Deep Sea Embers
chapter-729

A brilliant streak of sharp and precise light cut through the air, cleaving a shape-shifting, fleshly mass known as a fear demon right down the middle. The creature was split into two, its body rapidly disintegrating into a cloud of dust, leaving behind only a few twitching remnants.

Meanwhile, the cave continued to fill with an increasingly sinister presence. The space echoed with a cacophony of whispering murmurs and overlapping howls, sounds potent enough to warp the minds of ordinary individuals. These eerie noises seemed to emanate from a deep, pitch-black portal.

This ominous portal, known as the “black gate,” was attracting more shadow demons, who were using it as a passage into the real world. Their continuous invasion was causing a domino effect on the island, beginning to transform its very “environment.”

Unfazed by the grim scene, Lucretia casually flicked the black, gory remains off her scythe. She looked up at the pulsating “black gate” and remarked, “…I sense that the ‘atmosphere’ of the island is undergoing a change.”

Morris, holding a complex brass device adorned with elaborate sacred runes, his eyes sharply focused on the activity within the black gate, interjected, “Vanna just sent a message. Shadow demons are starting to appear in the valley. They’re emerging from the mist, some already manifesting in physical form.”

Lucretia’s brow furrowed in concern. “We’ve already dealt with all the demons that emerged from the black gate… Could it be that there are other ‘entrances’ hidden on this island?”

Shaking his head, Morris replied, “It’s the ‘aura’ of the Nether Lord. This island, situated on the border, has always been somewhat unstable in our realm. With the black gate’s influence growing, it’s pulling the entire holy island towards another dimension. The aura seeping from the gate is altering the ‘depth’ of this region… The deeper it goes, the more these shadow demons will materialize spontaneously.”

Lucretia’s expression remained calm and composed. She turned her gaze towards the eerie green flames burning quietly before the black gate and lifted her scythe with a sense of readiness. “It’s not a major concern. We have a fleet nearby and a team of seasoned church warriors. These demons aren’t too challenging to handle — you just observe from the sidelines. I’ll take care of whatever comes out of that gate. My father should return soon.”

Maintaining his stoic demeanor, Morris noticed new shapes beginning to form on the surface of the pulsating black gate, a sign that more demons were making their way into the real world. Initially, only a few oddly shaped, limbless creatures emerged, relatively easy to dispatch. But soon after, Morris recognized the arrival of several “complete shadow demons” – fierce, powerful, and filled with uncontrollable rage. Just one reaching a city-state could lead to a catastrophic massacre.

What made matters worse was these chaotic, simple-minded demons were almost completely resistant to spells derived from “wisdom” and “knowledge.”

Yet, for Morris, this was not an insurmountable challenge as he nonchalantly placed a “mechanical device” onto his shoulder. The elaborate brass contraption seamlessly fused onto his body, effectively becoming part of him. Sounds of gears turning, pistons pumping, and steam valves releasing filled the air.

Whispering a low prayer to Lahem, the God of Wisdom, the elderly scholar’s body began to transform, infused with the strength of steel and oil. His spine straightened with the clanking of realigning steel parts while a metallic sheen spread across his skin, shimmering with the unique glow of brass. His eyes were now replaced by two finely cut rubies that emerged from the eye sockets, fitting snugly onto his face with the aid of mechanical arms.

Morris, his muscles bulging, stood tall and formidable. From his mechanical joints, steam escaped with a fierce hiss as he gazed intently at the menacing figure that loomed from the ominous black gate. The sight was straight out of a nightmare: a gigantic, levitating skull, its surface adorned with sharp, threatening bone spikes that gave it an appearance both terrifying and awe-inspiring. Unfazed, Morris confidently advanced towards the apparition.

As he moved, he brushed past Lucretia, then without a moment’s hesitation, he delivered a powerful punch to the skull-like demon. The impact was dramatic – steam erupted with a loud hiss, accompanied by the crisp, unmistakable sound of bones fracturing. The demon, which had barely manifested in their reality for a fleeting moment, was forcefully sent back into the abyssal depths by Morris’s old, yet evidently mighty hand.

Lucretia, looking somewhat bewildered and confused, gazed up at Morris. This man, usually the epitome of gentleness and scholarly refinement, had just displayed a side of him that was completely unexpected. Her expression, filled with astonishment and a touch of disbelief, seemed to ask an unspoken question.

Turning to face her, Morris began to explain, his face revealing a subtle hint of a smile. As his intricate brass gears and delicate, shimmering springs whirred and vibrated in the gap of his jaw, he spoke of his past, “In my younger days, I often ventured into perilous, secretive domains and even into anomalous zones, far removed from the safety and familiarity of civilized society. It was in these wild, untamed places that I frequently came across beings lacking in intelligence or sophistication.”

He paused for a moment, his mechanical face reflecting a mix of nostalgia and wisdom, then continued, “It was during those encounters that I learned an important lesson — the power of wisdom and knowledge is often lost on the ignorant.”

Without warning, Morris suddenly spun around, launching another powerful mechanical punch. This time, his target was a formidable dark hound that had just emerged from the black gate. His fist connected with such force that the creature’s head was driven straight into its chest!

He then casually flicked his wrist, fine-tuning the steam pressure in his mechanical joints, and added with a note of conviction, “The knowledge blessed by Lahem can’t penetrate their simple minds. However, a steam-powered iron fist, also blessed by Lahem, certainly can.”

