[Third Profession: ??? (Affected by profession traits, the system cannot detect specific information) (Pending Activation)]
[Activation Requirement: ??? Regarding Osial's Wife, Beisht]
Bai Luo: "???"
Wait a minute—could you at least finish your sentence? What am I supposed to do with his wife?!
Why is the activation condition still a bunch of question marks at this point?
Did my Dendro Delusion mess with your programming or something?
And that line about "Affected by profession traits, the system cannot detect specific information"—
Yeah, yeah, no need to explain. I get it.
What's the difference between this wall of question marks and not saying anything at all?
Ah, right. The edgy swordsman who never explains anything.
Got it. Kirito, Kenshin, Li Shunsheng (Hei).
The trio's all here.
Just missing the big sister now.
Unlike Bai Luo's faint smirk, everyone else's expressions were grim.
Beisht might not be famous, but her husband's name was legendary.
Osial. Without exaggeration, everyone had grown up hearing tales of his atrocities.
As kids, if they misbehaved, their parents would threaten, "I'll throw you into the sea for Osial to eat!"
The phrase "enough to silence a crying child" wasn't just an exaggeration.
Everyone stood on high alert, staring at the four massive serpent heads, unsure of what to do.
But Beisht didn't attack. Instead, she kept hissing at the Alcor, the fin-like appendages on her back flaring and trembling violently.
Almost as if... she was afraid of something.
"Kazuha, take Mr. Himura to one of the smaller boats. I'll strike again—if I can draw her attention, you seize the chance to escape and catch up with the fleet."
Half a flask of liquor later, Beidou's face was flushed with drunken courage, but her gaze toward Beisht burned with defiance.
The mix of alcohol and blood in her mouth tasted foul.
But the liquor did its job—chasing away the fear that had begun creeping into her heart.
Osial? Rex Lapis sealed him.
As one of Rex Lapis' people, why couldn't she suppress one of Osial's followers?
If the god could do it, so could she!
If the god could crush him, so could she!
Still, she hadn't lost all reason to the alcohol.
She decided Kazuha and Bai Luo would take a boat and leave.
Of course, if others wanted to flee, she wouldn't blame them.
These sailors had families, after all.
Or perhaps, from the very beginning, she had intended to face Beisht alone.
Beidou, the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean.
Born for the sea.
Willing to die for it.
No regrets!
She pulled the hairpin from her bun and handed it to the silent Kaedehara Kazuha.
Her leather gloves had split during the clash with Beisht, her palms riddled with wounds.
To keep morale from crumbling, she had seared them shut with Electro, hiding the blood.
The stench of charred flesh was buried under Beisht's rotting fish stench—no one had noticed.
And it wasn't just her hands.
Even with Kazuha's wind cushioning her fall earlier, she hadn't walked away unscathed.
That swig of liquor?
It had washed down the blood rising in her throat.
If she unleashed one more strike... she knew the consequences.
"Take it. With this, the fleet won't dare scheme behind your back."
As she removed the pin, her long hair cascaded down her shoulders.
The hairpin was carved from Haishan's bones after she slew it. Not the finest material, but hard as steel—it could even double as a weapon.
(Or, if desperate, boil it for soup.)
She never parted with it. It was proof of who she was.
"Captain..."
Kazuha's hand trembled as he took it.
"No need to say more. I've always believed in you. Oh, and... if we make it back, tell Ningguang something for me."
She grinned.
"'Water-boiled cabbage' is overrated. Drinking and feasting on meat is way better. Next time, I'll treat her to stir-fried pork at Wanmin Restaurant."
Beisht's deafening roars forced many sailors to their knees, hands clamped over their ears.
The salty sea winds whipped Beidou's hair wildly, but she simply tucked it behind her ear.
Hoisting her blackstone greatsword, she stepped onto the Alcor's dragon-headed prow.
Blade raised toward the heavens.
Ready to strike down Beisht.
Under Kazuha's orders, most of the crew had chosen to leave.
Only a handful—those with nothing left to lose—remained at their posts.
Including the sailor who had thrown the Geo spear.
"I lost my Debate Club. Gotta stick around so the Captain can give me a new one."
Scratching his white buzzcut, he chuckled awkwardly.
Those leaving weren't faring any better.
Many had to be dragged away by their comrades.
As Beidou's crew, they knew her best—so no one pulled any "We die together!" theatrics.
Like she said—if they died heroically, their families would suffer for life.
Staying or leaving—both were agonizing choices.
So those who wanted to stay but had loved ones waiting were knocked out and carried to the smaller escape ship.
"Mr. Himura, let's go."
Once arrangements were made, Kazuha approached Bai Luo.
The wind had tousled his hair, stripping away his usual calm demeanor.
He didn't blame Bai Luo for not intervening—as a passenger, he had no obligation to fight.
Besides... Bai Luo had already saved him once.
Huixing was a prodigy navigator—she had to survive.
Suling was a master blacksmith—he couldn't die here.
If Bai Luo boarded the escape ship, the crew's chances would rise.
Everything was proceeding methodically.
Standing at the dragon's head, Beidou tore off the remnants of her gloves.
No point wearing them now.
Her scarred right hand pressed against the Alcor's figurehead.
"Old friend... let's go wild one last time."
Purple lightning crackled around her again—though dimmer than before.
Yet even this weakened glow drew Beisht's gaze.
No—what truly caught Beisht's attention wasn't Beidou.
It was the man behind her.
"Captain Beidou."
A red-clad wanderer spoke up, voice light.
"One sunsettia, one black coat, and two swords—how about I handle this madwoman for you?"