Lilly mustered her courage and inspired a few of the merfolk to join her in attacking Nitish, believing that they could outnumber and defeat him. The elders and warriors, reluctantly agreeing to her command, took their time to plan their strategy. When Lilly finally shouted "Attack!" they all lunged at Nitish, hoping to overpower him. However, Nitish was not caught off guard. He had already anticipated their move, and a smile formed on his face as he observed their futile attempt. To him, their efforts seemed rather endearing, almost "cute."
Without hesitation, Nitish called out to them, his voice carrying a commanding tone, "Kneel!" Instantly, the merfolk found themselves dropping to the ground, one by one, their bodies hitting the floor with a resounding thud. The power of his words and magic left them powerless to resist.
Lilly's eyes widened in shock and disbelief as she watched her people bow before Nitish. She had hoped that they would stand together and defeat him, but instead, they were rendered defenseless by his overwhelming strength.
Amidst the silence that followed Nitish's command, Lilly stood in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. The entire court, including the top elders and warriors of the merfolk, knelt before Nitish as if under a powerful spell. She couldn't comprehend what had just transpired, how he could wield such control over them.
Her mind raced, trying to find an explanation. "How... how did you do this?" she stammered, her voice barely audible.
Nitish looked at her, his smile still lingering. "I think I know what you are thinking," he said, his tone calm and composed.
"Is it because of the fruits?", Lilly asked.
Lilly's heart sank as she realized that he knew her intentions all along. She had hoped that by feeding the merfolk the fruits from his subspace ring, they would gain his powers, making him vulnerable. But instead, they were now under his control.
"It is not because of the fruits," Nitish continued, his voice resonating with power. "It's because of my blood."
The merfolk turned to Lilly, their accusing gazes making her feel even more trapped. "What have you done, Lilly?" one of the elders demanded.
"I... I didn't mean for this to happen," she stammered, trying to find the right words. "I thought... I thought the fruits would give you his powers, make him weak, and we could defeat him."
"But instead, you made him stronger," another elder chimed in, his voice filled with anger.
Lilly felt the weight of her actions crashing down on her. She had let her desire for revenge blind her to the consequences. Her plan had backfired, and now she had put her entire kingdom in jeopardy.
"I possess a tremendous, overpowered skill—one that is passive, to be precise. I refrained from using it back on Earth because I believed it to be unethical. However, I now realize that if trust cannot be guaranteed, then force must be employed," Nitish casually mentioned, sipping his liquor in the court room.
An Elder couldn't help but inquire, "What do you plan to do with us now?"
"With you? Oh, nothing much," Nitish responded with a sinister grin. "I'll simply make you my slaves, forcing you to toil until your very last breath. And as for ruling this underwater kingdom, well, I will take the throne as its first King. (Merfolk is mostly ruled by a queen, as these folks are matriarchal.) As for all of you who drank my blood, you'll pay for it... (takes another sip of liquor)... with your lives." He released his authority, allowing everyone to stand again.
Lilly found herself surrounded by the entire merfolk, who proceeded to beat her mercilessly. Blamed for bringing Nitish to the kingdom in the name of love and then betraying him, she was held accountable for the trouble that had befallen the entire merfolk. While everyone played a part in this ordeal, they pointed fingers at Lilly, holding her responsible for everything.
In the midst of the chaos, Nitish remained calm and composed, watching the events unfold with a smug expression. He knew that drastic actions were necessary to establish his authority and ensure the safety of their kingdom.
As the beating continued, Lilly's spirit remained unbroken. She refused to show weakness or beg for mercy, despite the pain she endured. Deep down, she knew that she had made mistakes and that she had hurt the ones she loved, but she was determined to make amends.
As the crowd finally dispersed, leaving Lilly bruised and battered, Nitish approached her, a mix of emotions in his eyes. "You could have betrayed me without involving love," he said softly, his voice tinged with disappointment. "But I didn't expect this."