Dai Zu sat on the throne, watching the mermaids clean up the corpses that littered the throne room. The day he took over the throne, a huge battle proceeded, and the faction that supported him won by a landslide, killing every other minister in court. The poisoned crown prince was imprisoned, as were the other family members of the court officials who supported the emperor faction.
The people cleaning the corpses froze when they came across a particular one. Their trembling hands picked up the headless body. That was none other than the late emperor of the Mer kingdom. In order to establish his power, he needed to kill him publicly. At first, he was apprehensive whether he could kill or not. But the body he inhabited seemed to be used to the bloodshed. The water in the room had stained pink from all the bloodshed.
"Y-your highness… do we have to toss the corpses out?" The mermaid said in a trembling voice. "Mer burial can be done, and…"
"Feed our sharks," Dai Zu coldly peered at it. "What of the other princes?" The emperor had five sons and four daughters. In order for him to fully rule the underwater world, he needed to fully take control of the masses, which can't be done until the princes are alive. 'They need to be killed publicly as well.' he smiled manically.
"S-sir… the eight princes and princesses have been captured," the general who was standing close to him.
"Eight? There are nine of them!" he shot up furiously. "Where is the other one? Who escaped?"
"The youngest ninth prince," the general knelt on the ground with his head lowered. "Please have my head for this mishap. It's all my fault."
"Tsk!" he glared at his court. The youngest prince was just five years old. Even if he escaped, he would not be able to make any waves for a long time. "You still get the crown prince right?"
"Yes yes, we have him imprisoned! We have him monitored twenty-four-seven," the man said in a hurry.
Dai Zu finally felt a sense of comfort. This whole world was a painting, and the protagonist was the crown prince. If by any chance he got out, then his own life would be at risk. He got up, adjusting his elaborate clothes. "Take me to him," he swam gracefully down the throne.
"Yes, your highness," the general guided him, trembling slightly. The prison was right under their feet, a few layers below. The whole place looked like it was built, supporting the rib cage of a massive creature.
"What bones are those?" he curiously glanced at the massive bones that acted as a support for the whole castle.
"It's the remains of the great elder… this is his holy burial spot." The general did not look his way.
Nodding, Dai Zu walked deeper into the prison hall. Many families of mermaids and mermen were captured. Even smaller Mers were captured along with their families. The general paused, looking at the crying children's faces. "Your Highness, if I'm not presumptuous, can you spare the children…."
"You are presumptuous," he said curtly and walked ahead of him. "Stop dragging your tail around and show me where our crown prince is."
"Don't you dare lay a hand on him!" an imprisoned man shouted loudly. "You spineless fish! How dare you hurt the royal family!!"
Dai Zu paused a bit, gazing at the enraged man. Right after the man shouted, many other mermen started to shout injustice. This only made his headache intense. {'Kill them! Kill them all!! How dare they stand against me!!'} the ancient voice screamed in his mind. "SHUT UP!!!!!"
Huge waves of power emerged out of him, reducing the Mer man close to him to pieces. Blood stained the waters, making it harder to see anything. The whole prison cell fell into a deadly silence.
Dai Zu held his head and knocked on his forehead forcefully. 'This body is mine! I'm the emperor! Not you! You better get out!' he glared back at the general who was looking at him in deep fear. "Lead me to the crown prince. NOW!"
"Y-yes... yes…" the man hurriedly swam ahead to the prison cell deeper in. The whole cell was dark without a hint of light. "Well, light the thing up!" Dai Zu shouted at the guy in annoyance. "Why do I have to do everything around here? Don't you guys have a brain?"
The trembling guards lit up the glowing orb inside the cell illuminating the inside. Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen. "Where is he?" frowning, he looked around in the cell.
"In the corner, Your Highness." A guard mumbled. Frowning, Dai Zu moved close to the cell gates. He could see a merman lying in the corner. His cheeks were pale and his bloodless lips were panting softly. "He is alive." The mer refused to move.
"How does it feel to be the only royal Mer to live?"
"Ahhhh!! I'll kill you!!" Mi Aok charged at the cage, hitting it like a madman. Dai Zu watched him coldly. "You can't do anything to me... that poison is going to eat you alive from the inside out. but I can give you a swift death so you can join your father and your royal siblings," he grinned.
"I will never spare you... one day... one day I will have your head." Mi Aok growled.
"That day is not today." Dai Zu laughed and left the prison. Mi Aok hissed loudly. 'I can't die… I have to avenge my family... my family...' Tears dripped down his face. He painfully closed his eyes. 'I have to stay calm... how can I leave here?' This prison base is right below the castle. It had strong walls and small windows. 'If I was a child, I would have fit through…' Suddenly, it hit him. He quickly swam to the stone bed and wrapped himself in the sheet. Slowly, he started to shed his skin layer by layer. That night a small black shadow swam out of the prison cell unknown to any.