Dan's eyes sharpened, and his deep-blue fish tail swayed gently in the current. He fixed his gaze on the merfolk matriarch, his eyes filled with long-suppressed anger.
"Grandmother," his voice was low but firm, carrying a hint of accusation, "You've always believed that only the hearts of humans are tainted, but what about the merfolk? Is the heart of the merfolk truly pure and untainted?"
The matriarch flinched slightly, her face darkening, but she did not immediately respond.
"For generations, the merfolk have revered strong physiques, viewing strength as a symbol of honor, but because I was weak, you deemed me a disgrace to our kind." Dan's fist slowly clenched, his voice trembling slightly, "You exiled me from the Driftwind Sea, leaving me to wander alone, at the mercy of life and death in the outside world."
The matriarch's lips moved slightly, but she ultimately said nothing.
Dan did not stop; he continued, "Later, I desperately tried to prove myself, to show you that even though I was frail, I could still be a worthy member of the merfolk. But when I returned in failure, you not only denied me a chance but also took away my ability to sing the Song of the Merfolk."
His fingers gently traced his throat, where once lay the source of his pride, now his greatest pain.
"The Song of the Merfolk was our gift, and you cruelly severed my vocal cords, preventing me from ever singing again! Have you ever thought about what that meant to me?" Dan's eyes burned with accusation and sorrow, his body trembling as his voice betrayed his uncontainable rage. "You cast me out of the Driftwind Sea, stripped me of my rights as a merfolk, and yet still you claim that the merfolk are pure? Do you really believe that we, the merfolk, have never been tainted?"
The entire sea fell silent, the currents seemingly stilled.
The matriarch's gaze wavered slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line, and for the first time, an expression of uncertainty appeared on her face. She looked at Dan, a complex emotion rising in her eyes, but she did not speak immediately.
At that moment—
"Boom—!"
A deafening explosion suddenly echoed from above, the waters below shaking violently as the entire sea seemed to stir. Leo and Luna immediately looked up, seeing flames flickering above the water, the shockwave of the explosion creating enormous bubbles in the water.
"What's going on?" Leo frowned, quickly scanning the area.
"Above..." Luna's face changed slightly, her eyes narrowing as she squinted through the waves, catching a blurry image. "It's the human army!"
Dan's pupils constricted slightly, a flash of surprise crossing his face. "Has the conflict between the merfolk and humans... begun again?"
The matriarch's expression instantly grew serious. She spun around sharply and spoke in a deep, commanding voice, "Wake all the merfolk, prepare for battle!"
Soon, the sleeping merfolk were awakened, emerging from the coral palaces and caves, gathering above the waters and looking toward the surface.
At the matriarch's command, figures quickly emerged from the water, and above the sea, hundreds of merfolk assembled, forming swirling formations. On the distant shore, the human army stood ready.
Under the night sky, the guards and mages of Broken Wind City stood on the coastline, clad in black battle armor, holding spears and bows. The light of torches reflected off their armor, giving them a cold, murderous air. At the front of the group stood a young man—the young lord of Broken Wind City.
The matriarch slowly emerged from the water, her cold gaze sweeping over the human army. Her voice was low and chilling, "Where is your city lord?"
Upon hearing this, the young lord smirked, a hint of mockery in his smile. His tone was dismissive, "I know my father feels guilty about the merfolk; he has always advocated for reconciliation with you... but I'm different. I won't be bound by his naive ideals."
He paused for a moment, his smile growing even colder. "So, I locked him in his room. Today, it's me who will lead the campaign against the merfolk."
The matriarch's gaze immediately turned icy, and the waters around them seemed to freeze in that moment.
"Lead the campaign against the merfolk?" The matriarch scoffed, her eyes sharp as knives. "You certainly have quite the bravado."
Her voice echoed in the night, carrying a cold and authoritative edge.
"Today, the grievances between the merfolk and humans must be settled once and for all."
Under the Night Sky, the Battle Erupts Suddenly
The merfolk stirred massive waves in the sea, their sharp coral tridents slicing through the water, striking toward the human army on the shore like a violent storm. The archers of Broken Wind City retaliated fiercely, firing flaming arrows that streaked across the night sky, burning as they fell into the sea, creating scalding water vapor in their wake.
In the center of the battlefield, the sounds of clashing, roars, and screams intertwined as blood rapidly spread through the water, staining the entire Windbreak Sea red. Merfolk, torn apart by sharp weapons, writhed in agony, while human soldiers, their flesh and blood lost, fell on the shore, their bodies rising and falling with the tides, becoming cold sacrifices on the battlefield.
