Chapter 113
Chapter 113. The Apostate Monk of the Archipelago
He activated the Berserk skill and flew forward at tremendous speed. He bent his flight path at a right angle to evade the breath spraying toward the front, then charged again. It was a lightning-shaped evasive maneuver.
Ping!
Waves surged upward as his body plunged down at terrifying speed.
Yul went straight down into the sea together with the creature.
The sea-crocodile monster twisted its body and opened its jaws to bite Yul, but it was useless. In this ocean, Yul was faster than it.
He twisted his body, slipping out of the creature’s trajectory in an instant, then charged again.
Boom!
Another heavy impact landed, yet the creature remained perfectly fine.
‘Ordinary impact won’t be enough.’
Realizing the monster’s durability was considerable, Yul understood he would have to deal with it another way.
Let’s use the environment.
Quickly descending, he condensed the seawater. He soared upward before the enemy even had time to react.
Stronger, condense it even stronger. He continuously poured magic into the Sea-Sync Demon Eye.
Then, forming a rotation, he released a massive spiral pillar of water.
It struck the 80-meter-long massive torso directly and continued to soar.
‘More! Even stronger!’
Yul’s heart began to beat loudly. The extreme pillar of water created by pouring in all available magic rotated endlessly, and soon, it began to create a waterspout.
The sky was clear without a single cloud, but the waterspout soaring from the sea hurled that massive crocodile monster high into the sky.
The several-hundred-ton massive body floating in the air flailed about, but it was no use.
‘Deactivate.’
As he withdrew all the magic he had been pouring into the waterspout, the soaring seawater fell to the bottom.
The monster, which had soared high enough for every human in the Rainini Archipelago to witness the sight, soon fell due to gravity.
Yul followed along at a speed similar to the creature's fall.
Pressing down on the creature even harder, they fell onto the calm sea.
Having fallen from that height, an enormous impact had no choice but to permeate deep inside.
Spray soared as if a bomb had exploded, and waves were created like a tsunami.
Yul controlled the seawater to ensure no damage was done to the island, while simultaneously approaching the body of the crocodile monster he had slammed into the sea.
Concentrating his telekinesis, he used it like a blade to press down. After making some wounds, he inserted telekinesis into the wounds and now applied pressure to both sides.
‘Like putting both arms inside this and pulling to both sides.’
With a similar sensation, he pried open the space between the creature's ribs.
Crrreeeaaak. Crrreeeaaak.
With an indescribable sensation, the bonds of flesh snapped apart with a sharp break.
The creature would no longer be able to move.
After confirming that the target had been split in two, Yul emerged from the blood-stained sea.
‘It doesn't feel like the Communion level experience points go up just because I deal with a Seaborn.’
Does the target need to be stronger? Or is it because Lucian isn't nearby?
After solving the problem, Yul returned.
As if a storm had swept through, the harbor had lost its original appearance and was a mess.
Some of the destruction had been caused by Crocodile of Dale, while other damage came from the panicked humans. And some were simply traces left behind by the battle between Yul and the crocodile monster.
‘Still, it seems there weren’t many casualties.’
The residents had already fled after seeing the monster called the Crocodile of Dale, so it ended with the deaths of those called Guardian Lions and Abbot Hanhen.
Yul floated loftily in the sky for a moment before descending.
Clatter. Clatter.
Among the collapsed building debris, he spotted a shiny bald head.
The surviving Guardian Lion, still held by the sea elves who maintained their discipline even now, was dragged before Yul.
“P-please spare me.”
“You’re one of the Guardian Lions. Bring the person in charge. The Abbot is dead. What about the Vice Abbot?”
As Shillenwe, who had been watching, spoke, the man shook his head.
“N-no. I saw him die. A-all the important people were swept away in the chaos earlier.”
“Then who can become the next person in charge?”
“N-normally, a sea monk has the qualifications to become the Abbot. B-but on this island, there’s only one sea monk left, and he’s locked in prison.”
“Then bring him. Lord Yul will speak with him.”
“A-ah, understood.”
The Guardian Lion hurried off toward the prison.
Yul used Polymorph again and changed his clothes. It’s quite bothersome.
“Prison? Why is he locked up in a place like that?”
* * *
The miraculous waterspout that occurred just moments ago was witnessed by the entire island.
The same was true for Sonam Rinpoche, who was imprisoned in the dungeon.
From the moment the wondrous creature with six eyes appeared in the sky, he had felt overwhelmed.
And then he saw the natural disaster it created.
It formed a waterspout and lifted a creature as large as a sailing ship into the air.
“That is truly a god, is it not?”
If a being capable of manipulating real phenomena like that was not a god, then what else could it be?
“However, I must confirm whether it truly is a god.”
If it merely possessed overwhelming power, then it could not be called a god. It would only be a monster.
But if it possessed intention...
And just as he was thinking that, someone hurriedly flung open the prison door.
Turning around, he saw a jailer and one of the Guardian Lions.
The man was completely tense, drenched in sweat.
“What is it?”
“C-come with us. That enormous monster is calling for you.”
“Did it look like a monster to you?”
“Then… is it not a monster?”
The apostate monk Sonam smiled a mysterious smile.
To some, it appeared to be a monster. To others, it appeared to be a god.
“Everyone in charge is dead. The Abbot, the Vice Abbot, and even the senior Guardian Lions. They are asking us to bring someone responsible.”
“And so you came looking for me, the one left abandoned here? Very well. I will go out.”
