Chapter 114
Chapter 114. Colossus of the Waves
After deciding to absorb the Rainini Archipelago, events progressed rapidly.
The people living on the large islands of the Rainini Archipelago all witnessed Yul’s appearance, as well as the astonishing scenes of him creating and dispelling waterspouts. The rumors spread to the smaller islands in an instant, and the situation had already become impossible to contain.
Although they were human groups within the influence of the Sea Succession Church, they were on the frontier and thus were not under strict control.
“The God of Waves, Lord Yul, has declared that he will rule the Rainini Archipelago.”
“What will happen to the Sea Succession Church?”
“Who would believe in the Sea Master anymore?”
Even if they had something to say, they could not speak. The temple where the abbot of the Sea Succession Church had been staying had recently been completely destroyed when Yul appeared.
Grabbing a small building in front of it, Sonam Rinpoche handled all of the administrative affairs of the Rainini Archipelago by himself.
“I have reprocessed all of the administrative documents left behind by the abbot, who had been running things in a negligent manner.”
“Oh?”
“I have also uncovered several merchants who were involved in corruption with the abbot. If you grant me judicial authority, I will process them at the same time.”
“Handle it as you see fit.”
“Understood.”
Apparently, Sonam Rinpoche had spent his time quietly imprisoned, doing nothing but meditation.
However, after Yul appeared, he became unbelievably proactive and showed a completely different side of himself.
Having swiftly handled the administration of the Rainini Archipelago alone, Sonam said,
“The Rainini Archipelago is relatively small, so it was easy to process. Compared to Roilsad Island, it is much smaller.”
The existence known as a sea monk was said to be an extremely high-ranking position within the Sea Succession Church.
It seemed they were raised as elites from a young age.
As they grew up, they received advanced education, were well-versed in law, and were even perfect at handling administration.
They could be seen as scholars of the Sea Succession Church who grew into people talented in every field. If compared to the Joseon Dynasty, they might be similar to Seonbi scholars.
In any case, even on the island called Roilsad, where that massacre had occurred, Sonam had handled large amounts of administration and the interpretation of scriptures.
Furthermore, he was capable enough to point out the contradictions of the Sea Succession Church, and he understood the enemy’s information extremely well.
“The names of the Buddhist Hall Fleets are majestic, and their appearances are grand, but it is only surface-level. They decorate their ships with things like statues engraved with the concentric circles of reincarnation or cannons inscribed with Buddhist scriptures, but the actual ships are made from old, worn wood, and their naval guns are outdated. They likely have not been maintained for a long time.”
Sonam Rinpoche laid out all the information about the enemy, and Shillenwe Arkatil, who was listening beside him, judged that the information was more credible than expected.
“The combat capability of the Buddhist Hall Fleet is questionable. They fought some maritime forces in the early days and displayed their might, but since then, there are no records of them fighting.”
“Have they ever engaged the sea elves?”
“No.”
“I see. Still, attacking immediately feels somewhat… insufficient.”
It felt like some kind of procedure was necessary. Hearing this, Sonam said,
“I will give them one final recommendation. Whether they will quietly enter the new order, or face death.”
“Good. If there is a recommendation of surrender, there will be nothing to hesitate about.”
A few days later.
On the western waters of the Rainini Archipelago.
The entire archipelago had been attacked, yet the Sixth Buddhist Hall Fleet still had not responded. Enough time had passed for news of Yul ruling the entire archipelago to spread.
However, they had no particular thoughts about it. More precisely, they chose not to believe something that was hard to believe.
When three ships of the sea elves appeared, they scoffed.
When the ships approached and recommended surrender, they responded with cannon fire.
And shortly afterward, they witnessed a gigantic beast that appeared from somewhere.
“W-what is that?”
Not long after they witnessed Yul, they began to feel a strange sensation. It felt as though the sea surface was rising upward.
“N-no. We’re the ones sinking!”
The sea was sinking like a swamp. Everyone felt terror at this grotesque phenomenon.
The sea surface continued rising until it was higher than the tips of their masts, while the area where they stood sank lower than that, revealing the inside of the surrounding sea.
As they actually looked at the underwater world where fish swam freely, the sea monks of the Buddhist Hall Fleet were driven nearly insane by an unbearable terror.
And through the only opening in the ceiling between the circular walls of waves, they saw the lofty figure of a member of the Deep King Tribe floating in the sky.
“Please spare us!”
“Spare—”
The voices begging for mercy were cut off by the assault of the waves.
In an instant, the ceiling closed, and they were all submerged.
The ships swept away by the waves were overturned, and only a very few shot upward upside down, exposing their hulls.
However, even among them, a tiny number of the lucky survived.
Thanks to the report of a sea monk who survived there and fled, the forces of the Sea Succession Church came to learn about the existence called Yul.
And from that point on, they began to call Yul the “Colossus of the Waves.”
* * *
On the deck of the sea elves’ ship stood several humans from the Rainini Archipelago.
Among them was Sonam Rinpoche.
Watching the scene unfold directly from the deck, Sonam felt a shiver run down his spine.
‘It’s as if the sea itself is alive… and obeying commands.’
It felt as though he were witnessing a natural disaster of overwhelming power breathing like a living being.
