Abyssal Sovereignty

The crowd turned their gaze towards the speaker—a lieutenant of the merman General.

"Why!? I’ve struggled tirelessly, accepting my lowly position, but why must even you abandon me!"

The lieutenant glared at the Merman General and the female merman beside him.

"You..."

"Enough! Now I can do nothing. I have no power, no beloved woman, and now, accused of treason, I even face death!"

"At this point, nothing matters anymore!"

The lieutenant plunged his hand into his chest, and an eerie aura began to emanate from him.

"Wait, stop him!"

The Merman King ordered all nearby guards to attack the lieutenant, hoping to prevent a catastrophe.

But it was too late.

A wave of purple energy exploded from the lieutenant, sending all the guards flying.

"Destruction… of everything!"

The lieutenant's body transformed, turning a deep purple. His limbs extended into long tentacles, and even his eye sockets and mouth sprouted paler tendrils, a sight that would drive anyone mad.

Next to him, the female merman paled in comparison, making even the monstrous 'Plant Cthulhu' Yverantheia had previously encountered seem tame.

"I didn't expect… such a disaster could infest us…"

"Is it not just one disaster?"

"No," the Merman King explained briefly what 'disasters' were.

Long ago, the Mermen tribe discovered a peculiar life form. These beings had no rationality, an extreme regenerative ability, were difficult to kill, and had an impulse to destroy everything—whether by devouring or corroding it.

"And another common trait: they all possess some form of attack that can harm the mind."

"It’s obvious."

Compared to the 'Plant Cthulhu,' the appearance of this 'octopus' lieutenant was itself a mental assault. Many guards simply fainted at the sight of him, foaming at the mouth.

The Merman King and Yverantheia, however, stood firm. Their mental fortitude was high, especially Yverantheia, who had gained resistance after merging with the 'Plant Cthulhu' crystal.

"Die!!"

"Wait, I…"

Without hesitation, the octopus lieutenant intertwined his tentacles into thick arms, smashing down on the Merman General and the female merman, crushing them into pulp before they could utter a final word.

"What now?"

"We must deal with him first."

The Merman King wielded a superior, more powerful trident and attacked the octopus lieutenant with a rapid triple strike.

"What!?"

"Annoying…"

The lieutenant only suffered minor scratches, quickly regenerating. He retaliated, sweeping his tentacles like a tail.

"Guh!"

The Merman King blocked with his trident but was still sent flying into a wall, half his body embedded in it.

"You… you ruined my plans!"

The lieutenant charged at Yverantheia like an arrow.

Suddenly, a flash of white light cut through, severing the lieutenant’s left tentacle-arm, burning it to a crisp.

"Lightning magic is hard to control underwater."

Electricity crackled in Yverantheia’s hand. The surrounding water conducted it erratically, even affecting her slightly.

"The power is enhanced, both a blessing and a curse."

"Curse you!"

The lieutenant’s tentacle regenerated, attacking Yverantheia once more.

This time, he succeeded. His tentacle struck Yverantheia.

"Ha…ha!?"

To his disbelief, Yverantheia grabbed his tentacle bare-handed.

He had sacrificed everything for this strength—how could a human block his attack with mere physical force?

Before he could react, Yverantheia swung him around.

Walls, ceiling, floor—the lieutenant was tossed like a rag doll.

"I… won’t die!"

With a roar, the lieutenant regenerated his battered body, growing more tentacles.

"Too much talk."

With a spinning kick, Yverantheia shattered his newfound confidence, scattering purple blood into the water.

"Damn… damn it all!!"

Driven mad, the lieutenant plunged his tentacles into his chest again.

"I offer everything, grant me greater power!"

His body swelled, mutating further. More tentacles burst forth, a giant eye growing on his head.

"Annihilate!"

"Now you looks like a proper 'Plant Cthulhu.'"

Though grotesque, this form was somewhat more manageable compared to his earlier abomination.

To her surprise, Yverantheia found herself understanding part of the creature's previously incomprehensible language.

'Is it because of the crystal fusion?'

Regardless, this monstrosity needed to be eradicated.

Magic circles of various colors and shapes appeared around Yverantheia. These were constructs of knowledge gained from monsters and books of the merfolk tribe.

Though her first time using such a combination, it would serve as an experiment. She had other methods if it failed.

"Die!"

The creature lunged at Yverantheia with its tentacles, trying to stop her spellcasting.

An invisible barrier repelled the attack.

"Your tentacles disgust me. I won’t touch them."

When Yverantheia had grabbed his tentacle earlier, it was through a magical barrier. She preferred smaller tentacles.

"Goodbye."

With a wave of her left hand, the magic circles unleashed a barrage of spells. Water whirlpools, dark lances, rock spears—different elements struck the creature, each enhancing the others' power.

"Nooo…!"

Despite its roars, the 'Eyed Tentacle' was engulfed by the flood of magic, unable to fight back.