Chapter 204: “Teleport Out”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
“Help me?” The young nun furrowed her brow, struggling to grasp the offer. As she studied Vanna, her gaze was inevitably drawn to the woman’s peculiar attire and the impressive weapon she carried.
The symbols and gear were unmistakably from the Storm Church, yet none matched the designs the young nun was familiar with. She also couldn’t recall any high-ranking female nun in the church wielding such a distinctive, enormous greatsword. It was clearly custom-made, unlike the standard weapons issued to typical church guardians.
Despite appearing to be around her age, the imposing “Battle Sister” before her seemed to belong to a different era altogether.
After a long pause, the young nun’s voice wavered, “… Where are you from?”
“The year 1900.”
“I met my end today, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” Vanna replied in a calm, steady tone, “You seem to understand what has transpired.”
“Ender Missionaries… They somehow managed to create a subspatial rift right here in the chapel. I sounded the alarm to the outside world, but there was only silence in response…”
Vanna felt a jolt in her heart upon hearing of a subspatial rift in a sanctuary. The idea of such a violation in a divine stronghold was perplexing. How could this have happened without any prior indication?
“Did my efforts make a difference today?” The nun’s voice was barely a whisper.
“You held them off in this onslaught.” Vanna looked directly into the young nun’s eyes, her voice sincere, “You thwarted their invasion in 1885, sacrificing yourself in the process.”
A sigh of relief escaped the nun. “That brings me some peace.” She then lifted her sword, her determination evident. Simultaneously, a soft, squelching noise echoed from the shadows, reminiscent of a wet, sticky limb dragging on the ground, emerging from a viscous pool. “Then the next steps are clear.”
Vanna, too, positioned her greatsword, readying herself. “Battles like this are where I excel.”
The nun, however, had one more question. “Tell me,” she turned to face Vanna again, “Is everyone prepared on the other end?”
“We never received your warning, so specific preparations weren’t made,” Vanna stated, steadying her breath and bracing herself, “But the guardians. We are always ready.”
A deep, guttural roar echoed, signaling the emergence of the sinister entity from subspace.
Instantly, Vanna’s lantern flared up intensely, the holy fuel inside igniting vigorously to ward off the impending evil. Given its consumption rate, the beacon of light would exhaust itself in mere minutes.
Vanna finally got a clear view of the monstrosity that confronted them. Its form was an eerie melding of gelatinous sludge, with a ghastly image of the young nun embedded at its center. Its limbs were grotesquely misshapen, and the vile tentacles sprouting from its back showed its imperfect mimicry of human form.
“Sister, take it from here,” came the young nun’s voice, piercing through the silence just as the grotesque creature tensed, preparing to attack. With steely resolve, the young nun drove a shimmering longsword through her own heart, releasing a breathtaking burst of radiant, purifying light.
The beast let out a harrowing scream as the nun’s life force ebbed away. It convulsed violently, its form thrashing in a futile attempt to stay alive until it finally went lifeless.
Silence once again enveloped the space.
Vanna, taken aback by the nun’s sudden self-sacrifice, looked away, too grief-stricken to witness the aftermath. Whispering a heartfelt prayer, she said, “May the heavens remember your sacrifice… You will not be forgotten.”
What had manifested in the underground sanctuary was but a spectral representation of an invasion against reality. Tragically, this young nun, having been turned into a vessel for subspace entity, lost her life the moment she became one with the monstrosity. Her life and the beast’s existence were intertwined. With her demise, the creature’s reign of terror was meant to end.
Yet, much to Vanna’s horror, the aftermath did not align with her expectations. The scene inexplicably reverted, showcasing the same scars of battle on the walls, the stains of blood, and the ever-looming shadowy presence. The cycle of horrors remained unbroken.
“How can this be?” Vanna uttered in sheer disbelief, her features a mask of anguish and shock, “This is but a tainted…”
Her words trailed off as a sudden surge of green flame caught her attention. It blazed forth, growing rapidly, spiraling into a portal. Stepping forth from this otherworldly gateway was a tall, imposing figure.
