Captain – Chapter 399 – No Destiny

In the world of deathly stillness, a fire suddenly ignited—a star-like azure flame, like a deity’s tears, or like the deepest ocean.

The faint “crackling” sound spread gently, as if playing the melody of life in a place of absolute silence and desperation—that hero’s song.

Finally, that flame moved.

Accompanied by slow but determined footsteps, the azure flame slowly advanced, shattering the stagnant curtain of rain, walking step by step toward the young woman.

The young woman falling into the abyss.

Since he was using his eyes as a line to draw in the child’s spirit, at this moment, powerful as the devil was, he couldn’t turn his gaze away.

But he knew to whom those footsteps belonged, because they were too familiar.

They had once spent days and nights together, had been constant companions, walking through endless time and countless deadly situations. But later, because of different ideals and differing pursuits, they embarked on completely opposite journeys.

From then on, they traveled separate paths, never looking back.

Do you… hate me this much?

Even knowing you will perish completely, falling eternally into hell, you still don’t hesitate?

Thinking silently, the devil’s eyes, deep as an abyss, finally showed ripples, transforming into a vast sea without light, as cold as a desert and extremely turbulent.

In the center of that sea was the ghost ship, the intertwining of terrifying bones, the howling of endless resentful spirits, and that pitiful father and daughter.

And there were the sounds of death knells, sending off who knows whom.

But… in the end, they all ceased.

The roaring of the spirits, the ringing of the death knells, were all suppressed by that awakened man who deeply loved his child, and that sea…

Was calmed by the approaching flame, as if a wind had passed, with no more ripples.

“Whoosh…”

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The flame, weak as a dying candle, suddenly grew stronger as it approached the devil. The star-like sparks scattered more urgently, brilliant almost to the point of reality.

A real starry sky.

With a “poof” sound, the devil’s form was scattered by the star-like fire, transforming into countless incandescent golden dust particles, dispersing in all directions.

Just as Roy had thought when planning her desperate last stand, although her ancestor seemed affected by the wind and rain, appearing real, in reality, he was still merely an incarnation formed from great power.

The seal was fading, but that didn’t mean it would break instantly. The Lady’s divine power was flowing toward him, but that didn’t mean he could become divine in an instant.

All of this required time.

Time is great, but also fair, never favoring any living creature, whether it be a tiny, toiling ant or a devil close to divinity.

It was precisely because of this that he had decided to eliminate Roy at the conclusion of the grand play.

But now it seemed this had become a mistake.

The only mistake.

The incandescent golden dust floated in midair, finally gathering again on the bridge of the Mermaid, forming a patch of hazy, ethereal light mist.

When the light mist dispersed, the devil returned.

But this time, he no longer pretended to be affected by wind and rain as before. Instead, he truly looked somewhat disheveled, with several burn marks on his body, and even that old formal suit had holes burned in it.

That was the power when divine power ignited—even he had to avoid it.

However, that was the extent of it.

Now, the great power scattered throughout the world was flowing toward him; one could even say he had become their destination and source.

And being of the same source, how could it harm him?

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Therefore, even though that person somehow managed to ignite the divine power remaining in his body, at that previous moment, all he could do was scatter him, not burn him completely—he couldn’t even damage this incarnated form.

But this was enough, more than enough.

Enough to awaken the young woman.

In the glow of the ethereal starlight, Roy’s face appeared even paler, and on that exquisitely beautiful face, clear tear tracks were visible.

Who knew whether it was for her own tragic fate, or for that man.

After the initial bewilderment of awakening, the young woman was no longer lost, but only stared blankly ahead, looking at the person close at hand.

Still that somewhat fierce-looking face, that slightly disheveled black beard, but on that face, not a single wrinkle could be seen anymore.

As if returning to youth, as if…

A final radiance before death.

First Mate Isaac was no longer aging; he had reverted to the young man Roy had seen on the Satin, only now his entire body was enveloped in that flame.

The flame was bright and sacred, completely different from the ghostly fire born of resentment on the Death Silence, but there was one point that was identical.

That is, they both consumed life.

Divine fire was warm, yet also merciless.

At this moment, the young woman was very close to the First Mate and could feel that warmth, seemingly able to melt even the ice that had penetrated her heart.

But correspondingly, the person serving as the firewood was enduring extreme suffering—the burning pain spreading through his body, blood, and even soul.

And he was setting himself on fire, enduring such pain, all for her.

Roy didn’t know what to say.

In her eyes, there still remained the grief and helplessness brought by meeting her father, and now another layer of melancholy had been added.

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She truly seemed to be an ill omen.

Anyone close to her, loving her, seemed in the end to meet a tragic fate. Why was this?

Why…

Could it be that there really is destiny, a destiny that cannot be escaped no matter what?

The young woman lowered her head slightly. Her usually sleek hair now hung like withered grass, floating, adding a rarely seen fragility to her.

And just as Roy was immersed in sorrow, thinking about the elusive concept of destiny, a warm hand gently caressed her head.

“No, child, there is no destiny.”

As if able to hear her thoughts, Isaac spoke softly with a smile: “If there is, then it is false, a chain forced upon you by others. You just need to break it.”

“I’m sorry, First Mate.”

Feeling the “old pirate’s” gentle caress, hearing his gentle words, the young woman raised her eyes, looking at his face, dispersing like starlight, and his brown eyes, still gentle as ever, speaking with a slightly trembling voice.

“Silly child, this is not your fault.”

The man still smiled, but as the starlight grew stronger, his features became increasingly indistinct.

“It is a shadow left from the old era. All faults began with me, not with you. Besides, even those great figures were bewitched by him, even deities were used—how could anyone blame you?”

The “old pirate’s” rough palm moved down along the captain’s hair, finally stopping at the back of her neck, beside the glowing characters.

Under the gentle yet firm burning of the divine fire, those characters began to fade.

As time passed, the azure flame gradually enveloped the young woman, as if to burn away all the curses and shackles she bore.

At the same time, Isaac’s form, illuminated by the firelight, became increasingly faint. With the scattering of starlight, even his face became blurred.

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Enveloped by the divine fire, Roy only felt warmth, her spirit gradually calming.

She could feel the previously imperceptible characters dissipating, the brand on the sea chart at her waist fading, the curse planted in her by her ancestor and the bonds deep in her bloodline gradually receding.

The “old pirate” was also receding.

Though right in front of her, though within reach, she felt he was gradually moving farther away, about to disappear into the brilliant starlight.

About to part forever.

“After you’re gone, what… what should I do in the future, First Mate?”

As the person before her was about to depart, Roy suddenly felt very lost and helpless, like that young boy many years ago who had lost his mother.

Only at this moment did she feel that this elder had, to some extent, like the devil, become a pillar in her heart.

As if with him around, the devil wasn’t so frightening.

But now he was leaving.

Never to return.

Because of this, without a moment’s hesitation, the young woman instinctively asked.

Hearing the captain’s still somewhat trembling voice, Isaac was silent for a long time, until the divine fire flickered and the light became unstable before speaking: “Go see Annisdora, child, perhaps everything…”

“Can still be saved.”

As if a wind had passed by, scattering the flames, the bright starlight dispersed throughout the sky, leaving only gentle words echoing, with no more sight of that person.

After that, the sound of rain rose again, growing louder.

Falling abundantly, like a song of parting.