Chapter 97: Merfolk

Chapter 97: Merfolk



The Endless Ocean.

Two Kirk ships floated on the water's surface, each a single-deck vessel with square sails and sturdy hulls, designed for stability and cargo capacity. Typically used for sea trade or exploration.

"Swish!"

Ripples appeared on the distant water as several dilapidated Galava ships skimmed across the surface, propelled by oars. These Galava ships excelled in speed and maneuverability, often utilized in naval battles or expeditions.

Merchant ships rarely ventured out alone; they usually traveled in groups with various other vessels.

This was clearly an experienced sea caravan.

"Captain!"

A voice from one of the Galava ships shouted, "We've spotted ruins ahead, likely from a pirate attack. Should we detour?"

The Endless Ocean was not only home to peculiar sea creatures and legendary beasts but also to pirates. Their danger often surpassed that of the former.

"Pirates rarely follow the same route twice," the captain mused, then waved his hand, "Let's take a look."

"Aye!"

The oars moved, and the heavy ship sailed forward under a mysterious force.

Soon, they encountered floating debris, broken planks, and boxes, along with floating corpses.

"There's a survivor!"

The lookout, blessed with the Eagle Eye Seal, had exceptional vision. Among the corpses, he spotted a slowly writhing figure.

"Go!"

The captain ordered, "Bring them aboard. See if they can be revived, and ask what happened."

A small sailboat was released, and a sailor approached the floating body, poking it with an oar.

"Dead!"

He turned back towards the lookout, "Brother, this one's long gone. Your eyes are playing tricks on you."

"Careful!"

A cry of alarm rose with the sea breeze as the sailor spun around, only to see a dark shadow with a trident leaping towards him.

"Pffft!"

The sharp trident pierced the sailor's forehead, puncturing the skull. With a jerk, brain matter and blood splattered.

The sailor's body swayed and slowly collapsed.

In the still-living eyes, a figure was reflected.

The killer was a monster, half-human, half-fish.

Its skin was a dark blue, covered in fish scales, as if eroded by the ocean's dark forces, emitting a cold and cruel aura.

Its eyes were like icy blades, gleaming with ferocity, madness, and bloodlust.

"Hiss... Hiss..."

The monster opened its mouth, revealing a long, slender tongue resembling a snake's, hissing.

"What is that?"

"Merfolk?"

The sudden appearance of the monster resembled the legendary merfolk, but with one key difference—legendary merfolk were known for their wisdom.

This one,

Clearly lacked it!

The captain's brow furrowed.

Encountering unknown monsters in the Endless Ocean was common, but an inexplicable foreboding instinctively made him wave his hand.

"Gunners, prepare!"

"Aye!"

"Fire!"

"Boom!"

A hot cannonball shot out, traveling a hundred meters straight before slamming into the merfolk.

Instantly,

The merfolk was blown to bits by the explosive force.

"Phew..."

The captain's expression relaxed slightly, "Not too strong, and foolishly didn't dodge."

"Hmm?"

Before he could finish, his face suddenly changed.

The calm water ahead rippled with countless ripples, as if swarms of fish were frantically stirring.

"Swish! Swish!"

Merfolk leaped from the water, drawing graceful arcs in the air as they rushed towards the ship.

The merfolk leaped and dived, causing the water to ripple with icy, bone-chilling killing intent.

Their numbers,

Far exceeded a hundred.

There were at least a thousand frenzied monsters, closing in on the ship. The crew's faces turned ashen.

"Turn the ship!"

The captain roared, "Quickly!"

The ship struggled to turn, and by the time it did, merfolk had already reached the deck, climbing aboard.

"Get them off!"

Sailors rushed onto the deck, weapons in hand, shouting as they attacked the merfolk below.

"Swish!"

A merfolk leaped several meters, landing on the deck and brandishing a steel trident, charging at the sailors.

One after another, more merfolk joined the assault.

Only then did the crew get a clear look at their appearance.

The upright merfolk stood over two meters tall, their upper bodies muscular and hard as stone. Each movement exuded power, their fish scales as tough as armor, deflecting most attacks. Their faces seemed melted and crudely reassembled, with distorted and bizarre features.

