Chapter2: Price For Greatness

In a distant world within the Milky Way, on a blue planet with barely any land on it. A strange event was occuring.

This planet was populated by phenomenal amphibious creatures, such that if a human from earth was to see them, they would immediately recognize them as mermaids!

These mermaids were a much more advanced culturally than humans, although they were no where near when you look from a technological perspective. They were still in the tribal era. They haven't yet discovered electrecity.

Although the underwater villages for these incredible beings are still underdeveloped, they are superior in terms of intelligence when compared to humans if you take into cosideration the fact that their species only appeared on this planet within the last one thousand years.

But with great ecological structure, there comes a cost. The social classes for the mermaids are separated by strength. It's a world where only the strong would remain at the top, and the weak would crawl at their feet.

And the ruler of the greatest underwater village was called Sahnim. Sahnim was a decent leader, he wasn't the best but also wasn't the worst. But what made him different from all the leaders of the other underwater villages, was his strength.

And no one dared to compete with him for the title of 'The Strongest'. But one of the other leaders of another village didn't like that, he was the holder of the title of 'The Second Strongest'. His name was Rohng.

Every year, the leaders of all the villages were gathered for a 'meeting'. To the outside world it's called 'The Meeting Of The Greats'. But to the insiders, that's just a front for a battle between all of the strongest people to establish a clear 'Strongest'.

It was a tournament. And when it came for the battle between Sahnim and Rohng, Sahnim was ambushed. He was ganged up on by every other leader.

Two days ago:

Rohng was preparing to leave to the 'meeting', when suddenly, his assisstant reported to him that some of the other leaders came to speak to him personally.

Naturally, Rohng was suspicious of them, after all, for all he knew, they might be here to destroy the village and sacrifice themselves in the process.

Once they entered his office, he gestured for them to sit.

''What are you here for? You know that the 'meeting' is happening in two days.'' Rohng didn't like to go around the subject, so he was very straight forward.

''Impatient as always, are you, Rhong?'' teased one of the leaders named Zaihrin.

''Speak, I don't have the time for you'' Rohng was annoyed by his behaviour.

''Alright, enough chit-chat. We're here to coordinate a plan with you.'' said a leader named Bahndo.

''Go on.'' Rohng's interest was peaked.

'' At the 'meeting', we have got inside information that you will be fighting Sahnim on the first round.'' Bahndo spoke in a very intriguing tone. ''We want you to help us ambush Sahnim'' Bahndo's tone when he said Sahnim's name was casual, as if to say that he's done this before.

Rohng was shocked. Although he hated Sahnim, he did so because he wanted to be the best, he took pride in himself and wouldn't go as low as to ambush his opponent.

''I won't be helping'' Rohng spoke in a very authoritarian manner. He refused to do some dirty tricks to reach the top.

''You don't have a choice in this matter. After all, it would be a real shame if your family was to mysteriously disappear someday, wouldn't it?'' said Bahndo is a sarcastic manner.

''DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY FAMILY'' Rohng's voice boomed and all of the other leaders felt the air becoming thicker by the second.

Bahndo didn't expect this sort of reaction so he was understandably shook. After a few breaths, he spoke again confidantly.

''Don't worry Rohng, your family is safe.'' this confused Rohng greatly, ''It's your lineage that you'll have to worry about. We know that you could defeat all of us, but your children won't, nor would your grandchildren and so on.'' and after a few moments ''Of course we'll keep some of them alive''.

Rohng was seething with rage, but he couldn't do anything. The best outcome of attacking them would be his village being attacked by their's. Suffice to say, he truly didn't have a choice.

Back to the present:

Sahnim was being injured by all kinds of weapons from all angles. After all, no matter how powerful one is, being over overwhelmed is still a possibility. And the longer the battle went on, the more wounds were bulding up on his body.

And after a few minutes, he was finally defeated. And the last thing he saw was a blade coming for his forehead.

After the battle, Sahnim was announced dead to the public. And Rohng was officially pronounced the strongest. Most people didn't really have any opinion on Sahnim's death since strong people died all the time. But Rohng was a hot topic wherever one went. After all, the strongest were always the most popular, and now it was Rohng's turn.

Back at Rohng's office, he was having a tough time. Because on one side, he was happy that he was now the strongest, since that brought more traction for his village. On the other, he was sad, now that he was at the top, there was no one or thing to compete against, he had lost all motivation to get stronger.

And now he was wondering if one day, he too will be assassinnated or ambushed.

And ever since that 'meeting' he had been wary of everyone around him. He stopped going to the 'meetings'. He stopped going outside. For the rest of his life, he never once went outside, afraid of what could happen.

Eventually, he even stopped seeing his family.

The people started questioning if he was alive even, but it was far too late for that.

He was gone, never to be seen again. This was the price for greatness.