Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

The number of Deep Divers was even more than Fang Zheng had imagined.

But for Fang Zheng, these frogfish who didn’t know what was good for them had no special use other than adding fuel to his fire. And their attack methods were even worse than many low-level Demon Creatures in the Main World.

You know, even Goblins at least use weapons, right? But these guys just rushed at him, waddling and trying to take him down with a sea of bodies tactic?!

Are you kidding me?!

Looking at the wobbly Deep Divers in front of him, Fang Zheng swore these were the most pathetic enemies he had ever encountered. Even Zombies had the advantage of not dying unless their brains were smashed, and were stronger than the average person. But this bunch of Deep Divers were slower and less responsive than Zombies, not to mention lacking their immortality and strength. What use does Cthulhu have for such a bunch of idiots?

Oh, I remember it being said in novels that humans could have a mental breakdown from seeing too much of the Enchanted Clan?

But thinking about it carefully, even the ordinary Army of this world could take down this group, so it’s no surprise that they’re as weak as bean curd in front of him.

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng reversed his grip and plunged the Greatsword into the ground. Quickly, the entire ground centered around Fang Zheng turned into a dazzling red, and then roaring flames erupted from the cracks, mercilessly engulfing all the Deep Divers attempting to approach. Then Fang Zheng pulled out the Greatsword, raised it high, and as he did so, the surrounding flames coalesced and transformed into a Giant Dragon. Fang Zheng swung the Longsword forward, and the Fire Dragon immediately roared and charged ahead, reducing any blocking Deep Divers to Ash before diving into the sea.

Soon after, the entire sea surface bulged, water spouted out, scattering into the sky, and evaporating into white mist in the flames. However, it wasn’t long before several gigantic tentacles surfaced from beneath the sea again and launched another attack on Fang Zheng.

Does this haunted place have so many Retinues?

Looking at the tentacles attacking him, Fang Zheng frowned tightly. He originally thought he could easily handle these guys, but what Fang Zheng didn’t expect was that not only did the Enchanted Clan and Deep Divers not decrease, they were actually increasing.

That’s right, those tentacles weren’t Cthulhu himself but a subordinate existence called the Star’s Retinue. From the outside, they looked like miniature Cthulhus, without wings and with more tentacles. Strictly speaking, these Star’s Retinue were Cthulhu’s real ”little brothers,” while those Deep Divers...

You could think of them as landlord’s henchmen... bootlickers?

But come to think of it, what kind of social structure does the Cthulhu race actually have?

Fang Zheng carelessly swung the Greatsword as he pondered. He had only read in novels that Cthulhu was one of the Outer Gods who descended on Earth with his Enchanted, currently asleep in R’lyeh, which was the habitation of those Deep Divers and Enchanted...

Oh, right, R’lyeh!

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng remembered that the novel mentioned an underwater passage to R’lyeh here. No wonder these guys were eagerly trying to block the door, worried that someone might try to sneak in while Cthulhu was still asleep.

...Hmm?

Fang Zheng’s eyes suddenly brightened with realization.

That’s right, Cthulhu is still asleep, and won’t wake until the alignment of the stars happens!

If I don’t take this chance to sneak in now, I’d be a fool, wouldn’t I?!

For mortals, just getting close to darkness might drive them insane, but Fang Zheng is different. Being a True God, this level of mental interference has no effect on him. Not to mention, so far, Fang Zheng hasn’t even shown any signs of mental pollution like those often depicted in novels when witnessing unknown things... Maybe it’s only effective on mortals?

Whatever, I’ll worry about that when the time comes.

”Nymph,”

With that thought, Fang Zheng continued wielding the Greatsword while ordering Nymph, who was invisibly watching the show from the rooftop.

”Go scout and see if there are any structures or cities under the nearby sea.”

”Understood.”

Nymph wasn’t much help in battle, but even she could easily handle the Deep Divers, though the Star’s Retinue might pose more of a hassle.

This only highlighted how weak the Deep Divers were.

Receiving the order, Nymph spread her wings and flew into the sky. Only five seconds later, right as Fang Zheng elegantly swept away the surrounding frogfish with flames again, Nymph reported back.

”Master, the reconnaissance is complete. As you suspected, there’s indeed a very large city, and numerous life signals have been detected. The coordinates are locked.”

”You’re indeed my adorable Little Angel. I’ll buy you something delicious when we get back.”

