A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

Whipping his head around, Conra’s gaze fell upon Sophia, who had lost consciousness and lay powerless on the ground. Though the holy spirit Jibreel embraced her to prevent her head from striking the ground, holy spirits fundamentally could not exert physical force, so that was the extent of Jibreel’s aid.

“Ma…Master!”
“Sophia!”

Rushing over, Conra and Hildegard gently received Sophia from Jibreel, removed her armor, and laid her down comfortably. But when Conra placed his hand on her forehead, his expression grew dismayed – Sophia’s face burned with feverish heat.

“Ah, this is…what should we do!”

Sophia’s condition could be described as internal injuries from mana depletion, or spirit burnout. However, having yet to learn from Sophia about qi cultivation or chakras, Conra lacked any such knowledge.

All he could do was periodically cast healing spells to prevent heat damage and apply cold wet towels to her forehead. Hildegard was in the same predicament – despite channeling luminous force into Sophia’s body hoping for a healing effect, the meager results barely registered any improvement.

Yet regardless of what they knew or attempted externally, it had no bearing on Sophia’s awakening. At this moment, only she could determine her own condition.

+++++

Why had it come to this?
Suppressing a sigh, Sophia mechanically expelled her breath.

Was this pitch-black darkness? Or blinding radiance that could blind her very eyes? An incomprehensible, paradoxical space defying singular description…Hmm, was it even a space? In any case, within this indescribable realm, Sophia currently fought.

Against another manifestation of herself, coalesced from azure lightning.

When attacked, she responded and counterattacked. Those counterattacks prompted further retaliation, which she then countered again.

They knew each other’s means perfectly. While Sophia commanded a vast array of techniques, she also comprehensively penetrated the principles behind every single one from start to finish, like threading a needle.

Their natures were diametrically opposed. Sophia moved with restrained, controlled motions to manifest supreme rationality, while her azure self flowed with unrestrained, intuitive movements pursuing sheer ferocity.

Yet their battle raged endlessly.

Had it proceeded according to Sophia’s intent, the conflict would have unfolded cleanly and logically. Moves she knew yet could not avoid layering upon themselves, ultimately granting her the slightest edge.

Had it followed her azure self’s will, the battle would have devolved into a chaotic, unpredictable maelstrom. Where one moment’s advantage did not ensure the next, a single pivotal strike could overturn everything into turmoil.

‘A matter of willpower?’

Curiously, both Sophia and her azure self shared the same inherent willpower as aspects of the same Sophia. While willpower, or spiritual strength, was considered an abstract subjective quality only discernible through circumstantial results, such principles did not apply to Sophia.

This inner world where the two Sophias clashed was a realm where willpower and spirituality held true meaning. Solely the solidity of one’s will and the completeness of one’s awareness determined the outcome of techniques. Sharing equal, uniform willpower while simultaneously comprehending the full extent of their own capacities, the two Sophias’ collision could only rage endlessly.

Their battle spanned every location and space within the inner world. At times traversing valleys cradled by the Taiji and Bagua patterns, at others scaling the boughs of towering rune-inscribed trees.

Sometimes they raced across churning ocean surfaces, then in the next instant clashed within lightless abyssal depths.

They fought in realms where cardinal directions inverted whimsically, in worlds where a single motion required aeons, in dimensions transcending the concepts of beginning, unfolding, dwelling, scattering, destruction and instantaneity by 10^-21 units as they cyclically manifested myriad techniques.

At one moment vaster than galactic clusters, the next smaller than tachyonic particles colliding within electron clouds – through every conceivable scale and expanse manifested solely through Sophia’s perception, the two Sophias gradually began mirroring each other.

Azure hues tinged Sophia’s form as her innate radiance infused her azure self. Oblivious to their converging ideals, the two Sophias continued clashing relentlessly.

In the final moment, they remarkably manifested the identical technique – or rather, heart method. Yes, none other than the Immovable Bright King Heart Technique.

As this heart method for stilling the mind to reach the truth of non-action and freedom from birth, death, suffering and attachments activated, radiances simultaneously erupted from both Sophias. Yet Sophia’s golden luminance and her azure self’s jade radiance did not intersect sharply in the void, instead passing through one another unimpeded.

