Get on your bed? What does the Book Saint want to do to me? An blushed, stood up silently, picked up the trembling Water Spirit Number Three, and hugged it to her chest.

She had always heard that the Book Saint was... odd!

Water Spirit Number Three, shield!

What on earth was the little thing thinking right now? The Book Saint lazily lowered her head and said in a languid voice:

“I was kidnapped by my own quilt…”

“My time is precious, hurry up…”

After she finished speaking, the Book Saint let out a long yawn, her eyelids drooping slightly, giving off the feeling that she was about to fall asleep.

“……”

An hesitated for a moment, used a flight spell, and carefully flew onto the rocking bed while holding the Water Spirit.

The Book Saint’s bed was a four-meter-long rocking bed. Besides pillows and blankets, there was a small dessert fridge on it, a pile of ancient books, and a large stack of unfinished to-do lists.

The rocking bed faced the library’s skylight;

when the weather was good, sunlight would pour onto the bed and make it especially cozy.

So many ancient, magical books... a flash of awe crossed An’s eyes.

Before An could react, suddenly an evil little hand etched with white circuits reached toward her chest!

In that instant, the Water Spirit in An’s hands was snatched into the Book Saint’s grasp!

She grabbed the Water Spirit and instantly treated it like a pillow!

Squeeze, squeeze!

Pinch, pinch!

The Book Saint played with Water Spirit Number Three, then immediately used a heating technique to warm it to a comfortable temperature.

This temperature made it a decent pillow—moving and springy... The Book Saint placed the Water Spirit behind her neck and showed a satisfied expression:

“I have accepted your tuition—”

Accepted just like that! An wanted to say something.

After all, strictly speaking, this Water Spirit belonged to Chen Qi.

In a sense, she was only holding it for safekeeping!

At that moment, facing the Book Saint’s intimidation, the trembling Water Spirit Number Three mustered courage and could no longer hold back. It blurted out first:

“Stupid human, keep your filthy hands off! If—if you dare lay a hand on me, my great master will not spare you!”

“My great master will use his fists to smash your teeth out!!!”

Water Spirit Number Three taunted the Book Saint!

Water spirits never bow to slavery!

However, the Water Spirit’s inspiration was not low.

It could clearly sense that the spiritual energy of the person before it was like a mountain, saturated with an indescribable icy chill.

In terms of raw spiritual energy, the Book Saint could even defeat a hundred Chen Qis!

An inhaled sharply and tried to save the Water Spirit.

Saints must not be insulted!

Although she couldn’t understand the Water Spirit’s words completely, she still felt the pet’s hostility!

To a powerhouse like the Book Saint, obliterating a weak pet would be as easy as lifting an index finger!

Water spirits loved freedom by nature—they would never easily become someone’s pillow, let alone a bath scrubber.

“Not bad…”

Yet, faced with the Water Spirit’s mockery, the Book Saint merely cast a lazy glance and let a few strands of hair fall onto the Water Spirit:

“Don’t pine for your useless former owner. I will be a proper pillow and teach you plenty of knowledge~”

“I will give you everything you want~”

“Otherwise…”

The Book Saint let out a mischievous chuckle and closed her eyes.

When water spirits get angry, their bodies swell and their internal temperature rises.

An angry Water Spirit makes an excellent massage pillow!

The Book Saint could actually understand the Water Spirit’s speech, and she even dared to call Qi useless… a flicker of unease crossed An’s eyes.

“Wah (Human! How dare you insult my master!)”

Water Spirit Number Three, pressed underneath, unleashed its boundless power!

Mind you, it was the Water Spirit among Water Spirits—the supreme ruler of its kind.

Water Explosive Bomb!

But as a pet beast, it lacked the strength to resist the Book Saint. Its supremacy as a Water Spirit was completely suppressed!

The more it struggled, the stronger the tremors, and the more comfortable the Book Saint felt.

The Water Spirit resisted fiercely, but to no avail.

Only then did An recall the main matter:

“Um, Book Saint, did you want me to come up for something?”

“Almost forgot.”

The Book Saint waved carelessly, dismissing the other students in the Spiral Library.