Even more terrifying,

They emanated a suffocating pressure, filled with madness, bloodlust, and chaos.

Killing,

Seemed to be their instinct.

"Pffft!"

"Ahh!"

Cries and shouts filled the air.

These merfolk, each as strong as a knight's squire, fearless and brutally cruel.

Ordinary sailors were no match; they fell like straw before them.

The captain and his first and second mates, all knights, joined the battle, charging at the merfolk.

The situation reached a stalemate, but with more merfolk climbing aboard, it would soon change.

"Set sail!"

"Aye!"

The captain roared, a sense of danger making his heart race.

"Boom!"

The water exploded, and a terrifying shadow leaped from the depths, its massive body blocking out the sky.

"What is that?"

A sailor stood in awe.

"Boom!"

A colossal object plummeted from the sky, crashing onto the ship's deck and sending the Kirk vessel reeling.

A massive tentacle emerged from the water, coiling around the ship like chains, binding it tightly.

The ship was slowly dragged underwater.

"Escape!"

"Run for it!"

In the blink of an eye, the flagship sank beneath the waves, with the captain and the rest of the crew completely helpless.

The other ships frantically scattered.

"Boom!"

A colossal wave erupted from the water.

Within the waves, numerous Merfolk and terrifying beasts surged like a tide toward the ships.

After several waves crashed over, the ships collapsed one after another, and when the water calmed, only floating planks and corpses remained.

Beneath the floating corpses, Merfolk were tearing at the bodies, devouring flesh, organs, and blood.

Underwater.

Countless dark shadows swam about, resembling weeds, thick and dense.

...

In a certain sea area.

The calm water surface, under the influence of an invisible force, parted to the sides, revealing a navigable passage.

A nearly three-meter-tall, robust Merfolk slowly emerged from the passage.

Its eyes were clear and bright like gems, or perhaps like unmelting ice crystals.

Its hair resembled the tentacles of the deep, twisted and wild, each strand seemingly filled with power and murderous intent.

After leaving the water, its lower body gradually transformed into a pair of legs, and it stepped onto the ground, entering an island.

The island had numerous buildings, clearly once inhabited by many residents.

But now,

The buildings were in ruins.

Corpses were scattered among the debris.

Merfolk crouched on the corpses, devouring flesh and gnawing on bloodied flesh, with intestines and organs strewn about.

"Pachi!"

"Crack!"

The robust Merfolk stepped through the mud, moving forward until it stopped before a young man who was shivering.

"Human."

It lowered its head and spoke softly, "I need a guide."

"You... you..." The young man was horrified, stuttering, "You can speak?"

"Of course." The robust Merfolk grinned, revealing a peculiar smile, "You're not hallucinating."

...

Tortuga Island.

The island of pirates.

An all-encompassing shadow descended from all directions, turning the already dark sky into pitch blackness.

An invisible aura of slaughter permeated the air.

Pirates from the tavern, rooms, and stables emerged, looking bewildered at the sky.

"What's happening?"

"What's wrong?"

"Suddenly, the sky turned black. Could it be that Free Harbor is launching a surprise attack on us?"

"What nonsense!"

The crowd whispered, gathering together.

Even pirates who didn't trust each other would instinctively unite in the face of an unknown situation.

With numbers,

Their strength grew.

In the center of the island.

A pirate king with a full beard gripped his wine cup, his face darkening as he approached the door.

"Buzz..."

The sword at his waist seemed to sense something, vibrating wildly.

"Ertis."

The pirate king grasped the hilt, his eyes flashing with intense fighting spirit, "What's destined to come will come. It's been over a decade since we last fought side by side, hasn't it?"

"Today!"

"You can finally see blood again!"

"Clang!"

The bloodthirsty blade, Ertis, unsheathed with a crimson flash, and a fierce killing intent emerged.

"Charge!"

The pirate king roared, "Charge out, escape from here, and tell the others that the Demon God's will has been resurrected!"

"Kill!"

Amid his roar, he leaped dozens of meters, his longsword dancing as he slashed, scattering blood-red sword lights.

The lights also illuminated the monsters hidden in the darkness.

