Truly knowledge is a deadly weapon, if not for Danna stumbling about a book that mentioned the Shadow creatures from the realm of Darkness, she would probably have gone to a state of panic a while ago.

But now, with knowledge about the weird nature and abilities of the Shadows, she is just the perfect commander for this battle. 

The two younger mermaid princess has already moved to evacuate their people back on the golden cave. Considering that they are fighting powerful creatures that are extremely advantageous with shady places, the golden cave just happens to provide a perfect form of shelter.

On the other side of the wrecked tunnel, Koto, the King Shadow that was leading the army against the Water realm had managed to survive the Flash arrow.

As it turns out, the tip of the arrow was made from a rare crystal called Silaw stones. It was extremely rare crystals that are only found from the minuscule sun found at the center of the hollow world.

The truth is that the mini-sun that was giving light to the hollow land of the water realm is actually a giant Silaw stone that is able to store light as long as it remained intact. An ancient magical formation is also responsible for its unmovable position at the center of the water elemental realm.

It was a valuable treasure that would sometimes drop tiny shards every hundred years, which the ancient merman blacksmiths would pick up and use to create the flash arrows and was specifically prepared to fight against creatures with dark elemental attributes.

The arrow that is tipped with the silaw stone is incredibly powerful but also rare, and by adding a sliver of magical essence, one would be able to control its direction and the trigger the flash explosion from the distance.

As much as they wanted more of it, the sheer rarity of the stone itself only allowed them to be able to create less than ten pieces of the special arrow. Thus, it is incredibly crucial for Danna to maximize the result of each shot.

Koto waited for a while just in case another arrow coming will follow. For a minute the Shadow creatures lingered outside, staring at the now widened tunnel with a look of hesitation. 

They could see the tiny light opening from the distance which was the exit. And from there, they could see the golden armored defenders of the water realm, holding a golden spear and prepared to meet them while a certain mermaid that was holding a golden bow stood up from the rear.

The flash arrow came in too suddenly and exploded in the middle of the tunnel, catching them off-guard and instantly wiping out every single shadow inside the tunnel, except the King who happens to have stronger light resistance.

A frown can be seen on his face as he observed the surroundings and thinking of other ways to push through.

A while later, Kotos suddenly smiled wickedly.

He raised his palm, sending a halt signal to the rus.h.i.+ng Shadow armies that have just arrived. He waved to some strong looking Shadows that actually happens to be his trusted officers and they quickly made their way towards the King.

The King Shadow quickly started mental a secret communication with his trusted subordinates and their eyes quickly became even more excited before backing out of the congregation silently bringing with them a few stronger Shadows with bulky bodies.

Seeing them off, Koto turned his gaze to the incredibly large crowd of Shadows waiting for his command.

Behind Koto is a thick and almost endless black line of more incoming Shadows. The one that came and died a while ago where the faster and excited ones who does not listen to the command from the higher-ups.

As creatures of the empty and gloomy Dark realm, the vibrant and lively environment of the water elemental realm is like a banquet of extremely delicious elemental foods. Thus, it is completely understandable for their cravings to overwhelm their defensive instincts.

With the more disciplined and smarter Shadows on Koto's side, an idea emerged from the latter.

With a loud and authoritative voice, Koto's voice echoed across the outer sea of the water realm that is slowly filled by more Shadow.

"Do not be afraid of their light! It is just a piece of bright stone that lacks the purifying power of the real sun and nothing else!" 

Upon hearing the King Shadow's word, the hesitation at their faces has quickly been replaced with thrill.

"Rush them! Meld to the shadows! Use everyone as a cover! Do not forget there is a world of delicious seafood waiting on the other side! Do you want to go back to the Realm of Darkness and stay hungry!? Breakthrough and have as much mortal flesh as you like! This is our time! Our world! Now!" 

Everyone listened with even more pumped expression. The moment they imagined the colorful and tempting flesh of the water elementals, most of the Shadows were starting to droll like mad dogs.

