At some point, the small village had become packed with bizarre-looking monsters.
They crowded together, cutting off all escape routes, and some had even climbed onto the rooftops.
The constant rustling and squirming noises filled the air, emphasizing just how massive their numbers were.
Steven, however, wasn't unfamiliar with these creatures.
Though they looked somewhat different from the ones he had encountered before, they were still hideous enough for him to lump them all into the same category.
At least the previous ones were some sort of hybrid between fish and octopuses. But these? What the hell were these supposed to be? Kinder Surprise eggs?
The sheer number of them was absurd, enough to make Steven click his tongue in disbelief.
Staring at the dark, surging tide of monsters that looked like an ocean made entirely of grotesque creatures, Steven couldn't help but compare it to the time he played with both the "Zombie Awareness" and "Monster Siege" mods enabled at the same time.
Oh, and of course, the last few days of 7 Days to Die's 100-day nightmare mode didn't count. Compared to that, this was just a small skirmish.
"How the hell are they even moving on land with those fins? They're clearly made for swimming."
Even in this situation, Steven couldn't resist voicing his complaints.
He could accept a lot of things, but these deep-sea monsters forcing their way onto land and hopping around like deranged fish out of water was just too much.
The ones with octopus-like tentacles could at least slither forward, but the ones whose lower halves were literally just fish tails? Watching them flail and bounce around like that—it was hard not to lose it.
"Do you really think this is the time to be worrying about that?"
Irene, the inquisitor, had a grave expression as she observed the creatures that had completely blocked their escape.
This was the first time she had seen such an eerie sight.
Normally, these Sea Terror would remain hidden, never appearing in such overwhelming numbers. This was highly unusual.
More importantly, judging by their movements, they had clearly gathered here for a specific reason.
Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for them to have surrounded the group just as her superior had warned her to be on guard.
She had already searched this village thoroughly.
While there were indeed signs of connections to the Church of the Deep, it shouldn't have been to this extent.
If the Church of the Deep had this kind of power, they would have taken control of Iberia long ago, instead of being held in check by the Inquisition.
A quick analysis led to an obvious conclusion: these Sea Terror had gathered with a specific goal in mind.
That goal was either the village chief, who lay powerless at their feet, or the boy beside her—the one who was still chattering away without the slightest trace of fear—or perhaps the white-haired girl standing by his side.
Though both she and her superior held considerable authority, there was no reason for them to be singled out like this.
"So what? Am I supposed to hide behind you, crying 'save me, save me' while clinging to your coat?"
Steven shrugged. The sheer number of monsters was terrifying. Unless he enabled additional game mods, he had absolutely no intention of fighting them head-on.
Even if they were just pigs, if you had ten thousand of them standing still while you hacked away, you'd still get exhausted before you finished. Let alone these monsters—not only were they ugly, but they also packed quite a punch.
And most importantly, they didn't look like they'd drop anything good.
They were obviously just disposable cannon fodder.
The High Inquisitor raised his lantern high, and the light emanating from it made the creatures at the front hesitate, halting their advance.
However, with the relentless press of the ones behind them, it was only a matter of time before the frontline was breached.
"We need to find a way to break through."
Making the most rational decision for the moment, Dario turned to Irene and laid out his plan.
"Take Mr. Steven and his companion through the back. I'll cover you."
These Sea Terror weren't particularly strong individually—their only real threat came from their sheer numbers.
For either him or Irene, wiping them out completely wasn't realistic, but breaking through their encirclement wasn't a difficult task.
What surprised Dario, however, was that the petite Liberi girl didn't immediately follow his orders as she usually would.
"Sir, what about the villagers?"
Irene's gaze swept over the streets, which were packed with monstrous figures.
While the creatures hadn't yet shown any intention of attacking the villagers hiding behind locked doors, she couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't turn on them once their initial targets were gone.
Most of the villagers here were likely involved with the Church of the Deep. However, as long as even a single innocent Iberian citizen remained, she believed it was her duty as an Inquisitor to protect them.
"You know most of them are guilty."
Dario paused for a moment, not pressing his command further, but instead stating a simple truth.
"Until they have been judged by the Inquisition, no one can say with certainty that none among them are innocent. An Inquisitor's duty is to ensure justice for every citizen of Iberia. That's what you taught me, isn't it?"
Irene raised the lantern at her waist, her delicate yet resolute face set with determination.
"…"
"Sticking to your principles is admirable. All the more reason for you to take them and leave."
After a brief silence, Dario's gaze softened slightly beneath his mask, revealing a trace of approval.
"That's exactly right. Have you still not realized? These monsters are clearly after me and my companion. If we leave, most of them will be drawn away."
Steven, who had been standing beside the High Inquisitor while eyeing his lantern's intricate design, casually chimed in.
He had a strong suspicion that the Inquisitor had already figured this out but was deliberately testing the young girl.
In other words, this was just another lesson in teaching the next generation.
And judging by the results, the method seemed to be working quite well.
As for the Sea Terror's real target, there was no doubt in Steven's mind.
Some things could be faked, but the raw, hungry desire in their grotesque eyes was unmistakable.
From the moment they appeared, Steven had already guessed that their goal was the amnesiac girl standing beside him—Gladiia.
Honestly, she really was quite the hot commodity.
He hadn't even known her for that long, and already, three different groups had taken an interest in her.
"Alright, let's get moving. For the sake of the Iberian citizens you're so determined to protect, and for the safety of our esteemed High Inquisitor here, we should probably lure these things somewhere more open and uninhabited, don't you think?"
He sighed in exasperation, urging the stubborn little bird to hurry up.
Steven was still hoping to see if he could draw out an elite or even a boss from behind these creatures.
Fighting in this cramped village wasn't exactly ideal—he needed more space to cut loose properly.