Deep Sea Embers

Chapter 196 “Reckless Player”

Vanna didn’t immediately recognize the origin of the figure that suddenly appeared in front of her, mainly due to the other party’s whole body being covered by a long black trench coat and a big black umbrella. Moreover, her own consciousness was briefly stunned by the glimpse through the curtain, causing the momentary loss of sharpness.

But when the monster made its hoarse and low growl, when the other party’s dirty and profane breath was revealed, and when the polluted and corrupt outline showed between its raised hands, she finally recognized it.

It was heresy, the heresy of the Black Sun.

Things became very simple then, and Vanna loves simple things.

The heavy greatsword whistled terrifyingly through the air with a smooth grace, and the sacred lantern dispelled the unclean breath as Vanna’s tall figure jumped up like a mountainous wave. When she finally came down, the assault had brought with it the power of the tsunami, which caught the foe by surprise due to how sudden it came out.

Then, like a broken boat hit by a huge wave, even the umbrella and person were split in two down the middle.

The dregs of the sun heir got blown off into the distance with an audible splat, leaving a trail of blood and gore in its wake. But unlike the flesh of the heir, the broken umbrella had dropped on the spot, expelling a series of crackling blue flints and a splutter of blue crystals from the disconnected segment.

Vanna crushed the umbrella with her foot the second she got the opening. She must remove any unknown variable from the fight when she could because the split body of the sun heir had already begun to reform. It didn’t take long, only a few seconds before her foe was standing again.

This time though, the mangled flesh that made up its head was even uglier than before, and it squirmed ferociously with those grotesque tentacles. Even its growling roar was more pronounce, bringing a shockwave that could knock a regular person out.

Yet, Vanna was smiling at this behavior.

Regenerative ability did not equal invincibility. She could tell, this thing had gotten weak and in a lot of pain after losing the weird black umbrella.

Casually strapping the lantern to her waist, Vanna adjusted her sword stance and strode towards the monster with her weapon in hand. But suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a momentary distortion of the flames next to a bookcase.

Years of combat experience and intuition told her to stop, which her body did by swinging around. In the next second, a squirming tentacle had launched out of the fire, whipping a sheet of metal at her like a cannonball!

Simultaneously, the injured sun heir had just finished its regeneration when it trans morphed into a glob of oozing black shadow, firing off two tentacles of his own at the lady’s neck and back, effectively creating a pincer attack with its hidden companion.

Vanna clicked her tongue at the annoyance. She snapped around and raised her sword to lance it out as a projectile first, spearing the shadowy glob directly in the center as a result. It pinned the foe into the nearest wall from the sheer force of her sword and caused another splat. Simultaneously, Vanna didn’t forget to catch the steel plated projectile that’s already in her face. With a pinch that’s so fast that it left an afterimage, the lady caught the scorching metal with two fingers and left only several inches of space between her skin!

“It seems that you are the ones responsible for this.” As if there was no pain, Vanna casually tore the piece of steel in half and threw it aside. At the same time, she beckoned to her sword to return, summoning it with an invisible force that had also brought the squirming blob of blackness over.

With a flick of her right hand, Vanna casually threw the monster nailed to her sword into the ground. Then without looking back, she left the rapidly regenerating monster and walked forward, leaving only one sentence to her rear: “You stay here and regenerate, I will purify your accomplice first.”

The creeping flesh and blood that was pierced by the giant sword had lost the protection of the black umbrella. Even if she left the monster to do its own thing, it would be far weaker and too slow to do try anything. Knowing this fact, the inquisitor now shifted her focus at the burning bookcase that launched the sneak attack in the distance – a second sun heir.

Seeing its position discovered, the second shadow had stopped hiding and stepped forward from the flames. It’s just like the first, tall and thin with a series of tentacles squirming out from the long trench coat. The thing was growling disgusting words at the inquisitor, cursing her to not get any closer.

