Shin drifted closer to Bael. He whispered something into his ear before moving away. The mermaid observed this.
Shin began suppressing his mana and descended to the lake floor. Bael smiled as he opened his eyes wide.
"Hey, beast. Get over here," Bael shouted, releasing a huge burst of mana.
The dormant sea serpent turned to face him and lunged with incredible speed, headbutting him upwards.
Bael let the attack happen. He raised his blade and swung it down with such force that it created a water-current slash.
Unfortunately, the slash did nothing—it vanished before hitting the sea serpent.
Bloody water. I need an air pocket to swing with enough force.
Bael shot a quick glance at Shin, who had his hands together, trying to do something.
Come on, Shin. Hurry it up.
Bael turned back to see the sea serpent right in front of him, mouth wide open. Somehow, the beast had grown bigger.
Bloody hell. It's ready to evolve.
Bael braced for impact as the sea serpent lunged at him. He raised his shield, and the creature bit through it, but Bael pulled his hand out just in time.
He then stabbed into the sea serpent's mouth and held on tight. The beast swam out of the arena.
Bael was momentarily shocked and glanced at the mermaid queen. She sat on her throne, unmoved by the fact that he could escape.
Bael knew then that something was off about her.
What could her ability be that makes her so confident the sea serpent will bring me back?
While Bael was lost in thought, the sea serpent rammed him through the sunken city's buildings.
He snapped back to reality as he was forced through cobblestone walls one after another.
Bloody fuck. I need to get back to the arena… but let me test something first.
Bael kicked off the beast and tried swimming away from the sunken city. He headed toward the exit.
Just as he was halfway there, a voice spoke out, "Bring him back."
When Bael turned to see where the voice came from, the sea serpent charged at him and bit down on him.
Bael managed to catch its jaws in the process. The sea serpent swam straight back into the arena.
Bael jumped back and watched the creature slam its face onto the arena floor.
"Kill them," the mermaid queen ordered.
The sea serpent lunged to attack them. Bael finally realized—the mermaid queen had control over all the creatures in the arena.
Just as he turned toward Shin…
"Get ready!" Shin shouted.
Bael swam up to Shin and took his sword. When the sea serpent came within ten meters of them, Shin set the plan into motion.
Bael quickly assumed a sword stance, placing his sword at his hip.
Shin released a pulse of mana, forming a ball of wind in his hand that burst and created a momentary vacuum. But a moment was all Bael needed.
"Dark Magic: Tier 6: Gear 1."
He drew the sword and threw it down. At first, the action shocked Shin, as well as the mermaid queen.
Just as Shin was about to react—clank. He turned and looked at the sword. Cracks had begun forming on it.
When he looked at the sea serpent, he was shocked to see it was no longer visible. Only blood-red water remained.
The mermaid queen smiled in amusement, letting out a light chuckle. Bael and Shin turned to face her.
"I have a deal for you, land dwellers. A fight to the death—winner leaves here alive and intact," the mermaid queen said, her smile twisted with malice.