The air in Tingen City seemed to solidify, and a sense of impending storm hung over the Blackthorn Security Company. The monitoring level on Magoes was raised to the maximum. The surveillance team reported that the bulge in her abdomen had reached an extremely unnatural degree, with the skin stretched taut, almost transparent. The shadows squirming beneath occasionally outlined a shape that was definitely not that of a human infant. Abnormal phenomena around her residence became increasingly frequent and violent. Not only insects and plants, but even nearby stray cats and dogs began dying mysteriously, their corpses appearing strangely shriveled.
Dunn convened an emergency team meeting. All members in Tingen—Leonard, Luo Yao, Klein, and several administrative Beyonders—gathered in the conference room. The gaslight seemed unable to dispel the heaviness filling the room.
"Everyone," Dunn's voice was low and serious as his gaze swept over every face, "Madam Magoes's situation has already exceeded the scope of an ordinary Beyonder Incident. Based on the current intelligence and Klein's divination results, we have reason to believe that the fetus in her abdomen is related to a highly ranked existence full of filth and evil."
He deliberately avoided explicitly mentioning "Child of an Evil God" to prevent unnecessary panic, but everyone present understood what this implied.
"Our primary goal is to control the situation, prevent the spread of contamination, and protect the citizens of Tingen. Secondly, while ensuring our own safety, we must attempt to Purify or... eliminate the threat." Dunn assigned tasks clearly and methodically. "Leonard, you are the fastest. You are responsible for the outer perimeter security and intelligence transfer. Report immediately if you discover any anomalies. Luo Yao, you coordinate the administrative staff, prepare the highest-grade Sealed Artifacts and Purification Materials, and be ready to provide support at any time. Klein..."
He looked at Klein, his eyes filled with trust and solemnity: "Your divination ability and keenness for detail might play a decisive role at the critical moment. You need to maintain full Spirituality and be ready to provide tactical support at any time."
He distributed supplies such as Holy Oil, Silver Daggers, and Demon-Hunting Bullets to everyone, repeatedly emphasizing teamwork and safety protocols. His arrangements were meticulous and cautious, attempting to leverage his precognitive advantage and his team members' specialties to carve out the greatest possible chance of survival within the predetermined tragic trajectory.
After the meeting, Dunn remained alone in the office, looking at the gloomy sky outside the window. He could feel that the moment was drawing closer. Ince Zangwill was like a poisonous snake hidden in the shadows; the nib of 0-08 might be scratching across a piece of paper, writing the script for destruction.
He needed one final enhancement! An enhancement that could boost his immediate combat ability, especially one that optimized his "Nightmare" ability!
Without hesitation, he activated the simulator again. A Wall of Spirituality isolated the inside from the outside.
"myriad worlds simulator, activate, select [Random Unknown World Fragment]."
[Selection confirmed. Linking to unknown information stream... Rules analysis in progress... Consciousness Projection!]
This time, the crossing was relatively stable. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing outside the fence of a medieval-style village. Behind him were simple wooden houses and terrified villagers—farmers in coarse cloth, women wrapped in scarves, and children crying in fear. They held pitchforks, kindling axes, and even pot lids as weapons, their faces filled with terror and despair.
Outside the village, dust was rolling, and dozens of ferocious, Monstrous Beasts of various shapes were charging and roaring! There were boars with fur like iron needles, wolf-like creatures with sharp, cold claws, and even several crawling, lizard-like Monsters spitting acid.
The sky was normal blue with white clouds, but the air was filled with the smell of dirt, sweat, and the rank stench emanating from the Monstrous Beasts.
[Identity: Wandering Mage (Apprentice Class).]
[Mission: Modor Village is currently under attack by a small Beast Tide. Assist the villagers in holding the village defenses for ten minutes until the Patrol Knight Squad from the Northern Watchtower arrives.]
[Hint: Your Magic Power is weak. Please use it cautiously. Protecting the villagers is the primary objective.]
"Mage? Apprentice Class?" Dunn sensed his body. Indeed, a faint and unfamiliar energy was flowing within him. Unlike Spirituality, it leaned toward Elemental Manipulation, but this power was too weak; he probably couldn't even conjure a proper fireball.
The Beast Tide was already upon them! The villagers let out screams of terror.
There was no time to hesitate! Dunn's mind raced. He could not rely on this body's "Magic Power"; he had to rely on the abilities he brought with him!
