It seems that her arrows have scared the enemy too much and that they decided to dig their own tunnels on the other sides by breaking the thick mantle of the planet with brute force. 

"If only the Lord Dash is here..." Danna mumbled helplessly. A while ago, she has instructed her sisters on what to do in case of the enemy's successful breakthrough. Though Donna and Diana were not allowing her to leave, it was unfortunate for them that it was Danna's responsibility to lead the army as second on power.

She has explained to them as well about Dash's business to the fire elemental realm and there is a good chance that the latter is probably fighting countless Shadows at the moment.

From far away, Danna could make out about ten holes that had suddenly opened; and out from it came about a hundred or so of powerful-looking Shadows, unlike the smaller ones that were trying to squeeze their way thru the main tunnel entrance.

These Shadows were incredibly big but fast and flexible. They were able to engage the second defensive lines that were stationed to protect the Kingdom's premises. 

Fortunately, the bright giant Silaw stone hovering in the middle of the hollow s.p.a.ce was able to suppress the Shadow's movement. Though it was not as effective as the Earth's sun, the sheer light property that the giant stone emitted was still able to deal damage to the Shadows the longer they stay in the open light.

For now, the Shadows would attack their victims and the kingdom guards by crossing between the shades of any solid objects. They could only fight in the open for as long as ten seconds; longer than that would finally ignite them into a dark blue fire before scattering to the current as black dust.

If the Shadows wanted to have the complete liberty in moving as much as they wanted, they have to take down their victims either by knocking them off or killing them before they could start taking over their victim's water elemental body.

Fortunately, the location of the Golden cave is found just behind the Golden castle. It was an extremely wide and bright open s.p.a.ce with an entrance that is secured by a st.u.r.dy golden gate.

The location of the newly sprouted holes were still a good long hundred kilometers before reaching the center of the kingdom. If the enemies are aiming for the castle, then judging from their speed, they would reach it in the next fifteen minutes.

Fortunately, the main entrance is closer to the Kingdom and her soldiers should be able to make it to the golden cave in less than five minutes at full speed.

Danna heaved a sigh. Though the enemies have already infiltrated, the mere presence of the ma.s.sive Silaw stone provided her a glimpse of hope. As long as that giant glowing stone remained s.h.i.+ning brightly at the center of the hollow s.p.a.ce, they still have the advantage to fight back. 

Danna looked at the last two silaw-crystal-tipped arrows on her hand. A frown on her face formed as she quickly thought of a plan. Her brain whirred to its maximum ability and in the next three seconds, she sprinted down back to her armies.

SHOOOOOHHM~

Danna's figure flashed through and reached the tunnel entrance ni no time. She could still see the countless Shadows rus.h.i.+ng from the outside with red furious eyes and gritting wide mouths. In the next twenty seconds, those creatures would probably reach the gate exit and start havoc more than her army could take.

"Everyone! This is my order. Go back to the golden cave! Protect the citizen hiding at the golden cave." Danna commanded with a cold voice. Her eyes gleamed with unyielding courage as she started to reload her golden bow and raised aim towards the tunnel again.

"But your majesty! How can we do that when it is us who is supposed to protect you!" One of the few commanding merman soldier officers immediately reacted with a shaking voice.

"That's a good joke, Princess. Now please go back and leave us here. We will defend this place even until the last breath." Another one of the most loyal soldiers chimed in, they were both survivors of the last war against the Thagdas invasion.

"A good joke indeed, the princess is left behind while her soldiers are running away? that's a good one." said another soldier.

"Do I sounded like joking?" Danna suddenly replied. Her eyes were cold and a murderous aura emerged out of her quite beautiful figure. 

Seeing her eyes, the soldiers were reminded of the late King Mahar's rage.

The last King was indeed a kind one, but the moment some soldiers would disobey his command and cost the lives of the other in return, the King would never hesitate to kill those disobedient soldiers.

It was one of those rare cases when the King becomes a cold-blooded ruler despite his usual kind and bubbly behavior. And right now, the princess is revealing those same cold and dark eyes. Watching her, a few old soldiers gulped a good big one. 

Truly she is an heir to the throne. 

