AzalorBastet cracked and shattered under the immense pressure of the ocean.

  "Damn you..." Azalor hissed, his composure finally breaking. "Even after I used the Heart of Bastet to freeze the sea... you move it by sheer will?"

  LoranFalcon's blade, staring up at the old man's face.

  There was no mercy there. Only a terrifying smile carved across blood and beard, his eyes glowing an unnatural, brilliant blue.

  Reiz choked, grey flames sputtering out.

  "Damn it! I can't... I can't move! He's heavy!"

  Falcon roared, his voice shaking the heavens one last time.

  "FOR LEONITHRA! FOR SILVA!

  The walls collapsed, homes shattered, the isles crumbled.

  Azalor vanished into the Void mere seconds before the Black Order

  A colossal whirlpool formed where the island of Thera once stood.

  The burning Violet Meteor fell into its center.

  It didn't explode. It didn't splash.

  The whirlpool devoured it whole, dragging the star-killer into the abyss without a single shockwave. The sea simply opened its mouth and took everything.

  High in the air, watching from a safe distance, Azalor reappeared. He was furious, stunned, and for the first time... afraid.

  "He absorbed my strongest spell... and killed LoranRize Impossible. A human?"

  He looked at the empty ocean.

  "Now the Black Pillars"Mine... the child is mine alone! I shall not suffer their arrival!"

  With a sudden gust, he dissolved into the very wind, fleeing in disgrace to the lands of Leona.

  Far away, the combined fleet sailed behind Admiral Ethra'sLeona

  Silence hung over the decks.

  Sailors removed their hats, pressing them to their chests.

  Aseel wept quietly looking at his weapon, leaning against the mast.

  Pirates sobbed openly, wailing like children, their rough voices carrying across the water. They had lost their captain.

  Ethra stood at the stern, watching the spot where Thera used to be. Tears streamed down her face where no one could see.

  Lainas looked around in disbelief.

  "All the ships... Pirates and Navy alike... they're crying like children... Incredible..."

  Ethra suddenly shouted, her voice raw and breaking.

  "FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHO THAT MAN WAS!!"

  Her voice echoed across the fleet, cutting through the wind.

  "He is the one who saved the child who stopped King Caesar from erasing Leonithra from existence—after Admiral and queen Pearl sacrificed herself!"

  "He is the man who led Leonithra's Navy with pride in its Golden Age! Who fought in the Third Magical WarHer navy clothes were torn and stained with dried blood.

  Ethra gripped the railing, her knuckles white.

  "He is the pirate who held me... who raised me after my father betrayed me and killed my brother and mother..."

  She screamed, pouring her soul into the storm.

  "He is Falcon! He wasn't just an Admiral—he became the Sea King!"

  The pirates and sailors fell silent.

  The waves calmed.

  The snowfall ceased.

  The world itself seemed to bow as they drifted away from the watery grave.

  Ethra screamed into the wind, "FALCON! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!"

  "You were never just a retired Admiral! You were my father when I was lost! when my real father killed my family, My companion who laughed with me!" and from now own as the Admiral of Leonithra I grant you the blue star badge! "YOU ARE THE SEA KING, FALCON!! DO YOU HEAR ME!!! even if your refused that title!!The deep blue star was fading in the skies

  Only the wind and waves answered.

  Then—

  The Dark Blue Star Eklat ignited in the sky.

  It shone brighter than it ever had before, illuminating the heavens, rivaling the moon. It pulsed once. Twice. A heartbeat in the cosmos.

  And then—

  It flickered.

  And vanished.

  The blue light was gone. Extinguished.

  Ethra’s eyes widened. "No..."

  Pirates and sailors gasped, a collective sound of horror. The guide star was dead.

  LainasSowsan's hand tightly, staring upward.

  "Look..."

  Beside the empty spot where the Blue Star had been, the Green Comet blazed violently.

  But it didn't stay green.

  Its color shifted. Twisted. Sickened.

  The emerald light rotted into a deep, bruised VioletGrey Fire

  Lainas trembled. "This... this is impossible... Mowj?..."

  Qaws, lying on a stretcher nearby, opened his eyes. He stared at the corrupted sky with absolute dread.

  "Damn it..." Qaws whispered, blood bubbling on his lips. "We're... far too late."

  Deep beneath the ocean, Valina plunged through the black waters with desperate speed, her massive heart straining against the magical injuries Azalor had inflicted.

  Then—

  A sudden, violent shudder ran through her massive body.

  Dark blood spilled from her mouth, clouding the water. She couldn't hold him any longer.

  With a convulsive twist, she expelled Wasim

  broke the surface.