Koto knows that leading the front would only risk himself in getting the full brunt of the water elementals. Thus, he decided to play with his tongue and urge the easily fooled Shadow warriors to become his meat s.h.i.+eld.

KHIAAAAA!~

KHIIIAAAAAAA!

KHIAAAAAA!~ 

SWOOOOSH-SWOOOSH-SWOOOs.h.!.+

Soon enough, it did not take long for some Shadows to finally give up on their defensive instinct and swiftly rushed on the tunnel with drooling mouth. Their eyes blood red and their muscles shaking in excitement. They left behind long trails of bubbles from their incredible speed.

KHIAAA!~

KHIAAAA!~

-

Swooos.h.!.+~

SWOOOOSH~

Meanwhile, seeing that some Shadows have started their move, the crowd mentality from the rest has started to kick in and unhesitantly made they way in as well together with their incredible speed and loud shriek of excitement.

From the distance, they looked like black ink pouring into a tight funnel. 

In a moment, the whole tunnel area was jam-packed and the smarter Shadows decided to blend to the shadows on the wall, making the actual number of the incoming Shadows more than what the eye could perceive. 

And just when the few ones were about to reach the end of the tunnel, another bright arrow suddenly pierced its way through before making another explosion of blinding light in the middle of the tunnel.

FLAAAAAAs.h.!.+~BOOOOOM!

Seeing the expanding black-dust-filled tunnel, Koto quickly added more fuel to the Shadow's rage.

"Go! Do not be afraid! Avenge our brothers by eating them until the last drop of their spirit!"

KHIAAAAA!~

SWOOOOSH~

KHIAAAAH!~

SWOOOOOOs.h.!.+~

Without even waiting for Koto's sentence to finish, the hungry and furious Shadows from the back unhesitantly rushed in. Now that the tunnel is much wider due to the rock shattering explosions, more and more Shadows were able to fit inside while giving them more s.p.a.ce to move.

On the other side of the tunnel, the merman armies watched with dumbstruck faces the fearless Shadow creatures. Despite knowing that rus.h.i.+ng in means instant death, their eyes still revealed a hint of hopeful pride, probably thinking that they could survive the flas.h.i.+ng arrow until they turn into the black dust.

Danna, on the other hand, pulled each arrow shots with unhindered focus and determination. Every shot was fired to maximize the damage and not letting even a single one escape from its explosive range. Each at the expense of her own magical essence to control the arrow's explosion.

Not to mention, only Danna is capable of wielding the legendary bow and arrow thanks to its exuberant cost of magical essence required.

FLAAAASH~FOOOOM!

FLAAAAAs.h.!.+~FOOOOM!~

On the eight arrows, Danna suddenly fell on her knees with a pained expression.

"Princess! Are you alright!?" Asked one of the commanding Army officers who was standing on guard at her side.

"It is probably a magical backlash. Do not worry. I can still continue." Danna replied as she quickly came back to her position, ignoring the terrifying pain and refocused on the darkening tunnel.

"Prepare to engage, I am down to my last two arrows!" She added while pulling out one of the last two gold plated arrow with a blue crystal tip.

The merman army at the front also tightened their grip on their golden spears and s.h.i.+eld, some are wielding a golden sword and others are holding a heavy hammer.

With a pained expression, Danna took a deep breath and channeled her magical essence from her body, across the arrow shaft until it reached the blue crystal tip - activating the stored light like a small bright cloud of lightning inside a crystal arrowhead.

The next wave of the incoming Shadows was just approaching the mid part of the tunnel when a hurried voice suddenly came from behind.

"Sister Danna! The Golden cave! It is under attack!"

Danna quickly stopped her channeling and turned from the source of the voice. It was from Donna who is currently riding her Dolphin pet. Her eyes are filled with panic and fear as she quickly added.

"Those Shadows, they created more tunnels on the other side! The whole kingdom is currently a mess!"