The creature continued dragging Shin down, but this time he didn't fight it. He quietly surveyed his surroundings.
He was under the lake, which was much larger underground. When Shin finally looked at his captor, he saw it was a mermaid.
Shin glanced around and noticed he was being followed by a group of mermaids. Ahead, he saw a bright light emanating from an underwater cave.
The group of mermaids entered the cave along with Shin. His eyes grew wide with shock.
He saw a large underwater kingdom, complete with castles, chapels, and medieval buildings. He looked toward the arena, where many mermaids had gathered.
Just as Shin was in awe, he began suffocating. The mermaid holding him noticed and created an air bubble for him, placing it over his head.
Air bubbles. Mermaids. What the hell is happening here?
The mermaids swam into the middle of the arena and dropped him there before swimming into the crowd and taking their seats.
The mermaids in the stands roared with cheers. Shin looked around.
"Hey Shin. Look behind you," a voice called out.
Shin turned and saw Bael. He too had an air bubble over his head. Shin swam up to him.
"Oh mighty demon prodigy. How did you get captured?" Shin asked, mocking him.
Bael frowned as he approached.
"I had my guard down," Bael replied, a little annoyed.
"Well, then, what's the situation?" Shin asked.
Bael remained silent and pointed toward the top of the arena, where the king and queen would normally sit.
Shin turned his head and saw a mermaid on the throne. It held a large golden trident, but something was off.
It was much larger than normal mermaids, had eight octopus tentacles at its waist, fins on its arms, and long black scaly hair.
It sat on the throne, overseeing the entire arena. Shin felt a veil of unease fall over him as a question crossed his mind.
What stage could this one be?
Shin focused on the mermaid and watched its heart emit a faint light.
The color drained Shin's face. Green. Its soul glowed green. He turned to Bael with a terrified expression.
Bael just nodded.
"Yep. It's an evolved mermaid," Bael said, grabbing Shin's shoulder to consult him.
"I can take it in a fight, but we're underwater—in its natural habitat—and without my sword, I'll have to rely on spells," Bael said, eyes fixed on the evolved mermaid.
The mermaid smiled at them, raising its trident into the air. The other mermaids fell silent.
"Welcome, land dwellers. I hope you can understand me well," the evolved mermaid spoke.
Bael and Shin stared at it, faces filled with shock and confusion.
The mermaid chuckled, observing their bewildered expressions.