This purification cleansed more than the pirates' restless souls. It also cleansed many who had died in the nearby seas over the years.
They had once wandered the sea, but the pirates' resentment had drawn them together aboard the pirate ship, forming the Ghost Ship.
When the ghost ship was purified, those souls were separated and restored to their original human forms. Then, guided by divine power, they entered the cycle of life.
Would those souls go to Heaven or Hell? Or would they be reborn in the mortal world? No one could say.
Once the Pirate Wraiths and the Ghost Ship had been purified, the Holy Servants were panting, sweat streaming down their faces.
Purification was hard work. The more numerous and powerful the Demons being purified, the greater the effort it took.
The task they had just completed was beyond anything the younger members had experienced—or even the Veteran who led them.
They were exhausted, but every face wore a smile.
Holy Servants were most passionate about two things: preaching and redemption. Whether preaching required blades, or redemption needed the help of cannons, were details hardly worth mentioning.
They had just redeemed a great many souls, and that filled them with satisfaction.
Their efforts had not been a matter of giving without return, either. During the purification, holy light had flashed over the Holy Servants more than once. It meant their ranks had risen and the essence of their lives had evolved.
There was a strict limit to how far people in this world could "level up." A Commoner who had received basic training but had little practical experience was called a "Traveler"—someone still on the road, who had yet to begin fighting in earnest. Those who had been through a few battles and gained basic combat experience