The next day after the battle, the manor lay in ruins. Debris and rubble were scattered everywhere, and the walls were crumbled and broken. The once beautiful garden was now a mess of uprooted plants and shattered ornaments.

As word of the attack spread, people began to gather in the nearby towns to discuss what had happened. There were rumors and speculations about who the stranger could be and why he had attacked the manor. Some believed he was a rival cultivator of Aric, while others thought he might have been hired by a jealous competitor.

Despite the chaos and destruction left in the aftermath, people could not help but feel a sense of awe at the power displayed by the mysterious attacker. The guards who had survived the battle were hailed as heroes, and there was talk of rebuilding the manor even better than it was before. As for the one who attacked them, no one knew what had become of him. Some whispered that he was a demon, while others dismissed him as a madman with too much power. But no matter what they thought, the memory of his attack would remain etched in their minds for years to come.

The guards, armed and ready, stood in a tight perimeter around the ruined manor, their eyes darting around nervously as they scanned for any sign of danger. Meanwhile, the sounds of cracking wood and collapsing debris echoed through the air, serving as a haunting reminder of the fierce battle that had taken place there just hours before.

As the guards remained on high alert, a group of mermons appeared out of nowhere, their bodies gracefully gliding through the air as they approached the perimeter. At the forefront of the group was Gllelus, a striking figure with large, expressive eyes and a fish-like mouth that twisted into a small smile as he surveyed the destruction around him.

The mermons descended upon the hall with ease, their movements fluid and graceful as they maneuvered through the debris and broken roof of the manor. Gllelus's hands, which boasted thin skin between the fingers, allowed him to move through the ocean with unparalleled speed and dexterity. He used these same abilities to navigate the chaotic scene before him.

As the mermons floated through the ruins of the manor, the guards watched with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, unsure of what to make of these powerful mermons elders who had arrived so suddenly. They whispered amongst themselves, discussing the oddity of the situation and speculating about the identity and motives of the mysterious stranger who had attacked the manor just hours before.

The moment Gllelus landed on the ground, his sharp eyes scanned the ruined manor, taking in the destruction that had been wrought. The wall with the ominous message in blood caught his attention, and his eyes furrowed in confusion and concern.

The mermons who had accompanied Gllelus shared his shocked expression, their fish-like mouths agape as they looked upon the scene before them. Slowly, Gllelus floated over to the wall, studying the message written in blood with a sense of growing unease.

"I know whoever took him will read this message," Gllelus read aloud, his voice low and grave. "So if you are the one responsible for taking him, you have a full day to return him to where you took him. If you fail to do so, this will be only the start of the destruction that's going to fall upon your world."

The mermons murmured amongst themselves, their thin-skinned fingers wringing nervously. "What does this mean?" one of them asked, looking to Gllelus for answers.

"It means trouble," Gllelus replied, his large eyes narrowing. "This message is a threat, and whoever wrote it is not to be taken lightly."

The group fell silent, the weight of the threat hanging heavily in the air. They knew they had to act quickly to find the missing spirit child and prevent further destruction from befalling their world.

Gllelus stood there in silence, his gaze fixed on the blood message on the wall. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had heard rumors about the Dark Lord's power but never expected him to be this ruthless. The mere thought of what the Dark Lord could do to their world sent shivers down Gllelus' spine. He knew that the kidnapping of the spirit child was a grave mistake, but he never thought it would lead to this.

As he looked around at the destroyed manor, he could see the physical and emotional damage the attack had caused. The guards were shaken, and their wounds would heal, but the trauma they had experienced would stay with them for a long time. Gllelus knew that the Dark Lord could have easily killed them all, but he had left them alive as a warning. A warning to anyone who dared to cross him.

The mermons who stood around Gllelus were perplexed and worried about the situation. Their large eyes darted around as they tried to process the meaning of the message written in blood. They had no clue who could have done something so heinous and why they would kidnap the spirit child. The mermon who had spoken to Gllelus was clearly agitated and demanded answers.

"Lord Gllelus, who could have done this? This message makes no sense!" The mermon's fish-like mouth gaped open in confusion and frustration.

Gllelus remained silent for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. He envied the mermons' innocence, for they had no knowledge of the Dark Lord or the prophecy that had been foretold. He wished he could be like them, free from the burden of knowing what was to come.