Once only the two of them remained in the Spiral Library, the Book Saint continued:

“An, do you know why I held a ‘trial’—to specially recruit a third-tier disciple?”

An nodded and honestly said:

“I don’t know…”

“The Book Witch card can only be consumed by Book-affinity users with high inspiration. Besides that, the White Tower Federation has long guarded an A-rank rift on the sea.

That rift’s mutation rate has remained below twenty percent for a century, making it a controllable A-rank rift. The unique ‘runes’ within that rift are an important material for mass-producing fourth-tier skill cards.”

A controllable A-rank rift… An fell into thought.

This was the first time she’d heard that an A-rank rift had been contained within the White Tower Sea.

The Book Saint went on:

“This A-rank rift itself is not dangerous, but it’s connected to many of the White Tower Federation’s internal A-rank rifts by a larger catastrophe…

If that rift’s mutation rate climbs too high and is affected, it could contaminate the coastal rifts of the entire White Tower Federation.

If a widespread cascade of rifts in the Witch Sea goes out of control, our rifts will also be affected.”

An immersed herself in thought.

Simply put, if the A-rank rifts in the Witch Sea lose control, they will inevitably impact the rifts in the White Tower Sea.

Like a chain of dominos.

An asked in puzzlement:

“But what does that have to do with me?”

The Book Saint answered:

“This rift is called the Witch Library. It originated with the First Witch and has strict restrictions—only witches can enter this rift…

As the Witch Sea’s rifts crumble, this rift’s mutation rate will inevitably climb. Someone must constantly enter the rift to reduce its mutation rate.

In short, the ‘Book Witch’ is the guardian we’ve chosen.”

A rift only accessible to witches… a hint of astonishment passed through An’s eyes.

Most rifts’ access restrictions weren’t that strict.

I see… An felt somewhat relieved.

But the lazy Book Saint speaking so much at once still made her uneasy.

An nodded:

“I will do my best to clear that rift.”

Not just clear it—never mind, it wasn’t time for that yet… The Book Saint tilted her head:

“By the way, An, do you know the prophecy of the Ice Witch?”

An nodded.

In a distant age, the Ice Witch was also called the Prophet. It was said she possessed a miraculous power to foresee fate.

Her predictions could trace the origins and processes of history!

In these long five hundred years, no one had ever defied the fate she spoke of!

An’s pupils suddenly contracted.

The lazy Book Saint sat up, her curled hair falling onto her legs.

She looked out the window with an unspeakable sorrow in her eyes:

“In the Ice Witch’s prophecy, if the Tides descend, all coastal cities will be destroyed—everything will become wasteland…

Everyone born of the sea cannot escape fate.

Including you and me, including your parents, including this mobile city, including this sea.”

“For this, the Ice Witch even wrote me a will…”

A will—everyone will die… A look of confusion and disbelief crossed An’s face.

She actually felt sorrow coming from a peerless Saint.

As the Book Saint glanced that way, An noticed a long strip of paper on the Book Witch’s rocking bed, written in azure ink.

On it, in elegant cursive, were pleas for the Book Saint to leave the sea and enjoy her later years safely.

The Ice Witch predicted a catastrophe on this sea that would wipe out even the Book Tower!

No one could survive!

An swallowed and didn’t know how to describe her feelings at that moment.

The Book Saint said quietly:

“But rest assured, her prophecy has always only predicted the beginning and the middle.”

Finally, she turned her head and stared for a long time in the direction of the Fog Sea:

“All right, An, go to the dean and collect your enrollment materials.”

“Tomorrow I will personally train you and mold you into a qualified ‘librarian’.”

The Book Saint adjusted the cramped Water Spirit pillow and closed her eyes.

“All right, Book Saint.”

An bowed and saluted.

However, the Book Saint did not answer.

Asleep? A flicker of doubt crossed An’s eyes.

She glanced again at Water Spirit Number Three, which had been mercilessly used as the Book Saint’s pillow and scrubber.

Seeing the Water Spirit that had accompanied her for so long being treated like a pillow gave An an indescribable feeling.

But she showed no change in front of the Book Saint.

What happened to Qi? An vaguely felt something and looked toward the direction of the Fog Sea.