Lucretia continued to stare, her expression one of complete astonishment. She couldn’t help but reconsider her previous assumption about Morris. She had always thought of him as the most normal, approachable person aboard her father’s ship. But now, she wondered, was there even a single ordinary person among them?

…

As the shadow demon, which had emerged abruptly from the dense mist, was vanquished in a mere instant, Amber stood there, hardly able to grasp what had just transpired – she couldn’t fathom how Vanna had managed to dart across the entire length of the valley in what seemed like a mere blink of an eye.

Vanna, having effortlessly dispatched the demon, approached Amber. She carried her enormous sword with a casual ease in one hand. “The demons are beginning to materialize; this ‘Holy Island’ is descending into deeper, more ominous realms—inform the warships near the coast to remain vigilant for any large entities surfacing in the waters nearby. Regardless of their appearance, they must sink anything that attempts to encroach,” she instructed with a grave tone.

Amber, momentarily taken aback by the severity of the situation, quickly regained her composure and nodded in agreement, “Okay… right away!”

Observing Amber’s reaction, Vanna’s brow furrowed slightly. Her years of experience as an inquisitor had instilled in her a reflex to correct and guide: “Stay alert, Sister. We are in the midst of demon territory.”

“Yes!” Amber responded immediately, her posture instinctively becoming more upright and her voice firmer.

With a wave of her hand and a serious expression, Vanna didn’t add anything further. She began surveying the surrounding area, her gaze scanning the slowly shifting thick fog that enveloped the valley.

Just half an hour earlier, strange and unsettling shadows had started to appear intermittently within the mist, shifting and contorting to form various menacing demonic shapes.

On the nearby rock walls, clusters of bone-like stones also began to tremble subtly as if awakening to life.

And mere seconds before, more demons had materialized from the shadows in the mist, emerging directly into the physical realm.

These occurrences signaled that the “Holy Island” was rapidly shifting away from their known dimension, edging closer to a more profound and mysterious realm. This alarming transformation seemed to be connected to the captain’s recent actions.

Vanna wasn’t overwhelmed with worry, trusting in the captain’s capabilities. However, it was evident that others present didn’t share her understanding of the Vanished fleet.

“Is everything alright with the Vanished?” Amber inquired, her voice low and tinged with unease.

Vanna looked puzzled, “…What do you mean?”

“I understand that the ship is unique and formidable, but Captain Duncan has departed, hasn’t he?” Amber quickly continued, “If actual demons are near… does the Tide need to guard it?”

Vanna, comprehending Amber’s concerns, displayed a more contemplative expression. After a brief pause, she reassured her, “No need to worry, someone remains on board the ship.”

Amber hesitated as if she wanted to discuss further, but just then, a sudden explosion of brilliant light from the direction of the coastline interrupted her thoughts.

The sailors and priests stationed in the valley were instantly jolted into alertness, their eyes drawn towards the origin of the light — for a moment, it seemed as though a fierce, unexpected sunrise had occurred when a radiant fireball shot into the skies. Bathed in its intense, scorching glow, numerous minute objects appeared to be engulfed in the inferno, gradually transforming into delicate strands of smoke.

Amber tentatively shattered the quietude following a prolonged silence: “…What exactly are we witnessing?”

“That spectacle is known as ‘Nina’s Big Surprise’,” Vanna replied, her lips forming a tight line as she narrowed her eyes at the soaring fireball. Her voice was surprisingly calm and matter-of-fact, “It’s soared exceptionally high this occasion… It seems the shadow demons lurking in the waters nearby are in for quite the unexpected feast today…”

…

In the abrupt and overwhelming darkness, Duncan, Shirley, and their dog experienced a sensation akin to traveling through an interminable tunnel. Time seemed to both flash by in a moment and stretch endlessly, their senses crafting an eternal illusion of this journey.

As they emerged from this metaphorical tunnel, the obscurity began to recede, revealing an onslaught of strange and fantastical visions. The light of distant, contorted stars cascaded into their sight like a shimmering waterfall. Both Shirley and Dog were momentarily captivated and unsettled by the grandiose yet ominous spectacle, but Duncan was struck by a singular realization — they had finished jumping through the warped space.

Just as this understanding dawned on him, he felt the reassuring presence of solid ground beneath his feet. The illusionary tunnel and the sparkling starlight abruptly ceased to exist. Instead, the oppressive darkness of the ocean’s deepest abyss and the sight of a massive, majestic entity known as the “Ancient God” unfolded before him as his vision gradually adjusted.

He had arrived in the presence of this ancient god, yet his field of vision was limited to just a fragment of its true size.

Before him stretched what seemed to be a series of undulating “mountains,” but it was a massive, dark-colored tentacle. It shimmered with a dark blue luminescence, interspersed with sporadic, internally glowing lights that pulsed slowly, akin to a breathing organism.

This immense tentacle extended into the far reaches of the darkness, branching into numerous arms that intertwined with and pierced through several fragmented floating islands in the vicinity. At the other end of the tentacle lay a structure reminiscent of a majestic tower, a confluence of numerous similar appendages. The entire formation resembled an oddly shaped “starfish.” Its central “body” towered imposingly, adorned with countless luminous spots resembling millions of eyes, which blinked slowly in the dark, observing the unexpected visitors.

Duncan looked up, silently studying this ancient deity lurking in the shadows. After a lengthy pause, he spoke in a hushed tone: “I have come to find you.”

The surface of the dark “mountain” shimmered with a wave of light, responding with a deep, resonant murmur. Within this rumbling sound, Duncan discerned a voice —

“We finally meet, ‘Fire Usurper’, and… long time no see, LH-03.”