The trio is escorted to the castle of the Merfolk Kingdom. It is vastly different from other castles that they have encountered above ground. It is made of different corals that are luminescent but also very aesthetic.

The castle is heavily guarded by not only merfolk but also sea monsters that have been tamed by the merfolk. It is heavily guarded and is grand enough that it encompasses about a third of the whole merfolk kingdom.

"It is big and grand." Peridot exclaimed as the castle is indeed great.

"It had to be as we are a great family with twenty siblings." Princess Ariella replied while the other three are shocked.

They thought that it is needed to make sure that all of them have a place in that ocean. Still, the three did not relax as they are still in a territory with no common allies. The merfolk might be beastkins but that does not mean that all of them will be friendly with other beastkin.

The castle is so big that they did not need to leave the carriage as doors are not needed in the castle grounds that receive audiences. The group arrived at the main hall of the castle with all the merfolk royal family there to meet them. There are also a lot of soldiers there which are more powerful than any of them which made the trio nervous.

The bivalve opened and Princess Ariella introduced the three which the royal family greeted. The trio could feel that the atmosphere is uncomfortable as there is hidden hostility as they do not know what the three came here for. It could also be said that the guards are ready just in case something unexpected happened as the merfolk are a tight knit community.

In the sea, only your own kin could be your savior which is why they have fostered their sense of community. The seas are difficult enough to survive without the added pressure of the sea monsters and other demi human species.

"Welcome, Chosen of the Wilde, Envoy of the Twin Gods, and Ryujin Princess." The merfolk king, King Neptune, stated in his regal tone.

Visit . for a better_user experience

"Thank you for welcoming us." Kabrakan answered as the trio scanned their surroundings to see every member of the royal family.

If one thought merfolk, they would think that they are half human and half fish. The traditional one would be the upper half is that of a human while the lower half is of a fish but that is not always the case. Merfolk pertains to a group of hydromorphs that have aquatic monster parts and human body parts.

Some of the merfolk princesses have fish upper body parts while the lower parts are that of a human. Some even have tentacles, but they must not be confused with the Kraken or Scylla race as they are of different origins (which is up for debate). The most notable one is the appearance of the king.

King Neptune looks different as he is almost four meters tall with half his body being the fish tail. He is wearing a deep blue armor and even looks like he is a mix between a giant and a merfolk. The number of queens that he has around him number about seven who do not look the same.

"I know what you have come here for, but I cannot give it to you easily." King Neptune stated.

Before Kabrakan could say what they came here for, King Neptune already beat them to the punch. He did not expect an immediate refusal as the Carabao clan was more than welcoming. It seems that prestige is not enough for them to get what they need.

"Can we at least know the reason why?" Kabrakan stated.

"If you have come here for the Splash of the Wilde then I say that you must return above ground. It is the power source of our kingdom. If you retrieve it, then our city will become easily attacked by other sea monsters." King Neptune stated.

"I thought you got another problem that you wanted us to correct which is why you do not want to give it to us." Peridot suddenly exclaimed.

Visit ., for the best no_vel_read_ing experience

"Please elaborate." King Neptune stated as he raised his eyebrow but there is a clear expression of anger beneath his faade.

"I remember that merfolks are being targeted by many pirates and being sold to the highest bidder. I thought that you wanted us to fix that problem." Peridot stated.

King Neptune immediately exploded in anger because of the sentence that Peridot stated. It might not be a big trade but merfolks are treated as expendable goods by Sea Witches or Dark Sorcerers for the materials that they could harvest from their body.

Even in eastern medicine, there are some pills that could be created using mermaid scales and mermaid tears. The last ingredient being one of the most valuable things in order to create a potion that can make someone reverse their age. The most notable one is the legend of eating mermaid flesh to obtain immortality but that is considered taboo.

This taboo information came to be due to the merfolk race being unable to age at a point as they do not die of old age which is false. The hydromorphs still die of age but they are vastly resilient compared to the other species of Selvaggians due to the area that they live. Living under ocean has made their bodies be livelier and efficiently use all their body's energy to slow their metabolism.

The guards all pointed their tridents at the three when Peridot stated that sentence as that is the greatest weakness to the ego of the merfolks. They are a tight knit community but does not mean they are without faults.

"It has been our problem for a long time and a princess hiding in a lofty mountain should not tell us how to deal with our problems." King Neptune stated in a calm tone, but anger is hidden beneath that very tone.

"The Wilde has chosen my friend over there. It is your duty as protectors of the Splash of the Wilde to give it to him. It is never meant to just benefit your species but all Selvaggians." Levin Cloud added.

"I remember hearing old sailors that encountered pirates that they had a 'great haul'." Peridot kept piling up the agitation as the merfolk king does not want to hand over the item that they need.

Visit . for a better_user experience

In fact, it was already determined the moment that they entered. They were surrounded by more than a hundred guards and the royal family members brought weapons with them in the audience hall. This meeting was never meant to welcome then but steal the other part of the Will of the Wilde to help power the merfolk kingdom.

"Guards seize them and get the treasure that they have stolen from our kingdom. Throw them into the dungeon." King Neptune announced as all the guards slowly crowded the trio.

Princess Ariella looked shocked upon seeing this as she did not expect that the three would be imprisoned as she grew up learning the legend of the Splash of the Wilde. Back when she was small, her father would often tell her that a hero will retrieve the divine fragment from then and save their kind.

The hero would raise Atlantis from the bottom of the ocean while also granting it great protections from the leviathans. She was often told that the leviathans will be under their control once the hero comes to collect the divine fragment. She has never lost hope that the one chosen as the hero will help the struggling merfolk.

"Father! This is not what you have told me." Princess Ariella stated as she did not expect that she led the hero she waited for into a trap.

"Guards, bring Princess Ariella to her room and make sure that she does not leave." King Neptune commanded.

"It is just as you said." Levin Cloud mumbled as they have their backs against each other.

"I told you it was too good to be true as the merfolk has never been the welcoming type." Peridot replied.

"Can anyone think of a way we can get out of this?" Kabrakan asked as even he knows that they will die or be defeated with just the merfolk king as his level is 350.

Visit . for a better_user experience

Just as the group is being surrounded and are about to be attacked, loud roars suddenly echoed in the distance. An alarm suddenly sounded which informed the merfolk that are outside to go inside their coral homes. That alarm is to inform every merfolk that a herd of leviathans are coming to attack them.

"This is our chance! Just make sure that you hold your breath." Levin Cloud stated as he suddenly held the hands of the two.

Levin Cloud suddenly emitted a green energy that turned all of them into sea plants as they dissolved into the ground. The merfolk royal family could not believe that they escaped in front of them, but the most pressing matter is the approaching leviathans.