As soon as the Orion Cube fully emerged above the sea, several Loose Immortals rushed toward it, attempting to step inside. The moment their feet touched the cube’s shifting surface, a blast of invisible force threw them back.

One Immortal groaned while picking himself up. "This one requires Orion Cube fragments to enter. Without them, we’re blocked."

Another sighed in frustration. "Judging by the reaction, all twenty-two fragments must already be nearby. That’s why the Orion Tesseract revealed itself."

All around the chaotic battlefield, Loose Immortals began scanning the area with Divine Sense, searching for anyone hiding fragments. Their eyes gleamed with both excitement and hostility—anyone carrying an Orion Cube fragment instantly became a potential target.

The atmosphere shifted again when two figures descended from the sky. The sea calmed immediately, as if bowing to their presence. Both newcomers wore powerful dragon-shaped armor. One bore the character for "Sky" engraved on the back; the other carried "Sea."

"The Elders of Sky Dragon Palace and Sea Dragon Palace..." someone whispered. "Both of them are Beginner Immortals."

"Are they here for the Tesseract?"

The Loose Immortals tightened their grips on their fragments, unwilling to fight but ready to flee at any moment. The two Dragonians surveyed the crowd but showed no sign of aggression.

"We are not here for the Orion Tesseract," the Sky Dragon Palace Elder announced. "Our only goal is to hunt the Phantoms. Those who possess cube fragments may enter the Tesseract freely. We will not interfere."

A wave of relief spread through the crowd. No one wanted to fight two Beginner Immortals. Still, frustration lingered among those hoping to steal fragments now they had to behave.

Both Dragon Place Elders glance at Feng Feiyan. Feng Feiyan just nodded and told them via Immortal sense, "My target is something else, looks like he is not here.."

Feng Feiyan Golden Chariot moved little further away.

Two cloaked individuals flew toward the Orion Cube. But the moment they approached, a massive dragon claw appeared from thin air and grabbed them both mid-flight.

"You said you wouldn’t rob us!" one of them shouted, struggling violently. The surrounding Immortals tensed, unsure what to expect.

The Sea Dragon Palace Elder raised his hand calmly. "We are not robbing you. Remove your cloaks and show your faces. We won’t allow Phantoms to enter."

The two complied reluctantly, removing their cloaks to reveal advanced concealment arrays underneath. Once those faded, their true appearances two elven men were revealed.

"Tell me, where were you, when the Red Dragon Boat got destroyed?"

"We were both hiding in one of the Federation Island."

The Sea Dragon Palace Elder glanced at the glowing artifact in his hand. It remained dim.

"They speak the truth."

"Then you may enter," the Sky Elder said, releasing the dragon claw.

The two elves hurried into the Tesseract without looking back.

A little distance away, Tyler and Lily observed the entire exchange from a concealed corner of the sea and fog.

"What is that thing?" Tyler muttered. "Some kind of truth-detecting pearl?"

Lily landed beside him, her cloak fluttering. "What’s the plan?"

"Same as before," Tyler said. "You go in first with Washing Gram Marvel and the others."

Lily nodded and raised her hand. "Give me a few more cube fragments. I might need extras inside."

Tyler stared at her blankly. "...They’re not candies."

Lily stared back without blinking.

Tyler sighed and handed her four more Orion fragments.

"Don’t lose them."

Lily tapped her Phantom Mask. Her body shimmered and was instantly wrapped in a long, hooded cloak that concealed her entire presence.

"Oh also, I left Ling Tian in the ship. He won’t wake up unless someone breaks the sealing array on him." Lily said.

Then, She winked at Tyler. "Then I’ll see you on the other side, Captain."

Before Tyler could reply, she shot forward, disappearing into the crowd of Immortals heading toward the Tesseract.

"And here I thought you wouldn’t show up," Isadora said teasingly as Lily joined the group. She stood near Masha and the five Loose Immortals, a smug smile on her lips.

Lily ignored her and looked at the group. "Let’s move. We have eight people and four fragments. We’ll enter together."

Texa hesitated. "But they’re checking everyone before letting them inside."

Lily waved her hand with confidence. "Relax. Just trust me."

The group nodded and rose into the air, heading toward the Orion Tesseract. Its four-dimensional surfaces continued to twist, folding and unfolding like a living puzzle. As they approached, a massive dragon claw manifested from thin air, blocking their path.

The inspection had begun.

"I was hiding in Nox Pass," Texa stated calmly.

"I was roaming around Nox Pass," Alabapa added.