  Wasim floated unconscious, drifting helplessly on the rough waves, carried away by the current Falcon had created. His eyes were open—wide, empty, and glowing a faint, cursed violet.

  In his right hand, he clutched the dagger he had used to stab Falcon. In his left, he held a Pulsing Violet Crystal

  A shadow fell over the sea.

  A colossal black ship emerged from the lingering mist, its hull carved from obsidian, its deck crowded with towering Dark KnightsBlack Order.

  Azalor

  He seized Wasim by the arm, lifting the boy from the water as if he were a doll.

  "Well done," Azalor whispered, brushing wet hair from Wasim’s blank face.

  He gently pried the crystal from the boy's rigid fingers, staring at it with feverish obsession.

  "At last... The key to the Whale's heart. Now we can enter her lair whenever we wish."

  A ragged, wet coughing sound came from behind him.

  Reiz

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  He exhaled sharply, spitting seawater mixed with blood.

  "So... you finally got what you wanted?" Reiz rasped. "Then kill that damned whale already... after everything it cost us."

  His gaze drifted to the empty spot on the deck where the Archer usually stood.

  "We lost Loran

  Azalor nodded slowly, pocketing the crystal.

  "Yes... I know. Loran's death is... inconvenient."

  Azalor looked toward the horizon, his expression darkening.

  "And DaisKingdom of Aurik

  Reiz’s eyes widened. "Impossible. Dais is a walking catastrophe. No human army can stop him."

  "Valon

  Reiz snarled, clutching his side. "Valon? That coward... He ran before the fight was finished."

  He wrapped a strip of solidified shadow around his torso. The wounds began to hiss and close slowly.

  Azalor tapped his staff lightly—shadows rushed into Reiz’s body, stitching the flesh instantly.

  "Dais is preparing a direct assault on Aurik," Azalor continued, ignoring Reiz's gratitude. "He already obtained the Sword'sPrince of Aurik

  Reiz tested his healed arm. "And the other child? The one from the prophecy?"

  Azalor’s expression shifted—cold, irritated.

  "He escaped."

  Reiz’s aura flared, grey flames erupting around him. "Escaped? HOW?! He was under the watch of PatlosVaron

  Azalor sighed, rubbing his temples.

  "Ah... Patlos. He fled the moment things got difficult. He's hiding somewhere near the Kingdom of Leona

  "And Varon?" Reiz narrowed his eyes. "Varon doesn't flee. He is a machine."

  Azalor met his gaze. The silence was heavy.

  "We were betrayed, Reiz."

  Reiz froze. "Betrayed? By Varon?"

  Azalor spoke quietly.

  "Varon destroyed Dais's plan... and protected the Princess

  Reiz placed a hand on his forehead, exasperated.

  "Varon is a true warrior... if you give him an order, he follows it until death. You should know who Varon was before he joined us. Why would he betray the Order?"

  Azalor nodded.

  "I know. Dais intended to execute him for treason immediately... but Valon intervened."

  "Valon?"

  "Yes. Valon stepped in and stopped Dais. He saved Varon's life."

  Reiz exhaled sharply, a bitter realization crossing his face.

  "So... The Reaper finally showed some emotion. He was protecting his brother."

  Azalor’s eyes darkened, looking at the captured Wasim.

  "Yes. Blood, it seems, is thicker than the Void."

  Reiz stared at the chaos unfolding around them—the sinking island, the retreating fleet, the sheer destruction caused by one old man. His voice was low and bitter.

  "What is this madness...? We won, but it feels like a defeat."

  Azalor didn't look at the ruin. He lifted his gaze to the sky.

  Above them, the Violet Comet burned with sick grey fire, streaking across the heavens like a festering wound in the world.

  In his hand, he held the Heart of Bastet

  Azalor murmured, his eyes reflecting the purple light.

  "MacFerden

  Reiz stiffened, the name causing him to flinch. "MacFerden? So... the forest boy is broken?"

  "Twisted," Azalor corrected. "Not broken. Just repurposed."

  "So... what's the plan now?" Reiz asked, wiping blood from his face.

  Azalor smiled faintly. "Well... we capture the child."

  Reiz blinked. "The other one? Didn't you say he escaped Patlos?"

  "Yes," Azalor replied calmly. "But I have located him. He is leading the remnants of our traitorous knights from the planet Elpha

  Reiz’s eyes widened. "What?! How? Didn't we destroy Elpha?"

  "It seems a faction found a way to flee," Azalor said, pocketing the Heart. "They are the ghosts of that dead world. I intend to gather those knights again anyway. After that, we can seize the child... and once we take Valina's Heart

  Miles away, on the deck of the flagship, Ethra scanned the dark waters through her telescope. Her eyes were red from crying, but her focus was razor-sharp.

