Now clad in the King Coralstacean Living Armor, Nereus felt a surge of power and confidence.
The armor moved with him as if it were an extension of his own body, its living components responding to his every thought and movement. He marveled at how natural it felt, almost as if he had been born with it.
"This armor," Nereus thought to himself, "is truly a masterpiece of Leviathanic ingenuity.'
The King Coralstacean Living Armor was not just any ordinary Aqua Art; it could easily be considered a Class V Aqua Art, a rarity in the undersea world.
Its ability to grow and adapt with its user is unparalleled as it could assimilate new pieces, strengthening and evolving over time. The living armor could incorporate any naturally occurring advantageous material it comes into contact with, making it a dynamic and ever-improving shield.
Nereus could feel the armor's energy resonating with his own, the coral and shell components pulsing with life.
The bioluminescent glow gave him an almost otherworldly appearance, and the added weight did nothing to hinder his movements.
Instead, it provided a sense of stability and invulnerability. He had never felt so powerful and ready for battle in this new life.
Meanwhile, the remaining mercenary, now recognizing Nereus's renewed vigor and realizing the gravity of his situation, weighed his options.
His comrades were dead, and he was facing a foe who had just undergone a dramatic and terrifying transformation.
The mercenary's mind raced as he considered fleeing, knowing that his chances of survival were slim if he stayed.
"This is bad. Really bad. I need to get out of here," he thought, panic rising within him. But just as he prepared to turn and make a desperate swim for it, Nereus refocused his attention on him.
Then with a speed that surprised both himself and the mercenary, Nereus shot forward through the water.
"He's faster than I thought," the mercenary realized with a sinking feeling.
The armor's seamless integration with his body allowed him to move and swim with a fluidity and force that was both graceful and deadly.
As such the mercenary barely had time to react before Nereus was upon him, delivering a series of brutal blows.
Nereus's first punch landed squarely on the mercenary's jaw, sending shockwaves through his entire body.
The force of the hit, enhanced by the armor, was akin to being struck by a Reef Grandmaster.
The mercenary staggered back, his vision blurring, but Nereus did not relent. Next he then followed up with a powerful tail swipe to the mercenary's midsection, causing him to double over in pain.
"How is he so strong? This isn't possible!" the mercenary's thoughts raced as each strike from Nereus landed with precision and devastating impact.
Nereus pummeled the mercenary with a relentless fury, his fists and tail moving in a blur.
The coral and shell armor added weight and impact to every hit, turning the battle into a one-sided annihilation. Soon enough blood stained the water around them as the mercenary's body was battered and broken.
The mercenary tried to defend himself, but it was futile.
Nereus's attacks were too powerful, too relentless. He could feel his bones cracking under the onslaught, his strength waning with every passing second.
The once-confident assassin was now reduced to a bloody pulp, his body barely holding together under the relentless assault.
"I can't die here. Not like this," the mercenary's mind screamed in desperation, but his body refused to obey.
As Nereus prepared to deliver the final blow, he noticed three of his sea wraiths materializing by his side.
Their presence was cold and menacing, their ghostly forms seeming to shimmer in the water.
They seemed eager to finish off the last mercenary themselves. As such, Nereus then swam back, allowing them to do so. He then blocked out the mercenary's frantic, tormented screams as they descended upon him in a frenzy.
His attention was drawn to the first sea wraith, the one that had initiated the attack on the earlier mercenary.
He noticed that it appeared denser, more solid than before. As he watched, it began to change, evolving into its next form.
The sea wraith's transformation into a sea banshee was a natural progression in its lifecycle, occurring each time it consumed the life force of three Mer. However, this particular wraith was experiencing its evolution earlier than usual.
'Hmm could it be because of that time...' he thought to himself, 'must be its the only thing that makes sense'
Nereus realized that his own Leviathanic blood and sea essence, which the wraith had consumed the night before, were probably far more potent and beneficial for its evolution than regular Mer life force prompting its earlier evolution.
At that moment the sea wraith began to form a thick, watery, and spectral cocoon around itself.
The cocoon pulsed with an eerie light, indicating the energy and life force being absorbed and transformed within.
Nereus knew that the evolution path from a sea wraith to a sea banshee, then to a sea nymph, and finally to a siren, was a long and arduous journey. Each stage bringing new abilities and strengths, making the wraith a more formidable ally.
As Nereus watched the cocoon, he felt a sense of pride and anticipation. The evolution of his sea wraith was a testament to his own growing strength and influence.
He could hardly wait to see the fully evolved sea banshee and what it would be capable of.
"This is only the beginning," he said, his mind racing with plans and strategies.