Soulless

''Is that...'' A single question mark appeared floating over Jax head. But it only took a second before that question mark turned into a big exclamation point.

The blurry silhouette slowly clarified until it finally became vividly visible in his eyes. Jax subconsciously took a step back, his trembling finger rising to point at the apparition.

''A...A... A... Mermaid? Another mermaid??!'' Jax uttered, terrifying thoughts intruded his mind as he refused to believe the truth laid before him.

If it was a mermaid, then the implication was clear. That mermaid must be here for the rescue of her beloved kin.

''King...'' Jax was just about to ask King about what to do now, but it appeared like this person was more worried than he was.

Without saying anything, King formed intricate hand seals at the speed that could escape the notice of human eyes. A spherical, purple barrier then materialized around them, its glass-like surface glinting in the light.

King gritted his teeth, his heart pounded hard relentlessly as his worry only grew stronger. He knew well at that moment that whatever valiant effort he pulled out this time, would only be deemed futile against the formidable foe that just arrived.

''Hurry up, Jax! Use the Teleportation Scroll now!'' King's desperate voice rose above the tension. ''This meager barrier won't hold for long!''

The only way he could think of to get away from this dangerous situation was for them to flee from that place.

And only the Teleportation Scroll in the hand of that brat could help them.

Just then, a chilling voice pierced the air with a furious echo.

''Presumptuous,'' the voice hissed, laden with anger, malice, and hints of pain and sorrow. ''How dare you, mere brats of the puny human race, touch the princess with your dirty hands? This is unforgivable.''

The Royal Knight finally arrived, the same lady in which the Queen, Nerissa's mother, had given her order to.

Unfortunately, her arrival caused her to face the unsightly, her presence was marked by an unsettling aura.

Seeing the unpleasant situation of the Princess, her emotions threatened to boil over. She beheld the princess's wrecked pathetic state, and her sanity teetered on the brink.

Janaica, the Royal Knight ordered to save the princess, as well as the commander of the Palace's third army, didn't spare any more mercy and waste any more seconds. She waved her hand to the side, condensing water into a slender, serpentine shape. Then, shortly after, the water coalesced into a slender weapon — its power and might unmistakable.

It was a glaive that seemed to hold devastating power and unyielding might.

Swoosh!

Janaica swung her glaive in a horizontal arc, unleashing a powerful slash. The air screeched, it was on the verge of tearing apart. The attack generated a menacing wind blade that hurtled toward King's barrier.

King gritted his teeth, bracing himself for the impact. He hoped his barrier would hold long enough for Jax to use the Teleportation Scroll.

Boom!

The glaive's strike crashed against the barrier, giving off strong vibrates and sending shockwaves through the air. The barrier shuddered but held firm, though King stumbled back, spitting blood from the backlash.

Janaica's eyes narrowed, a cold smile spreading across her face. "Oh? You've got a nice shield there? I wonder how long you can endure."

After which, she raised her glaive again and readied yet another assault.

King, foreseeing the impending danger, had his eyes blazed with urgency as he shouted at Jax, "What the hell are you staring at? Hurry up and use the scroll!"

He clenched his teeth with more fury as another assault banged his barrier.

But this time, it didn't end with just a single attack.

Janaica, seeing the barrier was somewhat sturdy, unleashed a flurry of attacks as her glaive sliced through the air in deadly arcs. The barrier creaked under the onslaught, waves of blades crashing against it relentlessly.

Until finally, small cracked appeared. King's strength waned, his knees buckling as he collapsed with his knees to the ground. He glared at the mermaid before him as he couldn't help but curse, ''Damn it, if only I was in my peak strength...''

''Hmph, it seems like this is how far your barrier can hold on.'' Janaica uttered, her tone remained cold. She didn't play around any longer as she rushed forward like a fish swimming through the flow of water. ''Then, this is good bye.''

When she covered enough distance, she hoisted her glaive aloft, grasping it firmly with both hands. A churning sphere of water erupted before the blade, its turbulent spin radiating an aura of ruthless intent.

With preparations complete, Janaica unleashed her devastating finale. Channeling the turbulent water sphere, she slashed her glaive at the glass barrier with unrelenting force.

