Chapter 754: Sunrise

In an awe-inspiring spectacle, countless stars seemed to cascade from the heavens, their distant and brilliant lights gradually coalescing into a human form. This was Duncan, transitioning from the ethereal glow of starlight to a realm that both Vanna and Morris could grasp. However, Duncan's voice retained an otherworldly quality, resonating as if from a higher dimension. The complex overlay of whispers and noise, intertwining reason with cognition, overwhelmed Vanna, rendering her nearly incapable of coherent thought.

Time became an elusive concept, blurring into what felt like a mere instant. Eventually, Vanna senses the cacophony in her mind and begins to ebb. She caught Morris, with shaky hands, preparing his pipe, his voice barely audible as he remarked on becoming accustomed to such experiences.

"Incredible, it feels like I'm meeting the Nether Lord again," declared Dog, lying at Shirley's feet, convinced he had glimpsed the Nether Lord during the ordeal.

Nina appeared comparatively composed, momentarily stunned before she lapsed into deep contemplation. Now and then, she stole worried glances at Duncan.

Meanwhile, Duncan himself maintained a serene composure, locking eyes with "Helena." It was as if he was peering into the soul of this ancient being through her eyes, which mirrored the vastness of distant oceans.

After what seemed an eternity, a voice finally merged with the gentle lapping of waves, reaching everyone, "I understand... We will meet again."

As the sound of waves faded, the damp, fishy scent that pervaded the air began to dissipate. Helena blinked, her inhuman traits vanishing rapidly before she doubled over, gasping and retching violently. Vanna was quick to her side, offering support and employing her divine magic to soothe Helena's distress.

Once Helena's breathing eased, she looked up, her face pallid yet adorned with a heartfelt smile. "It's been ages since I've felt Her presence," she whispered, "I had nearly forgotten the sensation..."

"Never mind your feelings, you were close to death. You need to return to the Ark immediately for mental recuperation," Lune interjected, clearly concerned for her well-being. His attention then shifted to Duncan, suggesting it was time to depart.

Duncan signaled his readiness with a gesture.

Helena, now somewhat recovered, stood from the sofa. She and Lune bid Duncan farewell before embarking on their journey back to the Ark.

However, as she reached the threshold of the "Witch's Mansion," Helena paused, looking back at Duncan, who remained in the living room.

"Continue with your duties," Duncan encouraged, sensing her hesitation, "Even as the world faces its end, we must persevere, if only to extend the lives of others by one more day."

With a silent nod, Helena turned, stepping into the vast, dark night outside while accompanied by Lune.

As the popes departed and the door swung shut, it severed the connection with the expansive, dark night beyond. A blanket of silence swiftly enveloped the entire living room once more. Amidst the subtle crackle of the fireplace, it appeared as though each person was lost in their own world of thoughts, their heads bowed in quiet reflection.

After what felt like an eternity of contemplation, Duncan shattered the silence with his sudden insight: "Considering we've merely been hosting a guest for a short period, and now one of the two popes has nearly met their demise—losing nearly half their life—do you think the Storm Church might suspect that we've laid a trap? Imagining that we've surrounded them with no less than five hundred armed attackers right within these walls?"

Lucretia, who had been deeply immersed in her own thoughts, was abruptly brought back to reality. She looked up, her eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and incredulity: "All this time in silence, and that's what you've been brooding over?"

With a look of earnest concern, Duncan replied, "Isn't it a valid concern?" He continued, addressing Lucretia directly, "Given the notoriety your household already endures within this city, with rumors abounding that you've been responsible for all manner of sinister deeds—ranging from cooking pots filled with children to ensnaring stray dogs from across the world..."

Lucretia responded with a sharp look, though her irritation soon gave way to resignation as she gazed back out the window, "Well then, I suppose I should be grateful for such rumors. Perhaps they'll spare me from the weekly barrage of sales flyers in my mailbox." She paused, then added with a hint of resignation, "...Though, I doubt I'll be seeing any more of those flyers now."

With a soft sigh, Duncan rose from his seat on the sofa. "I've spoken more than enough, and I find myself weary. I'll retire to my room for some rest. Please don't delay lunch on my account."

As he ascended the stairs, which emitted a gentle creak with each step, Duncan's tall silhouette gradually vanished from view at the top.

The remaining individuals in the living room exchanged puzzled glances, momentarily unsure of how to proceed.

Shirley was the first to break the ensuing silence: "I must admit, I was kind of lost during their conversation just now," she confessed, "But one thing did make sense to me. The pope earlier... she wasn't the same one, was she?"

Vanna nodded slowly in agreement: "The Goddess has revealed to me that Their bond with this mortal realm is to be fortified one final time. It seems that process has already begun."

Unable to contain her curiosity, Nina posed the question in everyone's mind: "What happens next?"

