LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 79 - Aftermath
When Kukunnis regained his senses, crashing waves assaulted his vision. Without any forewarning, that torrential barrage had manifested instantaneously – over a thousand sword strikes unleashing in a singular overwhelming onslaught. Witnessing that incomprehensible spectacle, he numbly resigned himself:
‘This cannot be deflected.’
Of course, simply enduring passively proved equally unviable – he intended resisting until his absolute limits, following those relentless strikes as far as his capacities permitted.
The first strike – swinging his spatha in an overhead arc to deflect that diagonal downward slash. The second – twisting his blade to parry while riposting a frontal thrust. The third – angling the flat to guide past his left flank before whirling his cloak to obscure vision while rolling rightward, evading the fourth and fifth…
The sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth…the hundred-seventy-second, hundred-seventy-third…
{Kuh…nrghh…}
Unable to keep pace. That sluggishly restrained temporal flow imposed an increasingly searing anguish akin to his mind combusting. As a mere possessed vessel rather than an inherent physical form, he remained relatively insulated from bodily torment. However, that simultaneously rendered him defenseless against spiritual agonies.
Momentarily, extending his blade forward became an arduous struggle – as if thrusting through fathomless oceanic depths while some unseen force restrained his every limb. Almost as if spacetime itself enacted a concerted suppression upon his movements.
Even before this overwhelming disparity, Kukunnis had already fallen behind – yet those initial lapses derived from comparatively minuscule skill differentials. Now, he experienced an outright inability to even react – one missed strike begetting another, then another in compounding succession. His singular recourse involved rigorously prioritizing which areas absolutely required deflecting any potential lethalities while resigning all other regions to unavoidable minor injuries.
That frantic stopgap strategy somehow enabled him to rally, barely maintaining any semblance of resistance. However, the rapidly widening chasm separating their respective capabilities meant even that became increasingly futile for the newly initiated Kukunnis against Sophia’s exponentially accelerating ferocity.
Deflect, deflect, deflect – each parried blow prompted a blistering staccato volley, their sheer volume and velocity escalating ceaselessly beyond his ability to effectively counter.
And at that thousandth unavoidable strike rending through his defenses, Kukunnis realized those thousand exchanges had transpired within a fleeting instant – and that he no longer possessed any remaining vulnerabilities to defend.
{Ah…here lies my limit.}
A despondent sigh escaped him alongside that sobering epiphany. Kukunnis had never before experienced such an exhilaratingly novel yet wondrous martial plane throughout his entire lifespan. That he could no longer partake in those transcendent insights proved utterly heartbreaking – for he remained, in the end, merely another fallen martial vagabond despite any legendary reputations.
“You demonstrated remarkable prowess. Never before has anyone persisted this far against my Sword of Epiphany mastery.”
Yet not even Sophia’s commendation elicited any solace from the utterly despondent Kukunnis.
{Yet I still failed to follow through until the very culmination.}
Regarding his dejected lament with a wry smile, she replied candidly:
“Obviously so. Had you managed accompanying me through that singular instant, my century-spanning journey would have amounted to naught, would it not?”
{Hahah…I suppose that offers some consolation.}
Kukunnis sensed his imminent dissolution – the ruination inflicted upon his borrowed corporeal vessel extending down to its quintessential particles rent asunder by that sword’s mystic forces. Only his lingering life-essence alongside energy supplied by this sealed dungeon realm allowed maintaining his present manifestation.
Evidently the time had come to gracefully accept his conclusive termination. As the acquiescing dungeon boss and ancient mariner psychologically braced himself, Sophia addressed him with a meaningful expression:
“Before that finality, I have a proposal you may wish to consider.”
+++++
Having witnessed the subsiding dungeon dissipation alongside those resubmerging ancient pirate hulks, the St. Maria’s passengers and crew – who had garrisoned themselves amid the town’s surrounding infrastructure – collectively exhaled in unison while slumping against nearby walls in profound relief.
Miraculously, casualties remained virtually nil. Thanks to the intervening Paladin vanguard neutralizing most pressing threats alongside Captain Benjamin’s inspired leadership rallying their defensive efforts, only minor injuries befell his company rather than any fatalities amidst that maelstrom.
Observing those disintegrating ancient pirate ashes, one sailor muttered contemplatively:
“Finally over, it seems. But what’s that over there?”
Straining his unfettered gaze toward those newly vacated spaces, the sailor scrutinized several objects scattered amid the dissipating ashes.
At various sites, miscellaneous items manifested – clearly the equipment or possessions previously carried by those departed ancient mariners. Their departure did not simply represent absolute dissolution, but left behind residual offerings befitting a sealed dungeon’s reward paradigm.
One passenger of adventuring experience immediately identified their true nature:
“Dungeon artifacts!”
That proclamation instantly triggered a fervent clamor throughout the ranks:
“What? Dungeon artifacts?!”
“You’re saying those are actual dungeon artifacts over there?!”
Emboldened individuals soon ventured outward, quickly confirming those initial speculations:
“Potions!”
“This seems like equipment of some kind?”
“Enchantments are imbued into that one!”
“””Genuine dungeon artifacts indeed!”””
Glimmers of avaricious greed flickered across their expressions upon that realization. Had someone not previously stated: ‘Dungeons represent potential windfalls for those born under auspicious fated circumstances’? While inevitably mixed with some worthless duds, those disseminated remnants undoubtedly harbored priceless treasures galore.
