Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Isaac had even tried to gather his Extraordinary Power in between to resist, but every time he was about to unleash his ability, the girl would apply force with her hands and interrupt him.

Soon, Isaac felt darkness clouding his vision; he was about to faint.

Suddenly, the grip around his neck loosened. The girl released her hold, and Isaac slid down the wall, collapsing onto the floor, leaving a streak of blood on the wall behind him.

Isaac’s eyes flickered; his soul was about to dive into the Sea of Unawareness—but in the next instant, searing pain yanked him back.

The girl had stomped his left hand into pulp.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Lina smiled hideously. “Going to find Nora, aren’t you?”

Seeing Isaac remain silent, she twisted her foot against the ground.

Isaac let out a howl of pain, nodding frantically in admission. “Yes! Yes! Please spare me! I can tell you the Resistance Army’s location!”

“I don’t care about the Resistance. Tell me where Nora is!”

“Nora, Nora is in the Resistance! We all work under her!”

Isaac’s vision spun violently, and then a pair of blood-red eyes appeared before him, staring straight into his.

The girl grabbed his hair and yanked him up close, locking eyes with him.

“You’re not being honest.” Her voice was soft, almost a lover’s whisper. “Nora’s head has already been sent to the Prince. The thing isn’t with her, nor with you. Who else in the Resistance?”

Isaac’s pupils constricted instantly.

Nora’s head was sent to the Prince? How did Lina know that? Whom did she serve? And what was she looking for?

“What thing? Whatever you want, I can get it for you!”

Lina blinked, then suddenly said, “You don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“You don’t know what it is. Then why are you here? You went to Castel first, and now here… No—”

Lina glared fiercely at Isaac. “When you first saw me, you froze. You know me!”

Isaac said nothing, looking as though he was about to pass out—but within his mind, waves surged violently.

Why did Lina think he shouldn’t know her?

Lina had joined the Moths Chasing Fire in Rhine.

At that time, she had been fervently chasing after knowledge, attracting the attention of the Moths. After passing their trials, she had been recruited—it was a common occurrence.

But during the incident in Castel, she had slipped up and been exposed. Back then, he and Chloe had both been present; they struck together, yet only her shell was left behind. Her soul hadn’t been found.

Isaac cast a furtive glance at Lina.

Red hair, a slightly thin figure—she looked exactly the same as she had in Castel. Why would she think he couldn’t recognize her?

Either she was using something to disguise her appearance that had now failed, or—

Thinking of her strange abilities and overwhelming strength, a sudden realization struck Isaac’s heart. Was she even human?

And what was she searching for, believing he sought the same thing—

Before he could think further, pain coursed through his body again, and Isaac cried out miserably.

The girl’s expression shifted between shadow and light, deep in thought, yet her foot didn’t stop. She kicked Isaac’s mangled arm several more times.

Listening to Isaac’s screams, she finally stopped, her face returning to an emotionless calm.

“Forget it. I probably can’t get anything out of you. I’ll just see for myself.”

Then she reached out and hoisted Isaac up.

“Please… spare me…” Isaac’s voice was low, trembling, carrying a trace of sincerity that made it nearly impossible to refuse.

【Investigator】—an ability that could imbue one’s words with compulsion, though success depended entirely on luck. It was meant for investigation, nearly useless in combat.

But Isaac had used it repeatedly—every time he spoke, he gambled on success.

His luck hadn’t been good today; not until this moment did it finally work.

A flicker of hesitation appeared in Lina’s eyes, but it vanished almost instantly. She sneered, about to speak—but Isaac moved first!

The instant hesitation showed on Lina’s face, Isaac’s blurred gaze focused sharply. With his only intact hand, he drew a flintlock pistol from his waist and pulled the trigger!

Lina’s reaction was a fraction too slow. She only saw the muzzle of the gun, her expression flashing with scorn.

A mere flintlock pistol, and he thought he could hurt her?

Red mist rose within Lina’s eyes.

But to her surprise, no bullet came from the barrel—instead, the entire pistol exploded, revealing the blackness within!

A mass of Entity Pollution burst out, lunging straight toward Lina.

Isaac endured the agony in his hand, eyes gleaming with hope.

Extraordinary Power could block bullets, but not Pollution. In fact, almost no Extraordinary could resist Entity Pollution. Otherwise, the sea wouldn’t have been labeled a forbidden zone for them—even its waters were vastly diluted versions of this!

This level of contamination was enough to drive an Extraordinary into multiple frenzies. Unless Lina evaded, she would inevitably come into contact with the Pollution.

If she dodged, Isaac would immediately abandon his body, diving into the Sea of Unawareness to return to his 【Chrysalis】. At that point, whatever methods Lina possessed would be useless. As long as she hadn’t transcended human form, she couldn’t confront a 【Chrysalis】.

That way, at least his soul would remain intact. He could find a new body later.

If she didn’t dodge—or if she had a way to counter the Pollution—then Isaac would deliberately let it drench him.

He would lose control. A deranged Extraordinary was terrifying, capable of rivaling even some weak Heretical Gods. And as a dual-pathway user, no one knew what form his madness would take—but it would certainly be stronger than his normal state.

Though it would mean certain death, he might drag Lina to the grave with him.

A double loss was better than letting her win alone.

In that flash of lightning between life and death, Isaac made his choice. Extraordinary individuals might differ in strength, but they had all once overcome the world through sheer willpower. Weakness and hesitation had long been cast aside.

Isaac stared hard at Lina, ready to react at any moment. No matter what, this was his final moment.

No revenge—what a pity.

But Lina’s reaction was beyond anything he had imagined.

The girl gazed at the Pollution with eyes full of fervor, longing—and nostalgia. Yet there was no fear.

Isaac instantly sensed something was wrong. He rushed forward, intent on letting the Pollution taint him to force himself into madness.

But Lina moved faster. She leapt up, kicking straight into Isaac’s chest. The sound of shattering bones filled the air as his chest caved in.

Isaac rolled across the ground like a lump of flesh, coming to rest far from Lina.

His consciousness blurred in an instant—but inside, joy surged.

Though unexpected, he had finally gotten a chance to leave this shell behind!

With all his strength, he had finally earned one opportunity—

The opportunity to die.