"I will not repeat myself again. The lives of people are more important than mine. I still have two strong sisters who could take my position in the future so do not be afraid if this is the last time you will see me. I still have two shots left. I will buy you time to go and secure the people. I will follow immediately after my last shot." Danna added resolutely.

Seeing that the princess was really serious about her order, the soldiers stood around with hesitation.

"The Princess is right. I and the rest of the elite squad will stay here and protect the princess. The moment she released the last arrow, we will drag her with us back to the castle." One of the previous commanding officers said as he and his bulky looking squad stood beside the princess.

Stepping forward with the same commanding gaze, Danna ordered, "Follow Princess Donna and escort her safely to the Golden Cave! There are already few Shadows that has managed to infiltrate the Kingdom so do your best in clearing them along the way and provide a.s.sistance to those who need it. That is my final order." 

"Men move out!"

"Yes!"~

"Yes!"~

Hearing the Princess's last request, one of the leading officers shouted, and about thousands of merfolks soldiers immediately left with him. 

Now left with only about twenty strong-looking merman soldiers on her side, Danna finally recomposed herself and channeled her magical essence. 

The Shadows are just around two kilometers away from the tunnel exit and she could already hear their loud screeching together with the increasing vibrations on the ground from their countless stomping foot.

"Four....three..two..." Danna was counting every second in order to maximize the explosion's range and damage output. But just when she was about to release the arrow, one particular Shadow suddenly sprinted out of the rus.h.i.+ng dark crowd like black lightning.

This huge Shadow suddenly summoned a long dark spear about seven meters long and sparing not even a second before it effortlessly left his huge dark hands, leaving behind a long black ink-like trail. That Shadow was the Second strongest Shadow King from the Realm of Darkness - Koto.

s.h.i.+OOOONNG!~

Danna was taken aback at the sudden range attack of the particular Shadow. The spear was launched with incredible strength and accuracy that before she could even react, the black long spear was already just ten meters away from her.

"Princess!!!"

Fortunately, the closest Elite commander was able to react faster and pushed the princess on the side while he got on the spear's line in return.

THAAAANG!~

Though the Elite merman commander was fast, the sheer power driving the spear was just too much, not even the thick golden s.h.i.+eld was able to stop it! 

SLOOOOSHHCK!

"Nooo!"

Danna cried in shock as she saw the black spear that was supposed to be meant for her had effortlessly pierced through the Commander's thick golden s.h.i.+eld and even went through the forearm then to the chest.

"Princess! Duck!" 

But just when Danna was able to recover from her shock, the rest of the Elite soldiers beside her hurriedly shouted in unison. They formed a protective formation and protected her from all sides.

s.h.i.+OOOONNG!~s.h.i.+OOOONNG!~s.h.i.+OOOONNG!~

THAAAANG!~

THOOONG!~

SLOOOOSHHCK!

THAAAANG!~

The hand of the incoming Koto moved in blurring speed as he hurled over more black spears faster than the blink of an eye.

THOOONG!~

SLOOOOSHHCK!

"Secure the princess!"

"Drag her away!"

"AAAHCCK!~"

THAAAANG!~

SLOOOOSHHCK!

The Elite soldiers tried their best to protect the shocked Danna. The princess's eyes were locked while her body was paralyzed at the silhouette of the brave soldiers dying one by one as they defended her with their lives.

NYAHAHAHAH!~

Koto on the other hand was laughing maniacally as he watched the golden armored merman soldiers dropping down to death from his own spear.

In less than five seconds, Koto was able to reach the end of the tunnel with overwhelming pride and agitation. He watched the dazed mermaid princess with l.u.s.t and disdain. Swiftly, he raised his extraordinarily long black arms, created another black spear, and unhesitantly hurled it towards the paralyzed princess.

BOOOOOOM!~

The next thing Koto realized, is that his body has been planted deep on a ma.s.sive wall crater. His head on the other hand has been severed from it and was also planted not far from the main body.

He raised his weird insect-like eyes on the direction where he was supposed to be standing and saw a familiar figure in his place instead.

"You... What is the meaning of these?!" Koto beckoned angrily.

"It is called retribution of my Realm."

The G.o.d of the Elemental Ream replied with determined white burning eyes. Holding two long bright swords, he stood before the shocked mermaid princess who seems to have lost her senses.