The jailer and the Guardian Lion brightened with relief.
* * *
A short while later, the Guardian Lion brought the only sea monk said to remain on this island.
The sea monk had six precept marks stamped on his forehead. Like the Guardian Lions, he possessed a sturdy physique, and his eyes seemed filled with profound insight.
However, perhaps due to his long imprisonment, his body was extremely filthy.
“This is Sonam Rinpoche. He is currently in exile after becoming an apostate monk, but since he hasn't been excommunicated yet...”
‘An apostate monk? Interesting.’
Yul asked.
“For what reason did you become an apostate monk?”
“I will speak about it inside.”
Sonam Rinpoche wished to move somewhere else to talk, so they entered a nearby building that was still intact and began their conversation. There were neither owners nor guests inside.
“I killed those who were not human. Twenty in total.”
“By ‘human,’ do you mean humans?”
“Not humans, not sea elves, not orcs, not anything of the sort. They were merely something wearing human skin.”
“Hmm?”
“In the sorghum fields of Roilsad, evil spirits lived. From sunrise to sunset, they tormented humans. If anyone tried to escape, they severed their hands and feet.”
At first, it sounded as if real demons lived there, but it was merely a metaphorical expression.
“Women were violated by the overseers and their masters, and the children they bore naturally became slaves as well. Even young children were forced into labor, and when they died, they were simply left there.”
“They also used the doctrines of the Sea Succession Church to justify their rule over the slaves.”
“…….”
“I once saw a slave collapse and bleed in the sorghum field. It was a seven-year-old child who often attended the dharma assemblies.”
“So you killed them in anger?”
“That is correct. However, that act itself was not the reason I was declared an apostate monk.”
“Huh?”
Does one not become an apostate for committing murder?
“There were those who defended me, saying a sea monk must have had a just cause to commit killing. They said that if I confessed my sin, the matter would pass quietly. But then a fundamental doubt occurred to me. The Sea Master reincarnates and spreads compassion throughout the world, yet somewhere, people die like trash. Then where are the sentient beings who have been saved? When I asked that question,I was cast out as an apostate.”
“How absurd.”
They did not question the killing of people, yet they punished him for challenging the authority of the Sea Master. The corruption of the Sea Succession Church seemed severe.
“Since I have become the one in charge here, let me ask you. What do you intend to do with the Rainini Archipelago?”
“If the sea elves who come up to the Island of Boundaries are not blocked and are instead assisted, then I have no intention of interfering with anything else.”
“However, that will not be simple.”
“Why?”
“First, when an Abbot dies, a new one is always appointed. They will try to escape your influence. Second, although I have temporarily become the person in charge, I have no intention of taking responsibility for this Rainini Island. If it remains an island of the Sea Succession Church, it will be a place filled with lies.”
“You intend to leave?”
“It does not matter where. If you had not come, I would have gone to the Island of the Brown Sage. They say non-human races live there, but at least the Sea Succession Church does not.”
As Yul listened to the story, he felt something strange and asked.
“If I had not come? Does my coming change things?”
“It does. Are you a god?”
“Hmm?”
Yul crossed his arms. A god...
“That depends on how you define it. I am not an omnipotent god. However, I possess divinity, and if I cultivate it, I can become a god of a higher rank than I am now.”
“So, a transcendent being.”
“Well, even so, I am still actively recruiting those who would believe in me.”
It sounded like something a cult leader might say, but in this world, there truly were godlike beings who could exert direct influence.
If that was the case, Yul saw no reason he could not do the same. Obtaining the intangible status called divinity was difficult, but once obtained, the path forward became visible.
“I will help you.”
“Really? What makes you say that?”
“The fact that your name has not yet been heard throughout the Archipelago Ocean means that your beginning was not long ago.”
“That’s right.”
“You showed no hesitation in wielding divine power yourself. At the very least, you seem better than the Sea Master, who spreads intangible salvation through hypocrisy.”
“So you will serve me?”
“I would be satisfied even if I became the lowest among your followers. No—rather, I would gladly become so.”
Yul judged his words positively.
‘At least there are no lies.’
As his divinity gradually grew stronger, he could somewhat sense whether someone was telling the truth or lying.
‘But he doesn’t truly believe in me. He believes in the possibility that I might replace the Sea Succession Church.’
Even if he had his own motives or schemes, once he began to believe in Yul, faith would eventually accumulate.
“Very well. Do as you wish.”
“Then, may I offer my first piece of advice as one who believes in you? Declare the Rainini Archipelago as your territory right now.”
“Hmm? What?”
Sonam Rinpoche presented his opinion as if he had been waiting for this moment. However, it was so radical that it was surprising.
“Nearby, there is a powerful fleet of the Sea Succession Church. The Sixth Buddhist Hall Fleet..”
“Shillenwe, do you know that fleet?”
“I do. It is a fleet with six of the Sea Succession Church’s main warships. They are likely wandering somewhere southwest of the Rainini Archipelago.”
“Submerge the Sixth Buddhist Hall Fleet into the sea with overwhelming power. Then the entire Rainini Archipelago will fall into your hands.”
“That is quite… a violent proposal.”
Yul rested his chin on his hand at the suggestion.
“Then what do I gain?”
“You will gain a legend.”
There was not the slightest hesitation in the eyes of Sonam Rinpoche, the apostate monk.
“Very well. I will take possession of the Rainini Archipelago.”