"I am just kidding. Hahaha!" seeing that Elric was preparing himself to fight, the great King Mahar exploded in laughter, revealing his teasing side.
"Father is still the same."
"True. hehe"
"I thought he was gonna punish the human!"
The three princesses sighed after remembering their father's habit of teasing.
"Aghus was a good and powerful merman, perhaps, he was blessed with the best potential to become the new Lord. However, his heart was corrupted with greed and power. He has oppressed my people and even destroyed the peace we had been living for a generations. I know the battle that was to happen will be disastrous and that is why I have come prepared with my last power to serve my people." Inhaling deeply, he started glowing in blue light.
Suddenly, the great King waved his hands and wave of comforting blue light washed all over across the land of the water realm.
"What is this?"
"My injuries are healing?"
"Long live the great King Mahar!"
"Long live his royal line!"
Everything the blue light touches heals. Even those who have been killed are slowly recomposing their bodies and healed in a visible state.
"Mother! Father!"
"Our baby!"
"Commander! You are alive!?? Hahahaha!
"This is a miracle!"
"I am alive! I am aliiiiive!"
"I am pretty sure I had been dead from the giant coral monster's mouth. What exactly happened?."
"Pwe! There is too much sand in my mouth! Well, it doesn't matter! I am alive!"
"We owe our life to the great King Mahar!"
"Looking at the vast world of the water realm, I have long predicted that sacrifices will be done against his rule. He was so desperate to obtain the Authority from me that he chooses to side with The Outside." Long after casting his healing wave, King Mahar's appearance greatly fainted. He became so transparent that people could not almost see him.
"The Outside?" Elric asked in clarification about the certain group whom the last ruler conspired with.
"They are an elusive group of powerful corrupted elementals, humans or other creatures that had pledged to the destruction of their races."
"Sound's like a classic villain. Couldn't get any more cliche?" Elric replied with a confident smile.
"This may sound like a joke to you but the threat they bring is real. Perhaps, you have forgotten what The Great Seer Mhata had shown you; or could it be you have forgotten who is your true enemy?"
With these words, Elric's memories suddenly remembered the hideous sight the Great Seer Mhata revealed to him back at the Fire Elemental Realm.
The destroyed world filled with scattered bones everywhere. Ever-burning-fire scorching the entire lands and pitch dark clouds blanketing the entire sky. The cries of despair, torture, and agony echoed across from the distance.
A sound that could only be described as hell.
Peace and justice had not a single trace in that world. And behold that, the culprit flies freely in the sky, blending its body with total darkness of the clouds.
In the sky, Elric saw himself.
In his corrupted Black Dragon Form, wreaking havoc, spewing fire that leaves not a single soul alive.
His peaceful and relaxed mood suddenly gone. Little did he know, his hands are bleeding from his intense emotion.
Elric realized that his real enemy is himself. The real threat to the world was him and the balance itself dances in the palm of his hands.
With a serious tone, he faced the Great King again. He kneeled intently before the great King Mahar and the latter shot a surprised look including the royal guards, the beautiful princesses, and Dash.
"I thought you Dragon's don't bow down to anyone?" Great King Mahar asked with a smile.
"I bow to you not as a Dragon but as a human." Elric faced the ground with utmost humility.
"The Great Seer Mhata guided me to you. Surely, there is something you can do to help me as the Wisest Lord of all Elementals."
"You flatter me too much human, but very well. I did have something for you." Great King Mahar proceeded to look at the new Lord of the water realm - Dash.
"Come here, my boy." With a wave of his hand, Dash immediately rose from the ground and stopped its small turtle body at the massive palm of the late Great King Mahar like an obedient little pet.
Despite his ethereal form, the Great King Mahar and the little turtle are such in sync that they knew their intentions very well.
"This will be my gift and as a form of my gratitude for liberating the water realm." With a tap of his big fingers at the turtle's shell, a bright light covered the little turtle blanketing their view with sheer brightness.
WIING~
It took quite a while before the brightness faded and together with it is the mighty presence of the late Great King Mahar.
Elric scanned the surroundings but not a single trace of the gigantic figure can be found. What he saw was the little turtle still floating on the spot unconsciously and a bright little pearl rolled down out of his opened little mouth.
Instinctively, Elric caught the shining pearl and the little turtle at the same time. Dash remained unconscious for quite some time and Elric looked at the white shining pearl.
"Why is it so heavy?"
Despite its small marble-size, the small little white pearl weights more than a hundred kilos. Its mere presence allowed caused his surroundings to vibrate in power and a powerful urge to swallow it was commanding Elric's mind.