……

Fog Sea, Blackfin Island.

Across the fog-shrouded black sea cut wave after wave like scars.

An old man wrapped in pitch-black bandages rowed a small boat ashore, bringing in a boat filled with wounded.

Then he opened his mouth and said to the many ships behind him:

“You can open your eyes.”

The Ferryman of the Underworld River led many pirate ships to Blackfin Island.

“Everyone ashore! Woohoo!”

One boat after another, loaded with prisoners and treasures, moored.

“Off with you! Scum!”

“From now on, this is your home!!”

“We don’t care if you’re from a noble house!”

“Even Fleet Admiral White Seagull of the navy must serve us!”

“Cry all you want! The more you scream, the more thrilled I get!”

The pirates roared as they roughly tossed treasures and slaves off the boats.

Within minutes, the barren island’s edges were piled with dazzling extraordinary treasures and fifteen hundred fresh slaves!

These days, relying on the Black Death Doctor’s developed ‘Black Blood Potion’, the Blackfin Crew rapidly expanded. Even though the Dragon Tamer King and several prominent officers led by the Blood Demon Doctor had been defeated, in sheer numbers the Blackfin Crew grew larger!

Also, compared to killing, the Blackfin Crew favored capturing the living.

Both Black Whale Blood research and rift exploration required lots of living people.

Those who came here were none other than the recently famed, battle-hardened pirates of the Blackfin Crew!

Anyone who could land here would receive direct reward from the Pirate Emperor, the great Whale Father!

Now that the two of the Seven Sea Pirate generals—the Dragon Tamer King and Gunfire Queen Carol—had been defeated, many ambitious pirates coveted the merit to replace those generals!

However, these power-hungry pirates paid little attention to the rewards!

Instead, all their gazes were fixed on the Ferryman of the Underworld River and the battered Black Death Doctor beside him.

Black Death Doctor had escaped…

Inside the Great Sea Coffin, Black Death Doctor and Big Mom Carol failed to stop the Black Hunter!

Moreover, according to their latest intelligence, the legendary Ice Witch had returned to her Witch Sea!

The pirates of the Blackfin Crew were mad for gold and hungry for power!

But they were not without awe for true might.

That was the Ice Witch who had allegedly slain countless pirates!

If one day they were to become the Ice Witch’s victims, no gift would matter.

No one would follow a pirate crew destined for annihilation.

“Ah, ah, Black Hunter, Black Hunter, Black Hunter~”

Black Death Doctor stepped off the ship, dragging his exhausted body and repeatedly lamenting:

“Black Hunter, if only you were mine—how wonderful! How wonderful! How wonderful!”

The battered Black Death Doctor shuffled along, looking pitiful.

His spiritual detection could feel that no one was more suited to receive the Great Whale’s true blood than the Black Hunter!

If he could join the Blackfin Crew, he would become a blade as sturdy as the Blood Hunter!

But there are no ifs, there are no ifs... Black Death Doctor clutched his wounds.

At that moment, a pirate who had just advanced to fourth-tier Hammer-affinity Artillery Specialist sneered:

“Black Death Doctor, you’re really a mess. With the help of Lord Azure Beast, you still couldn’t bring back a mere Black Hunter.

You’re done for, old man!”

A mere Black Hunter—are you serious? Black Death Doctor turned, rage and bloody phlegm in his throat.

A newly promoted junior dared mock him and mock the Black Hunter!

But his injuries were too severe;

his current spiritual energy couldn’t punish the rogue.

He could only roar:

“Shut your foul mouth!! You bastard!!!”

“Old thing!”

The newly promoted Hammer-affinity pirate, flush with recent achievements, showed no respect. He suddenly pulled out a firearm, aimed at Black Death Doctor’s rear, and pulled the trigger!

A spiral extraordinary bullet carrying a ten-meter storm flame burst forth instantly!

Spiral Storm Shell!

“Quiet.”

However, with a single snap of the fingers, the bullet vanished into utter darkness.

A heavy voice came from the dense fog in the distance.

Clap clap clap clap!

The many brutal pirates instantly stopped fighting, and as if worshipping a god, collectively dropped to their knees and pressed their heads into the ground.

