Chapter 103: Strange Emissary

[Third Person's PoV] 

The massive whale shark halted directly above the city, casting an enormous shadow over the area. Almost immediately, the guards mounted on Hippocampi sprang into action.

Their movements were precise and coordinated, as if rehearsed countless times. The Hippocampi descended gracefully in two orderly lines, forming a pathway toward the ground. The door to the grand carriage opened, revealing a figure stepping out.

First, his head emerged—a bulky, muscular man with glistening blue scales plated along his arms, complemented by short, spiked fish-like fins. His skin had a deeper blue hue than the soldiers below him, marking his distinction. His snarling expression exposed sharp fangs, and his long blue hair flowed freely behind him like a cresting wave.

Asta and the others watched with mounting curiosity.

"Is he the one? The one stronger than Vetto?" Asta whispered.

Both Stephen and Luck nodded grimly, their eyes narrowing as they felt the immense power radiating from the newcomer.

"Why are they so tall?" Finral asked, his voice quivering slightly. From a distance, he could already tell their sheer size was unnatural.

The soldiers standing in formation appeared to average over 8 feet tall (2.5 meters), but the towering Behemoth who emerged from the carriage dwarfed them all, standing an imposing 9.8 feet (3 meters).

"Is he royalty?" Noelle asked, noting the stark differences in his appearance and power compared to those around him. "Could he be part of Atlantis's royal family?"

"Worse," Stephen muttered, his gaze fixed on the figure.

"What could be worse than royalty?!" Magna hissed, his surprise evident.

Stephen replied, "Remember, all we did was kill a stupid squid. There's no way the royal family of Atlantis would send someone important over such a minor inconvenience. If I had to guess, he's equivalent to a Magic Knight."

"You're joking, right?" Noelle whispered, her voice laced with unease.

"Stephen's right," Yami said, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "They wouldn't send someone important for such a show of power."

The group felt a chill run down their spines, a collective sense of foreboding washing over them as they processed Yami's words.

The Behemoth floated in the air, his massive frame exuding dominance. Slowly, he began descending, walking between the rows of soldiers with an air of disdain. His fists remained clenched, and his permanent scowl deepened with every step.

As he descended, the soldiers snapped into formation behind him, their movements mechanical and disciplined.

The Behemoth finally touched down amidst the bowing citizens, but he paid them no mind. His gait was slow and deliberate as he made his way through the revenant crowd, each step amplifying the tension in the air.

He stopped in front of an old man, who knelt alongside his son and grandchildren, their heads bowed low.

"We greet the Emissary of the Great Atlantis!" the High Priest declared, his voice reverberating through the air. The greeting was echoed by everyone present, their voices uniting in a synchronized chant.

"Ugh, let's get this over with," the Behemoth grumbled, his deep voice laced with disdain. "To think I have to breathe the same tainted air as you filth… The sooner we finish this, the better." He sneered, his words sharp and venomous. "Are you aware of your sin against our nation?"

The High Priest didn't look up, his voice steady and resolute. "Yes, I am aware."

"That doesn't seem to be the case," the Behemoth snarled. "You subspecies are suspected of treason against our great nation."

"Subspecies?!" Wanda exclaimed softly in disbelief, her voice tinged with shock.

"It is thanks to our kingdom's benevolence that we've allowed this filth-infested town to continue occupying space in the sea," he continued, his tone dripping with venom. "If it were up to me, I would have wiped this entire place off the map."

Kaito clenched his fists tightly, while Kohono bit down on her lip to contain her anger.

"But luckily for you, it isn't up to me. And yet…" He growled, "Instead of singing praises and showing gratitude, you all show your true nature as bottom feeders!"

The entire room could feel the suffocating loathing emanating from him. The pressure was overwhelming, like the air itself was thick with his contempt.

"So, who was it?" he asked in a threatening growl.

There was no need for clarification. They all knew exactly what he meant. Who had killed the Immortal Kraken?

"The Princess was devastated when it perished," he continued in a cold, emotionless voice. "Whoever was responsible must pay."

Gio, the High Priest's son, opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, another voice cut him off.

"It was me!"

All eyes turned to the High Priest, who was standing tall again, gazing up at the towering fish-man.

"I killed it!" the old priest declared with unwavering certainty.

The Black Bulls watched in stunned silence.

"Is he crazy?!" Vanessa hissed, her eyes wide with disbelief. "He's going to get himself killed!"

"Did you now?" His voice dropped low, his smirk sinister. "You wouldn't be lying to Kordath, would you?"

The High Priest met Kordath's gaze without flinching. "It was a mistake on my part. I acted without thinking. I'm growing old, after all. I'm reaching the stage of lunacy."

He lowered his head slightly. "I only ask that you spare everyone else—"

Kordath made a sweeping motion with his hand, silencing him.

The surrounding fell into a suffocating silence.

Kordath raised his hand, and on his palm was the head of the old priest. He snarled at it, his expression twisted in disgust. "There are two things I hate. One: when someone lies to me. Two: when someone tells me what to do."

The body of the old man collapsed, the headless corpse slumping forward, blood pouring from the empty neck.

The Black Bulls stared in horror, unable to comprehend the brutality they had just witnessed.

"GRANDPAAAAA!!!" Kohono and Kaito screamed in anguish, their voices raw with grief.

"DAD!!" Gio shouted, tears streaming down his face.

"YOU BASTARD, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!!" Kaito shouted in pure rage, his eyes burning with hatred, his voice shaking with grief.

Without warning, Kaito rushed at Kordath, drawing his swords, but before he could strike, a guard lunged forward, stabbing Kaito through the chest with brutal efficiency.

"Wha–" Asta muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Noelle, Wanda, and Vanessa gasped in horror, their hands covering their mouths in shock.

Magna's eyes burned with fury, while Charmy, Finral, and Grey were frozen in shock.

Stephen, Luck, and even Yami widened their eyes, stunned by the unfolding chaos.

Kordath turned away, his voice cold and dismissive. "Kill everyone here. Search for the one responsible. It should be those eyes in the tower—they haven't stopped staring at me since we arrived."

With a deafening explosion, the front of the tower shattered, the blast shaking the very ground beneath them.

The Black Bulls rushed forward, their fury burning through them as they charged, shouting in unison, "YOU BASTARD!!!"

*******************************************

+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3