“Fear, anger, confusion… It seems that they also have emotional reactions, not just a group of ‘split bodies’ who lack a complete mind as many people thought,” Vanna said calmly as she walked forward. She didn’t forget to watch out for more sneak attacks, and as a mean to combat the blasphemous roars from the monster that might affect her mind, she started to speak to it as well as a counter. “The dregs of the sun heirs… Since you are here, it means that at least one of the sun heirs are nearby… Where? In the depths of the sea of fire? Outside the church? Or…”

The monster launched into an attack before the lady could finish, sending a tentacle out from the side to slice off Vanna’s neck.

Of course, this didn’t work since the inquisitor’s ready for it. With a simple side step, she casually avoided the hit and grabbed the thorn-riddled tentacle to unleash a skill of her own – a vibrating shockwave that she used in her dream with Duncan to.

“…… Is it in that fire of 1889? Or in that chapel of 1885?”

The tip of the tentacle in Vanna’s hand exploded into a cloud of blood first, then the main branch of the appendage exploded as well, spreading like a plague into the main body of the shadow. It wasn’t until one-third of the shadow’s figure were gone did it get halted, which was fine for Vanna since it’s enough time for her to charge forward.

Raising her giant broadsword, she swung it down like a club at the monster’s head.

With a loud bang, the monster’s roar abruptly stopped and flew into the distance like a filthy lump of meat. It landed next to the remnants of the first sun heir that had partially finished regenerating into its thin, scrawny self. And like before, the tentacles had mimicked the shape of a black trench coat that’s essentially being used as a form of protective shell.

Pleased with herself, Vanna casually came before the two attackers and peered down condescendingly over them.

“Although I don’t know why the Black Sun managed to mix itself into the pollution of history, and I don’t know what your main body has prepared for me, but one thing is definitely true. I’ll fight you all here to see if you’re truly endless. Either I kill all of you, or… I will prove my loyalty and faith to the goddess.”

With a raised greatsword, the sound of meticulous chopping continues…

Vanna’s idea was simple – the heirs of the sun have powerful regenerative abilities, but no matter how powerful their regeneration was, it’s not invincible. As long as their recovery consumes their strength, then it’s not a problem to solve.

It’s okay to make small careful cuts, if it doesn’t work… she could always cut twice.

……

Shirley opened her eyes after a heavy slumber, finding an unfamiliar ceiling and the faint sunlight streaming through the nearby window.

The bed under her body was comfortable, and the quilt had a fresh and dry smell to it. This kind of dryness was difficult to come by in the slums because the oldest pipes and silted sewers were always gathered in those guttered alleys. Even if one did hang the quilt out to dry, it would only soak in more of the sewer smell into the fabric due to how proliferate it was in the damp air.

Shirley lay quietly in bed, reluctant to even turn due to the comforting sensation. But in the end, she propped herself up with both hands to look around.

Nina was no longer in the room, and based on the angle of the sunlight coming through the window, it’s likely already noon…

“Dog,” Shirley called softly, “how long have I been asleep?”

Dog’s voice immediately sounded in her heart: “It’s at least half past ten now, maybe eleven. You fell asleep directly in bed after eating and taking a bath yesterday. So, at least for twelve hours… that’s normal after expending so much energy.”

Shirley was still a little dazed right now. What happened yesterday felt like a dream, floating in her head with segments popping up without intent, which would take time to sort out and confirm what’s real and fantasy.

Then she raised her head and looked into the corner of the room.

A simple little box sat quietly there.

That’s her all for the past ten years… She and Dog’s everything.

“We really… moved here,” Shirley muttered, “it’s like a dream.”

“Don’t say it, I’m still panicking right now. Mr. Duncan is cooking in the kitchen, and I don’t even dare to think about what he might serve to the table later…”

“Dog, why do you have such a big opinion about the food here. You have been uttering that more than once already…”

“Ah, don’t ask…”

Listening to Dog’s complaints, Shirley suddenly broke out into laughter.

The sun is so nice today…