Fynn's body was sliced into pieces. Nick gasped as he watched the man die protecting Juliana. As his head floated in the air another trident flew to it, looking to maim him even after death.
The trident was knocked away, rendered harmless. Nick looked into the once clear sea that was now becoming marred with blood. His eyes flashed with rage as he screamed, veins bulging from his head.
Then he became a whirlwind of steel, diving straight into the Mizukai territory. Water rushed through his nose and into his mouth. Even though he never swam in his life, his new body acclimated perfectly.
Of course, as an Emperor would have to enforce his rule over every race, which includes the aquatic scumbags.
The moment he broke into the water Nick looked for the Mizukai, focused on nothing else.
He counted 28 targets.
Fynn had killled one then... yes. In the depths, he could see the dead Mizukai sinking into the abyss. Soon, it would be joined by its comrades.
The Skirmishers moved to surround him as the Lurkers fell into the shadows of the water. Water bubbled as tridents materialized in their hands.
Their beady black eyes filled with light as they threw their weapon at Nick. He swung his sword through the water, weirdly not feeling inhibited by the pressure at all. Instead, it even felt like the water was helping him.
His sword knocked away the tridents with so much force that they fizzled back into bubbles. The Skirmishers shrieked as they materialized another wave of tridents.
However, Nick wasn't looking to stay on the defensive any longer. They killed his new comrade... death would be a gift.
No, he was looking to destroy them completely. To cause such intense pain to them and their identity of self that they became nothing but shells. And then he'd leave them in their home for eternity as lost souls.
Even that would be a mercy.
Screaming as he propelled through the water, he spun in circles to create momentum. His blade connected with the head of a Skirmisher, cutting it cleanly from its right ear all the way through its chest and out the left side of its torso.
The next second, he felt 10 tridents flying to him at incredible speeds. Still, he was faster.
Slicing through the water with such a force that waves were created on the surface of the water, he blocked this wave of tridents as well. Bubbles surrounded Nick as he locked eyes with another Skirmisher.
It floundered as it frantically tried to summon another trident. Instead, all it felt was the impact of Nick hitting its chest. Until the blood traveled up through the water it didn't even feel the sting of the Fang piercing its chest. By then, it was too late and the last thing it saw was Nick's cold stare as its vision split in 2 directions, its head completely bisected.
'Next.'
The Skirmishers were quick to rematerialize their tridents, only allowing him to kill one of them every time they attacked him. Additionally, he still didn't know where the Lurkers were. Somehow, they were hidden from even his [Farseeing Eyes]. That meant they weren't currently using any weapon or magic then.
Returning his focus to the Skirmishers, he watched them summon another set of tridents. A move that has already been proven to be completely ineffective. So then why continue?
Nick cast a glance into the shadows of the water, and then at the priests huddled into a circle above them.
Why would neither of those groups help the Skirmishers?
Well, that's obvious. They are setting up a trap of some kind.
6 tridents flying through the air pulled him from his thoughts. Once again he swung his Fang and once again the tridents dissipated into bubbles. Yet again their attack was proven to be futile, and his counterattack killed a Skirmisher.
And another.
And another.
[5 Skirmishers defeated]
[Experience gained: 500]
[Experience: 1,013/3,500; Level 5]
Nick ignored the system's notification as he continued eyeing the rest of the Skirmishers.
6 of them were left, just like there were 6 Lurkers still hiding in the shadows. 11 Priests still hovered overhead, but they were exuding no magic that his [Farseeing Eyes] could see.
Neither did the Lurkers or Skirmishers. Nick rubbed his eyes with his free hand. Then he launched himself back into the fray.
6 tridents were materialized and sent after him once again. Just like before he sliced through the water, turning each into bubbles–
The last Trident stabbed into his side and launched him back far into the water. 'What the?' Nick thought as the system's notification flared.
[Skill detected]
[C-Rank Area Skill: Tranquil Sea – By allowing any fighter to freely move and breathe within the water, an additional condition is applied. After a fighter has destroyed over 30 objects, they are inflicted with the [Level 3 Sleep] debuff.]
[Objects destroyed by fighter Nick: 5 Skirmishers; 26 tridents]
[Sleep Debuff – Once inflicted upon a person, they fall into a deep sleep. Level 1: Unconscious for a few hours, varying depending on resistance. Level 2: Unconscious for a few weeks, varying depending on resistance. Level 3: Unconscious indefinitely, regardless of resistance, unless acted upon by an outside force.]
[Skill detected]
[A-Rank Active Skill: Eternal Veil – After rendering yourself immovable for 30 seconds, an impenetrable barrier is placed in any direction you choose.]
'What...'
Now that the Mizukai's plan came to fruition, their magic was being used. The Priests cast Eternal Veil, creating a barrier in every direction between them and the top of the water.
At the same time, the pressure of the water was finally felt by Nick now that he was no longer protected by the first part of their area skill. Water crushed his skull as he fell further and further into the shadows of the waters.
Soon he could no longer bear the pain and Nick's vision turned black as he felt a pull from something close behind him. Then his eyes closed, and just before falling into eternal slumber a huge red light illuminated everything.