Chapter 43
The moment Elias sliced through the Drowned King's neck, the air itself seemed to sigh in relief. His monstrous head fell into the sea with a dull splash, and as if connected by some unseen force, every creature under his command—sea monsters, twisted followers, and shadowy beasts—collapsed where they stood, lifeless and still.
The world stilled.
The storm clouds that had covered the sky for hours began to part, letting through golden beams of sunlight that danced on the surface of the water. The once-angry sea settled into a serene calm, its furious waves turning into gentle ripples that lapped at the sides of the Black Pearl.
Jake Sparrow, bloody and bruised but still impossibly upright, leaned down and helped Elias stand. The deck of the Pearl creaked beneath their weight as Elias stumbled, barely able to hold himself up.
Elias was a wreck—his clothes were torn, blood clung to every inch of him, and his black hair matted to his face with sweat. In his right hand, the black sword he'd carried since the beginning of this cursed journey began to shimmer.
It started cracking.
Like shards of obsidian glass, pieces flaked off the blade, dissolving into the air like dust in the wind. Elias watched in silence as the last of it fell from his grip, disappearing completely.
He turned to look at the ghost fleet.
But they weren't ghosts anymore.
Where once stood translucent spirits of ancient pirates, now stood men and women in full flesh and color. They were whole. Human. Living, in some strange, impossible way. They looked at Elias with wide eyes, faces full of disbelief, awe, and gratitude.
They didn't speak.
But they didn't have to.
Elias raised his hand weakly, smiling despite the pain that wracked his body. He lifted the remains of his shattered sword high above his head.
"It's our victory," he said. Not too loud, not too soft. Just enough that every soul—on the Pearl, in the fleet, in the world—heard him.
And with that, one by one, the pirates of the ghost fleet smiled.
Their faces turned from surprise to peace. Some cried. Others laughed. But all of them began to fade, like dust caught in a summer breeze. One by one, they vanished. No screams. No pain. Just peace.
Until none remained.
Jake stood beside Elias, leaning on his sword like it was the only thing keeping him standing. "Well," he muttered with a crooked grin, "I do hope they weren't planning to throw a party. I was counting on rum."
Elias chuckled weakly, nearly falling over. Raina rushed to support him, though she was battered and exhausted herself.
And then they saw her.
Far across the calm sea, where water met the horizon, a woman made of light stood alone. Her form shimmered like a mirage, glowing gold and white, radiating warmth that every soul aboard could feel.
She smiled.
Soft. Proud.
And she bowed her head.
No words were spoken.
But every pirate, every sailor, every soul aboard the Pearl felt it. The courage. The honor. The strength of what they had done.
As one, they lowered their heads.
Elias looked at her last.
And she looked back.
One final smile.
And then she, too, was gone.
Leaving only the sea.
And the silence.
And the hope that maybe, just maybe, the curse of the Drowned King was over forever.
You can contact me through my official page on the following Accounts:
telegram:
miraclenarrator
tiktok:
miracle_narrator
instagram:
miracle_narrator