Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye

With the conclusion of the initial round of probing between Luca and the enemy, both sides gained a clearer understanding of each other’s strategies.

And with that understanding came a growing sense of caution.

Both camps decided to take a full day to rest and reorganize.

During that day, fierce debates erupted within both factions.

As night fell, Luca took the initiative to reestablish contact with Donlow and the others.

He laid out his plan for the next day.

“The enemy is clearly very well prepared,” he began. “So tomorrow morning, I’ll move in first. If I encounter overwhelming resistance, then you all should stand down.”

His words left Donlow visibly displeased.

She replied coldly, “Why? Do you think we’re completely incapable of helping you in any meaningful way?”

“That’s not what he meant!” Nova’s voice cut in.

“If even he runs into serious resistance, it means the enemy’s strength is beyond what we anticipated. In that case, the only logical move would be to retreat.”

She and Luca had already discussed this in private.

They had come to an agreement before reaching out to Donlow.

But Nova’s explanation had the opposite of the intended effect—it only made Donlow more irritated.

“Didn’t you two just say yesterday that if we failed this time, the enemy would only grow stronger next time? And now, just one day later, you’re already changing your minds? Don’t you think that’s a bit fickle?” Donlow shot back angrily.

She was already beginning to regret letting Luca take the lead on this mission.

If she had been in charge, the plan wouldn’t be constantly shifting.

After all, she was a member of Morning Star.

And Morning Star never launched an operation without thorough planning. Once a mission began, every Morning Star operative was trained to stick to the plan without hesitation.

“Yeah! Yesterday you were all confident—so what changed overnight? Someone getting scared?” Fuzzsir chimed in with a mocking tone.

It was obvious who he meant—Nova.

Nova understood the insinuation clearly, but she chose not to respond.

From her perspective, there was no point in wasting words on someone like him.

“I think we should stick to our original judgment!” Melania quickly added.

“If this operation ends with nothing to show for it, there will definitely be some negative repercussions for us back in the Imperial Capital.”

What Melania was referring to, of course, were the powerful noble families in the Imperial Capital who had always opposed Luca.

While those families couldn’t directly interfere with Morning Star’s operations, they did have the influence to sway the opinions of the Federation’s upper ranks.

Under the combined persuasion of the Morning Star members, even Luca began to waver slightly.

Naturally, he didn’t want to return empty-handed.

“Since you’ve all made yourselves so clear,” he finally said, “we’ll proceed with the original plan. At sunrise tomorrow, I’ll head straight into Lakeside City’s urban district. You’ll come with me.”

In the end, he chose to compromise.

After confirming the plan for the next day, both sides continued discussing the finer details of the operation.

Once communications ended, Luca seemed somewhat downcast.

“Morning Star’s members are clearly much weaker than you. Why are you listening to their advice?” Nova asked coldly.

“If it were me, I’d tell them to shut up.”

Luca glanced at her.

“They’re my comrades. I’m not the kind of person who bullies the weak. And besides, they had a point. As for what actions we’ll take tomorrow… we’ll adapt to the situation as it unfolds.”

With that, he closed his eyes.

Nova wasn’t satisfied with Luca’s answer.

But it was obvious he wasn’t planning to continue the conversation.

In the end, Nova could only close her eyes as well, conserving her energy for the mission ahead.

The next morning, before the sun had even risen, Luca and Nova were already prepared to move.

At the first glimpse of dawn’s light, they began their approach toward Lakeside City’s urban district.

At the same time, Donlow, Fuzzsir, and Melania arrived at the edge of the canal.

The calm surface of the water gave all three of them a subtle but undeniable sense of unease.

“Yesterday, we agreed that no matter what happens, we move with Luca,” Donlow said calmly.

“Let’s go. We need to cross the bridge quickly.”

Without another word, she stepped onto the bridge.

Fuzzsir and Melania followed close behind.

All three of them advanced at full speed.

At their current pace, it would take them less than three minutes to cross the bridge.

By the time the three of them reached the center of the bridge, the tension they had felt earlier had eased somewhat.

They began to think their caution might have been unnecessary.

The prehistoric terror crocodile, they figured, was likely a weapon the enemy had prepared for Luca. Minor figures like them probably weren’t important enough to warrant that level of attention.

Donlow was the first to cross the bridge.

She turned back to look at Fuzzsir and Melania.

