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Meanwhile, as Sophia was focusing on the ceremony to understand her opponent, the opponent was also observing Sophia.

‘What a strange person.’

Over the years of protecting the island, it was inevitable to have seen many people. It wasn’t like they were watching on purpose. The land remains, but it’s the people who come and go. The spirits of the island had mostly seen such people.

Gotland Island, conveniently located in the Baltic Sea, was a good resting spot for sailors and was quite large. Thus, there were relatively many people who came and went, some who settled and left descendants, and others who were born and lived their entire lives on the island.

Looking back, there were all sorts of people.

Some were content with simplicity, while others were insatiably greedy. Some set boundaries they wouldn’t cross, while others crossed lines without a second thought.

Some found fulfillment in helping others without causing harm, while others judged people based on their own sense of justice. Some had no interest in others, and some harmed others for selfish or seemingly rational reasons.

Some remained consistent from start to finish, while others changed like reeds swaying in the wind or leaves changing colors with the seasons.

But among all the people the island spirit had observed, there was no one like Sophia.

‘Transparent to the point of being see-through, yet deep. Not easily understood at a glance. She doesn’t seem to have any particular stubbornness. Her temperament is continuously changing gently. Yet, she doesn’t seem swayed by external influences. She’s changing, yet calm. Is she self-contained? No, she doesn’t seem to reject others either.’

Traditionally, those who are transparent are shallow, and those who are deep are often murky. Those without stubbornness are easily swayed, and those who are unshaken are often caught in inexplicable obsessions. Those who are self-contained tend to reject others, while those who can accommodate others often struggle to find peace alone.

At least as far as the spirit knew, there had never been a human like this, and it doubted such a person would ever exist.

‘In a way, she’s more like Mother Nature herself…’

The spirit, startled by its own thoughts, quickly denied the feeling.

‘No, that can’t be. Humans are a species that can’t rest until they’ve imposed their own colors on everything. To sense nature in such a species? Impossible.’

The spirit tried to dismiss its impression of Sophia, not realizing that this very ‘artificial narrow-mindedness’ was the human aspect that clashed with the naturalness it sought.

Sophia, who had been decoding the spirit’s consciousness, didn’t miss this internal conflict.

‘I don’t know the reason, but the instability in the spirit’s nature won’t last long. The opportunity might be now. So… what should I do from here?’

If she was to act, it had to be now. But she couldn’t just flip the spirit’s reversed personality back. Nature, and personality, are more delicate than one might think. While it wasn’t impossible, Sophia wasn’t the type to resort to force without a backup plan.

As she pondered, the spirit suddenly asked, “So, what brings you here?”

‘I’ll try talking first.’

Sophia decided to set aside her worries and answer the spirit’s question. If words could resolve the situation, that would be ideal.

Though concerned about the people of Gotland, nature is always subject to change. From the perspective of delaying the world’s end, other priorities had to take a backseat.

“Answering a lady’s question is a knight’s duty. I’ve come after hearing from Birgit Anika, the shrine maiden. I heard you guard the terminal of the wedge.”

At Sophia’s answer, the surrounding nature visibly distorted. Sophia could sense the spirit’s displeasure through the dissonance in the natural vibrations.

The spirit growled, “Impudent creature, speaking so carelessly. Yes, I guard the terminal of the wedge.”

“That’s it. My business is with that terminal.”

The spirit, puzzled by Sophia’s brief reply, said, “Let me tell you, the terminal isn’t as convenient a tool as you humans think.”

“I know. I don’t particularly need the terminal. It’s more about another issue. What would you do if demons demanded the terminal?”

The spirit, finally understanding Sophia’s intent, sneered, “Why should I tell you that?”

“You should.”

As Sophia took a step forward, a surge of energy, like a tidal wave, swept through the area. The spirit, reflexively trying to counter with the land’s power, realized the land’s energy was already being controlled by Sophia.

‘She’s taken the land’s authority from me!’

Strictly speaking, it was a bit different. The spirit was merely a personification of nature, and its will reflected nature’s direction. Thus, there was no gap between the spirit’s will and nature’s response, allowing the spirit to exert supreme authority over its land.

But now, influenced by long communication with shrine maidens and corrupted by demons, the spirit’s personality had shifted slightly towards the personal side. In this situation, Sophia found a gap to exploit.

The nun knight’s sword became a axis of condensed energy, connecting heaven and earth.

Through the Heart Sword and Wu Xin Dong, Sophia harmonized with the flow of heaven and earth, maintaining a delicate balance between tension and relaxation, ensuring the energy flowed seamlessly.

It was a perfect blend of martial arts and spiritual insight.

Thus, the cross-shaped energy extending from the axis of power soothed the flow of heaven and earth, making it respond to a single intent. How could the flow of nature, once set in motion, be swayed by a mere personified direction?

In understanding this flow, the spirit couldn’t help but envision a massive tower—a golden tower shaped like a giant sword, mediating between the stars of heaven and the axis of the earth.

At this moment, the heavens and earth within the altar’s domain were entirely in Sophia’s hands. To counter this, the spirit would need to draw upon the entire island’s power, but the problem was that Sophia had hijacked the altar’s control, blocking the spirit’s access to the island.

{This can’t be!}

The spirit’s cry was no longer a whisper of nature but a mere spiritual outcry, a sign it had fallen from its lofty status to a mere spirit bound to the earth.

Regardless, Sophia, having seized control of the altar, spoke softly, “You must not give the terminal to the demons.”

{Why not?}

Still in shock, the spirit asked, and Sophia, with a solemn smile, replied, “Because if you do, I won’t let this land be.”

Sophia’s threat, though extreme, carried undeniable reality. Realizing this, the spirit exclaimed, {Such madness won’t be forgiven! If you do that, you’ll be cursed by the land!}

“I don’t care.”

Sophia’s blunt declaration made the spirit flinch.

“If the terminal falls into their hands, they won’t just leave it be. If they tamper with it, it could trigger the end of the world. If that happens, there’s no future for humanity.”

Sophia, born in the Iron Age, would have no place to go if the world ended, just like everyone else.

But the spirit, skeptical, retorted, {Lies. Someone like you could easily escape the end. If you wanted, you could ascend or do anything!}

“Of course, your insight isn’t wrong.”

Sophia nodded, acknowledging the spirit’s point. Indeed, someone of her enlightenment and stature could survive the end and await the next era.

After all, many Celestial Gods were once mortals who ascended after perfecting their cultivation. From a general perspective, that was true.

“But you’ve misunderstood.”

{What?}

“Let me ask you, what do you think sustains a person’s life?”

The spirit, caught off guard by the sudden question, hid its confusion. Why was it being asked such a thing?

{As the land’s touch, I have no reason to know about human life.}

Unfazed by the spirit’s disinterest, Sophia continued, “Humans live together, and that’s what makes them human. Humans and people aren’t strictly distinguished because humans can’t live alone. But is this unique to humans?”

Sophia, indifferent to the spirit’s reaction, spoke leisurely.

“No! Nothing in the world exists truly alone. Never has, never will. How can one born of the earth forsake it, or one born under the sky forsake it? How much less can a person forsake their own kind?”

{Ugh!}

Though seemingly exaggerated, the conviction in Sophia’s words was undeniable. Her sincerity, pure and unshakable, resonated through the energy controlling the altar.

The spirit, caught in Sophia’s Qi Sense, wandered aimlessly, unable to find its footing.

 

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