Anticipation surged as reevaluations ignited regarding their harrowing circumstance – this former ‘pirate den’ now a potential ‘trove’ brimming with ‘dungeon loot’! Mere plunderers’ fortunes could transform into destiny-altering windfalls through sheer serendipity.
Their burgeoning hopes crested as the protagonists who had subjugated Menorca’s dungeon boss presided over this revelatory proclamation.
“Brave champions! We have purged these Thetys Sea’s disruptive pirate scourges whose oppressions and atrocities ran rampant! This triumph became possible solely due to your own courageous convictions defying those same trepidations!”
While conceding their ‘courage’ derived more from greed than moral compunctions, Hildegard continued her rousing oration undeterred – metaphorically ‘overselling’ necessitated embracing hyperbole wholeheartedly. Inwardly berating her own cynical introspections, she forcibly suppressed that overly critical inner voice.
Now came the pivotal declaration her audience truly craved – unnecessary for their own group, yet profoundly meaningful regarding that universal priority:
“The time has arrived to address your valorous recompense! As you know, we belong to the Church’s clergy – strongly encouraged against accruing excessive personal fortunes! Therefore, our own share shall remain relatively meager compared to the abundance you have rightfully earned!”
Leaving the obvious implication dangling, raucous cheers erupted across the docks in rapturous jubilation:
“Whooooaaaahhh!!!”
“The Church! The Great Priestesses! Paladins!”
“No way, you can’t be serious?! We’ve struck it rich?!”
“My dearly departed grandmother conveyed an omen through my dreams – a vision of pigs portending imminent enrichment for me!”
Observing that near-frenzied revelry from behind Hildegard’s shoulders, Conra instinctively shuddered uncomfortably.
“Does…it truly gratify them that immensely…?”
The eleven-turning-twelve-year-old’s innocently bewildered query reflected his complete detachment from material avarice pervading those around him.
Noting her disciple’s bemused incomprehension of such ravenous desire for lucre, Sophia began inwardly questioning her own tutelary approach’s merits.
While extricating themselves from worldly entanglements by embracing ecclesiastic vocations, Conra ultimately represented a disciple she intended returning to the secular world after completing his training. His present insulation amid their monastic company could not persist indefinitely without potentially catastrophic ramifications once achieving independence if she failed addressing certain glaring educational omissions.
‘Hmm. I shall need to supplement his curriculum accordingly.’
Despite Conra’s supplemental mentors comprising the Sovereign Spirit Esras-Hermes and Porting Spirit Lugus-Artaios, Sophia doubted whether those mystical entities possessed any adroit financial acumen themselves.
Why did pantheons never include ‘Wealth Spirits’ or ‘Monetary Spirits’…? Dismissing those idle musings, Sophia silently ruffled Conra’s hair in a tender gesture.
+++++
The St. Maria ultimately departed Menorca two days later. During that interim period, her crew and passengers thoroughly combed the island like a tendril sweeping every crevice.
Their exhaustive search yielded considerable spoils – the pirates’ accumulated personal and communal fortunes alongside sundry treasures, civilian captives destined for enslavement, the remaining fugitive marauder dregs alongside their families, and even additional manifested dungeon artifacts from the island’s widespread conversion.
The St. Maria’s company swiftly liberated those civilian captives before conscripting their assistance overseeing the restrained pirate prisoners.
“Serves those scoundrels right!”
“They’ve finally received their comeuppance!”
Clearly harboring no shortage of deep-seated grievances against their former captors, those subjugated civilians had merely suppressed their resentments through even greater terrorization – until witnessing their tormentors’ unequivocal downfall released that seething malice from its shackles.
The former captives therefore showed no quarter toward their newly imprisoned pirate counterparts – barred from physically assaulting them only by financial incentives of ransoming their valuable captives relatively unharmed.
Every other degradation alongside psychological and verbal abuse rained down remorselessly upon those shattered marauder remnants as karmic restitution. Already demoralized from the St. Maria’s assault and Lord Haidrine’s subsequent possession catalyzing Menorca’s widespread dungeon conversion, enduring such oppressive incarceration rapidly sapped their dwindling vitality.
Yet Sophia’s group – who realistically should have demonstrated the greatest humanitarian concerns over such abusive treatment – exhibited scant interest in the pirates’ internment conditions.
Only the youthful Conra voiced any reservations regarding their unrestrained vindictiveness:
“Isn’t this going a bit too far?”
Observing the overt mockery and unsavory humiliations alongside Conra’s queasy expression, Sophia curtly dismissed his misgivings:
“They have reaped their own sown consequences – who can they blame except themselves?”
Hildegard corroborated Sophia’s blunt pronouncement with an affirming nod while slugging down a hearty draught of confiscated pirate rum – ignoring her divine spirit Ariel’s fruitless admonishments against such indulgences.
Meanwhile, Sophia and Hildegard diverted their attention toward Ezio – alongside his newly contracted divine spirit Saraswati maintaining an intimately entwined proximity exhibiting avant-garde indecorousness bordering on the outright salacious despite her mystic radiance.
{Well…I may possess limited insights regarding such matters, but…}
A disgruntled rumination resonated within Sophia’s mind accompanied by an air of profound consternation:
{Does the term ‘divine spirit’ or ‘clergy’ encompass…such indecorous comportments?}
“Hmm. So during your era, Kukunnis, this was considered…unacceptable?”
{Logically speaking – how could it possibly have existed in the first place?! Although, the world remains vast with innumerable peoples I never encountered. So I cannot categorically dismiss it either.}
The recently contracted Porting Spirit Lugus-Kukunnis grumbled begrudgingly alongside that admission.