A figure beneath the ocean drifted unconsciously, guided towards no specific destination.

Numerous creatures of the deep were attracted to its body, as well as the treasures that drifted with it. However, any who tried to attack it were smitten by golden lightning that pierced through the water.

Time continued on as it always did. Days turned into nights.

Eventually, after a completely unknown amount of time, a glowing purple hook caught onto the figure.

It swiftly hoisted it upwards until it eventually broke through the surface.

...

"Tolu, he is awake."

Captain Roseus woke up to a deep voice.

He opened his eyes and found himself staring up at the blue sky above him.

His body felt strange. He felt stronger than he did previously. Much stronger. However, his last memories were of him feeling weaker than he had ever felt before.

He had drowned in the deep seas and remained submerged in their waters for a long time. Not to mention, this was directly after fully expending all of his energy.

Roseus rose to a seated position and looked around.

Immediately, he was alarmed. He was on a ship, but it most definitely was not his ship.

A man was sitting beside him with his back resting against the railings. This man had dark skin and afro-textured hair that had been braided into numerous locks.

The man was eating some sort of juicy purple fruit without a care in the world.

Footsteps approached from the other side of the deck, making Roseus turn towards them. There, another man was approaching.

This man was also dark-skinned with a small afro. His features were well-defined, and he stood tall. Much taller than Roseus if he were to stand next to him.

He was dressed in a red and golden robe with a pirate hat of the same colour atop his head. In the distance behind this man, there were roughly ten other men who were dressed similarly.

Roseus pushed himself to his feet and reached to his waist for a weapon, only to find that there was nothing there. Not even the glove on his hand, the Ring of Unfavourability, his father’s hat, or his coat.

Wait a minute... My hand.

Roseus looked down at his hand, only to find that somehow it was still there, though it had been completely wrapped in white bandages.

"Don’t be afraid. We are not here to hurt you."

The red-robed man spoke in a thickly accented voice that Roseus had never heard before.

It was only then that he noticed that the sun above was beaming down on him so heavily that he was sweating profusely.

"Who are you?" he asked the man. "Where am I? Where is my crew?"

The man laughed as he slowly walked to the railing of the ship and stared out into the distant ocean.

Roseus did the same and noticed that the water looked different than it had before. This allowed him to conclude that he was no longer in the Translucent Sea.

The water here had a slight orange glow to it, as though sand had been mixed into it. The waves remained calm and still, and there was not much wind to blow the sails of the Brigantine.

"I am Tolu, captain of this ship and a member of the Alzabe Pirates. You are in the Southern Sunny Sea. As for the location of your crew, we do not have that information. We only found you drifting atop the waters a few days ago and saved you."

Roseus didn’t sense any immediate threat from the man in front of him, which gave him time to think and process what was going on.

They found me a few days ago, but that doesn’t tell me how long it’s been since the battle with the Templars and the Navy. I have no way to determine how much time has passed. In fact, I don’t even know the outcome of the battle. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

As for the Southern Sunny Sea and the Alzabe Pirates, I’ve never heard of either of them. What I can guess is that I’m somewhere located in the southern part of the Second Ocean. This would make sense, as the Translucent Sea was located in the south-western part of the Second Ocean. I might not have drifted too far away...

"Do you worship Yazu?"

Tolu’s sudden words caught Roseus off guard. Yazu was the sea god that Zaliah believed in. The sea god who strengthened ships and aided in sailing through ceremonies.

Roseus didn’t confirm or deny it.

"What makes you ask?"

"That symbol on your back. That is a ceremony circle that only a believer of Yazu can use. It’s meant to be drawn onto ships, but somehow it has been placed onto your back and has aided in your healing process."

I see... So that’s why my hand is healing. I assume these men have somehow aided in that process as well.

He contemplated whether he should lie and claim to be a believer, but that wouldn’t be wise. He had already faked belief in one god and didn’t plan on doing the same to another.

"I’m not a believer, no. My ally drew this circle on me. Her name is Zaliah."

All of the faces on the ship suddenly turned towards him as they heard the name. Tolu’s dark eyes in particular went extremely wide.

"Zaliah? White-haired Zaliah?"

Roseus nodded his head. "Yes. Do you know her?"

Tolu couldn’t help but laugh to himself in a joyful way.

"So, she is really alive. Yes, we all know her well. She was the priest of our home island, Milkwood. Although she is a foreigner, she has done much for our people’s faith."

Roseus was taken by surprise. Zaliah had never told him that she had stayed in more places than just Highstorm Island.

"If you are an ally of hers, then you are an ally of ours. We are heading back to our island now. We will take you back. Afterwards, we will help you find your crew."