Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Sea Ghost (8)
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Spirits lacked the ability to move on their own.
At least, that was the case with Redna's spirits. She used them by placing one on her palm and making it spew fire.
Even the spirit Galen had stolen and learned from Redna's Spirit Creation could only wriggle slightly or shift position while changing form—that was the extent of it.
Fortunately, Galen had Water Flow Manipulation, and since the spirit's body was made of water, he could at least manipulate it manually.
The ghost had the same ability to control water, which allowed it to manipulate the giant made of water.
The ghost's goal was, naturally, to attack Galen.
But the spirit, which obeyed its master without question, refused to attack Galen despite lacking self-motility, causing confusion.
At that moment, something unusual happened.
A status window appeared unbidden before Galen's eyes, even though he hadn't called it.
The question marks instead of normal numbers were enough to startle anyone.
But Galen instinctively understood the reason.
'Spirit Creation... it's stirring.'
How to put it?
Was it that the unique sensation of Spirit Creation for handling spirits was warping?
But it wasn't in a bad way.
It felt precarious, but expanding nonetheless.
'What if that ghost is some kind of spirit created by magic weaponry? If it's similar, maybe it's influencing it?'
He couldn't know for sure.
But it was clear that the more the ghost thrashed, the more Spirit Creation was awakening.
He was so absorbed in sensing the changes that he didn't even hear Lilia calling him.
Lilia, unsure of what was happening, grew anxious, but the ghost's struggles weren't worth worrying about from the start.
Galem already held the advantage in magical output even without this.
How could a ghost, whose output was further hampered by clashing with the spirit, possibly win?
When conflicting orders came, it naturally followed the stronger one.
Kwajijik!
The result was the exact opposite of what the pirates had hoped. Far from attacking Galen, the giant smashed into the pirate ship, shattering the mast in one blow.
"Uwaaak!"
The rigging connected to the mast snapped violently, turning into a deadly weapon that swept across the deck. Pirates tumbled away like leaves.
"No escape route now."
Galen said leisurely.
"Shall we wrap things up?"
"Yes!"
"Lady Lilia, lend me some holy power. My mana is running a bit low."
The water giant might have made an impact, but controlling that bulk consumed far too much mana.
It was a technique suited to a ghost overflowing with mana—Galen wouldn't have bothered without his spirit.
Drawing seawater into a giant form, maintaining it, and using it in combat? Too cumbersome and inefficient.
Of course, honestly, his remaining mana wasn't that precarious.
But why scrape the bottom of the barrel? Better to keep reserves.
Lilia's holy power should have plenty left, since Galen had handled the ghost fight alone.
"I was planning to anyway! Sorry for leaving it all to you, brother."
"Can't be helped on the sea. It'd be different on land."
No matter how nimble Lilia was, she couldn't run on water. Everyone had their suited battlefield.
The small boat advanced leisurely. The pirate ship's deck grew close enough for Galen to make out details.
"Huh?"
Then Lilia and Galen both tilted their heads in unison.
"What is it? Infighting?"
Galen spotted swords clashing on the pirate ship. With her far superior eyesight, Lilia saw more clearly.
"The killers have much better gear! Numbers... six. The Seven-Man Crew had six men, right?"
"So they're killing their own men now. Not turning sides at this point, I hope."
"What if it's a sacrifice ritual?"
"Ah, could be."
Galen nodded, then chuckled and glanced at the giant.
"Doesn't seem to be working, though."
The giant was still trembling in place, trying to move but firmly gripped by Water Flow Manipulation.
Even if they were sacrificing, its output wasn't rising anymore.
The small boat arrived beside the pirate ship amid pointless slaughter.
No need to board the already wrecked deck. Lilia leaped from the gunwale. The boat rocked slightly.
She landed lightly on the pirate deck and drew her sword. She'd lost the one at her waist while rolling earlier, but two more remained on her back.
"Gurk!"
"D-Damn..."
The few surviving pirates fell in seconds, attacked from both sides.
Now only seven remained on deck: Lilia and six men.
"The Seven-Man Crew, right?"
The men didn't answer Lilia's question. Didn't matter—their identity was obvious.
Exchanging glances, they steeled themselves and charged at once.
"Taaat!"
A six-on-one battle erupted.
The six tried to surround Lilia, who dodged encirclement while fighting.
She hadn't gauged their skill fully yet.
Chaeng! Chaechaeng! Chaeng!
It looked precarious at a glance, but Lilia perfectly blocked all six assaults.
Even their gear-like precise coordination—she slipped through the gaps.
'Silver rank at best.'
Galen boarded leisurely amid this, murmuring his assessment inwardly while watching.
