Chapter 124: The Legend of the Lake Erie Monster

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Amidst the raging storm and towering waves, Lin Xiao’s vision blurred; he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Suddenly, the yacht was violently rocked by a tremendous force.

Inside the cabin, the three witches who were channeling their psychic energy to stabilize the yacht were thrown off balance, collapsing to the side. The entire vessel was lifted high by a wave before crashing down with a thunderous roar.

“What’s happening? Is there something beneath the water?” Misty shouted loudly as the witches scrambled to their feet.

Lin Xiao struggled to keep the steering wheel steady, fighting the fierce waves, and raised his voice as well: “I just saw a huge shadow leap out of the water and swim toward us. I don’t know what it is—could it be some kind of sea monster?”

“The Lake Erie Monster?” Zoe exclaimed in surprise, as if she recognized the creature.

“Lake Erie Monster? I’ve never heard of that before,” Misty asked curiously. As a swamp witch, she had encountered many supernatural beings, but she was not familiar with the monsters of the Great Lakes region.

“I’ve never seen it either, only read about it while stationed at Campus Lake. Legend has it that a gigantic beast lives in Lake Erie, often surfacing to devour people and livestock. Some claim to have witnessed it firsthand. It’s said to have a snake-like head and a long neck, with an elephant’s trunk. When it appears, foam bubbles all around, splashing everywhere; some say it exhales smoke, shrouding the lake in mist,” Zoe explained while using her psychic power to steady the yacht.

Lin Xiao found the description rather absurd. What sort of creature has an elephant’s trunk underwater? Is it to make bathing more convenient?

“Uh, are you talking about this thing?” Number Eleven pointed outside the yacht.

Following her finger, they saw a monster that matched Zoe’s description almost perfectly: a long neck stretched out, with large, copper-colored eyes glaring viciously at them.

“Lake Erie Monster!” Zoe gasped, covering her mouth. The enormous beast raised its long neck, revealing two hump-like backs trailing behind, water cascading down its ribs like a waterfall.

Two fin-like tentacles extended beneath its ribs, striking the water with such force that the surface trembled violently, waves roaring like a tidal surge.

“Oh my, there really is a lake monster,” Lin Xiao muttered.

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Lin Xiao glanced back at the monster amid the chaos, hastily steadying the steering wheel. The creature was nearly as large as the yacht, floating alongside it. It was clear it wasn’t here to greet them but to cause trouble.

Sure enough, the monster slowly submerged again, and violent tremors shook the boat’s bottom. It was clearly stirring trouble beneath the waves, aiming to overturn the yacht and make them its next meal—or a late-night snack.

Ah!

The violent shaking threw everyone off balance. Barbara lost her footing and was slammed against the cabin wall, groaning in pain.

“We can’t let it flip the yacht; it’ll be a matter of life and death,” Lin Xiao shouted. They had reached the center of Lake Erie. If the boat capsized here, he might be able to swim back to shore.

Michael and the other three vampires dared not expose themselves to the thunderstorm. Number Eleven and the others faced grave danger in such harsh conditions.

Especially Barbara, an ordinary human—she was doomed. No one could save her.

This dire situation could not be a coincidence. Lin Xiao suspected it was the work of the Sanctuary Church, employing sinister black magic to attack them.

Not far from their position, the lake’s surface was clear and calm, without a cloud in sight. Yet directly ahead, a small area was wracked by lightning, thunder, and a savage tempest.

Three women in black robes sat cross-legged in a triangular formation atop a luxurious yacht. Beneath them was a massive pentagram radiating continuous dark energy.

At the center hovered a black cloud, beneath which was a small yacht model—uncannily identical in shape to Lin Xiao’s yacht.

Nearby stood a blonde woman with her hands behind her back, her gaze fixed intently on the robed trio. Two middle-aged women flanked her. One of them spoke in puzzlement:

“Saintess, why go to such lengths? Let them unleash our secret technique—the Black Storm—and summon the sacred serpent we’ve nurtured for years to launch an underwater assault. This was originally devised to combat naval fleets against the Caribbean black witches. Isn’t this overkill against them?”

“Hmph, Cynthia, don’t let your foolish mind question the Saintess’s wisdom. She has her reasons; it’s not for you to doubt recklessly,” the other middle-aged woman retorted sharply, adding a flattering jab by glaring provocatively at her colleague.

Unwilling to yield, Cynthia shot back: “Andrea, you truly underestimate the Saintess’s insight. Do you think she wouldn’t see through your attempts to malign me? The reason I question is that we are about to commence the summoning ritual, requiring everyone’s strength. Wasting so much energy here will harm our upcoming plans.”

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“Moreover, I received confidential intelligence: our operation has been exposed to major supernatural organizations. They will undoubtedly send people to interfere, and we lack the manpower to fend them off.”

Cynthia’s words silenced Andrea. The Saintess’s lips curled in a low, solemn voice:

“Enough quarrelling. These pursuers are no ordinary foes. Their strength is formidable—they have broken through two of our ambushes and linger at an unsettling distance. Without eliminating them, returning to Silent Hill will be impossible. Besides, their blood will serve as a warning to other supernatural factions: anyone who dares oppose our Sanctuary Church will meet a grim fate.”

“Brilliant! Saintess, your strategy is masterful. This move not only eliminates our pursuers but also establishes the Sanctuary Church’s dominance. Once we summon the deity and open the gates of paradise, we will rule the world. The Saintess will become the spiritual leader of all humanity—the very embodiment of a god,” Andrea flattered once again.

No matter how many flattery-filled words are exchanged, even the cold Saintess smiled faintly, imagining herself revered by millions as the spiritual guide.

Cynthia, however, frowned, refusing to join the chorus. A handful of minor pursuers had already cost them dearly. How difficult would it be to rule the world?

Consider Napoleon, who conquered Europe but ultimately fell at Waterloo, dying in defeat. Or the warmonger Hitler, who swept across Europe and Africa with blitzkrieg, bringing the mighty British and French empires to their knees, then launched a massive invasion of the Soviet Union—only to fall short and end his own life.

Even the present-day might of America, which controls much of the globe, would hesitate to claim dominion over the entire world, lest it invite universal opposition.

The Saintess and her followers, blinded by greed and ambition, dream of world domination. Their fate, however, looks grim.

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Amid the storm, Lin Xiao’s yacht tossed relentlessly—sometimes lifted high by waves, then crashing down hard, stirring massive swells. At times it tilted dangerously, nearly capsizing.

Inside the cabin, everyone swayed wildly, struggling to keep steady, their heads spinning. Lin Xiao gripped the wheel with all his might to prevent a capsize, but this could not go on much longer.

“That monster is too strong. We can’t let it keep causing havoc. Stefan, take the helm. I’m going into the lake to kill it,” Lin Xiao snapped.

His temper flared. This situation was untenable. The only way out was to dive beneath the waves and slay the Lake Erie Monster. Otherwise, the yacht would capsize and they would all perish.