“Your attempts here barely scratch the surface. The contamination runs deeper than you know, and the perpetrators are aware of your meddling, Vanna. You need to address not just this chapel and the nun but the entire city-state itself.”
Recognizing the spectral flames, Vanna’s eyes widened in realization, “Captain Duncan!” She had known of Captain Duncan’s spectral forces infiltrating “this realm” by the telltale green fires that spread like a curse. However, she hadn’t anticipated a direct confrontation here and now. Instinctively, her grip tightened around her greatsword, her body tensing for a strike. But, reigning in her impulse, she asked with guarded suspicion, “What is your purpose here?”
“Bringing you back to reality,” Duncan replied with a measured gaze, his face betraying no emotion, “I half expected you to instinctively lash out at me with that signature somersault slash, just like last time.”
Vanna’s body involuntarily tensed, preparing for a confrontation. “I’ve come to realize that such attacks don’t affect you, especially given this isn’t even your primary form.” She inhaled deeply, trying to remain calm. “When you say you’re bringing me back to the real world, what exactly do you mean?”
Duncan arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Is my intent that unclear? Don’t you need assistance at this moment? Unless you plan to navigate your way out of here on your own? Perhaps you intend to traverse the entire city?”
Vanna’s expression tightened, betraying her annoyance. While she had considered that very approach, she was unwilling to admit it in Duncan’s presence.
“What’s your game, Captain? Why the sudden interest in aiding me?”
Duncan, seemingly uninterested in providing a lengthy explanation, lifted his right hand, summoning a wisp of eerie green flame to dance at his fingertip.
Instinctively, Vanna moved to a defensive stance, eyes wide with suspicion, “What are you scheming?”
“I’m simply attempting to transport you back to reality,” Duncan responded nonchalantly. “Though, I must admit, I haven’t tried this particular method before. If it’s successful – splendid. If not, we’ll need to brainstorm another strategy.”
“Attempt? You want to experiment on me?” Vanna looked at the infamous ghost captain, a mix of disbelief and apprehension evident on her face. Her recollections of Duncan from the archives didn’t quite align with his current behavior. “Hold off, or I’ll—”
“You’re needed in the real world, Vanna,” Duncan interjected sharply, keen to get to the point. “There’s a storm threatening the city as we speak. The true battle rages there. Lingering here only benefits an adversary that’s already wise to your presence.” He gestured to the green flame. “Touch it, or I’ll ensure you do.”
Vanna hesitated, her gaze fixed on the haunting green flame. Every instinct warned her against making contact with the supernatural fire.
Duncan, of course, was well aware of her reluctance. His offer was more a gesture of courtesy than a genuine choice.
Seizing the opportunity during her moment of indecision, Duncan thrust forward, enveloping Vanna within a swirling cocoon of green flames. She let out a startled yelp, and then, as quickly as it began, she vanished.
“Damn you, Dunc—”
Emerging amidst a torrential downpour on the streets of Pland, a formidable female figure materialized out of nowhere, her great greatsword cleaving the air.
Unfortunately for a nearby trash bin, it bore the brunt of Vanna’s disoriented swing, splitting in two and leaving an impressive gouge in the cobblestones.
Momentarily disoriented by the abrupt shift in her surroundings, Vanna took a deep breath to gather her wits. Looking around, the realization slowly dawned – she was back in her own world.
Hi I’m having trouble with Patreon access. My username should be nathan Rouwhorst… gmail [email protected]
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Kekekeke captain duncan needs a cape or something bro going superpower over the place
The storm goddess is kinda a bum ngl what is she even doing
I don’t know if you remember, but the Celestials are limited in their capacities to meddle with the already unstable world (they can only help thru the 4 Pope, and their clerics). If they help more than the world can handle, the consequences would be dire.
Lahem helped by providing Morris with guidance to seek help from Duncan, for example. That’s all he can do. Gomona, given her more tangible authority, is probably the one who poured a storm onto the city to hold back the fire-razed Pland from 1889, that is, as Valentine said, threatening to replace the current Pland