The two of them weren’t far behind—at their pace, they’d reach the other side in under thirty seconds.

Just then, Donlow suddenly felt a strong spatial fluctuation.

Moments later, the space around her shattered like glass.

Not far behind her, the bridge collapsed without warning.

Fuzzsir and Melania plummeted downward.

As the bridge gave way, Fuzzsir quickly drew his Skeleton Staff.

A horde of ghostly wraiths materialized from thin air and began to swirl around him, preventing him from crashing directly into the river below.

At the same moment, Melania threw a grappling hook that latched onto one of the bridge piers.

Their reactions were lightning-fast, keeping them from falling straight into danger—at least for the moment.

But neither of them let their guard down.

They had yet to detect any trace of the enemy.

“What the hell is going on?! Where’s the enemy?! Do you see anything?!” Fuzzsir shouted toward Melania, who was a short distance away.

The moment the bridge collapsed, he had activated his Spirit Sight.

Under normal circumstances, if the enemy had launched an attack, his vision would have picked up some kind of clue.

But this situation was unlike anything he had encountered before.

Not only did Spirit Sight fail to detect any enemy presence—it was rapidly draining his own energy.

By now, Melania had already hidden herself in the shadows, using them both to evade any incoming attacks and to scout the area undetected.

She didn’t respond to Fuzzsir’s question—because she had nothing to report.

“Get out of there now! The enemy is right between the two of you!”

Donlow’s voice rang out in an urgent shout.

Fuzzsir and Melania immediately turned to look at her—and without hesitation, followed her command.

Fuzzsir quickly retreated to the far side of the riverbank.

Melania, meanwhile, launched herself toward Donlow’s position.

Midair, Melania slammed straight into an invisible wall, a sharp jolt of pain coursing through her body.

At that very moment, from beneath the calm surface of the canal, a completely transparent monster suddenly leapt out.

By the time Melania noticed the transparent creature, it was already dangerously close.

A chilling sense of imminent death surged through her.

To her, time suddenly seemed to slow to a crawl.

The monster’s true form gradually began to reveal itself—

It was another prehistoric terror crocodile.

Staring into the gaping, blood-soaked jaws of the creature, Melania’s life began to flash before her eyes.

Memories, fragments, and faces from her past danced across her mind.

She didn’t struggle—

Because she felt it would be utterly pointless.

The prehistoric terror crocodile’s massive jaws snapped shut.

Melania remained frozen, numb, simply waiting for the moment death would claim her.

But in that very instant, a silver-white arc of a sword came flying through the air.

The blade struck the monster directly, sending the enormous creature hurtling away from her with a tremendous impact.

“What the hell are you doing?! Get to Fuzzsir—now!”

Donlow’s urgent voice rang out again.

Melania stared blankly at her, her eyes glassy and dazed.

It was as if she couldn’t comprehend what Donlow was saying.

“Leave her to me! I’ll make sure she’s safe! You just keep moving!”

Fuzzsir shouted from across the canal as he raised the Skeleton Staff, summoning a swarm of ghostly spirits that surged toward Melania’s position.

He had already figured out what was going on.

The transparent prehistoric terror crocodile had used a psychic-type ability—

An ability that drastically slowed Melania’s cognitive processing.

In that state, she was clearly in no condition to move forward with Donlow.

And since Fuzzsir was still trapped outside the canal by the transparent barrier, it made perfect sense for him to stay behind and protect Melania, while Donlow pressed on alone.

It was the most logical course of action.

Donlow understood immediately.

She nodded toward Fuzzsir.

“Alright, it’s settled! Just make sure the two of you stay safe!”

Without another word, Donlow turned and resumed her advance toward the urban center of Lakeside City.

She didn’t look back.

She wouldn’t waste time confronting the transparent prehistoric terror crocodile—

That monster would be left to Fuzzsir.

Fuzzsir successfully pulled Melania to his side.

“How are you feeling right now?” he asked.

He observed Melania’s condition closely as he spoke.

Melania still wore that same dazed, vacant expression.

“Looks like it’ll take some time before you’re back to normal,” Fuzzsir muttered.

“We can’t stay here—it’s far too dangerous.”

After a brief moment of thought, Fuzzsir made his decision.

He would take Melania back to a safe location.

He had no intention of engaging the transparent prehistoric terror crocodile in battle.

In his judgment, there was simply no way he could defeat such a terrifying monster.

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