A ten-meter-tall ape, its body covered in white fur, twisted and bizarre, as if fused from multiple creatures. A shark with a strange, multi-jointed body and two heads.

Terrifying!

Bizarre!

Madness and chaos intertwined.

"Boom!"

A violent collision sounded, and a howl shook the surroundings.

A day later.

The darkness dispersed.

The once bustling Tortuga Island, a holy land in the eyes of countless pirates, had turned into ruins.

In the center of the ruins.

The broken Ertis was thrust into the ground, its eyes glaring angrily, but it lay on the ground, lifeless.

The sea breeze howled, stirring up dust and leaves, and the blowing hair seemed to sing a funeral song for the pirates.

"Free Harbor."

A massive figure appeared, stepping on the pirate king's corpse and heading in the direction of Free Harbor.

"Finally, I can go back."

Kether had become a believer of the Morning Sun Lord.

As the companion of a wizard, he had been exposed to various beliefs, and most of them were without faith.

But looking at Kether, he seemed more like a fanatic, one who would offer everything to the divine.

"Xieber never mentioned it, or perhaps even she wasn't aware."

Karl shook his head, focusing on the present.

It was rare for a wizard's companion to worship a deity, but it wasn't unheard of, and it wasn't worth his attention.

Before him was a legendary creature's skeleton.

Only bones remained.

It was a treasure of the Dragon King Merchant Guild.

This skeleton belonged to a 'Three-Headed Beast', a legendary creature with three deformed heads.

Each of its heads could spew attacks of different attributes and possessed a certain level of intelligence.

"A multi-headed creature, but a taboo for flesh wizards."

Karl placed a bone fragment into a container, observing the changes while flipping through a book for comparison.

"Transforming into a multi-headed creature can easily lead to schizophrenia, unless one cultivates a special mental wizardry. It's not recommended otherwise."

"Schizophrenia?"

Shaking his head, he closed the book.

Unless one was a nightmare wizard, no one would willingly split their consciousness, and nightmare wizards were even rarer than bloodline wizardry.

Dreaming of the Dream Realm,

One can easily attract the gaze of the gods.

Once the will of the gods is upon you, even a mere ripple is beyond the resistance of a formal wizard.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"It's just for analyzing bloodline models and gaining experience in Bloodline Spells, so it's no problem."

Karl had no intention of turning himself into a three-headed dog.

With the remains of a legendary creature to analyze, the path of the Blood Wizard was becoming clearer.

Just waiting for sufficient mental power, he can choose a legendary creature to transform into.

…………

Scythe Brotherhood.

In the spacious hall, there was a bronze long table, with four high-back chairs symmetrically placed on either side.

Standing tall in the center was a heavy stone chair.

Each chair here represented a position in the Brotherhood.

And the stone chair,

Belonged exclusively to the leader of the Brotherhood.

Peak Grand Knight, Bloodscythe Aheng! A silent and dictatorial leader! It was said,

This person carried a rare Duke's bloodline, and was the only one in Free Harbor with the potential to become a legendary existence.

Unlike the Dragon King Merchant Guild and the Sea God Guild, the Scythe Brotherhood had a complex membership, many of whom were street thugs.

Due to their personal experiences, they tended to act in a more chaotic manner.

Their reputation was not good.

Even as elders of the Brotherhood, they were not above using coarse language and losing their temper, often resorting to violence.

"Monroe has arrived."

In the flickering candlelight, the sixth elder spoke up in a low voice:

"He wants our support, and if the leader is willing to take action, he can offer a three-tenths share of the Dragon King Merchant Guild."

"Three-tenths?" The second elder scoffed:

"Emma, that crazy woman, is not easy to deal with, let alone with the emergence of several Grand Knights. At the very least, we should ask for half."

"Impossible." The fourth elder, Henry, shook his head lightly:

"Even if we could do it, the Sea God Guild would not stand by and let us grow. They would definitely intervene to stop us."

"How about sitting down to negotiate?"

"Negotiate?" The second elder snorted:

"Henry, you're always so cowardly. You want to negotiate everything, what use do we have then?"

"Don't forget, our own strength is the sharpest spear! It's the capital we need for negotiations!"