”I’m looking forward to it!”

Nymph’s voice, which came through his earpiece, was filled with a hint of elation, making Fang Zheng’s lips curl up slightly. In the beginning, it was indeed like this. While Fang Zheng did all the fighting himself, his Little Angel was always there to help him detect various dangers and issues.

Sometimes, traveling alone like this, reminiscing about the past, seemed quite nice?

Initially, he wanted to bring others along, but... forget it.

From the looks of it, having his Little Angel with him was sufficient.

In that case, let’s go for a sneak raid first!

As he thought of this, Fang Zheng gripped his greatsword tightly, looking ahead, and then his whole form bent like a taut bowstring.

The next moment, he transformed into a column of fire, soaring from the earth, piercing the night sky, and vanishing into the boundless darkness.

A moment later, a column of fire descended from the sky, crashing heavily into the seabed not far from Innsmouth Town.

”—————!!”

At that moment, mountains crumbled and the earth shattered.

The roaring seawater, as if impacted by some enormous energy, began to churn violently outward. Seen from the sky, the azure sea below turned a vivid red, the boiling water continuously bubbling, and the overflowing white steam almost engulfed the entire sea surface.

After an unknown length of time, the trembling of the earth finally stopped.

”Is... is it over?”

Only when the sunlight emerged from the opposite side of the sea surface did Francis timidly emerge from beneath a shabby house. He held tightly to the brooch Fang Zheng had given him, and nervously surveyed the surroundings. For Francis, the whole night felt like a nightmare. The scenes of the earth shaking and mountains quaking outside frightened him into a bundle, until he didn’t even know when he passed out.

He awoke to find it already morning.

Around him, the battle had ceased, and the cries of the creatures were no more. The condition of the town was unclear amidst the dense white fog, and an intense heat assaulted him, making Francis feel like he was in the heart of a desert.

Speaking of which, how is Mr. Zheng?

Is it possible that something happened?

Though somewhat uneasy, Francis cautiously walked along the path in his memory toward the church.

The town that had been ablaze was now completely extinguished; the flames seemed never to have existed, leaving only pitch-black remnants and shattered debris from explosions. Seeing all of this, Francis couldn’t help but recall everything that had happened the night before...

When he reached the square in front of the church, the sight that greeted Francis made him turn pale.

Scattered across the streets and square were the corpses of Deep Divers, their forms akin to oversized humanoid frog-fish, lying on the ground, emitting a nauseating stench. Seeing this, Francis nearly threw up.

”Mr. Zheng? Mr. Zheng!”

Suppressing the foul odor, Francis loudly called out Fang Zheng’s name, but there was no response... Could it be that something happened to him? At this thought, Francis became even more anxious, and just then, he suddenly heard a splashing sound from afar. When Francis turned to look, he saw Fang Zheng emerge from the sea, brushing seaweed off himself.

”Sir, what happened...?”

”Oh, it’s nothing, I just went for a swim in the sea.”

In response to Francis’s shocked inquiry, Fang Zheng chuckled, then brushed off the seaweed.

R’lyeh is truly repulsive... Fang Zheng swore he never wanted to see such a place again.

What could he say? It was like those ”eye-burning collage patterns” he often saw in video clips from his past life, just looking at them was physiologically discomforting, especially those twisted designs... Thinking back to the city beneath the sea with its incomparably warped architecture, it made Fang Zheng feel slightly nauseous, not to mention the Star’s Retinue and Deep Divers twisting around in the city.

Honestly, Fang Zheng was surprised to find out that deep beneath the sea near Innsmouth existed a submarine city with over tens of thousands of residents... it seems Cthulhu’s dream of world domination isn’t far-fetched after all.

By the way, that wasn’t the main body of R’lyeh, but more like an outlying city.

However...

Hmm? Thinking about it, where have I seen something similar before?

Never mind, it must be an illusion.

Fang Zheng silently tossed the memory to the back of his mind, then looked at the screen in front of him. In fact, as he climbed out of the sea, Fang Zheng received a long-awaited system notification.

[Hidden achievement completed]

[Progress: 1/?]

[Received designated summoning scroll x1]

Haha, I knew it would be like this.

Seeing the prompt before him, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but smirk.

You really underestimated me, thinking just because you gave it to me, I would use it?

Hmph!

Wait until Laozi gets back to town, then I’ll take a shower and use it!