Realm Wars

"Darn, these slimy creatures! Where on Septverden did they even come from?!" Cathy pummelled another Myrmen with her lightning spell, but there was no end to the Myrmen swarming at her door.

Myrmen were another type of Mermaids with a liquid body and bluish skin. Primarily, males, their bodies were covered in hard reefs and shells. Since they couldn't reproduce, they usually kidnapped humans and other beings to the bottom of the sea to convert them into one of them to keep their population alive.

(Pic)

Nash claws and brute strength were enough to keep the Myrmen at bay while Cathy cast her spell at the back.

"They usually come from the water, my lady. They took advantage of the storm to climb on the boat."

"I'm not really interested in the answer!" Cathy casted another lightning spell [Spark], and all the Myrmen hoarding at the door were burned to crisp.

It was just a low level spell since Cathy was worried about destroying the ship and her room if she went overboard. Luckily, her affinity was lightening which all sea creatures and beasts were weak against.

In the hallway, the mercenaries were fending off for themselves, but some were taken despite their desperate attempt to fight. The narrow spaces and the Myrmen's number and agility added to their predicament.

Lucian, Cecily, and Rosa were also fending off the Myrmen. They didn't need to do much since Rosa and Fifi mostly took care of them with their spells. The room wasn't ideal for combat anyway since Lucian and Cecily have limited space to maneuver.

The Myrmen were like Were-sharks that overwhelmed everyone with their numbers. They weren't strong, but they were persistent and annoying.

Sensing that they were just being slaughtered, the Myrmen backed away from Lucian's group and turned the other way for the weaker mercenaries. But not before snatching the dizzy Kai on the floor.

"H-help," Kai whizzed, too sick to even be bothered to fight.

Luciana and the others looked at each other. Should they help? But they didn't know who Kai was.

"Err. . ." Fifi was about to ask everyone to help Kai but shut her mouth. She didn't have the guts to ask Rosa. She was just a servant, and she was sure that all Rosa would do was knocked her in the head.

In the end, Lucian, Cecily, and Rosa didn't chase after Kai but helped cleaned the hallway of Myrmen. It was too late anyway. Those Myrmen were nimble as fish swimming in the ocean, even on drylands.

Cecily also felt Ferris was not far, but she couldn't felt Ryu. It was odd since the time in Corpse Mountain. She somewhat sensed that her connection with Ryu was lost. But the seal was still on his forehead.

Not far from their quarters, Ferris woke up from the loud commotions outside. When she came too, piles and piles of Myrmen's body loitered her room. 

She casted a [Shadow Double] in her room just in case if someone attacked in her sleep, her shadows would eliminate them. 

Ferris yawned and rubbed her eyes. She flexed her hands and got up from bed. She was just out for four hours, and this already happened? Could she get a night's rest in this fucking sea without being attack every minute?

They weren't even traveling a week and all sorts of creatures' already preyed on their boat. What's more if they reached the middle of the Nightmare Sea?

Ferris wasn't enthusiast about their predicament. Not that her human form was going to drop asleep at any moment. 

'You should just sleep and let me take control.'

"Unless you can shapeshift into me, I'll hold on until I can."

'What useless struggle.'

"Say that to your other-self. She's the one who revived me, not you. This is our contract. You're just baggage."

'Hehehehe. And yet, I'm always the one saving our asses.'

Ferris rolled her eyes, but she was overcome with drowsiness that she couldn't help but doubled over her bed once more.

Ryu was fighting every Myrmen his way at the deck while maintaining momentum as the boat rocked back and forth. It was not hard for him since his balance was impeccable. The claws on his hands and feet were enough to steady him on the wooden planks.

Sensing that Ryu was a tricky opponent even with the storm and the rocking boat, the Myrmen all changed their targets to the suffering humans who couldn't maintain their balance.

Amidst those humans, Ryu saw the one he slapped a day ago. The bulky man and his servant halfbreed boy. The bulky man was unconscious while the boy was struggling from the Myrmen's tight hold.

Ryu snarled, and the wooden plank snapped at his strength when he jumped in the boy's direction. With a decisive blow, Ryu ripped the Myrmen head with his jaws and snatched the boy from its grip.

Ryu landed on both feet, but the boy struggled from his hold. 

"Master!" the boy screamed at the bulky man who was dragged into the depth of the ocean lost into the storm and ravaging seas.

"Nooo! Let me go!"

"If you go after him, you'll die," Ryu said and held the boy tight.

The boy gnashed his teeth, and tears pooled in his eyes. "I'll die anyway if he dies! At least. .. ," the boy croaked and sobbed. "At least if I were made into a Myrmen, my fate would change! Halfbreeds like us have no place here!"

Ryu was dumbstruck, and his hold loosened.

The boy then took advantage of it and jumped away from Ryu's hold. He ran to the edge of the boat and glanced at Ryu with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. 

"Thanks. .. for trying to save me."

Ryu reached out his hand, but the boy leaped into the ocean.

".. ."

The storm continued, never ceasing for anyone. Amidst the chaos and confusion, Ryu stood on the deck, eyes never leaving from where the boy jump.

Was it okay to live at the cost of freedom? Ryu thought.

Halfbreeds like us have no place here!

The boy's voice rang in Ryu's head and shook his heart like a gong.

Maybe that child will have a better life once he is a Myrmen? Who knows, perhaps he'd have more freedom in the vast seas?

Halfbreeds have no place here. Yes, Ryu thought of it. But he still wanted to create his place in Cecily's heart even he knew it was futile.

The only thing he would ever be. .. was a servant. Even in the Beast Realm or any realm, he was not welcomed. 

Ferris was right. .. he couldn't change anything if he couldn't change the entire world.

Ryu sighed. He looked over at the gloomy sky and never-ending rain. The battle ended with the Myrmen retreating, dragging some of the mercenaries and crew into the giant waves. But it didn't matter.

The chaos in Ryu's heart was starting, and not even the image of Cecily could stop it.