Ashes Of Deep Sea
Chapter 677 - Chapter 677 Chapter 674 The Fifth Ark

Chapter 677: Chapter 674 “The Fifth Ark Chapter 677: Chapter 674 “The Fifth Ark In the boundless and chaotic darkness, Helena, Rune, Banster, and Frem’s soul projections were gathering together.

The four pontiffs had completed all communications prior to the gathering, yet they had not dispersed–because the divine guidance that had ultimately descended still left them perplexed and uneasy.

Just moments ago, when choosing the location for the meeting, the gods had simultaneously sent a strong signal, though the “signal” was still mixed with vast and chaotic noise, and all four Pilgrimage Arks had been definitively ruled out.

In the guidance “They” had laid down, Helena, Rune, and the others were instructed to head to “The Fifth Ark.”

Helena lowered her head, in this darkness constructed by Psychic Resonance, a flame burned illusorily in her line of sight. She stared at the flame, taking a long time before cautiously speaking, “…The Fifth Ark… What does it bring to your mind?”

“What else could it be?” Rune shook his head, “The answer is almost calling out, besides the four Church Arks, there is only one other ship that could be referred to as ‘The Fifth Ark.'”

“To be honest, for the first time in my life, I am somewhat doubting the results of the oracle,” Banster hesitated for several seconds before finally raising his head and speaking to the others, “We indeed agreed to invite that captain, but to set such a crucial gathering on ‘that ship’? It was not in the plan, and the will the Saint has descended this time seems a bit… strange, don’t you think? We haven’t heard such a clear and strong voice in many years…”

“This is ‘Their’ urging, Banster,” Frem’s voice was deep and calm, “We all know time is short–‘They’ know it as well.”

Helena slightly tilted her head to glance at Banster, “You aren’t still bothered by the ‘Homeloss’ incident, are you?”

“Of course not,” Banster immediately shook his head, “It’s been so many years, I don’t really care about that ship anymore, I’m just being cautious… Of course, these are just my personal thoughts, and can’t change the command we have received–the revelation about ‘The Fifth Ark’ has already been passed along with the divine will, really there’s no other choice.”

In the dark space, all four pontiffs fell silent simultaneously.

Helena lowered her head again, steadfastly gazing at the flame burning illusorily in her line of sight–she knew, in her heart, there was also a cautiousness and even doubt similar to Banster’s, but she chose to unconditionally trust the guidance of the Storm Goddess.

In this silent and prolonged gazing, she seemed to see the illusory flame in her field of vision gradually rising, then dispersing silently. The undulating fire seemed to turn into a gentle sea, the tides ebbing and flowing before her eyes, a vast and ancient illusion gradually approaching her from the tides.

The illusion of the Storm Goddess emerged from the darkness, and an even larger, more indescribable “reality” floated behind the goddess. This overlapping existence gently reached out to Helena, Helena felt many cold, complex touches contacting her soul, entwining her mind, whispering in her ear–

“While time still remains…”

The illusion of the tide receded, and the gentle sound of sea waves also faded from her ears.

“Go make preparations,” Helena raised her head, her gaze calm as she looked at the others, “Go inform the bishops who will be joining us at the gathering, notify the crew on the ark, tell them about ‘The Fifth Ark,’ everyone needs some mental preparation–but also tell them, preparation time is limited.”

“Also, don’t forget to inform them about some common knowledge regarding ‘that ship’,” Rune then added, “It’s nothing like the familiar Church Arks, I don’t want anyone stepping onto ‘that ship’ and causing an embarrassing misunderstanding because of a shock.”

“If the popularization is not adequate, there are too many bizarre things on that ship, Fenna still tells me some incredible new situations every now and then,” Helena waved her hand, “Just directly tell those preparing for the gathering, no matter what you see on that ship, even if someone is cooking their own head in a pot, don’t make a sound, just treat it as a natural phenomenon.”

“Before we discuss these, we better first get in touch with that captain,” Frem, who hadn’t spoken much till now, suddenly added, “We’ve already designated his ship as the meeting place on our own accord, without even asking the owner’s opinion.”

Rune nodded, “Of course. Moreover, we need to arrange boarding procedures and personnel transportation, the meeting procedures might also need urgent adjustment… Since the meeting place is set outside the four Pilgrimage Arks, many things will differ from the plan.”

“A lot of stuff indeed…” Helena sighed wearily, her voice trailing off as she waved her hand, her figure gradually disappearing into the darkness, “I’ll go contact my saints…”

“I need to talk with my students too,” Rune said, following suit, his figure also vanishing.