"Sigh!" Someone sighed:

"I thought the Dragon King Merchant Guild would not undergo any changes, and a three-way split would be the best outcome."

"I never expected..."

"A wizard named Karl has emerged."

"Yes." The fourth elder, Henry, shifted his gaze:

"Actually, Karl had initially agreed to join our Scythe Brotherhood, but unfortunately..."

"Oh!" The sixth elder turned his head:

"What happened?"

"Yes." Henry nodded:

"Initially, Karl had agreed to give us a Shadow Walker Seal, but at the time, Little Heli had her eyes on the seal."

"So..."

He spread his hands helplessly.

Little Heli? Everyone looked at the second elder.

They were well aware of Little Heli's character, and although Henry didn't say it, it was clear that the second elder was the reason.

If it had happened...

Not only would the Scythe Brotherhood gain an excellent potion master, but also a Grand Knight.

And not just an ordinary Grand Knight.

Instantly.

Everyone's gaze at the second elder carried a hint of reproach.

"The future is unpredictable. Who could have foreseen that he would become a Grand Knight?" The second elder's expression remained unchanged:

"The problem now is how to handle this. You don't want the Dragon King Merchant Guild to rise again, do you?"

"I propose that Henry take the lead in calling Karl out, and then we can have a good talk with him."

When he mentioned the word 'talk', a cold smile appeared on his face.

"Henry's son, Asis, has been in contact with Karl the potion master. It shouldn't be difficult for him to bring Karl out."

"Fink!" Henry's expression changed, and he suddenly stood up:

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing." The second elder, Fink, spoke up:

"Just fixing a mistake I made in the past."

"No!" Henry directly vetoed the other's proposal:

"If we're going to talk, let's do it properly. Karl is not an ordinary Grand Knight, being too forceful will only anger him."

"And..."

"Asis has been handling the Brotherhood's business matters, and his reputation is very important. We can't ruin it."

"It's fine." The second elder, Fink, said:

"Just borrowing his name, if something goes wrong, you can push the blame onto me."

"You..." Henry's face turned angry, and then his heart jumped:

"You've already taken action!"

Fink shrugged.

…………

Dragon King Merchant Guild.

Headquarters.

"Madam."

A maid hurried over, looking flustered, and whispered in Emma's ear:

"Young Master..."

"Screech!"

Before the maid could finish her sentence, Emma had already stood up from her seat and strode out.

In a dense forest, there was a simple courtyard with an artificial pond in the center.

In the middle of the pond, a figure was lying prone, restrained by chains. Despite struggling desperately and injuring themselves, they couldn't break free.

"Hiss..."

"Eat!"

"Eat!"

He roared in the pond, constantly growling, not caring that his struggles only made his wounds worse.

"Clack, clack..."

Footsteps echoed.

Emma approached with a somber expression, and upon seeing the figure in the pond, her face turned pale.

And there was an inescapable sadness.

"My son..."

Her voice trembled:

"What happened to you?"

Dragon King Zimorman had not only Lula as a daughter but also a son.

Unfortunately.

Their son had not become a knight before he contracted Water Plague, and everyone knew he was as good as dead.

Contracting Water Plague meant certain death, a harsh rule in Free Harbor.

But now,

It seemed the rule had been broken.

The Dragon King's son was not dead; he was trapped in this pool, as if he had lost his sanity.

"What's going on here?"

Lady Emma's silver teeth clenched as she roared, "Who gave you the right to treat my child like this?"

"My lady," a middle-aged man in a white robe hurried over and bowed, "The young master has been through a lot these past few days, and he's become extremely irritable. We had no choice but to restrain him with chains."

"Remove the chains!" Lady Emma's expression darkened. "Take them off!"

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, my lady."

With a wave of her hand, someone immediately stepped forward to unlock the chains, all the while cautiously watching the figure in the water.

"Hiss..."

The 'young master' in the water had long, loose hair, and his eyes were filled with bestiality, scanning the crowd.

With so many people surrounding him, he instinctively dared not move, but the urge within him did not stop for a moment.

"My child..."

Lady Emma's eyes welled up with tears as she took a couple of steps forward. "What's wrong with you?"