[Keen Observation]! He instantly activated the skill to its maximum, his gaze sweeping over the charging beast group like the most precise radar. He immediately found several critical points: the eyes were the weakness of the iron-needle boars during a charge; the wolf-like creatures attacked cooperatively, but one on the flank was lame and slightly slower; the acid-spitting lizards' throat sacs would swell before they sprayed.
[Resilient Will]! He stabilized the slight panic arising from facing the Beast Tide, and at the same time, he projected this steady demeanor, shouting loudly to the frantic villagers: "Don't panic! Hold the fence! Aim for their eyes and joints! Reinforcements will be here soon!"
His voice was steady and powerful, carrying a strange calming and encouraging effect that allowed some of the nearly collapsing villagers to regain a bit of sanity.
Following this, he made limited use of his core ability—"Nightmare"! He dared not use it on a large scale, nor did he dare to deeply invade the simple brains of these beasts (that could directly lead to the collapse of the Consciousness Body). He locked onto the three iron-needle boars and two wolf-like creatures charging at the front.
[Precise Control]! This was the nascent ability he hoped to gain from this simulation, and he had to practice it in actual combat! He applied the power of "Nightmare" with the precision of a scalpel, not creating a complete Nightmare, but implanting an extremely faint yet highly targeted notion of "Fear," like a fine needle, into the beasts' perception—making them feel momentary hostility toward their companions, a slight illusion of falling beneath firm ground, and panic stemming from natural predators based on the scent in the air!
This operation was extremely taxing on the mind, demanding extremely high micro-control over Mental Power. Dunn felt the veins bulge on his forehead, and his temples throbbed with stinging pain.
The effect was immediate!
The iron-needle boar charging at the front suddenly, without warning, slammed into its companion, causing a burst of chaos; the two wolf-like creatures stumbled, as if they had missed a step, disrupting their attack rhythm; one of the acid-spitting lizards even hesitated for half a second due to an inexplicable trace of Fear while swelling its throat sac, spitting the acid off target and corroding the adjacent ground.
Although the villagers didn't understand why, seeing the Monstrous Beasts' formation suddenly fall into chaos greatly boosted their morale, and they attacked even harder with their crude weapons.
Dunn constantly moved around, using [Keen Observation] to find the best timing and targets for intervention, using [Resilient Will] to maintain his own and the villagers' morale, and centering on [Precise Control], repeatedly employing this miniature, tactical-grade "Fear Implantation." He felt his control over his own power (whether Spirituality or this simulated Magic Power) rapidly improve under this extreme pressure. Each intervention was more accurate, consumed less, and had a more pronounced effect.
Ten minutes felt incredibly long. The fence was broken in several places, and villagers were injured. Dunn himself was pale from excessive mental exhaustion, but he successfully delayed the main force of the Beast Tide outside the village.
When a loud horn blast sounded from afar, and the figures of knights in Shining Silver Armor appeared charging on the horizon, a deafening cheer erupted from the village.
[Mission complete! Fragment ended!]
His consciousness returned, and Dunn leaned back in his chair, utterly exhausted, the mental fatigue far surpassing any previous attempt. Yet, at the same time, a feeling of having a much better grasp over his own power spontaneously arose. However, it seemed he had lost a bit of his memory again.
[Simulation ended. Calculating rewards...]
[Based on the Host's performance in the "Modor Village Defense Battle" fragment (flexible coordination of multiple abilities, overcoming the strong with the weak, successfully achieving strategic objectives, and significantly improving the fine control over power during the process), you have obtained the Skill Imprint - "Precise Control (Elementary)"]
[Effect Description: Passively enhances the Host's fine control over all their abilities (including Spirituality, physical strength, Beyonder characteristic, etc.). Reduces waste when using abilities, increases the efficiency and power of skill release, and allows for more complex Composite Operations.]
A sense of enlightenment flooded his mind, as if a region related to "control" in his brain had been illuminated and optimized. Dunn felt a clearer grasp of the flow of Spirituality within him. The spiritual leakage that was previously unavoidable when using "Nightmare" now seemed easier to contain. He even felt confident that if he were to perform "Dream Entering" now, he could target more precisely, act more covertly, and consume less energy.
[Precise Control]... This was exactly the ability he needed most right now! It would ensure every ounce of his strength was used effectively.
Dunn looked out the window; the night had already fallen upon Tingen City. He took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as blades.
All preparations were complete. Let the storm come.