Somewhere in The Grimms Brother Throne Room.
The throne room of the Grimm Brothers was a cathedral of shadows, lit by chandeliers made of bone and stained glass windows that glowed with faint, unnatural light. Leo sat still on the high seat, posture sharp, eyes half-hidden by shadow, while Hans lounged like a predator with too much energy, spinning a golden chalice in his fingers.
Before them stood a table of illusions, phantom silhouettes of potential fairy tale champions, flickering like smoke.
Hans says, "So, Brother… which piece do we play next? Humanity surprised us last round. That Conqueror nearly stole the spotlight. We can't afford a repeat."
Leo replied to his brother, "This is not about showmanship. This is about inevitability. We must choose someone who thrives where humanity drowns."
His hand moved across the table, pressing a symbol. At once, the throne room's floor shimmered, revealing an image of crashing waves, storm clouds, and a vast, open sea. Floating platforms rose like giant lily pads for the audience, suspended by magic.
"We have the custom advantage arena since we won the round before. So, I have chosen a sea battle, under open skies. Let them watch their champion sink beneath the waves.", says Leo.
Hans grinned wickedly, leaning forward.
"Cruel. Perfect. Yes. But we'll need someone who can rule such waters, someone who can make the sea itself our blade."
At that moment, the great doors of the throne room creaked open. A chilling wind carried the scent of salt and the song of waves. The sound of tridents striking stone echoed as an escort of male mermaids marched in, armored in shells and coral. At their center, draped in flowing garments of water and pearl, came a figure of unearthly beauty and dread.
Her long black hair cascaded like ink over her shoulders, glimmering with droplets that never dried. Her skin shimmered with the glow of moonlit tides, and in her hand, she carried a scepter shaped like a curling wave, tipped with a shard of living coral. Her eyes were deep as the abyss, shifting between serenity and wrath.
The mermaid escort knelt, bowing low as she stepped forward.
Hans's grin widened, and he clapped his hands with manic delight.
"Oh, perfect! Just perfect! A queen for our sea, a goddess of the depths. Humanity will choke on salt and fear when they face you."
Leo's lips twitched into the faintest of smirks.
"Queen of the Southern Sea… Kadita. You are our champion."
She raised her chin, a small smile curving on her lips as the waters at her feet rippled unnaturally.
"The ocean answers to me. If humanity dares enter my waters… their bones shall decorate the reefs."
Hans burst into laughter, clapping his hands against the throne.
"Marvelous! Yes! Let the sea itself devour them. Round Two is ours before it even begins."
The illusion of the sea arena swelled around them, showing the crashing of waves and the cries of gulls, an omen of the coming battle.
Thursday, of the second week of the tournament, has arrived.
This is the day where everyone are shocked from the new custom arena that have been announced.
The announcement shook the world. News outlets, live streams, and massive billboards, magic screen and pixie displays, all screamed the same thing: "Round 2 Arena, A Sea Battlefield!"
The public couldn't believe it. Some were thrilled, picturing an epic clash over the rolling waves. Others were horrified, fearing what destruction such a battlefield could unleash. Commentators on TV buzzed with theories, why a sea? What advantage did the Grimm brothers have prepared? Social media and fairy tales media are drowned with debates: "Is humanity ready for a sea fight?"
Noah and Lucianne, hurrying back to their base, froze when they read the official update.
Lucianne says, "A sea arena…? Damn it. They're using the battlefield itself against us."
Noah is gritting his teeth, "We had a plan. Now it's worthless."
Inside the dim underground chamber, the hooded figure was already waiting. Silent, still, like a shadow waiting for command. Noah sighed deeply.
"…Change of plan. We can't use you this round."
The hooded warrior didn't argue. He simply nodded once, like someone who had lived his life obeying the tides of war.
The pair returned to their strategy table. Pages of files and candidate lists were scattered like a storm had blown through. All that mattered now was choosing the perfect name, a symbol strong enough to rally humanity, one that could stand against whatever monster Hans and Leo had prepared.
They both go back to the discussion table, they need to choose what warrior they need to send out to the sea arena.
After a few hours of arguing and comparing to find suitable champions, they finally finalised on two champions that have advantage on the water. That is,
"The God of The Sea" and "The Sea Empress".
They continued to done research, arguing with each other,
"The God of the Sea!" Noah declared. "It's simple, powerful, divine."
"No," Lucianne countered. "We need grace, dominance, royalty… She's not just a fighter. She's an icon."
After another hour of debating, Silence hung. Both looked at the name written across the board. They finally agreed on the champions for the next Round.
"The Sea Empress."
The title glowed like destiny itself.
One day later, the world gathered to hear the official matchup. The fairy in the sky is ready to light up and reveal to the world the nicknames of the champion that will fight on this sea arena.
Then, the reveal happened…
"Round 2 : The Sea Empress vs The Storm of the South Seas!"
