Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

In the library of the Rhine Cathedral, Beatrice unknowingly clenched her fists. That day, when she had returned from the line of the Starving Masses, she had secretly sworn in her heart that one day she would climb to the top, seize power, possess the ability to change everything, and make sure that the Starving Masses would never again appear in this world.

She knew her thoughts were childish, even laughable, but she was a stubborn person—she wanted to try.

That will had broken through the high wall of reality, making her an Extraordinary, and it had also made her somewhat blindly worship Hughes—he really had changed the world by his own strength, even if it was only an island.

She had never told anyone about these things, but willpower was like a sharp blade; even if hidden in one’s pocket, it would, inadvertently, cut a slit and reveal its cold gleam.

Every Extraordinary had once relied on willpower to break through the heavy reality, to shatter the fetters of the world, and thus gained power.

The Link was dead silent. Kenn only felt as if his heart had been grasped by something, unable to breathe. He thought he ought to be furious, yet in his chest there was only bewilderment.

Zoe said nothing. She recalled the scenes she had once witnessed, and her eyes grew slightly dim.

Scepter: 『However, it does not strictly correspond to that exact number—those with extremely firm willpower, a single soul can outweigh many others. For example, the Extraordinary.』

Scepter: 『When the Compassionate Mother is beyond control, one can let an Extraordinary willingly sacrifice. Generally, a single Extraordinary would be enough. As for the situation you mentioned, I do not know.』

Scepter: 『This is all I know. I hope it can help you.』

The Link was severed.

Gwen came back to herself and realized she was already not far from the battlefield. All of her “friends” had manifested, trying to draw the Compassionate Mother’s attention and share some of the pressure for the Holy Guard.

〖Gwen, you’re back.〗

“Yes, you all heard what Sister Scepter just said, right?”

Gwen absentmindedly took back control of her body from Little Gwen. She lifted her head and gazed toward the distant tower.

A thread of silk pointed there from the air—she knew it was the Writer.

The pure white unicorn ran over, panting, its eyes solemn as it spoke: 〖Gwen, don’t sacrifice yourself. Everyone is worried about you.〗

Looking at its serious expression, Gwen couldn’t help but laugh. “Why should I sacrifice myself? Blood Harbor isn’t even my home. If you ask me, this rotten city would be better smashed into rubble. Let others die in its place. Do I look like the type to sacrifice myself?”

〖You do.〗

“Ah?”

〖You have friends here. You would lay down your life for your friends.〗

Gwen opened her mouth but found she couldn’t refute the words.

In the end, with a complicated expression, she turned around. “I actually never considered them my friends. In any case, let’s first find a way to tell Granny.”

Her identity as an Extraordinary had not yet been exposed. Gwen thought for a moment, then leapt several times through the shadows and tossed a stone into a nearby alley.

“Little Gwen, that tower over there—”

The armored girl nodded, drew her longsword, and slashed toward the distant tower.

In the alley, a stone suddenly dropped beside Granny, startling her.

This was her true body. She had hidden here while using a clone to contend with the giant monster. Now that her true body had been discovered—this was no trivial matter.

The Moths Chasing Fire had extremely poor frontal combat power. Once their true body was exposed, it nearly spelled the end. Granny instantly withdrew her consciousness and guarded her surroundings with utmost vigilance.

At that moment, a fluctuation carrying Extraordinary power suddenly swept from the sky toward the distant tower. Instinctively, Granny looked over and then spoke in surprise.

“Zoe? Josh?”

Why would those two be there?

The alley was no longer safe. With a single thought, Granny appeared atop the tower.

The form of Granny in the alley wavered, then slowly flattened, collapsing into the wind, which carried it to a pair of worn fur boots.

Gwen withdrew her gaze from the tower, glanced at the “Granny” by her feet, and muttered to herself.

“Granny already knows. Next is the Prince.”

〖They are to the southeast. I just saw the Harbor Guard.〗 A colorful black crow called down to Gwen from above.

“Good. I’ll leave things here to you. Just keep the Compassionate Mother distracted. The matter of sacrifice should be left for the Prince to decide. Adult business ought to be handled by adults.” Gwen grumbled as she quickly vaulted through the shadows.

Atop the tower, Granny and Josh listened to Zoe’s account, their expressions strange.

“You’re saying this knowledge just suddenly came back to you?” Josh tugged at his own hair, grimacing in pain. “Granny, I think she’s so scared she’s hallucinating. Better not believe it.”

“I understand.” Granny gave Zoe a deep look. “I’ll inform the Prince. I believe you.”

Zoe’s face brightened, though tinged with guilt. “I’m sorry, there’s no time to explain now. I’ll tell you everything later.”

Granny nodded. Indeed, the situation was urgent. She had to keep the Compassionate Mother’s attention while finding the Prince—or let Zoe and Josh speak with him themselves. But whether he would believe them was another matter.

Suddenly, her eyes sharpened. She grabbed both of them and flickered aside.

Another slash struck, identical to the one before. When it hit the tower, its power weakened. Remembering what had just happened, Granny’s face twitched as she looked outward.

Galahad stood there, raising that massive sword, staring toward them in surprise.

Granny turned back toward the Compassionate Mother, noticing that every time It tried to attack the Holy Guard, several inexplicable strikes interrupted Its movements, slightly easing the Holy Guard’s plight.

“It seems we have an ally who does not wish to show themselves… perhaps more than one.”

To hold back the Compassionate Mother, to find the Prince, to lure him over—these were not tasks one person could accomplish. Even for a Moth Chasing Fire like Granny, who could split into many bodies, it was difficult. Moreover, the opponent could sense her position. Judging from the battle, their frontal combat ability was not weak either.

All at once, Granny felt as if she had encountered an entire Extraordinary squad. When the Moths Chasing Fire had once been hunted by the Church of Candlelight, the Church had assembled such a squad—it had been nothing short of a nightmare.

Galahad was cautious. He did not come closer, but instead guarded near the Prince, merely waving toward them.

Granny closed her eyes. After a while, she opened them again, looking at Galahad and the Prince standing before her.

“We are in trouble. Big trouble.”

“Is it that monster?”

The Prince pointed toward the Compassionate Mother.