The Seven-Man Crew had no idea if he'd join the fray.
They surely knew how terrifying an unhindered mage was.
Yet they ignored Galen entirely, too busy with Lilia. This wasn't them hiding strength.
If they were all Gold rank, no need for magic weaponry—they could've claimed any town and birthed a noble house.
Still, just in case. Galen called out.
"Need help?"
"Huh? In a rush?"
"Not at all."
The ghost was still straining, and Spirit Creation churning. A longer fight suited him fine.
"Then I'll take my time!"
Lilia replied cheerfully. Controlling the pace at her whim, perhaps.
Her words made the six frantic, their attacks fiercer, but Lilia's defense and evasion held firm.
'She'd have excelled as a warrior instead of a priestess.'
Time favored Lilia. The men tired from full exertion, while her infinite stamina came from Miracle of Vitality.
A "stalemate" meant one crack would shatter it.
Lilia's sword sliced a slowing man's shoulder.
"Kuhk!"
She spun, deflecting incoming blades by a hair's breadth.
Chok!
Her spinning blade gashed another's waist. Blood gushed from the torn side.
Once crumbling began, balance tipped fast.
Injured, slowed, more injured—the vicious cycle.
Finally.
Seogeok!
A man with his throat deeply slashed fell spurting blood, starting the chain.
The rest toppled one after another.
By the time all six lay defeated, the ghost hadn't left the giant.
'Can't let go till the end, huh.'
What if it'd withdrawn earlier for a water pillar attack?
It risked hitting their own, and they'd already seen it fail.
Maybe it aimed to seize the giant's control for a final struggle.
But the gamble failed. Galen gave no openings, and the ghost achieved nothing.
Lilia dashed into the cabin after clearing obstacles. Galen followed.
Kudangtang!
Something shattered inside. Soon Lilia reemerged.
In her swordless hand, she dragged a limp, unconscious woman by the collar.
Early thirties, maybe. Pretty without much makeup. Eyes peacefully closed, no hint of a magic weapon user.
"Not a warrior."
Lilia said, having subdued her easily and checked her unhardened build.
"Definitely not a priestess. Mage or civilian."
"Magic weapon's that necklace."
A large blood-red gem dangled from her exposed necklace, writhing sinisterly inside. Suspicious to anyone.
"Take her to the grand cathedral? I don't know how to handle this properly."
"Yes. But do you know how to deactivate it?"
"Thought it'd stop if the user didn't use it. Still attached?"
Lilia yanked the chain hard. It snapped with a crunch.
The moment she lifted the necklace.
"Aaaaaaah!"
The water giant screamed. Precisely, the ghost fused with it. The pair startled, looking over.
The murky giant cleared at startling speed. Black ink-like substance shot from the giant's body, racing across the water.
It hit the pirate ship in seconds, climbing the hull and sliding onto the deck.
"Uwaat?!"
Lilia reflexively formed a Light Blade and slammed it down. Galen whipped the water.
"Aaaaaaah!"
The pierced ghost writhed, screaming.
But only briefly. Despite Galen's magic staggering it, it surged toward the necklace's gem.
The blood gem turned pitch black.
And that was it.
"Ugh."
Lilia grimaced suddenly.
"Just holding it feels awful."
"Makes sense—priestess and magic weapon are polar opposites. Got something to contain it?"
Galen rummaged the cabin, found a bag. He stuffed clothes as padding and handed it over. Lilia wrapped it tight, slung the bag, and her expression eased.
"Oh, you're still maintaining the giant? Not tiring?"
"Time to dismiss it. One moment."
With Galen's words, the giant shrank smoothly.
The ghost's departure let Spirit Creation's sensations stabilize swiftly.
The moment all changes settled fully.
"Umm..."
Galen let out a faint groan.
He steadied his near-stumble, breathed deeply in and out. Dizziness faded, mind cleared.
'The mana nature changed.'
Water Flow Manipulation and Illusionary Flame Burst mana unchanged, but Spirit Creation's was different. Like a color shift.
The question marks gone, it had jumped five levels at once.
Exactly Lv.50. Spirit Creation reached Gold realm too.
Levels could rise with time anyway—the jump was big, but not shocking.
The real change was in Spirit Creation itself. The mana shift stemmed from that.
"..."
Galen tested commanding the now child-fist-sized spirit.
Submerged, it shot toward the pirate ship. It climbed the wet hull to the deck, rolling to Galen.
Freely moving the spirit was nothing new for Galen.
But this time, no Water Flow Manipulation. Instead, it used Spirit Creation mana.
The spirit's motion strikingly mimicked the ghost absorbed by the magic weapon.
"...Learned by watching?"