The world erupted. Humanity cheered for their mysterious Empress, while whispers of terror spread about the Grimm's champion's, Queen Kadita, whose name was spoken in reverence and fear.
The sea itself seemed to stir in anticipation.
Noah and Lucianne watch the sky with the feeling of nervousness and a little bit confident while The Grimms smirking think that they will get the next round too.
And Finally, Saturday of the second week arrived.
Round 2 is about to start.
In the tunnel of humanity entrance gate, Noah is waiting there to meet with the humanity champions for this round.
"Ah, you here The Sea Empress! You say you wanted to meet me before the round began, right?"
The Sea Empress under the hooded cloak that covers her identity, looks Noah on his eyes,
"I need you to do something for me, can you do it?"
Noah looks at her in confusion but he will try anything to fulfill his champion request.
The skies above the Savu Sea were painted crimson by the setting sun. The floating stands swayed gently, filled with millions of eyes both live and through broadcast, waiting for history to ignite. Below, the ocean stretched endlessly, blue, infinite, unpredictable.
The arena is made from 4 huge floating platforms that can fill a thousand to million audience. The four platforms are shaped like an oval but it is separated. Two main platforms on each end of the oval are where the VIP seats, the entrance gate and tunnel of each fighter are located. These platforms are floating on top of the open air of Savu Sea located between Indonesia and the Indian Ocean.
From his wobbling hot-air balloon, Rumpelstiltskin adjusted his crooked top hat, raised a golden megaphone, and shrieked:
Rumpelstiltskin:
"WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO ROUND TWOOOOOO! The tides have risen, the skies have parted, and the gods themselves lean close to watch! Our stage: the mighty Savu Sea! HA-HA!"
The crowd roared, waves clashing below as if the ocean itself cheered.
Lucianne is standing in the VIP rooms of humanity watching from above the sea arena when suddenly she hears the room's door open. She immediately sees Noah is the one entering the room.
"Oh, It's you! I'm a bit scared about strangers these past days since the soldiers try to capture us."
Noah look at her and says,
"Sorry, you need to get through all that because of me. I hope you feel better."
Lucianne looks at Noah and doesn't want to make him feel guilty about what happened so, she changed the topic,
"How about the meeting our champions asked you. Is it going well?"
At first he hesitated but then, he became more confident.
"Yes, It is going well. And I can feel that we will win this round!"
Both of them smile toward each other and start focusing on the sea below since the entrance for both combatants is about to start.
"ITS TIME FOR THE CHAMPIONS ENTRANCE!!!", shout Rumpelstilskin with passion.
A deep silence followed as the horizon shimmered. Then…
BOOM!
A tidal wave rose high into the air, spiraling like a living wall of water. From its peak descended Queen Kadita.
Her long black hair flowed endlessly as though each strand was made from the night sky itself. A crown of seashells and gold gleamed upon her head, glowing faintly under the sun. Around her, a thousand merfolk soldiers breached the surface, forming perfect ranks. The waves themselves bowed, bending beneath her will.
As Kadita stepped forward, the water solidified beneath her feet, shimmering into a path of liquid light. The crowd gasped, some in awe, some in terror, as her voice echoed like a goddess,
"This sea… is my throne. No mortal nor myth shall rule it but me."
From the stands, Hans leaned back, smirking.
"Perfection. She is the storm."
Leo only chuckled, eyes sharp as the sea.
Rumpelstiltskin cackled, cutting in with dramatic flare:
"But what is a throne without a challenger? Hee-hee-hee! From the annals of ancient history, a commander feared by Greeks and Persians alike, the terror of Salamis, the lioness of the seas… I GIVE YOU… THE SEA EMPRESS!"
Suddenly, the ocean churned. From beneath the waves, a colossal trireme warship, its sails black, its hull carved with monstrous faces have risen like a beast awakening. Upon its prow stood a female figure. She is Artemisia I of Caria.
Clad in bronze armor etched with sea-serpent motifs, a scarlet cloak whipping behind her, she gazed at the arena with eyes cold and calculating. In her hand was a curved xiphos blade and a round bronze shield both glinting under the dying light. Strapped on her back is a bow and a bunch of arrows.
The trireme's oars snapped up, slamming down into the sea with a thunderous
BOOM… BOOM… BOOM, a drumbeat of war.
Artemisia raised her blade high. The waves surged around her vessel as though obeying her command. Then, her voice rang out, sharp as steel,
"No sea frightens me. No empire breaks me. I am the storm that shatters kings. And tonight… I claim this ocean."
The stands erupted in deafening cheers and fearful cries. Even Noah and Lucianne, though pale with tension, held their breath in awe.
"…The Sea Empress… Artemisia."
Above them, Rumpelstiltskin spun wildly in his balloon, laughing like a madman.
"The Southern Sea's Queen versus the Sea Empress! Kadita vs Artemisia! THE WAVES SHALL DECIDE WHO RULES!"
The arena was set. The ocean boiled. The sea listened.