Soon, only Banster and Frem were left in the dark space.

“See you in the actual dimension.” Like a rock giant, Frem waved his hand, turning and disappearing into the deep darkness.

Banster shrugged his shoulders.

“I really didn’t pay attention… why does no one believe me…”

“What?! They’re coming to this ship? The bunch of popes and bishops?!” In the captain’s cabin of the Homeloss, the goat-headed figure who had been chatting with his other head was startled by Duncan’s sudden return and the news he brought, “Have they taken the wrong medication?”

“Don’t look at me, I’m surprised too,” Duncan glanced at the goat head and said casually, “But the message has been confirmed, it’s even the ‘will of the Four Gods’–all four Pilgrimage Arks have been ruled out, and the final gathering place was chosen on ‘The Fifth Ark.'”

He paused, his expression slightly peculiar, “The Homeloss is ‘The Fifth Ark.'”

“…Aha, those Doomsday Preachers call the Homeloss ‘Ark of Promise’, and now those who worship the Four Gods have tagged us with ‘The Fifth Ark’, the once infamous Homeloss has now become a good place…” the goat head swung its head, obviously with a mocking tone, “If this keeps going, they might start saying you’re a good person, is that how they insult someone…”

Duncan: “…”

After holding back for two or three seconds, he finally couldn’t resist, “I advise you to pay a bit more attention to your sense of right and wrong, at least you’ve recovered some of Saslouka’s ‘essence’. You make it hard for me to connect you with the Creator from the Second Long Night.”

“It didn’t turn out back then,” the goat head grumbled, “and the one who did turn out isn’t doing much better–‘The Saint’ is still stuck in the channel between the Mysterious Deep Sea and Subspace. According to A-dog’s description, it’s like being stuck in a flushing toilet…”

Duncan felt unable to continue communicating with this goat head–how could his words suddenly carry so much sarcasm?

“Don’t feel offended by my words, I just think this whole thing is a bit weird,” the goat head probably noticed the nuance on the captain’s face and added a few words, “Those crazy Doomsday Preachers calling Homeloss the ‘Ark of Promise’ is one thing, but now those in a suspicious state among the Four Gods suddenly transmitted some ‘divine will,’ even saying Homeloss is ‘The Fifth Ark’ outside the four Pilgrimage Arks… this all feels a bit off.”

The goat head muttered and turned its head on the base, eyeing Duncan seriously.

“‘Ark’ has a special meaning in the Endless Sea; universally acknowledged arks are only four, apart from the four Church Arks, any ship claiming to be an ‘ark’ is heretical. And now Homeloss suddenly being labeled ‘The Fifth Ark,’ I feel like they’re pushing Homeloss into danger… Of course, it seems we’ve been solving a variety of crises all this time…”

Listening to the goat head’s rambling, Duncan’s expression didn’t change much. Only when the other paused did he casually ask, “The ‘they’ in your words, are you referring to the four main churches, or the ‘Four Gods’ behind them?”

The goat head paused: “…Is there a difference? The four main churches are the executors of the Four Gods’ will, in layman’s terms, the lackeys…”

“There is a difference,” Duncan shook his head, “If you are referring to the four main churches, then they probably don’t have the ability to push Homeloss into danger–but if you refer to the ‘Four Gods’ behind the churches, then I am indeed very interested in them. If the arrangement of ‘The Fifth Ark’ is something the Four Gods want to do, then that would be very good.”

The goat head had no words in response: “…”

However, Duncan suddenly became curious, he scrutinized the goat head from top to bottom, “Aren’t you interested at all? As the former ‘Dreaming King,’ having recovered part of Saslouka’s memory, aren’t you curious about your former ‘colleagues’?”

“Not interested at all,” the goat head thought seriously, swinging its head left and right, “I haven’t recovered the memories from the Great Annihilation through to the Deep Sea Era, so to me, the so-called ‘Kings’ are just a completely unfamiliar concept… Maybe it’s a pity, but I don’t feel regretful.”

Duncan looked at the goat head seriously, but finally said nothing.

He came behind the navigation table and sat down in the chair.

“I brought back Nina and Morris, as ‘witnesses’ who personally saw the Great Annihilation, they will also attend this meeting.

“I accepted the invitation of the Four Gods’ Church. Now the ship is heading toward the agreed place near Light Breeze Harbor–Brilliant Starship will rendezvous with us there. Lucrecia will bring a group of her servants aboard to help us prepare for the meeting.

“Speed up, let’s go to the meeting.”