"I... was also nearby,"

Masha and Isadora answered next, both truthful enough to pass the elder’s scan.

Finally, Lily stepped forward and spoke—in a deep, masculine voice.

"I was hiding with these two girls in Nox Pass when the Red Dragon Boat was destroyed."

The Sea Dragon Palace Elder raised his ring. It remained dark. To the crowd, it looked like Lily was telling the truth. Well she was telling the truth, she didn’t participate in Red Dragon Boat destruction.

"Alright," the Sky Dragon Palace Elder said. "The last one, show your face and step aside."

Lily lowered her cloak slowly. Her features changed fluidly until she was wearing Ling Tian’s face, handsome, sharp, unmistakable. The mask wasn’t perfect against two Beginner Immortals, but it was good enough to mimic a real identity without exposing her true form.

Both elders frowned, realizing something was off. Before either could question her further, a booming laugh echoed across the sea.

"HAHAHAHA! I was wondering what all the commotion was about... but I didn’t expect the Sky Dragon Palace and Sea Dragon Palace to show up just to greet me!"

A wave of darkness rolled across the sea. A ship emerged, cloaked entirely in shadow—it was the Shadow Pearl, rising with ominous grandeur.

"That’s our cue," Lily whispered.

With a swift gesture, she led the group forward. The moment they crossed the threshold near the Orion Tesseract, a surge of spatial power wrapped around them. All eight figures vanished instantly, as though swallowed by the cube itself.

Outside, the Shadow Pearl rose from the shadow realm, its black cloak shimmering like a living veil.

Far above the chaos, Feng Feiyan leaned out of his Golden Chariot with a bored expression.

Sea Dragon Palace Elder’s eyes narrowed slightly. "So you actually dared to come. Courting death..."

Before he could say more, the Sky Dragon Palace Elder roared, "You dare appear before us, you lowly Phantoms?"

He swung his arm. A colossal dragon claw materialized once more, far larger than before. It descended like a heavenly punishment and crushed the ship below.

The Shadow Pearl shattered on impact. Its defensive arrays broke instantly, exploding into thousands of flickering runes. The sea went silent.

"They were destroyed just like that?"

"Is this the end of the Phantom Pirates?"

"What about the bounties—?"

Loose Immortals whispered among themselves, uncertain whether to be relieved or disappointed.

Feng Feiyan chuckled darkly, the sound cutting through the silence. Only three Beginner Immortals sensed the truth.

"There’s no way it’s over," he muttered.

"What... what is that?"

Everyone stared as the ocean stirred. Multiple shadows of ships, only flat shadows appeared on the sea.

One after another, Shadow Pearls emerged from the shadows , rising in perfect synchronicity.

One , Two then three...

Just like that dozens and dozens of ships began to rise from shadows.

An entire fleet of shadow Pearls.

"Go. Destroy every one of those ships," the Sea Dragon Palace Elder commanded.

Dragonions immediately leapt into action. Warriors armed with spears, swords, and massive cannons shot out from both floating islands. They spread across the sky like a swarm of metallic locusts.

One after another, they unleashed beams, explosions, and torrents of draconic energy onto the shadow ships below.

Each ship detonated spectacularly. Fire burst across the water, turning the sea into a blazing battlefield. Waves evaporated on contact with the heat, leaving rising columns of steam. Dozens of shattered hulls drifted in smoking ruins.

The assault continued until suddenly, the Beginner Immortals froze. Their eyes widened.

Both Elders immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Stop! Stop! Don’t shoot!" the Sky Dragon Palace Elder shouted urgently.

The Dragonions halted at once.

Feng Feiyan, noticing the sudden shift in atmosphere, quietly turned his Golden Chariot around and drifted far away, pretending he had seen nothing.

Everyone else stared in confusion.

Then they saw it.

From within the debris of the broken Shadow Pearl ships, another Shadow Pearl began to rise. But this one was different, so different that even Loose Immortals felt their skin crawl.

As the ship drifted closer, not a single person made a move to attack. Instead, several Loose Immortals who had been watching the spectacle immediately fled, leaving trails of panic behind them.

Because this ship... was nothing like the others.

It wasn’t cloaked in darkness nor It was hiding in shadow.

The entire ship was filled with glowing green tubes filled with volatile chemical liquid. The same liquid, the same terrifying alchemical explosive that had obliterated the Red Dragon Boat into vapor.

And lying casually on his back across those glowing tubes... was a man wearing a white-and-black Phantom Mask.