The two Sophias, now inverting each other’s golden and jade radiances, appeared as if their entire protracted struggle had been a fleeting illusion dissipating like smoke in an instant.

‘Hmm, so this is as far as it goes.’

And with that realization, the Sophia observing it all opened her eyes.

+++++

Regaining consciousness, Sophia ruefully smiled while assessing her bodily condition.

‘Quite battered.’

The toll of her prolonged bouts against formidable foes? Or had she intentionally unleashed the surge of awareness and vigor that manifested in the final moments against the dread drake? Thanks to temporarily regaining aspects of her past life’s state, her recovery abilities had improved tremendously. An utterly pristine prana now cascaded like a waterfall from her crown as she harmonized with the flows of heaven and earth, purging the turbidity and stagnation accumulated within.

While most of this prana replenished and passed through Sophia’s body and mind, some portions converged with her inner qi flow, kundalini, soul-etched lineage blessings, astral muscles and astral mind to catalyze their gradual evolution.

In any case, her physical condition could naturally recuperate without needing to channel luminous force.

As Sophia contemplated this while slowly sitting upright, she suddenly realized her surroundings were rather chaotic.

“Master! Master! You’re awake! Thank goodness, sniff thank goodhicness…”

Conra clung to her, bawling like a puppy.

“Jeez, you really did wake up? Please take better care of yourself! You took ten years off my life!”

Approaching with a haggard countenance, Hildegard plopped down beside her.
While unfamiliar onlookers in the distance furtively glanced their way.

Conra remained latched to her side, blubbering incessantly as his tears and mucus soaked Sophia’s clothes. Giving up on rational thought for the moment, Sophia simply waited for the situation to settle.

It took some time before Conra regained his composure. After silencing him with a thwack to the forehead and frowning at the stains on her garments, Sophia remarked to the grinning Hildegard:

“You’ll have to forgive him. The poor boy completely lost his wits while you were unconscious, only barely holding it together on the surface until you awoke and it all came pouring out.”
“I can see that. But to have one’s heart so shaken by such a trifling matter is unacceptable for a master’s disciple.”

Of course Sophia understood Conra’s anguish, yet an inability to calmly release such turbulent emotions was a shortcoming for any warrior or cultivator. Well, his youth and relatively short tutelage under her provided some leeway. Perhaps time would temper him – Sophia vaguely hoped so.

“More importantly, what has transpired since then?”
“Ah right, I nearly overlooked that crucial point.”
“Indeed, is that not the most pressing matter?”

At Sophia’s exasperated furrowing of her brow, Hildegard laughed heartily:

“Haha, I suppose even I lost my wits for a moment there. Anyway, where shall I begin the account?”
“From the start, if you would.”
“Hmm, very well. Then let me recount from after you vanquished the dread drake.”

Hildegard proceeded to describe the events following Sophia’s defeat of the colossal beast.
After the drake’s fall, Hildegard had reflected on the occurrences preceding its manifestation – the disembodied demon head issuing a declaration of war from some unknown realm beyond, followed by the massive outpouring of malign miasma.

While Sophia had neutralized most of it, and a significant portion had coalesced the local monsters into the drake, some still dispersed across the continent. Unless the Church fully comprehended this incident’s implications, they had to officially notify the central diocese.

In the end, Hildegard sent a missive detailing the circumstances to headquarters, receiving their response around a fortnight later – coinciding with Sophia’s awakening.

“Impeccable timing, it seems. Have you verified the missive’s contents?”
“For now. I brought it, so you can take a look yourself.”
“Much appreciated. Let me see it.”

Perusing the missive handed over by Hildegard, Sophia soon nodded in understanding. Its contents were straightforward:

‘We have received and verified your report. Fortunately, the Church has also observed the malign energies you documented dispersing across the continent. While subsequent anomalous incidents have been reported in various regions, the situation remains manageable for now. To formulate countermeasures, we require the assessment and counsel of those present at the scene. As a Paladin knight holding legitimate rights to propose and vote, you are requested to attend the forthcoming Concilium (Council) in your capacity as a deputy.’