From the fragmented action log, the insane conspiracy that was revealed made the already chilly air over the ruins of Urquhart Castle even more oppressive.
Alistair, the scholar who had spent his entire life pursuing the truth, sat slumped on the ground with a pale face. He couldn't imagine that the "Guardian Deity" he revered as divine was, in the eyes of these fanatics, merely a pitiful "living material repository" to be used for completing an evil ritual.
Meanwhile, a look of disgust appeared on Veteran William's face.
Only Lin Jie was the first to break free from the suffocating text. Now was absolutely not the time for fear or anger; they were the only ones who knew, and they were the defense line to prevent this disaster from happening.
"They will definitely act again, and soon," Lin Jie's voice broke the silence. "Although their ship was destroyed, the log mentioned another contingency plan. Moreover, since they were invaded, they'll inevitably realize their base is exposed. Before being discovered and stopped by the authorities, they'll only try to complete the capture as quickly as possible, likely tonight or tomorrow."
This judgment served as an alarm bell, jolting the other two awake.
The most dangerous plan of this trip was quickly formulated atop these ruins. What they needed to do was no longer simple investigation or passive defense, but to take the initiative, using themselves as "bait" to interfere with the Eternal Serpent cult's capture operation, buying precious time for that "Guardian Deity" who remained in danger yet was unaware.
The night grew deeper, the moon obscured by a thick layer of dark clouds, the entire Loch Ness immersed in tranquility.
Just as Lin Jie had predicted, the remnants of the Eternal Serpent began their final operation.
Mounted on each steam launch was one of those "steam whaling guns" they had seen before, capable of firing massive harpoons, with faint glimmers of alchemical runes shimmering on the cannon bodies.
They had come out in full force.
This time, however, Lin Jie and the others were no longer passive observers. They piloted a similarly disguised steam fishing boat, cleverly camouflaged by the scholar, following far behind those three steam launches.
William was responsible for piloting, the scholar operated his "Ear of the Lake" to monitor the underwater movements, and Lin Jie stood at the bow, acting as the team's "eyes" and "brain."
"They're moving towards the center of the lake with a very clear target," Lin Jie observed the enemy formation through binoculars. "The three ships have formed a perfect equilateral triangle encirclement net. It seems their previous detection operations have allowed them to pinpoint the general resting area of that 'Guardian Deity'."
Just then, the scholar, who had been tightly wearing the "Ear of the Lake," showed a pained expression on his face. He said with difficulty, "I... I hear an extremely low-frequency screeching sound! That sound is like countless needles piercing my brain! They... they're attacking the lake bottom with some kind of sound we can't hear!"
Infrasound!?
Lin Jie immediately understood their method.
This infrasound, beyond the range of human hearing, might not cause direct physical damage to thick-skinned UMAs, but it was enough to create unbearable harassment and pain to a creature's nervous system.
This was far more vicious, yet more efficient, than the previous explosions as a herding method!
Sure enough, just as the scholar issued his warning, the calm, mirror-like surface of the lake center bulged upwards into a massive dome of water!
Then, accompanied by a roar filled with pain and fury, the lake water exploded violently!
An existence that could not be described by any known biological vocabulary, finally provoked endlessly by humans, revealed for the first time its true face, hidden for thousands of years, under this cold moonlight!
It was not any plesiosaur, nor any hump-backed monster.
Its lower body remained hidden in the deep lake water, its full form unseen by anyone, but merely the dozens-of-meters-long, hill-like, winding ridge emerging from the water was enough to make any mortal who saw it lose the ability to think!
Its body was not a solid entity made of flesh, blood, or scales, but a wondrous aggregate somewhere between pure energy and translucent matter.
Its "skin" resembled a flowing river of stars composed of countless points of light, with innumerable specks of light seemingly swimming, being born, and dying slowly within it.
It had no fixed form; its outline underwent graceful, wave-like changes every second.
And high atop its massive ridge rose a head, similarly composed of blue starlight, featureless yet allowing one to clearly sense the location of its "gaze".
The shape of the head faintly resembled the "dragon" of Western mythology, yet was more abstract, carrying a sacred beauty belonging to nature itself.
This was the true face of the "Loch Ness Guardian Deity"—a great semi-elemental lifeform, emanating a soft blue glow all over, like a living galaxy!
When it appeared, a vast spiritual forcefield, mixed with fury and majesty, spread outwards in all directions. All the steam launches and boats on the lake surface seemed pressed down by a giant hand, unable to advance any further!
When the members of the Eternal Serpent cult saw this scene of divine descent, instead of fear, their eyes blazed with fanatical greed!
"Praise the supreme 'Primordial'! The Primordial Dragon Species... it has finally appeared!" A black-robed cultist who seemed to be the leader on the lead steam launch raised his arms and let out a maddened shout. "All units, attention! Activate the 'Dragon-Binding Chains'! Today, we shall... accomplish the great work of binding a god!"
The steam whaling guns on all three steam launches simultaneously aimed at the great elemental being that had just appeared, emitting deadly sounds!
Three massive harpoons, thicker than stone pillars, gleaming with dark golden runes, trailing steel chains similarly engraved with runes, tore through the night sky towards the UMA's body!
However, what happened next left everyone dumbfounded.
The three deadly harpoons, capable of piercing the thickest blubber, passed straight through the Loch Ness Monster's energy-constructed body without any obstruction upon contact. They inflicted no damage, as if shot into an illusory phantom, ultimately falling powerless into the lake water behind it.
This UMA's body was immune to all purely physical attacks!
"Useless fools!" The black-robed leader screamed another mad curse. "Activate 'Rune Resonance'! Anchor its existence temporarily in this material world!"
Following his command, the dark golden runes inscribed on the three steel chains that had fallen into the water suddenly lit up. An alchemical forcefield, radiating meanings of "imprisonment" and "restraint," rapidly formed a massive triangular spiritual prison using the three chains as points, attempting to completely trap the UMA within!
Lin Jie knew they couldn't wait any longer. Once this prison fully formed, the consequences would be unthinkable!
At this critical moment, the great elemental being also seemed to have finally exhausted the last shred of mercy belonging to the lake's guardian.
Its featureless head slowly turned towards the three steam launches filled with malice towards it. An absolute indifference, devoid of any emotion, locked onto those fanatical cultists.
Then it opened its light-constructed "mouth".
It made no sound.
But the entire Loch Ness violently boiled over in that instant!