From White's perspective, at a short distance away, there was a city beneath the water.Its buildings were made of gold, tall and majestic, carrying an air of ancient dignity.It also looked as if it came from the future.
A single word suddenly appeared in John's mind — "Atlantis."The lost city of Atlantis.
There were countless legends about the lost city — how it was far more advanced than the rest of the world at its time.But it had vanished under mysterious circumstances thousands of years ago, leaving no trace behind.However, the truth was different — Atlantis once possessed the power to rule the world.
Yet the world hated Atlantis.No land ever loved it — and that was because it wasn't inhabited by humans, but by Amphibians.
The Amphibians weren't smarter than humans, but they were united under one king, and that unity allowed them to develop faster than any human nation.But the kings of Atlantis, throughout the ages, chose peace over war with humans.
For that reason, the King of Atlantis made a pact with human rulers — a treaty of non-aggression — and hid Atlantis beneath the sea.It became a perfect environment for the city and its aquatic people.
Back to the present...
"We are the ancient guardians of Atlantis. Our duty is to protect the city from any threat," White warned Cthulhu."And I'm telling you," Cthulhu replied calmly, "we must eliminate the humans. They are the greatest danger to aquatic life — even to Atlantis itself.""Humans keep destroying our environment day by day! Mountains of garbage, rising pollution — all of it because of them!" His voice trembled with rage.
"And what did we gain from it?!" Cthulhu's fury rose."The pollution caused countless marine creatures to go extinct — species humans never even knew existed! Birth rates have dropped, and deaths outnumber births, especially in Atlantis! Even though the king refuses to fight the humans because of the ancient treaty, we, the ancient guardians, will go to war without his permission! He will remain unharmed, and the humans will be destroyed!"
Cthulhu's reasons were clear."You have a point," White replied, "but the king said no. I will not defy his orders.""As the king said, not everything can be solved through battle," Mon added.
Tank nodded silently.
"I am your commander," Cthulhu said darkly, "and the most loyal to the king. That's why I will do this myself.""Even if you're our commander, we will not betray the king for you.""How can you claim loyalty when you plan to defy him?""I will do nothing without the king's will," Tank said firmly after White and Mon.
"With or without your approval... you will come with me."A demonic aura flared around Cthulhu.
"What do you mean by that?!" White shouted. "Did you make a deal with that being?!""You guessed correctly," Cthulhu said with a chilling smile. "I acquired Mind Control after forming a pact with him.""A demon?! You made a pact with a demon just to kill humans?!" White's face burned with fury."Even if I must make a deal with the devil himself to wipe out mankind — I will do it!"
And so, an intense battle broke out among the four beasts.But White, Mon, and Tank stood no chance against their commander.Cthulhu had always been stronger — and now, after his demonic contract, his power had grown even greater, especially his mind control.
One by one, he enslaved the ancient guardians, the Atlantean army, and even the sea monsters themselves.
"Cthulhu! You defy my orders!"A voice boomed —a golden merman — it was the King of Atlantis.
"My King," Cthulhu said, calm but defiant, "you cannot do what must be done. So I will do it in your stead. I will be the one who bears the darkness.""And who told you I wanted that? Cthulhu, return to your senses now, and I shall forgive you," the king said — his voice heavy but kind.
All Atlantean kings throughout history had been kind-hearted rulers.Even after all Cthulhu had done, his king was ready to forgive him if he only repented.
"My great King... I know how forgiving you are. That is why you never attacked the humans. But sadly... I must continue my mission."Cthulhu's tone carried genuine sorrow.
He knew the consequences — yet continued, for Atlantis and for his King.
"Then you are banished from the Guardians!" the King roared."...I accept your judgment, my King," Cthulhu said, his face filled with pain.
Cthulhu had served as commander of the Guardians for thousands of years, his loyalty unmatched.Their kind could live millennia, and Cthulhu's rebellion came not from betrayal, but from twisted loyalty — a desire to protect his King, even if it meant disobeying him.
