Undeterred, Linsley pressed on. "I'm not asking for submission. Think about what your clan could become under my protection. You'd have the entire ocean to yourselves. No one would dare challenge you. You've seen what I'm capable of.
Together, we could conquer even greater enemies."
The overlord's eyes narrowed, but its resolve remained unshaken. "Your words are as empty as your threats. I will not be fooled by hollow promises."
Growing impatient, Linsley tried another angle. "If you don't yield, I'll seal you in this bottle for eternity. You'll be trapped, powerless, watching your clan fall apart without you. Is that what you want?"
The Devouring Whale Overlord remained silent for a moment, considering the threat, but then its sneer returned. "Seal me if you must, human. My clan will survive without me, and they will hunt you down long after I'm gone. We whales don't live for your petty threats."
Linsley's frustration grew, but he remained composed. He tried offering territory in exchange for cooperation, then attempted to appeal to the overlord's pride by proposing a more equal alliance.
Each attempt, however, was met with the same unyielding resistance.
"I'm offering you everything," Linsley said, his voice growing colder, "and yet you still refuse. Why?"
The Devouring Whale Overlord's eyes burned with conviction. "Because we value our freedom more than your power, human. We will never bend to your will."
After several more futile attempts, Linsley took a deep breath, his purple eyes grew colder and colder, and his expression turning almost lifeless, devoid of any emotion.
His composure remained intact, but the warmth that once lingered in his attempts at negotiation vanished, leaving only an icy void.
He had been patient, offering the Devouring Whale Overlord what he thought was a mutually beneficial arrangement. But now, faced with its stubborn refusal, he no longer saw a living creature worth saving—just a hindrance in his path.
He glanced at the bottle in his hand, containing the miniature whale overlord, and his grip tightened. 'I wasn't a pushover', Linsley thought coldly.
He had lowered himself, offered fair terms—terms that should have benefited both parties, even giving this arrogant beast a chance to retain its dignity. But the whale had mistaken his mercy for weakness, thinking it had the luxury to defy him.
His goal was clear: he needed to create his base as soon as possible to prepare for the Outer God and its lackeys, who must exist somewhere, even if he hadn't encountered them yet.
He, Linsley, had already saved one world, and now he was about to save Terra while also planning to save the Diviner World. This placed him on the moral high ground.
The Devouring Whale Overlord, by obstructing him, was not just defying his personal ambitions but actively standing in the way of saving the Diviner World.
In doing so, the whale had become a sinner—not just against the human race with its billions of lives, but against the monster race as well. Its clan's mere tens of thousands of lives were nothing compared to the greater good.
Linsley's mission was far larger in scope. He was saving the world, and this whale dared to stand in his way.
Linsley's gaze grew even colder, the faintest trace of mercy now entirely gone. He had been far too lenient with this devouring whale overlord.
His attempt to forge an alliance had been rebuffed, and the whale's arrogant behavior, even sealed, was unforgivable. The time for negotiation had passed. There would be no more diplomacy.
His eyes shifted to Lucy and Ted, who had been silent throughout the exchange. Both of them met his gaze without hesitation, nodding in silent agreement.
They had seen enough. They understood his decision. Whatever path Linsley chose next, they would follow him without question.
With a voice as cold as the deep sea, Linsley finally spoke. "Lucy, prepare to use your Fallen Angel: Lucifer gift."
Lucy's eyes darkened, and the familiar dark-colored flux began to gather around her as she summoned her power. She remained composed, but her nod to Linsley indicated she understood what was coming next.
"I'll create the fantasy artifact, Seven Deadly Sins Judgment," Linsley continued, his tone sharp with finality. "You will induce the seven deadly sins upon the entire Devouring Whale Clan—except for this one."
He lifted the bottle containing the miniature Devouring Whale Overlord and gave it a cold, dismissive glance.
"I'll show this foolish whale the consequences of obstructing my path. Let him witness what happens to those who defy me."