Those afflicted with the Aquatic Plague would go mad with thirst, their bodies losing water until they turned into an unrecognizable, sticky liquid.

To save her son, Lady Emma had a special liquid prepared that could continuously replenish the lost fluids.

And so, he had been soaking in this pool, constantly irrigated with the potion.

This soaking had lasted for several years.

"Hiss..."

"Swish!"

Lady Emma's approach seemed to provoke the young master's ferocity, and he suddenly leaped out of the water and pounced.

"Ah!"

"My lady, be careful!"

The crowd exclaimed in surprise.

"Whoosh..."

Several vines emerged from the ground, as agile as snakes, tightly binding the young master.

Controlling the vines!

This was Lady Emma's unique talent, inherited from her Wood Elf bloodline.

"My child," Lady Emma's face was filled with sadness as she reached out to caress the young master's cheek, tears welling up in her eyes.

Alas.

Her sorrow could not move someone who had lost their sanity. The young master continued to struggle, roaring uncontrollably.

"Eat!"

"Hungry..."

"My child is hungry," Lady Emma turned to the middle-aged man, her voice turning cold. "Go and get some food."

"Yes, my lady."

The middle-aged man bowed his head in assent.

Soon, various foods were brought to the poolside: fresh fruits, soft pastries, and cooked dishes.

Lady Emma used her vines to gently place the young master back into the water and spoke softly, "Eat, child."

"Eat whatever you like. With your mother here, you have nothing to fear."

She waved her sleeve, and the vines dissipated.

"Hiss..." The young master hissed in the water, but instead of looking at the food, he stared at the maid beside him.

"Eat!"

"Hungry..."

His eyes were filled with greed, an inhuman bestiality, and ferocity.

Lady Emma slowly furrowed her brows.

"My lady," the middle-aged man hurried forward and whispered, "Ever since the young master's body changed, he's had a desire similar to that of a wild beast."

"Especially for fresh flesh and blood, he's become extremely sensitive."

"Fresh flesh and blood?" Lady Emma pondered, her gaze following her son's to the maid.

"My lady!"

The maid, as if guessing something, turned pale, stammered, and turned to flee.

"Swish!"

A vine shot out, wrapping around the fleeing maid and dragging her to the young master.

"Eat, child," Lady Emma said gently. "If you want to eat, then eat."

"Hiss..."

The young master's eyes widened, his mouth hissing as he roared and lunged at the screaming maid.

"Pffft!"

"Ah!"

"No, please!"

"Ah..."

The screams grew weaker until they faded away.

Blood mixed with the water in the pool, and the still-beating internal organs were yanked out by the young master and swallowed whole.

The maid's eyes, wide with anger, stared at the sky, and the next moment, her neck tore, blood gushing out.

The surrounding servants trembled, but they only sidestepped, not daring to look or stop what was happening.

"Eating people?"

Lady Emma thought for a moment. "There are many in the slums who can't afford to raise their children. With some money, you can buy them. Buy some regularly to feed my child."

The middle-aged man opened his mouth, "Yes, my lady."

"Take good care of him," Lady Emma said, looking at the young master with love in her eyes. "I'll come to see him again when I have time."

"Yes, my lady."

The middle-aged man nodded.

At that moment, Lula rushed over, having heard the news. "Mother, what's wrong with my brother?"

"Do you even remember that you have a brother?" Lady Emma coldly huffed. "Go and see for yourself!"

Lula sighed.

She understood her mother's heart, but she did not agree with her actions. Taking a step forward, she saw the scene in the pool and her expression changed again.

"What's going on here?"

"Miss," the middle-aged man's eyes flickered as he spoke softly, "The maid accidentally fell into the water, and the young master has lost his humanity. We dare not stop him."

"You..." Lula's body trembled at the sight of the cannibalism, and her gaze fell on her brother. "What's wrong with my brother?"

"Half a month ago, the young master's body underwent an unexplained change," the middle-aged man began. "When he's in the water, his legs transform into a fish-like shape, and his body develops fish scales. His once frail body has also grown some muscles. We thought it was a good thing..."

"But who knew..."

"Sigh!"

Lula's face was filled with bewilderment.

A Merfolk!

Her brother had turned into a monster!

Please collect!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end