Chapter 25 : The Merfolk Monster

On the battlefield, blood and rage filled every corner. The song of the shell spirits resonated through the waves, like a powerful shockwave sweeping across the entire battlefield. The sound was clear and melodic, yet it carried an indescribable force. Its melody was like a deep-sea lullaby, penetrating all obstacles and deeply touching every soul.

The merfolk warriors were enveloped by the power of this melody. Their eyes grew dazed, and their bodies lost all rational control. The anger within them was diminished by the song, replaced by an uncontrollable impulse. The long-suppressed bloodlust erupted, and the merfolk warriors charged toward the human army, accompanied by the sounds of shredding screams and blood.

In that moment, the tides of the battle reversed.

On the human side, however, the situation was quite the opposite. The once tense and wary soldiers, guided by the song, fell into a deep confusion. Their rationality began to blur, and the hatred in their hearts was entirely eclipsed. They began attacking the merfolk, and former enemies instantly became objects of hatred. The human army surged toward the merfolk warriors, and blood and water intertwined, as thousands of lives were caught in the vortex of fate in that instant.

Dan's eyes were bloodshot. Holding twin daggers, an uncontrollable fury radiated from him. He watched as the situation on the battlefield changed, quickly swimming toward the young lord. The young lord, amidst the chaos, appeared even angrier. His sword glowed with flashes of light, swinging toward Dan as he charged.

"You lowly merfolk!" the young lord shouted, his sword aimed directly at Dan's chest.

Dan met the attack with his daggers, the sound of clashing blades echoing across the surface of the sea. Every strike was filled with power, fueled by immense anger and hatred. Their battle grew more intense, with blades flashing and no moment of respite.

Meanwhile, Leo stood at the edge of the battlefield, witnessing everything unfold, but feeling helpless. His eyes were locked onto the endless conflict, his heart filled with confusion and powerlessness. The broken sword in his hand seemed to have lost all meaning. The once firm resolve and courage he had now seemed to be swallowed by a deep, consuming sense of uncertainty.

At that moment, an unfamiliar and powerful force rose from the depths of the sea, and Leo suddenly felt an invisible pull dragging him into the water.

He looked down sharply, and the water before him immediately became blurry. The sea engulfed his body, pulling him swiftly downward. Leo struggled desperately, but no matter how he fought, that force held him firmly. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, a warm light suddenly illuminated the surroundings.

It was the glow of the Tide Sanctuary Tree.

Leo widened his eyes in shock. His body was enveloped by a mysterious force as he descended rapidly into the depths. The surrounding water pressure seemed to vanish, replaced by a sense of ethereal lightness.

Before him, the branches of the Tide Sanctuary Tree transformed into the shape of a mermaid. Her crystalline scales flickered with a faint glow in the water, as if she were a deity born from the deep sea. Her deep eyes gazed at Leo, the corners of her mouth curving upward in a gentle smile.

"Leo, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Leo froze for a moment, confused. "You... know me?"

The mermaid's gaze softened, and she nodded slowly. "We've never met, but I've seen you in Dan's memories."

Leo still couldn't understand, his heart pounding as if some premonition told him that what she said next would decide everything.

The mermaid spoke softly, "Leo, I have a request to make."

"Go ahead," Leo replied, still puzzled, but some unspoken emotion began to stir within him.

The mermaid continued slowly, "I hope you can stop this conflict. The bloodshed between humans and merfolk has gone on long enough."

Leo furrowed his brow, his gaze shifting toward the distant battlefield. A heavy thought weighed on his mind. "How can I do that?"

The mermaid smiled faintly. "I will lend you my power."

As her words ended, the branches of the Tide Sanctuary Tree began to move. They coiled around Leo's broken sword like tendrils. In an instant, the surface of the broken sword glowed with the patterns of waves, and those patterns gently rippled with the movement of the tides, as if merging with the ocean itself.

"This is..." Leo murmured to himself, feeling a new power surge within him, resonating with the very force of the sea.

"Go," the mermaid's voice was soft yet firm. "Only you can change this."

Leo steadied himself, took a deep breath, and turned his gaze upward once more.

He leaped out of the water, propelled by the power of the waves, and soared back into the heart of the battlefield.

In that moment, Leo raised his broken sword.

The entire battlefield seemed to pause for a moment. All eyes turned to him. His eyes shone with a resolute light, and his voice carried an overwhelming sense of determination. "Stop!"

His voice boomed like thunder over the surface of the sea, shaking the hearts of all who heard it.

"There is no end to this war between humans and merfolk! If this continues, we will all perish!"

His voice grew louder, carrying an undeniable force. "Both humans and merfolk have blood on their hands. Every swing of the sword, every killing blow, is a desecration of life. We must stop this, stop this endless hatred!"

His words echoed across the battlefield. Though the air still reeked of blood, as he swung his broken sword, a mysterious power seemed to suppress the violence in the air.

He called out again, "If you continue to kill, you will drag the entire world down with you. We should not let more innocent lives be sacrificed in this sea!"