The merfolk matriarch stood on the water's surface, her cold eyes fixed on the young lord of Windbreak City. She held a trident formed from the very currents of the sea, its power radiating as she glared at him.
The young lord stood on the shore, wielding a longsword that shimmered with blue light—its blade forged from tidal silver.
"You lowly monsters!" The young lord suddenly swung his sword, releasing a sharp blade of energy that sliced through the air and aimed at the sea's surface.
The matriarch snorted coldly, swinging her trident in response. A powerful surge of water shot up, blocking the sword's energy, then she swung again, creating a massive whirlpool on the water's surface that began pulling the human army into its depths.
However, more human warriors charged forward, crossing makeshift bridges and clashing with the merfolk in fierce combat. The battle grew more intense, with blood and flesh flying through the air as the sea seemed to consume both sides' lives.
Outside the Battlefield
"If this continues, both the merfolk and humans will suffer catastrophic losses!" Leo clenched his fists, looking anxiously toward the battlefield.
Luna's face was pale; she had never witnessed such a bloody scene, her heart racing as if it might burst from her chest.
Leo took a deep breath and quickly made a decision. "Luna, go to the city lord's residence and rescue him! Only he can stop this war!"
"Understood!" Luna gritted her teeth, no longer hesitating. She quickly turned and swam toward Windbreak City.
Dan's gaze remained on the battlefield, his face reflecting a moment of struggle. "Leo... can we really stop them?"
"Let's try," Leo replied without hesitation, charging toward the battlefield, with Dan close behind.
In the Heart of the Battlefield
In the depths of the Driftwind Sea, the scent of blood spread through the water, which seemed to be stained red.
The matriarch suddenly swung her trident, and the currents of the sea transformed into countless sharp water blades, striking toward the young lord. He smirked coldly, swinging his tidal silver sword, cutting through the water blades. His figure flashed, and he charged toward the matriarch.
The matriarch's eyes narrowed as she quickly retreated, her trident carving a graceful arc through the air before lunging at the young lord.
The young lord was prepared. He flipped his body, narrowly avoiding the strike. Seizing the opportunity, he swung his tidal silver sword with all his might, aiming at the matriarch.
Clang—!
The trident and tidal silver sword collided violently, creating a shockwave that sent water spraying several meters into the air.
The matriarch frowned. "Kid… how do you possess the strength of the merfolk?"
The young lord sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Of course, I took it."
His gaze was filled with cold indifference. "Those foolish merfolk, they are no loss."
The matriarch's eyes grew icy, rage igniting in her pupils. "You beast..."
The two clashed again, the waves crashing violently, and murderous intent filled the air.
However, after a series of fierce battles, the matriarch's strength began to wane, while the young lord's tidal silver sword grew sharper with each swing, each strike carrying a deadly threat.
Finally—
Thud!
The young lord seized an opening, driving the tidal silver sword deep into the matriarch's chest.
The matriarch's body trembled violently, blood spilling down the sword's blade, and the water turned red.
"Grandmother—!!"
Dan's eyes widened, and he cried out in a heart-wrenching scream, filled with despair and fury.
The matriarch slowly fell, and Dan quickly swam to her, cradling her in his arms, tears streaming down his face.
The matriarch's hand trembled as she lifted it, gently touching Dan's cheek. Her voice was weak and sorrowful. "Dan… I'm sorry… I should never have driven you away when you were at your weakest..."
Her eyes carried regret, and her throat caught. "I should never have… severed your… Song of the Merfolk..."
A bitter smile tugged at her lips. "You were right… the hearts of the merfolk and humans… are both… filled with corruption…"
With her final words, her hand slowly fell, and her gaze lost all light.
"Grandmother...?" Dan's voice trembled, tears falling uncontrollably as he held her tightly, crying inconsolably.
At that moment, the Tide Sanctuary Tree suddenly emitted a blinding light, and a mysterious, ancient energy slowly began to flow from the tree's core.
Dan's body seemed to sense something, his bloodline stirring as the shell spirit radiated a brilliant glow. A clear and melodious voice echoed through the sea—
It was the Song of the Merfolk.
The haunting melody resonated throughout the entire sea, piercing through the night, the bloodshed, and the hearts of everyone who heard it.
Both merfolk and human fighters on the battlefield froze, staring in awe at Dan as he sang.
The light from the Tide Sanctuary Tree grew even brighter, as if responding to Dan's song...