  She spotted something small bobbing item.

  "There!" she screamed. "There's a body floating!"

  Pirates on the lower deck rushed to the railing.

  "It's Basimmember of Mehran Crew!

  "Mehran?!" Ethra cried, dropping the telescope. "Get him! Quickly! What are you waiting for?!"

  Lainas, sailing alongside on his damaged vessel, shouted across the gap.

  "Bring him to us! The Luminous healers can treat him! But be careful—he was controlled by the Order! Tie him up if you must!"

  Ethra shot him a look of pure irritation.

  "Tie up a drowning one? he is one of us! Haa... You tree-people have no hearts!"

  She dove off the railing herself, splashing into the cold water to grab the Basim.

  Ethra shot him

  Lainas blinked as she swam toward Basim. He sighed.

  "What's wrong with her...? I'm just being practical."

  Qaws spoke weakly from a stretcher behind Lainas. He was barely conscious, his eyes fixed on the sky.

  "Forget her for now... Lainas... look up."

  Lainas followed his gaze.

  "The comet..." Qaws whispered. "That's Mowj

  Lainas nodded grimly, gripping the hilt of his wooden sword.

  "Yes... The Green Comet has turned Violet. Without a doubt... the war has just begun."

  VelinsLainas.

  Lainas glanced at him, leaning against the mast.

  "So? You're awake, stranger..."

  Velins nodded, checking the mobility of his arm.

  "Yes... but what's happening now? I saw the Green Comet

  A guard of the Luminous Tree stepped forward sharply.

  "Silence, stranger! Don't speak of Mowj

  Lainas raised a hand to stop the guard.

  "Enough... he's right. I hate to say it, but something terrible must have happened to Mowj."

  He walked toward the edge of the ship, staring at the violet streak scarring the sky.

  "He wasn't just an ally... he was our compass. Our hope."

  Velins asked quietly, standing beside him. "What do you intend for us to do...?"

  Lainas inhaled deeply, the sea air stinging his lungs. "Well... we must—"

  Grappling hooks latched onto the railing. Ethra's flagship pulled alongside Lainas's damaged vessel.

  Ethra leapt aboard, followed by a squad of Leonithran sailorspirates

  Lainas groaned, rubbing his temples.

  "What now? Are you here to rob my ship? I have nothing but wood and wounded men."

  Qaws laying down shouting: we have enaugh fish to share if you're hungry...

  Velins smiled gazing back at Qaws

  Ethra shot him a cold look, adjusting her bloodstained coat.

  "Stop talking nonsense. Falcon trusted you... so we were sent to coordinate with you. Don't make me regret it."

  Lainas frowned. "My name is Lainas, . Try to use it."

  Ethra ignored the jab. Her voice was calm, steady, but urgent.

  "Yes... Lainas. We need to head to Leona

  Lainas raised a brow. "What could possibly be more important than the corrupted Comet right now?"

  "So, his name is Mowj..." Ethra murmured, glancing at the sky. "But listen—AzalorValina's Heart

  Lainas stiffened. "What are you saying? You expect us to abandon Mowj to save a whale?"

  "No—"

  Lainas cut her off, his eyes sharpening. "Good. Because we can do both. But we need a plan."

  Ethra blinked, surprised by how quickly the "savage" mage shifted into a strategist. The pirates watched him with raised brows.

  Before they could argue further, a young girl stepped forward from the shadow of the cabin.

  Ethra's eyes widened. She recognized the features instantly.

  "Wait... is that Captain Yamen's daughter

  Lainas nodded, his expression softening. "Ah... yes. She was the one protecting the ship."

  Sowsan walked slowly, clutching her necklace. She looked at the pirates, then at the terrifying Admiral.

  Her voice was soft, carrying the melody of the mist.

  "Are you all alright?"

  Ethra knelt immediately, bringing herself to eye level. She took Sowsan's hands gently.

  "Yes... we're alright. Thanks to your father... and his friend, Falcon."

  Sowsan smiled faintly, a sad but brave smile. "I know. Uncle Falcon told me to be Lainas."

  Lainas suddenly spoke, his voice sharp and decisive, breaking the moment.

  "We cannot move as one massive target. We'll split into two groups."

  He pointed at Ethra.

  "Admiral EthraLeona. Your mission is to support our allies there."

  He paused, his eyes serious.

  "I trust there is an old man named JamihMowj

  A pirate gasped. "An army? The Golden Army of Aurik? Is that even possible?"

  A Leonithran sailor shook his head, spitting on the deck. "I doubt it... Aurik isn't what it used to be. They hate us."

  Lainas ignored them, locking eyes with Ethra.

  "If anyone can unite them, it's you. You carry Falcon's will now."