Behind the Scenes

"Yes, Captain!" the crew answered, then hurried off to their respective duties.

Only First Mate Kent cast a worried glance at Maria, who had lowered her head and hidden her face behind her hair. He seemed about to say something, but in the end, he did not approach her.

Once everyone had returned to their posts, Maria remained kneeling on one knee for a long while before using the figurehead to struggle to her feet.

As she did, the smooth, silvery-white figurehead faintly reflected a nearly transparent face. From eyes struggling to suppress their malice, an illusory, viscous, revolting black liquid kept spilling out!

She leaned quietly against the figurehead. Only after about five minutes did her face return to normal.

She tied her long hair back up and looked behind them along their course, a little surprised. While I couldn't control the Pale Saintess at full strength, why didn't the Death Announcer seize the chance to catch up?

Aboard the towering Death Announcer, a ship at least as tall as a five-story building, the King of Immortality, Agalito, suddenly sighed and gave Slaughterer Kircheis a new order:

"Stop the pursuit. Turn us around at once and head toward the Berserk Sea... Also, notify the Second, Third, and Fourth Fleets as soon as possible. Tell them to rendezvous with us outside the Berserk Sea."

"Captain, we're almost caught up with the Pale Saintess!" Kircheis said in disbelief.

"Follow my orders!" Agalito understood his subordinate's frustration. He felt the same way, but his orders were not up for debate.

"Yes, Captain..." Sensing danger, Kircheis did not dare argue further. After a moment's hesitation, however, he asked, "What about Velandes of the First Fleet? Don't we need to notify him?"

"Velandes is dead. His fleet is probably finished too," Agalito said