fear intertwined, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

Doris stared blankly at the sea before her, her hands and feet numb. She knew how long she had been there; she probably saw the only light in the distance gradually disappear, the sun completely setting.

Night fell, and the sea became even more eerie. The once azure surface had turned a deep black, as if swallowing all light. The sea wind howled, carrying a biting chill that sent shivers down her spine. The waves rolled and churned, one after another, like countless giant hands constantly pounding against the shore, making a deafening sound.

Doris froze, slowly backing away as if afraid of waking some terrifying monster.

Boom!

A massive whirlpool suddenly surged up on the sea, swirling and swallowing everything around it. The black hole at the center of the whirlpool seemed to lead to another world, too terrifying to look at directly. Then, the sea suddenly split open, revealing jagged reefs and bottomless darkness, as if some horrific creature lurked in the depths, waiting for its prey.

Doris's body shuddered. She screamed, finally regaining her senses. Feeling her blood run cold, she scrambled backward on all fours.

An invisible pressure emanated from this terrifying sea. It made her feel small and powerless, as if she could be swallowed up by the ocean at any moment. That fear seeped into her bones, unforgettable, reminding Doris of the terror of staring directly at the Great Old Ones.

Why am I here? Shouldn't I be in the palace? Why am I here again? They clearly let me go, clearly promised that as long as I remained hidden among humans and resolved the wall issue, all would be well. Why have I returned?

Yes, it must be because too much time has passed. She hasn't demolished the wall yet, which angered the Lord of the Sea, which is why he summoned her back, and why he punished her, making her see these horrific scenes again.

Yes, that must be the reason. She must demolish the wall faster! She must!

The Great Old Ones, Cthulhu (Cthulhu and Tentacle Monsters are like two separate groups. The Tentacle Monsters only inflict visual terror, but the Great Old Ones can inflict deep psychological trauma.)

The Tentacle Monsters are terrifying creatures; they seem like demons crawling out from the dark corners of the deep sea.  

Their bodies were enormous and twisted, like shapeless shadows, appearing and disappearing in the dim light. Their skin was slippery and cold, as if soaked in the frigid waters of the deep sea for countless centuries, exuding a chilling aura.

Most terrifying of all were their countless tentacles. These tentacles were long and supple, like black pythons, dancing in the darkness. The tips of the tentacles were sharp and pointed, seemingly capable of easily piercing any obstacle in their path. Each time the tentacle monster swung these tentacles, it emitted a chilling sound, like the whisper of death, sending shivers down one's spine.

Their eyes, like two eerie flames in the abyss, flickered with a cold and cruel light. They stared intently at their prey, and once they locked onto their target, they would attack without hesitation. The tentacle monster's movements were swift and agile, making it impossible to dodge. Once entangled by its tentacles, one would be dragged into endless darkness, never to escape again.

Their eyes, like two eerie flames in the abyss, gleamed with a cold and cruel light. They stared intently at their prey, and once locked onto, they attacked without hesitation. The tentacle monsters moved with swift and agile speed, making it impossible to dodge. Once entangled by their tentacles, one would be dragged into endless darkness, never to escape.

Doris had seen them a few times, but because her own appearance was exceptionally terrifying, she wasn't particularly bothered.

However, the Great Old Ones were different. Doris had only seen one, yet it left a deep psychological scar.

The terror of the Great Old Ones was a terror originating from the abyss, beyond human comprehension. They were not simple monsters or demons, but ancient and powerful beings in the universe, possessing power and wisdom unimaginable to humans.

These Great Old Ones varied in appearance, but all exuded a suffocating aura of terror. Some were enormous, seemingly capable of devouring the entire universe; others were twisted and deformed, covered in tentacles and eyes, sending chills down one's spine. Their skin is a deep, dark black, seemingly absorbing all light, making it impossible to see their true forms.

The power of the Great Old Ones is immeasurable. They can manipulate time, space, matter, and energy, even altering the laws of the universe. They can control the thoughts and actions of living beings through thought, turning them into puppets without their knowledge. Their very existence is a terrifying threat; any move they make can trigger devastating catastrophes.

Even more terrifying is that the Great Old Ones' intelligence far surpasses that of humans. They understand the mysteries of the universe and possess knowledge unimaginable to humankind. They have complete knowledge of human thought and behavior, easily manipulating human destiny. In their eyes, humans are nothing more than insignificant ants, easily crushed.

Their terror also lies in their allure and corruption of humanity. They exploit human greed, fear, and desire, luring them towards darkness and destruction. Once controlled by them, humans lose themselves, becoming their slaves, even willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of their power and knowledge.

In other words, those fanatical Cthulhu cultists.

What Doris saw was still a Great Old One, essentially sealed away. It was sealed in the deepest part of the ocean.

This time, Doris saw its form, right beneath the cracked surface of the sea.

Meanwhile, on Liang Di's side, Eli was holding Liang Di's hand, asking her, "Liang Di, will you be with me? Will you marry me?"

Liang Di, of course, was willing. For so many years, she had been waiting for these words. So, with a blushing face, she silently nodded.

"I will~ Sister Liang Lin~"

"Then, let's go~"

Eli took Liang Di's hand, wanting to lead her out of the wheat field.