Hope Village... Princess Sasha's room... After lulling Sasha to sleep, Pipe exited the room. This was the village's only two-story building. In the corridor, leaning against the wall, stood Bai.

"Hm? Aren't you asleep yet?"

"... ..."

"Looking for Sasha? Or me?"

Bai shook his head, then nodded.

"Then... let's talk by the sea. Follow me."

Pipe led the way, Bai trailing behind. They reached the beach outside the village. Night had fallen. The sky was unusually clear, stars glittering over the sea like scattered diamonds on a blue silk velvet gown.

"Such a beautiful view... twinkling like countless treasures. If all the stars gathered, shining together... that light... could it illuminate even the darkest night?"

"... ..."

Watching Pipe's back, Bai stayed silent. Then he nodded slowly.

"What is it?"

"... Something you might want to know."

"Speak then. You were once flesh and blood, but now you're like a spirit... what happened? It's troubled me."

"My memories go back 1800 years... when I was born. As you see, I'm a spirit—the soul of the Holy Silver Sword. But I wasn't born naturally. Unlike Slasher Juro, who formed on his own. I was created by a powerful, unknown being..."

Back then, oceans were small. One vast landmass dominated, covered in towering mountains. Mighty beings descended—gods in all but name. Gods with impervious shells, blending defense and destruction. Gods summoning hordes of uniquely gifted creatures. Gods manipulating time's flow. Gods wielding immense Arcane Arts. They seized the world quickly. But they weren't satisfied. A demon god rose first, gathering lesser demons into a divine army. Others followed. The war of gods dragged on... shattering the continent.

That era lasted a thousand years. Bai's former master—a being with an angelic face—forged a mighty Holy Sword from the stars. But he fell in battle. Today's Holy Silver Sword is just a core fragment. That land was called the Primordial Continent...

"I see..."

"While I slept, ancient priests found me. They sealed me in newborns. At age twenty, my memories awakened. So at nineteen, the child was killed. I'd be reborn through the seal. But a human body can't bear the Holy Sword's soul. After inheriting it, the child was placed somewhere special... strengthened in body and mind through unique methods."

"So... humans can manipulate souls?"

"Yes..."

"... Hm."

Pipe thought: My crossing from another dimension was a soul transmigration too. Could it link to soul manipulation? Is that the key back to reality? I must learn this method. But Bai said it's not priestly magic. Only the Pope Majesty in the Papal Hall knows it—passed down generations. Would I need to capture him? Facing a soul manipulator is dangerous. I can enslave souls, but mine is more like brainwashing magic. Caution is vital against unknown foes.

"I understand. Now your memories are back... what will you do, my friend?"

"I don't know..."

"Then stay. Think it over here. Sasha adores you. Decide when you're ready."

"... Alright."

A fierce wind howled. A colossal shape emerged—a giant green dragon head... then the body. Wings spanned thirty meters. The full dragon stretched fifty meters long.

"What!? A Lost Dragon... appearing suddenly?"

Bai drew the Holy Silver Sword. It glowed. He tensed, on guard.

"Wait... Bai... isn't that... Jumper?"

"Jumper? Jumper?!"

The dragon descended slowly. Its body shimmered, dissolving into a twelve-year-old girl. At her feet lay a young woman—Mary, Admiral Bandemin's daughter from Purple Rose Harbor.

"Jumper, is that... Mary? What happened? Ah, Bai... this is Jumper. My pet."

"Pet? ... ..."

"Yes! I'm the clever, capable Lost Dragon Jumper—Master's pet! Master... trouble in the capital..."

Jumper recounted the events and how she found Mary. As she finished, Mary stirred awake.

"Huh... where... am I?"

"Awake, Mary?"

"Dracula? Count Dracula... hiss~! Ah~~~~ no... stay back~!"

Seeing Pipe's skeletal face in the moonlight, Mary scrambled away. That legendary horror—an Undead, cursed to wander between life and death.

"Sorry... Dracula is just another identity. This is my true form. I frightened you. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Grand Captain of the Reaper's Scythe Pirate Crew, captain of the Resurrection Goddess. Name's Pipe."

"Pipe... a pirate?"

Pipe demonstrated, donning a disguise to become Dracula, then removing it to reveal his skeleton. Bai watched Jumper with interest.

"Woman! Rude! If not for your karmic tie to Master, I wouldn't have saved you! Not even a thank you, hmph~!"

"Jumper... it's fine. Mary, who attacked Keane's home?"

Though still scared, Mary steadied herself after everything.

"... Who? They claimed... to be from the Kingdom! They want Lady Franlen to blackmail Keane. He's trapped at sea. To force surrender, they came for her, but..."

"... I see. Hm? Purames?"

Purames approached, clutching a document. Urgent news.

"Captain, I just received intelligence..."

"About Duke Kein's besieged fleet?"

"As expected, Captain. You guessed already?"

"No. I just learned it too."

"This girl? Admiral Bandemin's daughter? Miss Mary?"

Purames eyed Mary and Jumper, his snake-like gaze settling on Mary—cold, calculating her worth.

"Purames, assemble the crew. We're saving Keane."

"... Understood. But our new nation—we abandon it?"

"Hm... Bai?"

"Go. The Kingdom won't come here soon. Sasha stays. I'll protect her."

"Still, leave some behind. Faglas, Silver Lock, and Lil V stay. Golden Key, Greenland, Purames, Del Sira, and Hill Rock come with me on the Resurrection Goddess. Leave Scarface too. Give Faglas a hundred elite skeleton pirates to hold the fort. That should suffice."

"What about me!? Master! What does Jumper do?"

Jumper darted to Pipe, eager—clearly angling for more.

"Jumper, you stay. Obey Bai while I'm gone. And as reward for saving someone important... these are yours." He handed her three golden fish.

"Yes! For the golden fish—no, for Master! Jumper will work harder!"

Jumper gulped one fish, pocketed the others. Pipe rubbed his forehead, exasperated, then patted her head. He handed Mary to arriving Faglas, gave quick orders, then boarded the Resurrection Goddess with the others.

The massive ship turned swiftly. Sails dropped. Defying its size, it sped toward the horizon. The Ghost Ship, wrapped in thick fog, faded from view... then the fog itself drifted away.