The moment an opportunity appeared, Sonam betrayed the Sea Succession Church.
He had already been searching for something to replace it, aware of its contradictions.
And the instant he witnessed that overwhelming power, he concluded that a faith devoted to Yul could replace the Sea Succession Church.
Yul had appeared in the Archipelago Ocean and with a desire to be served. That meant countless people would soon begin worshipping him.
However, to push out the Sea Succession Church, the belief surrounding Yul was still at the level of a primitive faith. It lacked structure.
So the moment he returned to the Rainini Archipelago, Sonam spoke to Yul.
“Lord Yul, would you permit me to establish your theology?”
A theological system was an excellent way to attract new believers—but it had to be constructed properly from the beginning.
“That sounds difficult.”
“But it is something someone must do. The sea elves organize their faith through simple prayers, but humans require something more structured and complex.”
“…Is there something I need to do?”
“You only need to decide one thing. A commandment.”
“A commandment?”
So… like the Ten Commandments or something?
“That’s difficult.”
“You can think of it simply as principles.”
Yul pondered briefly before answering.
“I would prefer it if people didn't sacrifice the present while hoping for the afterlife”.
Most religions demanded that people pay for the future that came after death.
But how many bosses who promise to pay next month actually keep their word?
“I see. In other words, reality triumphs over illusion. Is there anything else you wish to add?”
“Don’t attack the weak without reason. And don’t tell malicious lies.”
“Wise words. I will organize them into commandments.”
“Is that really enough?”
“You need not worry too much. Even the sayings of ancient sages are merely good phrases arranged neatly and decorated.”
For now, Sonam Rinpoche decided to establish three commandments based on Yul’s words.
“I will gradually expand and refine them. That will be my responsibility.”
As for matters of theology, Yul decided to leave them to Sonam for the time being. After all, he had once been a renowned monk of the Sea Succession Church.
If the final result turned out strange, he could always intervene later.
For now, it was time to move toward the next objective.
Yul had originally sought cooperation with the Rainini Archipelago—but since they rejected it, he simply took control.
Now, along the northern route leading to the Island of Boundaries, only one island remained.
The Island of the Brown Sage.
Several days later, they set sail for the island.
When Yul had once guided Javarel here before, he hadn’t given it much thought.
After all, the land was a place an orca could never reach. And after becoming a member of the Deep King Tribe, he had no reason to visit.
Because of that, he had almost no information.
So during the voyage, he asked Shillenwe.
“What kind of place is the Island of the Brown Sage? What race lives there?”
“It doesn’t seem to have a dominant race.”
According to her explanation, the island had no primary species.
Sea elves, humans, beastfolk, and even sea creatures lived together there.
“I don’t know what criteria they use to accept outsiders. Some people go there and end up settling permanently. Others are banned from entering the island.”
“I see.”
As they spoke, the sea elves’ ships approached the island’s waters.
From a distance, they could see several figures standing on the white sand beach.
‘That’s a real beastfolk.’
At the very front stood a sheep beastfolk.
Beside them stood individuals of many different races—people who looked like they would never normally gather in the same place.
The only thing they had in common was their clothing.
All of them wore long brown robes.
Aside from that, their appearances varied wildly.
“The sages themselves are waiting outside?”
Listening to the murmurs among the sea elves, it seemed this was highly unusual.
The ships dropped anchor offshore, and they boarded small boats to reach the beach.
“Welcome, Colossus of the Waves, and sea elves. My name is Yumankai. I currently serve as the Chairman of the Council of Sages.”
The sheep-headed beastfolk had their eyes covered with a thin cloth.
They were around two meters tall, but their voice sounded distinctly feminine.
“You knew about us.”
“Yes. We have known since the moment you began moving.”
She smiled gently.
“Shall we go inside and talk?”
Shillenwe murmured in surprise.
“It’s unusual for the Brown Sages to invite visitors inside the island. Normally, even if you come here, you only remain on the white beach.”
“You are important guests. It would be improper to receive you in such a place.”
As Yumankai turned and began walking, Yul followed with Shillenwe and a few guards.
There didn’t seem to be any hostility.
The moment they stepped inside, an entirely different scene unfolded.
‘I knew there was a barrier… but the difference is extreme.’
From the outside, the Island of the Brown Sage looked like a forest-covered uninhabited island.
But once they passed through the barrier, the interior transformed into a landscape filled with massive ivory towers.
“The ground is marble…,” some sea elves muttered in awe.
The ground was paved with marble, and the ivory towers—each uniquely designed—stood freely along the roads.
“Welcome to the island of sages who seek the truth.”
As they walked down the road, the residents of each tower emerged to greet them.
An elephant beastfolk.
An orc with half his face replaced by steel.
A human with four arms.
A sea elf with impossibly long hair.
“Oh… that person?”
“You mean that sea elf?”
“Yes. That’s Archmage Eldiren. He disappeared centuries ago. So he was here.”
Shillenwe recognized the face and bowed slightly in surprise.
Eldiren returned the greeting with a calm nod.
Following Yumankai deeper into the island, they eventually reached the final district.
There stood a gigantic ivory tower, clearly taller than all the others.
“Welcome to the Tower of the Great Sage.”