Everyone looked at Elric as if he was a different person. Their shocked looks added to his curiosity.
Elric's shadow started to grow and a blurry ethereal image immersed from him.
"What do you mean? It's me, Elric-"
"Everybody, bow down!" The little turtle suddenly declared in an imposing manner and everyone followed thru without further delay. His voice echoed across the land of the water realm and every single creature that heard the command did as the new Lord ordered.
They all bowed towards Elric with utmost respect printed in their eyes. Some are even crying as if seeing a long lost family before them.
"Huh? What's happening? Are they thanking me for what I have done? I am pretty much sure I brought plenty of troubles and destruction to them. I don't think I deserve their acknowledgment at all." Elric's mind was full of questions about the sudden changes with their reaction.
Little did he know, an etherial image of the late King Mahar is currently manifesting behind him like a growing shadow. A silhouette of the giant merman figure slowly growing.
"You have my gratitude human."
A warm and comforting sound of a great man jolted Elric out of his thinking. He instinctively turned around to look behind only to see a towering ethereal figure of a red-tailed merman. The scales in his gigantic body shone with royal red just like those of the three princesses.
Bulging muscles full of power formed his glorious aura and his waving royal red hair accentuated his bright eyes that are filled with wisdom. The legendary merman who commands respect and awe with his presence alone. One who brought peace and harmony throughout the land of the water realm for more than a thousand years until his unprecedented destiny that started the long and slow collapse of the Royal families of the water realm.
"Father!"
"Father!"
"Father!"
The three beautiful princesses could not stop their overflowing emotions. Seeing their father again after losing him from the sudden space attack brought back thousands of their beautiful memories together. The man was full of compassion and respect and they could not help but mourn for years after losing him.
However, realizing that the image before them is not a real body but of an ethereal state only further confirms that he was indeed dead.
"Paying respect to the Lord!"
The armies in golden armor, the fish folks, the creatures of different sizes and even the moving corals turned to face the image of King Mahar and declared their unwavering respect.
The moment Elric laid his eyes on the towering figure behind him, he felt chills running throughout his spine. His breath rapidly increased as reflected by the small gills in his neck while his eyes dilated in utter surprise.
The man before him is the late Great King Mahar. He took on an etherial state which further confirmed that the latter is indeed dead.
Elric repositioned himself with some distance from the ethereal being. He slowly nods his head in acknowledgment of the late King.
"Is that how you pay respect to the late King?! Hurry! Kneel and face the ground!" Dash's head almost exploded in anger after seeing Elric casually nodding to his respective King as if he was just greeted by a friend!
"This bastard is crazy! Doesn't he already know who the heck is before him?! It's the late King Mahar! He is even more legendary than I am! That is the Legendaryrer Lord of the Water Realm!"
Dash had a complicated emotion swelling inside. As much as he wants to evolve into his giant version and stamp the ignorant hugon before him, he is afraid of disrespecting the very etherial presence of the late King Mahar.
Contrary to everyone's emotional outburst, Elric quickly recomposed himself and faced the ethereal being with a relaxed tone.
"I am sorry if I am not bowing down to you Great King Mahar. You see, I am also a half dragon and that also means that I bow to no one." Elric calmly explained himself.
However, right after hearing his answer, the loyal soldiers of the Great King Mahar could not stand anymore Elric's complacent attitude towards their King.
"How dare you-"
"STOP!"
~WOOOOM~
The loyal soldiers were just about to stand and berate Elric when a dominating aura struggled them down, causing them paralyzed and unable to utter a single word.
"On behalf of my people, I would like to apologize for my people." After unleashing a sliver of his power to stop his people from their hostile intentions against Elric, the late King Mahar's image slowly fainted.
"I don't mind. I understood them. It's just the way of the Dragons to not bow to anyone." Elric casually replied with a gentle smile. The way he talked before the great King was as casual as if he was just talking to a friend. There is no hint of awe or fear despite the King's legendary title.
This is the clear state of mind brought to him by a voice from the God Reckoning Tribulation. Compared to the old version of himself who would easily panic and lacks firm decision, the current Elric exuded a character full of confidence, wisdom, and positivity.
Added with the renewed energy brought to him by the Authority of water, Elric can use its cleansing power to wash away to corruption to give himself a clearer view and control of his mind.
Hearing Elric's honest and direct answer, the late King Mahar nodded in satisfaction and continued.
"As much as I want to show you the colorful land of the water realm, I am afraid I do not have the time to waste for such. I am but a sliver of my last remaining energy that I planted in the Authority of Water knowing that you would come to get this power someday."
"So you were expecting me?" Elric asked surprise. For some reason, he felt that all of these has been predetermined.
"I have already known my fate ever since the visit to the realm of the Great Seer Mhata. And all of this had been under her guidance."
Scanning the messy world of the water realm, the Great King Mahar cast a sigh and continued.
"The liberation of my realm will come from a Human with dragon blood." He moved his head to face Elric and scanned him with focused eyes.
"However you have also brought destruction on my land. Killing hundreds of thousands perhaps, of my peace-loving people. How do you think will you fix these?"
Elric felt the hostile glare of the etherial being before him and for some reason, he felt that he should probably prepare for another round of trouble.