( Arata's POV )
Seto thug 1: Looks like we have an unwanted guest.
Seto Thug 2: Just what I wanted, the boss said we could rough up this kid up a bit.
Seto thug 1: Yeah, we have to teach her what happens when someone tries to take our princess.
'Sun sure is loved by many.'
I got into one of the stances I learned from the scrolls and I prepared to go with everything I had like Sun's mother told me, Merfolk were stronger and more resilient than humans as expected of someone who could live comfortably under the constant pressure of the ocean, so I didn't have to hold back.
The techniques and styles the scrolls described were inspired by different elements, movements fluid like water, swift like the wind, or striking like lightning.
I took another deep breath and in the next instant I shot forward at high speed, The ground where I was standing broke a little and I deliver a powerful punch to the head of one of the guards, he crashed into the wall and I shot a stream of air at the other guard, which also sent him flying.
The door I had cut the other day was half repaired with some wooden boards, I took another breath and kicked the door open and on the other side were waiting for me about a dozen thugs, but I was not intimidated by them.
I stomped my foot and a pipe that was next to me flew into my hand, the pipe was covered in black flames and I threw it at the group of attackers.
The pipe hit one of the guys in the head, and bounced off another one, there were too many of them for me to fight at the same time so I kept throwing objects covered in black flames to cut down their numbers and when one of them got too close I would change places, shootin myself at high speed.
I repeated that process until only half the thugs remained and that was a number I could more or less handle, I jumped on the group of thugs and threw a kick that when it connected with one of them a fiery explosion was created, Three of the guys were knocked back, when I landed I immediately threw a punch at the nearest thug but this time my fist was caught and the thug sent a kick to my side that knocked the wind out of me.
I fell to one knee, in prime position to be kicked in the face but I created a burst of wind to knock the thug back, I stood up and took another deep breath and used a dropkick to throw one thug against another, that was the last of the thugs but my inexperienced use of breathing techniques combined with the careless use of my spiritual energy was taking its toll on my body.
With heavy steps and somewhat irregular breathing I headed to the second floor where I was waiting for Sun to be there.
I breathed a sigh of relief when via Sun, she was sitting in a luxurious chair with an awkward expression on her face while being treated like a queen by a man with a giant fan.
Sun: Arata!
Sun yelled my name in excitement as she saw me and the man next to her who was a large intimidating man with a sideways T-shaped scar that ran across his nose and one of his eyes turn around, It was not difficult to deduce that he was Sun's father, his name was Seto Gozaburo.
Sun's father muttered angrily to the two who looked like high-ranking members of the family, He probably wasn't very happy that I had come to this place, but when Sun tried to go towards me, his father put on a worried expression and put her back in the chair.
Gozaburo: Wait my princess, daddy hasn't finished his test yet.
Her father acting like this was for her own good managed to keep Sun in her seat and she gave me an apologetic smile.
Gozaburo: I must admit, I thought you were going to show yourself and get past my men, but you're not out of the woods yet.
I listened to his words with a raised eyebrow.
' Of course you expected me not to show up when you left no clue as to where I should go. '
Gozaburo: GO! shark Fujishiro, Teach this little punk a lesson.
Fujishiro: eh, are we moving now? Sure, boss.
A guy wearing a grey tracksuit with a somewhat lost attitude rushed into action upon hearing his boss's shouts, I got into position to receive him but I was surprised when the guy jumped and transformed into a real giant sharkI got into position to receive him but I was surprised when the guy jumped and transformed into a real giant shark, I avoided falling into his big mouth but his body pushed me against the wall, sharks are sensitive in their noses so I gave the Fujishiro guy a good blow.
I didn't know if that would work on a merfolk but I didn't need to worry, the shark quickly got away from me and started trashing around erratically.
Fujishiro: Argh, that hurt, why did you do that?
Was that a low blow or something?
Gozaburo: damn you, go Nakajima.
' octopus!! '
As I called out another name a giant round red octopus appeared out of nowhere and I could only sigh at that, the octopus was more cute than scary but I knew better than to let my guard down but that didn't matter much when my body was barely responding, I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth to receive what he would throw at me.
*AAAAAAAAAHHHH!*
Besides my eyes I had to cover my ears when I heard a loud, shrill scream in front of me, When I opened my eyes I saw Sun in front of me with a serious expression on her face, she was the cause of the scream from before, it seems that the voice of a mermaid was no joke.