Leo's words were like a sharp blade, piercing into the hearts of everyone on the battlefield. Even the most enraged warriors could not ignore the power behind his words. After a brief moment of silence, the fighting around them came to a halt, and a tense atmosphere filled the air. Even the young lord was momentarily stunned. His gaze involuntarily shifted toward Leo, as if contemplating the meaning of his words.

At that moment, a sharp flash of cold light cut through the air.

Dan suddenly leaped from behind the young lord, his twin blades crossing as he ruthlessly stabbed toward the young lord's chest. Although the young lord reacted quickly, he clearly hadn't anticipated Dan's sudden attack. The gleaming, cold blade pierced straight through the young lord's chest, and blood spurted out.

"Die! Pay for my grandmother's life!" Dan's voice was full of hatred, with an uncontrollable rage in his tone.

The young lord coughed violently, raising a hand to grip the sword's blade tightly. Despite the blood pouring from his chest, he showed no fear, instead sneering slightly: "Pay for my life? My life is worth much more than yours!"

Before he finished speaking, his body suddenly trembled.

The young lord's internal power exploded!

A powerful wave of energy erupted from his body, causing the air pressure to skyrocket. Dan was sent flying by the force, crashing into the rock wall of the coast, instantly losing consciousness.

This shockwave not only threw Dan back, but also knocked all the human and merman warriors on the battlefield to the ground. Even far-off Broken Wind City felt the intense tremor. Many people were awakened from their sleep, confused and unsure of what was happening outside.

The young lord's body began to undergo a terrifying transformation. As his energy continued to surge, his body rapidly expanded, his muscles twisting violently, growing larger and larger, until he eventually transformed into a ten-meter-tall merman monster!

His eyes turned completely blood-red, filled with madness and rage. He let out a terrifying roar, a deafening sound that seemed to tear the entire sea apart.

The human and merman warriors standing still were all frozen in place. They had never witnessed such a horrifying sight. Almost everyone was stunned by the overwhelming power, unable to move.

This monster was no longer the young lord; he had become a creature completely controlled by power, having lost all reason and humanity. He growled lowly, filled with endless bloodlust, and charged directly into the battlefield between the human and merman forces.

With each step, the sea was lifted by a massive force, creating towering waves. Every tremor knocked the surrounding warriors off balance. The monster began attacking indiscriminately, whether human or merman, everyone became his target.

"Run!" someone screamed in terror, but against such a beast, all attempts to flee seemed hopeless. The human warriors scattered in all directions, trying to evade the monster's attacks, and the merman warriors also began to retreat.

However, the monster showed no sign of stopping. It seemed to have completely lost its mind, frantically scanning its surroundings with its blood-red eyes, attacking and destroying everything in sight.

The residents of Broken Wind City finally poured out into the streets. Seeing this scene, they were terrified, their faces turning pale as they scrambled back into the city, hoping to escape the monster's wrath. The monster, clearly drawn to the densely packed crowd, suddenly turned around and charged toward them.

"Back! Get into the city!" someone screamed, leading the crowd in a panic toward the city gates, but their escape was no match for the monster's pursuit. It closed in with every step, a raging beast freed from its chains.

Finally, the monster entered Broken Wind City, ruthlessly starting its rampage. The buildings in the city were kicked aside with a single swipe, the streets collapsed under its massive form, and the city walls cracked under its attack.

The guards attempted to resist, but their swords and arrows were nearly useless against the monster. Its body seemed covered in thick armor, and all their attacks had no effect on it.

The mages tried casting spells, but the monster's enormous body and the explosive energy it emitted completely neutralized their magic. The magic's light seemed insignificant before the creature.

At this moment, Luna and the city lord appeared. She stood closely behind the city lord, her eyes fixed on the monster. Her heart shook with shock as she followed the creature's movements. Suddenly, she realized—the massive monster was none other than the young lord she had seen on the battlefield earlier.

"That... that's the young lord!" Luna's voice trembled, unable to believe her eyes.

The city lord was equally stunned. He had never expected the young lord to transform into such a creature. His heart was filled with a tangle of emotions.

The monster seemed to recognize the city lord as well. Its eyes suddenly glowed brighter, and its blood-red pupils locked onto the city lord.

The creature's body trembled violently, and it let out a low growl: "You can't see me! You will never see me..."

The monster's eerie words sent chills down everyone's spine. It was as if those words were an explosion of some suppressed emotion deep within it. Its gaze was filled with endless pain and rage, as if it wanted to destroy the entire world.

Then, with a wild lunge, the monster charged toward the city lord, as though intending to destroy everyone who had ever harmed it.

"Quick! Get away!" Luna shouted, pulling the city lord to safety, narrowly avoiding the monster's attack.

The monster continued to let out frantic roars, repeating those same words: "You can't see me! You will never see me..." With each insane repetition, it became even more violent, entirely devoid of reason, driven only by destruction and rage.