Chapter 21: Uninvited Guests, Another Team of Awakened

John spoke in a grave tone, "Be cautious. Once we enter, the merfolk might take advantage of being underwater to launch an attack on us. Be ready to fight at any moment."

"Alright, I understand." Victoria nodded slightly, pulling out her dueling sword from her system backpack.

As they were about to enter the portal to another world...

John suddenly turned his head, sensing someone approaching.

Indeed, from a two-story building near the manor's entrance, three figures emerged, carrying sacks that appeared to be filled with looted goods.

They noticed the two by the pool and quickly stashed the sacks into their system backpacks, switching back to their weapons.

The weapons they held indicated they were also Awakened.

Victoria noticed the trio and, with a frown, asked John, "Are those people coming over here called by you for help?"

John shook his head, "I don't know them. Probably Awakened hunting monsters nearby who noticed the portal moved here. Come uninvited, they want a share of our findings?"

Victoria remained silent, her expression turning serious. After all, this was her home, and these three had barged in without so much as a greeting.

Moreover, she wanted to avenge her mother by killing the merfolk with her own hands, not wanting outsiders to interfere.

Shortly after, the three approached, the lead man wielding dual axes, his class displayed as [Berserker].

He stopped in his tracks and unabashedly sized up Victoria, "Hello! Little brother and sister, planning to enter the portal with just the two of you?"

The Berserker smirked contemptuously, "You really aren't afraid of death, huh? This isn't child's play."

Victoria didn't give them a warm welcome, her voice cold, "This is my home. Please leave immediately, or I'll call the police."

The Berserker exchanged glances with his companions, then they all burst into laughter.

The [Alchemist] behind him explained, "Haven't you seen the news? The emergency management department has issued a document stating that any location with a portal becomes a temporary controlled area. Any Awakened can freely enter and exit, your home has been temporarily requisitioned."

The petite [Rogue] beside him jested, "The two of you, an alchemist and a swordsman, going in is just asking to die, isn't it?"

John chuckled lightly, "Whether we are going to die or not isn't your concern."

These people clearly weren't up to any good, likely hoodlums and thugs before they became Awakened.

Now, with power beyond ordinary humans, their egos inflated even more.

It was only after the formation of the Awakened Guild and the implementation of new laws that control over such individuals was strengthened. Through strong measures, many unruly Awakened were dealt with, causing such people to start behaving.

The Berserker glanced at John and couldn't help but snort, "You, an alchemist, just stick to making your potions. Why even bother with portals to other worlds? Expecting this little girl to protect you?"

"Is that any of your business?" Victoria sharply swung her duel sword, pointing it directly at the trio.

The Berserker looked at Victoria with a grin, already plotting in his mind.

"Such a beauty, truly breathtaking, but seems a bit too proud. The alchemist next to her must be her boyfriend. Once we enter the portal, we'll find a chance to kill the alchemist and take the pretty girl for ourselves."

With a few exchanges of glances, the Berserker and his companions quickly formed a plan.

The prowler tried to ease the tension with a smile, "Alright...Alright. Our target is the monsters inside. No need to argue here."

John still wore a smile, but his eyes had turned cold.

As someone reincarnated, he knew all too well that inside the portal, not only did one have to beware of dangerous monsters, but one also couldn't let their guard down around other teams of Awakened.

After all, there were no laws within the portal. Only the strong had the right to leave alive.

John had witnessed firsthand in his previous life how different teams of Awakened would kill each other over equipment and items within the portal.

The greed inadvertently revealed in the eyes of these people was clearly fixed on the equipment that he and Victoria possessed.

"Let's go." John called to Victoria, and they both stepped directly into the portal within the pool.

Victoria coldly glared at the trio, lowered her dueling sword, and followed John into the portal.

Seeing the two leave, the three men openly began to plot.

The Alchemist's eyes gleamed, "Boss, did you see? Both of them had equipment that would definitely fetch a good price on the black market."

The Berserker licked his lips, his smile growing more lecherous, "I've got my eyes on that chick. That face, that figure, fucking amazing, nothing like those streetwalkers."

The prowler also showed greed, "That dagger in the alchemist's hand seems perfect for me."

The Berserker shared his plan, "We'll find a chance to kill that alchemist. Anyway. The surveillance around here is down. No one can prove they went in... Then all their stuff will be ours!"

Laughing heartily, the Berserker stepped into the portal, "Two naive kids. Let's teach them a lesson today."

...

Not long ago.

John and Victoria stepped through the portal. As the space around them warped, they fell into an underground river.

They surfaced one after the other. Thanks to their prior preparation, neither of them choked on water.

After ensuring Victoria was safe, John first floated on the surface to survey their surroundings. Using the sunlight filtering through cracks above, he looked for a place to land.

This was a standard monster cave, large like a dungeon, with darkness stretching into the unseen distance where the light couldn't reach, seemingly without end.

About 20 meters ahead, they could vaguely make out the ground.

At that moment, Victoria suddenly became alert. "John, there's something coming underwater!" John's brow furrowed, and he immediately pulled out a healing potion he had prepared in advance. To Victoria's surprise, he poured the water mixed with the powerful anesthetic, succinylcholine, into the water.

Now that Victoria had been bound as John's teammate, friendly skills wouldn't harm an ally.

The emerald potion spread in the water, creating a visible layering in this area.

Deep in the water, several merfolk who had just approached inhaled the anesthetic. Their movements significantly slowed down as if by countless times.

Victoria's duel sword thrust forward, easily killing two merfolk.

She then realized in surprise that John's healing potion seemed to have additional effects.

"Let's go. Swim this way to get to the shore!" John started swimming ahead, and Victoria immediately followed.

Behind them, three more splashes were heard.

The trio had also entered. The unprepared three choked on several mouthfuls of water upon falling in.

The Berserker, who was a good swimmer, was the first to react. He held his breath underwater and dragged his two companions above the surface with one hand each.

"Cough…cough…cough..." The Alchemist, pale-faced, coughed out several mouthfuls of water before gradually recovering. "Fuck! How did we end up in the river?"

The prowler saw John and Victoria not far away. "There they are! Swim after them! There should be land over there." The merfolk in the river turned their targets towards the three newcomers, attacking them.

The Berserker had just stored his axes in his system backpack, preparing to swim after them when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.

Looking down, he saw bright red blood spreading in the water.

"Damn it! There are merfolks in the water!" The Berserker took out his axe and swung it at the water, but the attacking merfolk dived, easily dodging the attack.

The prowler shouted, "Swim quickly! The merfolks are too agile in the water. Get to the shore fast!" The three of them swam hard forward, but more merfolk gathered and started launching continuous attacks.

The Alchemist, being the worst swimmer of the trio, was left far behind by the others.

What's worse—

For some reason, the Alchemist felt his legs suddenly become numb, as if he had lost all sensation! A merfolk Tidehunter, with its eyes locked on him, swiftly surged from the depths, directly grabbing the Alchemist's neck and pressing him down into the water!