TBH I think it is meant to be the prelude for a suicidal last ditch effort by the MC and last hour added companion. See :
- He is seeing literal death flags on everyone. Including himself :/
- Unlike pretty much everyone, he knows of the Sea God summoning. He knows nothing good will come from it.
- The top talent team sent to scout is ... well , put out of service
- His boss calls him and the remaining 2nd liners to do ... something. Anything.
So what does he do? He literally cuts himself of everything he cares in this world, including his ghostly companion, soldiers on and marches towards a threat no one came back alive and sane enough to tell the story . The situation is so dire than even the death flags run away
... no need for death flags when you're a dead man walking
That said, and tuning down the hint of sarcasm above, it is not a bad ending, but the delivery could had been far better. And yeah, Knife girl was left in the side of story mid chapter ...