When he recalled how they had eliminated Aric, Gllelus felt a twinge of guilt and regret. He had been a loyal servant of the Sea Folk, and his death was a necessary sacrifice to keep the secrets of the shark medallion safe. But Gllelus couldn't help but wonder if there was another way. He couldn't shake off the feeling that they were becoming more like the Dark Lord in their methods.

But he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present situation. He turned to the guard who had asked him the question and spoke in a serious tone. "We don't know who the attacker is yet, but we must find him before it's too late. And we must be careful not to jump to conclusions or make assumptions,"

As Gllelus and his men were investigating the manor, another group arrived at the scene. But this time, they weren't mermons but Wraiths. Gllelus quickly identified them, despite their shapeshifting abilities, as their distinct features gave them away. The Wraiths had long, sleek bodies that seemed to move with a fluid grace. Their eyes were large and unblinking, and their skin had a slight iridescent sheen that shimmered in the light. Among the group of Wraiths stood a sturdy man with a muscular body, a thick beard, and long black hair. He wore luxurious robes that were embroidered with intricate designs and radiated a powerful aura, making it clear that he was a leader among the Wraiths. Mutrad was also present among the Wraiths, standing slightly behind their leader.

Mutrad stood amidst the ruins, his mind racing as he took in the devastation before him. Memories of the destroyed Itholan island flooded his thoughts, and he felt a chill run down his spine. He had joined forces with the Dark Lord to prevent his own world from suffering a similar fate, but now it seemed like that fate might be inevitable.

The fear that gripped Mutrad was palpable. His hands trembled as he tried to steady himself, and his heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest. He had never felt this level of dread before. The thought of the Dark Lord turning his wrath towards his own world was almost too much to bear.

As he surveyed the scene, he couldn't help but wonder who had taken the spirit child. Was it someone from his world? If so, the consequences would be catastrophic. The Dark Lord would stop at nothing to find the child, and those who stood in his way would face unimaginable horrors.

Mutrad knew that he had to act fast. He needed to find out who was responsible for this before it was too late. But even as he made plans in his mind, he couldn't shake the feeling of shock and terror that had taken hold of him.

Gllelus surveyed Valen with a stern expression, his eyes probing the other man's intentions. Valen, a tall man with a sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes, held his gaze steady.

As Gllelus and Valen stood facing each other, the atmosphere was tense. Valen's posture was rigid, his expression inscrutable, while Gllelus's face was etched with anger, his voice dripping with iciness.

"What gives you the right to be here?" Gllelus demanded, his eyes flashing. "You know this is mermon territory."

Valen's voice was even, betraying no emotion. "I'm here to investigate the attack, just like you. And we both know who's responsible."

As Gllelus saw Valen, a member of the House of Halrid, he felt a wave of contempt and hostility wash over him. He had always harbored a deep-seated hatred for the members of Halrid, and Valen's presence only served to reinforce those feelings. But as he took in the destruction around them and the message scrawled in blood, his anger was momentarily replaced by a sense of fear and urgency.

Valen, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. He knew that the members of Gladwrath and Halrid had a long-standing feud, but he had put his loyalty to his house aside in the face of a greater threat. He was focused on finding the one responsible for the destruction and stopping them before it was too late.

Despite their mutual animosity, Gllelus and Valen acknowledged each other with a nod of their heads, a silent recognition that they both had a common goal. Gllelus's cold tone reflected his discomfort at working with someone from Halrid, but he knew that they couldn't afford to let their differences stand in the way. Meanwhile, Valen spoke with a level-headedness that betrayed no hint of resentment towards Gladwrath.

Both men knew that their collaboration was necessary if they were to have any chance of catching the Dark Lord, and as they set off together to investigate the source of the destruction, they put their differences aside and focused on the task at hand.

The message on the wall was written in blood, a clear sign of the Dark Lord's involvement. Gllelus's eyes darted to the message before returning to Valen. Despite their animosity towards each other, they both knew that they needed to work together if they had any hope of stopping the Dark Lord.

"You're right," Gllelus conceded after a moment's pause. "But we need to find out quickly. If his attention is truly on this world, we're all in danger."

Valen locked eyes with Gllelus, his intense gaze almost tangible. "I concur. It's unlikely we'll discover anything of value here. Let's convene at the Coral Crown and share all the information we have on him," he stated succinctly. Valen was a man of few words and preferred to cut to the chase.