This time, the barrier's demise was absolute. The glaive's blow proved too potent, and the barrier exploded into a thousand shards, scattering in all directions as it utterly disintegrated.

King's body spasmed, expelling a final, bloody cough. His vision began to blur, fading to black as he watched helpless, while the mermaid breached the shattered barrier.

The outcome was no surprise, yet King couldn't shake the feeling of despair.

''Damn it, brat,'' King muttered, his voice barely audible. ''If only you'd used the scroll sooner... Now, it's too late. We're done for.''

Swoosh!

Janaica raised her glaive, its tip hovering menacingly over King. Her icy stare bore down on him, filled with contempt and disdain, as if he was a reprehensible criminal worthy only of execution.

Her gaze didn't even flicker toward Jax, standing behind King. In her eyes, he was beneath notice, too insignificant to warrant her attention.

Janaica's lips parted, and she began to pronounce judgment: "Your greatest sin is..."

But before she could utter another word, a sudden, shocking interruption left her wordless.

The human brat, who had been kneeling before her in a pitiful state, suddenly vanished into thin air. Janaica's eyes snapped wide in astonishment, her gaze frantically scanning the empty space where King had once been.

What was going on? Janaica's confusion intensified. Even the second brat, who had been standing behind King, had vanished as well. Her suspicions simmered, and she carefully surveyed her surroundings, honing her senses to pinpoint the whereabouts of the two missing insects.

But her efforts yielded nothing. It wasn't as if they had turned invisible. It was as if they had been erased from existence altogether. Janaica's doubts lingered, her mind struggling to comprehend the inexplicable disappearance.

There was only one plausible explanation for their sudden disappearance. Those insufferable brats must have teleported away!

"Damn it!" Janaica's anger boiled over, and with a swift, deadly motion, she swung her glaive in a horizontal arc. The air seemed to shudder as a powerful shockwave erupted from the blade, slicing through the trees before her like paper. The sound of splintering wood and crashing branches filled the air. Janaica's rage seethed beneath the surface — How dare those brat escape right under her nose?!

This was unacceptable!

Just as Janaica teetered on the brink of unleashing her full fury, her gaze fell upon something that instantly doused her rage, replacing it with worry and fear. Her expression transformed, and she hastened towards the sight with her urgency palpable.

"Princess!" Janaica cried out, relief washing over her as she spotted the princess's limp form. Thankfully, the human brats had left her behind in their hasty escape. Janaica rushed to the princess's side, gently lifting her into her arms to assess her condition.

But Janaica's relief was short-lived, however, as a far more ominous discovery awaited her. Though the princess still drew breath, her lifeless eyes and limp form made her seem more corpse than living being. Desperate for answers, Janaica attempted to revive her by channeling her own energy into the princess. But the result only confirmed her darkest fears: the princess's condition was even more dire than she had initially thought.

The princess had no soul!

Janaica's worst fears were confirmed. The revelation ignited a fury within her, and she threw back her head, unleashing a blood-curdling scream that shattered the forest's tranquility. The ear-piercing cry echoed through the Forest of Rain, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it.

"Find those insolent wretches!" Janaica bellowed, her voice dripping with venom. "They cannot have gone far! Track them down, no matter the cost!"

Her voice carried far and wide, a command to the army that trailed behind her. Though they were momentarily out of sight, Janaica knew her forces were closing in, their numbers swelling like a dark tide as they marched to catch up with her breakneck pace.

She had outstripped them temporarily, but Janaica was confident that her army would soon be at her heels, ready to carry out her every order. And now, with the princess's soul torn from her body, Janaica's command was clear: find those responsible, and bring them to justice.

The army that emerged from the distance was a sight to behold. Each warrior was clad in shimmering, scale-like armor that covered them from head to fishtail. They rode atop majestic, horse-sized seahorses that glided effortlessly across the land.

A closer look revealed the unmistakable features of mermen and mermaids, their piercing gazes and flowing locks a testament to their aquatic heritage. As Janaica's command reached them, they sprang into action, fanning out in all directions to execute her orders.

The urgency in their commander's cry had conveyed the gravity of the situation, and they responded with a speed and ferocity that was both beautiful and terrifying to behold.