Chapter 478: Loading the Soul
"Captain Ryuunosuke, it seems you understand what I mean," came Roy's voice from the Den Den Mushi. "So, what are your thoughts?"
Ryuunosuke leaned back in his chair, the sea breeze drifting through the open cabin window. "Thoughts? Not many. But if Mr. Roy wanted cooperation, you could've just said so from the start."
He smiled faintly. This old fox had clearly been waiting for him to call. Ryuunosuke didn't want to, but letting Roy run wild unchecked would be an even bigger headache.
"Heh, we had our little disagreements before. Hard to talk openly, you know?" Roy chuckled. "But since you've called, I'll take that as a sign of goodwill. How about we work together—take out that woman Lilith?"
"Lilith?" Ryuunosuke's expression hardened.
That name wasn't one to mention lightly. Lilith—the entity the Guardians worshiped and protected. If what Roy was suggesting was true, the Guardians' mysterious power might originate from her.
"You know about her, then?" Roy continued.
"I know enough," Ryuunosuke replied calmly. "But a vague offer doesn't exactly convince me."
"You'll have time to think it over," Roy interrupted. "I'm already on my way. I should reach your ship by tomorrow morning. Wait for me."
The line went dead.
Ryuunosuke sighed, rubbing his temple. "Unbelievable… either that man's too confident or he's really seen the future."
He chuckled to himself. "Fine, I'll wait for you, Roy."
Whether they'd actually cooperate was another story. For now, having Roy nearby would at least keep the seas quiet. Still, there had to be a reason he'd turned against the Guardians. Something deeper was at play.
"Captain, it's about time," came King's voice through the transponder. "Should I begin?"
"I'm coming," Ryuunosuke answered.
---
On deck, King was kneeling beside a motionless body. The man's eyes were empty, lifeless—but his body was intact.
"What happened?" Ryuunosuke asked, stepping closer.
"His soul was devoured by the Lance of Life," King said flatly. "All that's left is the shell. If we inject a soul, he'll become a loyal war servant."
Ryuunosuke's brows furrowed. "So this is what your ability does…"
It reminded him faintly of Pain's soul manipulation—but far more refined. King's method extracted the soul without damaging the life essence. That alone was terrifying.
"But where do we find a soul to use?" Ryuunosuke asked. "It's easy to destroy one, but creating one…"
"Merlin can," said Meliodas, stepping forward. "She's already experimented on Gowther's artificial soul. And she finished developing a demon-suppressant potion that stabilizes the process. She should be able to inject one safely."
"Merlin, huh?" Ryuunosuke snapped his fingers.
With a puff of smoke, the ship's scientist appeared on deck, holding a test tube in one hand and a pair of tweezers in the other.
"Captain?" she asked, slightly irritated. "You pulled me away mid-experiment."
"I need your expertise," Ryuunosuke said. He pointed at the lifeless man beside King. "Can you inject a soul into this body?"
Merlin tilted her head, studying the body. "Theoretically, yes. But where's the soul coming from? And it has to belong to someone loyal to us. I can't just rip souls from random crewmates, can I?"
Ryuunosuke fell silent for a moment, thinking. Then his eyes lit up. "Gaino."
"The ship spirit?" Merlin blinked. "You mean the Eternal Ship's spirit?"
"He's a soul without a body," Ryuunosuke said. "And this body's waiting for one. It fits."
He raised his hand, summoning a small glowing figure. Gaino materialized, his form faintly transparent like sea mist.
"Gaino, would you like a body of your own?" Ryuunosuke asked. "A real one."
Merlin gestured to the empty vessel beside them. "It's strong, durable, and capable of channeling your power. With my assistance, it'll become yours completely."
Gaino hesitated, then smiled faintly. "If that's the captain's wish… then yes. I'd like that."
He was more than just a spirit bound to the Eternal Ship—he'd grown, learned, and begun to understand humanity. Yet something had always been missing.
Now, for the first time, he felt whole.
"Let's proceed," Ryuunosuke said, his tone serious. "But if Gaino is harmed in any way, abandon the experiment immediately. His existence takes priority."
Merlin nodded. "Understood, Captain. Come along, little ghost. Let's give you a heartbeat."
She and Gaino disappeared into the lab below deck.
---
"Captain," Meliodas spoke up after a moment of silence. "Leaving Jin's body like that—won't the Evictors notice? If they come for him, should we eliminate them?"
Ryuunosuke shook his head. "No. Our goal isn't to kill. Something's moving behind the scenes… a vortex that's pulling everything in. What we want is the Heart of Infinity. As long as the Evictors don't interfere with that—or threaten those I care about—I'll let them live."
He looked out toward the horizon, where the morning light met the sea.
"Troublesome old men, scheming gods, restless monsters…" He sighed quietly. "I just want the world to hold together long enough to reach the end."
"Understood, Captain," Meliodas said, bowing slightly before leaving.
As the crew resumed training across the deck, Ryuunosuke turned toward the sea. The ship's gold-lined sails shimmered under the dawn light.
In a flicker of shadow, he vanished from sight—leaving only the whisper of his voice echoing in the breeze.
"Let's see what kind of world we'll face next."
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