My Charity System made me too OP

They were mermanoid in nature—twisted hybrids of fish and man, their scales bristling with unnatural sheen, eyes glowing with malice. Long fins curled down their arms like grotesque blades, and gills flared with each rasping breath.

"Sea-type Rift," Leon confirmed calmly as he landed, blade dripping with blueish blood that steamed on contact with the grass. "I'm guessing underwater zones, heavy aquatic magic, maybe corrupted sea beasts."

Roselia narrowed her eyes. "Great. I just did my hair."

Millim laughed. "This will be fun! Blood Knights, get ready—don't hold back this time!"

Naval pulled his halberd off his back with a sharp click. "Well, time to test my lightning resistance gear."

Liliana, ever quiet but watchful, murmured, "I sense something deeper inside. Those fish freaks were scouts."

Roman scratched the back of his neck. "Did we have to wake up to sea monsters?"

Leon sheathed his sword slowly. "This Rift is waking up before we even enter. That means something inside it is already trying to escape."

The Rift pulsed again, wider this time—its blue glow turning black at the edges.

"Whatever it is," Leon said, eyes glowing faintly gold, "we go in together. No splitting up."

Then, without another word, they all dove into the now-stable entrance of the Rift—ready to face the abyssal depths below.

As they plunged into the Mind Typhoon Sea Rift, the world twisted around them—gravity warped, light bent strangely, and sound became a muffled hum, like the ocean itself was thinking.

When they landed, it wasn't on solid ground but on a strange floating reef made of coral and crystalline platforms, suspended in an endless, glowing sea.

All around them, the Rift was alive with motion—massive whirlpools churned in the distance, and deep in the azure-blue depths, colossal shapes shifted and swam just out of view. A low-frequency pulse throbbed through the water, not just pressing on their bodies but on their minds.

[You have entered: Mind Typhoon Sea Rift]

A Rift created from the collapse of a deep-sea eldritch realm and a failed mind-spell ritual by an ancient civilization. The water here bends both thought and magic.

Survival rate: 2%

Recommended Party: None (Abandon hope)

Roselia instinctively summoned a shield of air around herself. "This pressure... it's not just water. It's mental—like something's whispering directly into my thoughts."

Liliana clutched her head. "It's not whispers. It's commands... trying to tell us to drown."

Aqua's pupils narrowed. "Papa... it's calling to me. Something ancient."

Leon's eyes flickered golden again as he read the Rift's hidden traits.

Mind-Twisting Current (Passive): Anyone not resisting mental influence will begin to lose clarity, falling into a trance-like state.

Ancient Sea Sovereign Detected: A corrupted sea god slumbers in the Abyss Core.

Sub-Zone: Forgotten Coral Labyrinth. Entry Level: Tier II Peak recommended.

Naval cursed. "I hate underwater dungeons!"

But to their surprise, they weren't sinking.

A strange system of floating "islands" and warped coral bridges formed a patchwork network of walkways suspended above the deeper ocean layers. Between the cracks shimmered vast, mind-bending depths.

Then, above them, the Rift sealed with a hiss. They were locked in.

"Monsters are coming," Millim said, her Blood Knights stepping forward as red energy shimmered around them. "And I mean a lot."

From the swirling misty sea ahead, the first wave surged forth—Sirens riding monstrous sea dragons, their songs already invading their minds.

And behind them, faintly visible in the far depth of the Rift, something opened an eye.

It had been asleep for centuries.

But now, the Sovereign of the Abyssal Mind was waking.

Leon's expression hardened as the air around him trembled. The moment that ancient eye opened, something shifted. The pressure intensified—not physically, but spiritually, like the weight of a thousand thoughts pressed directly on the soul.

[You are now under the gaze of the Sovereign of the Abyssal Mind.]

Mental resistance required: Tier IV minimum.

Your thoughts may no longer be your own.

Roselia staggered for a moment, her eyes briefly clouded before she hissed and summoned a vortex of purified flame, burning the psychic influence away.

"Whatever that thing is," she growled, "it tried to crawl into my head. Never again."

"Woah-ho… that's a Tier VI pressure," Leon whistled slowly, lips curling into a half-grin. Though he was only Tier V, his overall power—thanks to his EX-Rating, combat experience, and boosted stats—allowed him to fight evenly with even Tier VI peak-level beings. The pressure washing over them now? He felt it. But only faintly—like wind brushing against a mountain.

His companions, however, were not so fortunate.

Roselia grimaced, eyes narrowing as she struggled to keep her mental defenses in place. Naval had instinctively dropped into a battle stance, and even Millim, confident as ever, had her fangs bared in tension. Liliana's hands were glowing faintly with runes, trying to stabilize her mind, while Roman was locked in place, resisting with sheer will.

Leon didn't hesitate.

Leon lifted a hand, golden light from his Miracle Sage Eyes shining bright as he activated the Mind Sanctuary, one of its most advanced abilities. A golden ring expanded outward, shielding his entire party.

[Miracle Sage Eyes - Mind Sanctuary Activated]

Allies within the sanctuary are immune to external mental influence. Duration: 10 minutes.

A radiant dome expanded from Leon, golden light bursting outward like a tidal wave. The moment it touched his allies, the pressure eased. Their breaths returned, eyes cleared, and postures steadied.

"You good now?" he asked casually.

"Y-Yeah," Roselia muttered, brushing sweat from her temple. "That was getting inside my head. Like… rewriting my thoughts."

"Whatever that thing is," Naval added, "it ain't just about brute force. It plays mental chess while we're still figuring out the rules."

Leon nodded. "It's why I keep this eye active."

Aqua let out a small sigh of relief, clutching his sleeve tighter. "Thanks, Papa... that thing really doesn't like us."

The sirens shrieked as they dove forward—five of them, each riding sea-dragon hybrids with barbed fins, glowing runes etched into their gills, and eyes that shimmered like shattered mirrors.