Something Was Off

Unlike the silent Anne, the pirates who had survived aboard the other ships erupted in excitement.

They saw the black clouds that had seemed ready to press down onto the sea gradually disperse, revealing the usual gray-white mist and the hazy outline of the sun beyond. The seemingly endless Zombies and wraiths lost their lives once more, either collapsing or vanishing into nothingness. Whatever had oppressed their Spirituality and flesh, driving them toward madness even from a thousand meters away, was finally gone. Their companions no longer looked hideous—or mouthwatering.

Was it over?

The same thought occurred to everyone.

They left the cabins, which were hardly safe but had at least offered some comfort, and stood on deck looking toward the hellish docks. Their gazes swept over swathes of fallen, grotesque corpses, the ships reduced to a tenth of their number, and the survivors aboard them who looked just as bewildered. Today's Pirate Conference felt like a nightmare they had yet to wake from.

As for the companions who had not emerged from the cabins, no one dared imagine what they had become.

The Pirate Admirals' flagships, with some means of protecting themselves, had fared better than the pirates who could only tremble at the edge of the Abomination's aura—but only slightly. Their Beyonders had been strong enough to fend off the Zombies, Werewolves, and wraiths Suah had awakened. Even so, many had been horribly transformed by the maddening aura and the black rain that had threatened to make them lose control.

The Future, surrounded by the Golden Dream, the Newins, the new Black Death, and other ships, had come through in the best condition. Starlight enveloping the entire vessel had blocked the black rain and weakened the Abomination's influence. And since the Future had sailed away as soon as