They moved silently through the narrow path behind the walls. The smell of salt, wood, and food filled the air as they reached near the kitchen.
Lumo went ahead. "Wait here," he whispered. "I'll start it."
He slipped inside.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then coughing. Loud voices. Panic.
"Smoke! Smoke in the kitchen!"
Footsteps rushed across the ship. Pots fell. Pirates shouted.
Miku looked at Peggy. "It's working."
Kichy smiled nervously. "Now what?"
Peggy turned to Chikku. "Stay ready."
Chikku closed his eyes. The soft blue glow around him began to grow. The air became damp and heavy, like the edge of the sea before a storm.
Pirates ran past them.
"Call the boss!"
"Check the supplies!"
"The medicine!"
Inside the main room, the box of medicine was already being opened.
"Where is he?" a pirate shouted.
Then the footsteps came. Slow. Heavy. Calm.
The boss had arrived.
He walked in without fear, his sharp eyes scanning everything. "What is happening?" he asked.
"Smoke in the kitchen, sir!"
He moved to the medicine box and opened it. He checked it carefully. Everything was there.
But he didn't close the box.
Something felt wrong.
The air.
Too wet. Too heavy.
Too familiar.
He stopped.
"…No," he whispered.
From the shadows, Chikku stepped forward.
His eyes glowed bright blue. The air around him moved like invisible waves.
The boss stepped back. For the first time, fear appeared on his face.
"You…" he said slowly. "The Lagoon…"
Peggy, Miku, and Kichy stood behind Chikku, ready.
Chikku walked forward, calm and steady.
"You knew," he said.
The boss shook his head. "Stay back!"
"I tried to control it," the boss said, his voice breaking. "I tried to take its power…"
"And the Lagoon rejected you," Chikku replied.
The boss turned to run, but his feet slipped. He fell to his knees. As he tried to stand, his hand reached forward—
And touched Chikku.
Everything went still.
A burst of blue light filled the room, like a wave crashing without water. The air roared. The pirates froze in fear.
The boss tried to scream, but no sound came out. His body shimmered, fading like mist in the sea. His eyes widened… then went empty.
In the next moment, he was gone.
Silence.
Only the sound of the sea remained.
The pirates stepped back in fear. "What was that…?"
"Monster…"
Peggy stepped forward, her voice firm. "It's over. No more stealing. No more fear."
Miku added, "Leave this ship. Or face the same."
Kichy crossed his arms. "Your choice."
The pirates didn't wait. One by one, they ran. Some jumped into boats. Others disappeared below deck.
Soon, the ship was quiet.
Free.
Peggy quickly picked up the medicine. "We got it," she said softly.
Kichy smiled. "Grandma will be okay."
Miku nodded, but his eyes were on Chikku.
Chikku stood near the edge of the ship, looking out at the ocean. The glow around him had softened now, calm and peaceful.
Peggy walked to him. "It's done," she said.
"I can feel it," Chikku replied quietly. "The deep sea is calling me."
Kichy stepped closer. "What do you mean?"
Chikku turned to them. There was no fear in his eyes. Only understanding.
"I am not meant to stay here," he said. "The Lagoon is my home."
No one spoke.
"You're leaving…" Peggy said softly.
Chikku nodded. "If I stay, this power will only grow. I belong there."
Kichy tried to smile. "You'll come back, right?"
Chikku gave a small, gentle smile. "Whenever the sea needs me, I will be there."
He stepped onto the edge of the ship. The wind moved softly. The waves below seemed to wait for him.
"Chikku…" Peggy said.
He looked back one last time. "Now I know who I am."
And then he jumped.
There was no splash. Only a soft blue glow as he disappeared into the sea, becoming one with it.
The waves slowly calmed. The storm faded. The sky began to clear.
Peggy held the medicine tightly. Kichy wiped his eyes. Miku looked at the endless horizon.
Far below, deep in the ocean, a blue light moved silently.
Alive.
Endless.
The Lagoon had returned.
And the sea had its guardian again.