Chapter 112: The Great Nocturnal Raid

Hai Hanting’s unique ability was the tsunami.

Though both manipulated water elements, some could only condense ordinary water, while others wielded terrifying power from the start.

This was how various god-tier talents emerged.

Among the nine most likely to ascend to godhood was Zhao Yan, who could summon the earth’s magma fires, cracking the ground and spewing flames.

Such was a god-tier innate ability.

Though Hai Hanting was only a level two Evolver now, his combat strength far surpassed that of an ordinary level two.

Qin Hao glanced at him briefly but paid him no further mind, instead turning his gaze toward the cross-sea bridge.

Stretching twenty kilometers, the bridge seemed to vanish into the horizon.

Packed densely with people, all vehicles incapacitated on the bridge had long been pushed into the sea to lighten the load.

Some spots on the bridge were sunning seawater to produce salt.

No one worried about fresh water here; perhaps due to proximity to the coast, the city boasted over three thousand water element Evolvers, whose daily elemental releases provided enough water for bathing.

After a month under the sun, everyone’s skin had darkened and reddened, though today’s overcast skies brought little relief—the people were anxious and uneasy.

A torrential rain was approaching, and they knew the days ahead would be even harder.

All they wished for was a warm meal of monster meat before the storm, to strengthen themselves—so they would not fall ill and perish not by monsters, but by disease.

On the bridge, some practiced military boxing, others wielded long blades, honing their combat skills—preparing for the day when these techniques would be wielded against the monsters.

Hai Hanting even boldly declared that once everyone reached level one Evolver, he would lead the citizens back to reclaim their homeland.

Qin Hao’s gaze dropped beneath the bridge, where the waves churned violently, unaware that the waters below teemed with liquid creatures.

Some of these had swollen in size, their strength reaching that of level two hunting beasts.

On the bridge, those sunning salt noticed the crystals turning grayish-black.

“What’s happening? Why is the salt gray? Did you dirty it? Did you step on it?”

“Impossible. Salt is precious; we depend on it for food.”

“Now is no time to fuss over cleanliness. Let it be.”

One man pinched a bit of salt, placing it on his tongue to taste.

“It’s fine, edible enough.”

No sooner had he spoken than his face darkened, his body convulsed, blood streaming from his orifices—he collapsed in an instant.

“Ah!”

Screams erupted all around.

The news of the toxic salt spread quickly.

Unbeknownst to them, beneath their feet lurked countless hunting creatures, including two highly venomous liquid beings.

At that moment, rain began to fall.

People took shelter beneath the metal canopies affixed to the bridge, spared from the wild winds.

Seemingly sensing the perfect moment, the liquid creatures began to move.

Being fluid, they could easily crawl up the bridge’s pillars.

Under dark clouds, waves surged four to five meters high, dim light casting shadows over the black liquid as it crept upward.

Qin Hao did not ascend the bridge but instead glanced down at the sea.

In the next instant, his mental power froze the seawater.

A terrifying psychic force spread, transforming the water into a massive ice block, a hundred meters in size.

The crashing waves shaped this ice into a great ship.

“Water!”

Qin Hao commanded the flow, steering the ice block swiftly beneath the bridge.

Meanwhile, the spatial black hole of the Ancient Demon Civilization had just ceased, and Hai Hanting, having hunted seven thousand Flame Demons and acquired over two hundred thousand star energy diamonds, was contemplating what to purchase when he noticed the ice block in the dark sea.

Amidst the pitch-black waves, the ice was glaringly conspicuous.

“What is that?”

Not only Hai Hanting noticed, but others did too.

“Looks like an ice element Evolver.”

“What’s he doing?”

“Wait, what’s that? Why are those black things crawling up the pillars?”

Though the bridge was not a straight line, they could see the distant scene clearly.

They hadn’t noticed during the fight, but now it was evident.

At that moment, their hero systems simultaneously issued a mission.

[Great Night Assault]

The Great Night Civilization has dispatched liquid lifeform hunters that absorb Blue Star’s seawater to grow. They have infiltrated nearby waters and gathered into a twenty-thousand-strong liquid lifeform legion. One million survivors face grave danger. Please stop this assault at all costs.

Mission rewards:

Ten thousand hero points per liquid lifeform killed.

One hundred thousand hero points per corrosive liquid lifeform killed.

Five hundred thousand hero points per highly venomous liquid lifeform killed.

(Note: Rewards are fixed and do not depend on power level.)

Hai Hanting, seeing the mission marked with extreme danger, nearly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, his vision darkening and a chill running down his spine.

A legion of twenty thousand liquid lifeforms—this surely meant all liquid beings in the city had gathered together.

How terrifying.

At that moment, Hai Hanting’s gaze fell upon the churning sea and the floating white ice.

An idea sparked within him, and he suddenly plunged into the water.

“Mayor Hai!”

“Mayor Hai, you can’t go!”

The crowd was aghast, but Hai Hanting paid no heed. His mental tendrils merged with the seawater, and like a shark, he surged forward, raising a white wave as he closed in on Qin Hao’s position.

The waves under Hai Hanting’s control propelled him rapidly toward Qin Hao.

Qin Hao sensed a powerful psychic presence approaching—one so familiar.

He ceased manipulating the icy waves, awaiting the arrival.

Sure enough, Hai Hanting caught up and climbed atop the massive ice block.

He looked at Qin Hao in surprise.

“It’s you!”

The uproar caused by Zi Hui’s video was immense; Hai Hanting could hardly not know, and he certainly knew Qin Hao’s name.

“Mayor Hai, greetings.”

“How… how are you here?” Hai Hanting was utterly astonished.

“On a mission.”

The words felt strangely fitting.

Though awkward, Hai Hanting had no room to argue.

“Mr. Qin, I’ll join you.”

Hai Hanting commanded the waves, and the enormous ice block swiftly approached the central pillars of the cross-sea bridge.

Only then did he see the countless liquid lifeforms writhing as they climbed upward.

They could not be allowed to reach the bridge.

Before Hai Hanting could act, Qin Hao had already activated his title:

[Liquid Lifeform Butcher]

A blood-red curse spread from Qin Hao’s body, striking terror into the liquid creatures.