Then came the attacks on the cities, leading to the present day.
"It seems they were right," John thought to himself. "They were indeed under Cthulhu's control."
Their perfect coordination proved it — they moved as if sharing a single mind.
"Have you confirmed what I said?" White asked. He looked completely unaffected by the Memory Search skill, as if nothing had happened.
"You're right," John replied. "But I can't leave you alone. Outside this barrier, Cthulhu must already be preparing to strike."
In just a few minutes, the Seal of Heaven and Earth would break, and the three guardians would fall back under Cthulhu's control — once again becoming a threat.
Right now, the battle favored John — he had managed to suppress White, Mon, and Tank.But if Cthulhu joined, the fight would turn again in Atlantis's favor.
What concerned John more, however, was the demon Cthulhu had made his contract with.It had to be the same being who brought Silver here.
Why was it doing this? Where did it come from? How did it possess such power?So many questions flooded his mind — but he quickly silenced them.
"I'll find out everything... after I kill Cthulhu." John's eyes hardened.
Cthulhu wanted to exterminate humanity no matter what — and there was no convincing him otherwise.So John made his decision: Cthulhu must die.
"You have a way to counter Cthulhu's mind control, don't you?" White asked hesitantly."His method is based on mental attacks," John answered, his voice low. "So yes, you could say I have a way."
"Good," White said, glancing at Mon. "We already decided what we must do."
Before John could react, White turned and struck Mon, leaving him gravely injured and on the brink of death.
"What?!" John's eyes widened.
"If we're released from this barrier, we'll fall back under his control and stand in your way again. So this is our decision. You can injure me as well — or even kill me if you must. You've already subdued the three of us. Once you handle the mind control, you'll be able to defeat Cthulhu."
White's loyalty and sincerity showed through his actions.
At the same time, Tank's battle with John's clone reached the same conclusion.Both the clone and the real John thought alike — upon realizing Tank was also under mind control, they activated the Seal of Heaven and Earth again.
They had the same conversation, even though they were far apart — their wills perfectly aligned.
John was surprised; he thought they were still under Cthulhu's control.But it was their absolute loyalty to their King, and their awareness of their sins, that led them to this choice.
The greatest chance to end the root of their sins — Cthulhu — was John Smith.
"Don't worry," John said with a faint smile, "I'll only leave you half-dead.""Hahaha! Then I'll be grateful!" White laughed loudly.
"Seventh Sword Style / Seventh Spear Style — Guillotine Execution!"
Tank and White shared with John Cthulhu's weaknesses, and with that, their combined strike left massive wounds, leaving them half-dead but alive.
"Ding! Maximum limit reached. Activating the secret skill of the Sun Sword.""Part of the struck monsters' stats will be absorbed.""Stats will be permanently added to the wielder's body.""Permanent +100 to all stats."
"How is this possible?" John muttered in shock.
He had forged the Sun Sword, but never tested it before coming here — he didn't even know its abilities.There were weapons that temporarily boosted stats, but never permanently.
Now, John had discovered a new way to grow stronger — to increase his stats with every monster he killed.
His thoughts were cut short as the Seal of Heaven and Earth began to tremble.The sky and ground started to shatter.
Without needing to speak, John's clone canceled the seal.
He already knew the cause — Cthulhu.
As the seal broke apart, a massive creature appeared before John — an enormous octopus-like monster with dozens of tentacles, gray skin, and red eyes burning with rage.
"Human... was it you who canceled my control skill?" Cthulhu's voice thundered as a terrifying aura spread.
"As expected of a Disaster-class monster..." John thought to himself. "This fight won't be easier than Silver's."
Above Cthulhu's head, he saw the number — Level 650.Silver had only been Level 600.Level wasn't everything, but it was still a measure of power — and this was a warning.
"What will you do if it was me?" John smirked."Then your end has come."
Instantly, Cthulhu lunged, his countless tentacles crashing toward John.