Morris, cradling his pipe thoughtfully, responded with a somber tone, "In times past, optimists could confidently say 'the sun will rise as usual tomorrow.' Yet, even that assurance lacks its once comforting certainty." He added, "But come what may, tomorrow will arrive, regardless of whether the sun graces us with its presence. Just as the captain remarked, life must go on. He has his duties, and we have ours."

The tobacco in his pipe slowly smoldered away, its final embers fading into the lingering smoke.

A gentle breeze meandered through the living room, carrying with it a whirl of colorful confetti that danced briefly before vanishing from sight, leaving a sense of mystery and anticipation for what the future might hold.

As Duncan felt the breeze behind him, he was immediately aware of a familiar presence drawing near. Turning around, he witnessed Lucretia's form materializing from a swirl of vibrant confetti that danced in the air.

"I would've thought after the mishap we had last time, you'd refrain from making such a grand entrance with all these colorful papers in front of me," Duncan remarked, a playful smile on his face, "Aren't you concerned it might fuel my already keen curiosity?"

Without directly addressing his comment, Lucretia fixed her gaze on Duncan, her expression unreadable. "You're planning to venture beyond the Eternal Veil, aren't you? To cross the critical threshold of six miles?"

Duncan paused before responding, "Why do you ask?"

"It's clear you're in search of something beyond the Boundless Sea. Though the specifics of your conversation with that 'pope' elude me, I'm certain you're preparing to traverse the veil once more. And this time, I sense you intend to journey farther and remain absent longer."

Duncan took a moment to consider the "witch" standing before him. After a lengthy silence, he finally said, " Lucy, you must have seen it for yourself by now."

In that moment, the room seemed to be touched by a hint of starlight, casting Lucretia's gaze into the depths of a distant cosmos.

"I see it," the "Sea Witch" admitted openly, "Indeed, from the moment you first appeared before me, I've seen it."

As the starlight dimmed, Duncan looked at the "witch," taken aback by her admission. "Then you must understand, I'm not exactly..."

"It didn't matter to Nina whether you were her 'Uncle Duncan' or not," Lucretia interjected calmly.

Duncan let out a sigh, a mixture of resignation and bemusement on his face.

"Amid the starlight, I've glimpsed the silhouette of my father—regardless of your acknowledgment," Lucretia continued, shaking her head slightly, "It's evident to me that you have indeed returned to our world, albeit through means beyond my comprehension. Yet here you are, standing before me as you do in my memories, and now, you're preparing to leave once more... just as you did before."

She then became more somber, "Do you recall our conversation on this matter?"

"...About taking you with me, yes, I remember," Duncan acknowledged after a brief pause, "Alright, Lucy, I'll confess, before you arrived, I did entertain the thought of departing alone—just for a moment, mind you, with no real intention of acting on it..."

Perhaps it was the intensity of the witch's unwavering gaze that compelled him, but Duncan found himself adding, somewhat awkwardly, "I only considered it briefly, truly..."

To his surprise, however, a faint smile began to form in Lucretia's eyes.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Lucretia burst into laughter, her joy evident.

Duncan, puzzled, asked, "What's so funny?"

"You used to get so flustered trying to explain things to me, though it happened only rarely," Lucretia managed to say through her laughter, "The last time was when you accidentally broke my hairpin."

Duncan stood there, a picture of bewilderment, his hands outstretched in a gesture of utter helplessness.

Suddenly, a brilliant streak of light outside the window cut through the air, abruptly halting whatever he was about to say next.

Without hesitation, Duncan and Lucretia hurried to the window to get a better look.

Bathed in the thin, golden glow cast by a glowing geometric object in the sky, a more intense arc of light began to emerge on the distant horizon of the city.

Duncan gazed at the emerging "light arc" with a mix of confusion and dawning realization.

From the vantage point of Pland's antique shop, his view through the open window on the second floor offered a clearer picture—a radiant, golden light was gradually ascending from the horizon, its brilliance unmatched.

In those first few moments of awe and wonder, almost everyone was convinced they were witnessing the dawn.

However, as the golden arc rose fully above the sea and started to ascend into the sky with breathtaking speed, its fragmented nature became increasingly apparent. The structure began to disintegrate further as it climbed higher.

Finally, Duncan now had a full grasp of what was truly happening.

What he was seeing was a fragment of a ring structure, apparently a section of the outer rune circle belonging to Vision 001. The bright edge of the arc was marred by visible black cracks, leading to the eventual fragmentation of the entire "light arc" into a dozen or so loosely connected glowing pieces. Within mere minutes, this disintegrating "glowing array" had ascended to a position in the sky comparable to that of the sun around nine or ten o'clock.

Then, the isolated segment of the rune circle that had ascended into the heavens fell apart completely.

With a world-shattering roar accompanied by a fearsome howl and a blinding flash that ripped through the sky, the glowing array transformed into a dozen "meteors." These fiery trails streaked across the sky, hurtling down toward the unsuspecting people below.