Though they immediately expressed reverence, every body still suffered intense pain!

Every Blackfin Crew elder bore the Black Whale toxin!

And the trigger for that poison was controlled by a cold-blooded monster.

That voice did not belong to anyone else but the pirate king of this Witch Sea, the ruler of the Blackfin Crew—the Whale Father!

No one dared defy the Whale Father, no one looked him in the eye when he was angry.

Step, step, step.

Through the thick fog, the Whale Father’s towering figure slowly appeared.

He held a battered lantern, standing at the fog’s edge, looking down at the pirates from a lofty height.

Fear filled everyone’s eyes.

In their impression, the Whale Father rarely left his pirate throne!

For him to appear before them today meant something major had occurred.

They felt no spiritual field from the Whale Father, yet unprecedented terror gripped them.

Especially Black Death Doctor, soaked in cold sweat, his aged body trembling uncontrollably.

This fear rivaled directly facing the Ice Witch!

Boom!

He smashed his head into the ground:

“Great Whale Father, I am ashamed of your training. We failed to stop the Ice Witch’s resurrection! We failed to bring back the Black Hunter…”

Having failed such an important mission, Black Death Doctor did not know how to make amends.

“I am willing to pay everything to atone for my sins!”

Faced with the Ice Witch’s return, the tall shadow in the fog showed no excess emotion.

He seemed to have foreseen everything. He walked a few steps and asked calmly:

“Do you know why this sea is called the Witch Sea?”

Why? The people heard the question and thought, puzzled.

There were many legends about the origin of the Witch Sea’s name. The most famous involved the Ice Witch’s help to the Witch Sea and the First Witch’s thirteen Witch profession cards.

Before a definitive answer appeared, no one dared speak.

Then the Whale Father answered himself:

“Once, this sea was the Ice Witch’s sacred domain. Because of that, witches could foresee this sea’s past and future…”

“She was truly a prophet, or rather, a genuine demigod…”

Demigod!? Cold sweat ran down Black Death Doctor’s face.

He’d heard that familiar term again.

Just surpassing a single rank—Lord Azure Beast—made his cells tremble;

he couldn’t imagine a being two ranks higher than the Azure Beast!

The pirates exchanged looks.

They’d never heard the Ice Witch called a demigod before.

But without further explanation, they could feel the weight of the word settling on them like a mountain.

Under the Whale Father’s description, their fear of the Ice Witch deepened.

Many were already prepared to wash their hands of piracy and flee to the Witch.

But before that, they had to survive the Whale Father’s fury!

Black Death Doctor buried his head lower:

“Whale Father, I was too ignorant. It was my fault…”

Bang!

They all imitated Black Death Doctor and bowed their heads even lower.

Unexpectedly to Black Death Doctor, the Whale Father showed no anger.

He continued in that heavy voice:

“As the Witch and Prophet, she foresaw everything long ago. In her fate, all becomes fact…

And she possesses the miracle to rewrite destiny.

Your defeat is a set fact.”

Destiny becomes fact;

destiny rewritten… Black Death Doctor swallowed.

In the Whale Father’s eyes, the Ice Witch’s resurrection could not be prevented by him!

He could only whisper:

“Then what should we do?”

Panic had already taken hold;

they feared this legendary Witch.

Suddenly, the Whale Father let out a laugh—a proud, arrogant laugh!

“Destiny can be defied. Over the long ages, the Ice Witch has grown weaker, and her power is insignificant before true power.”

Insignificant? The pirates’ faces filled with confusion!

That was the Ice Witch—the prophet of this sea!

Before what kind of being would the Ice Witch appear insignificant?

The Whale Father, reading their minds, answered:

“A true ancient god that does not belong to this world.”

Ancient god…

At the instant his words fell, time seemed to freeze!

A long, frozen moment.

The Whale Father’s last words reflected in every pirate’s mind.

Then, in a call that pierced souls, everyone lifted their heads.

Above the unfathomable sky, an endless black vortex reflected back at them.

The vortex had no boundary, its sight made all minds tremble, and it devoured every ounce of their pride.

That vortex—

was the eye of the Whale.