The silence inside the fish-men palace was broken only by the constant sound of the ocean currents surrounding the structure. After the conversation with the king, we were led out of the main hall by one of the royal guards. The princess walked ahead, now with a firmer posture, even though it was still possible to notice a certain hesitation in her movements. She seemed determined to fulfill her role as a guide, even though it was not something simple for her.
The girls from my group followed right behind, observing every detail along the way. Lyannis analyzed the palace's internal routes as if she were already memorizing possible strategic points. Liriel kept her eyes attentive to the magical flows running through the walls. Rai'kanna observed the organization of the kingdom with evident political interest. Scarlet remained vigilant, always watching the guards and the surroundings. Eara seemed fascinated by the underwater architecture, while Liriel's assistant walked in absolute silence.
The princess quickly glanced back, noticing our attention, and tried to maintain a more natural tone.
"I'll take you to one of the affected regions first. It's where the attacks have recently begun to intensify."
I simply nodded.
"Show us the way."
She turned forward again and continued guiding us through a wide corridor made of white coral and sea gold. The lighting there was more intense, coming from crystals embedded in the walls that pulsed slowly, as if responding to the movement of the water around them. The sound of the ocean currents was constant, but it was not bothersome. It seemed like a natural part of that environment.
As we advanced, the palace began to change in structure. The luxurious areas gave way to more functional corridors, with less decoration and more signs of military use. Guards appeared more frequently, some carrying weapons different from those we had seen earlier, adapted for combat at extreme depths.
The princess explained as we walked.
"This part of the kingdom is the direct connection to the defense zones. This is where we organize the patrols against the demons."
Scarlet observed the soldiers passing by.
"They look well-trained."
The princess nodded.
"Everyone here is selected from a young age. The ocean does not allow mistakes."
Lyannis remained silent, analyzing every passageway. Liriel seemed to sense something strange in the environment, but she still said nothing. Rai'kanna observed everything like someone evaluating a potential allied army.
After a few minutes, we reached a large opening that led directly outside the palace. As we crossed through it, the environment changed completely.
We were once again at the bottom of the open ocean.
But now it was different.
The pressure seemed more intense, the environment darker, and visibility reduced. Large rock formations surrounded the area, creating a kind of underwater valley. Strong currents passed at irregular intervals, carrying luminous particles that glowed like living dust in the middle of the water.
The princess stopped at the edge of the structure and pointed ahead.
"There."
I looked in the indicated direction.
At first, it seemed like nothing more than an ordinary rocky region. But as I adjusted my vision, I noticed signs of destruction.
Broken structures.
Burned corals.
Deep marks on the ocean floor, as if something extremely heavy had passed through there repeatedly.
And farther away, movement.
Fast silhouettes disappearing between the rock formations.
Scarlet already had her hand near her weapon.
"There's something there."
Rai'kanna narrowed her eyes.
"They're not ordinary creatures of the ocean."
The princess took a deep breath.
"This is where they started appearing more frequently. At first, they were small groups. Then they began attacking on a larger scale."
I observed everything in silence for a few seconds.
The pattern was clear.
It was not a random attack.
It was organized.
Liriel finally spoke in a low voice.
"There are traces of demonic magic here."
That confirmed what we had already suspected.
The demons were not merely invading. They were establishing a presence.
I took a few steps forward, observing the open area.
The environment around us seemed far too quiet for a place of war. That was the strangest part. No visible enemies, only traces.
The princess continued.
"They attack and disappear quickly. It's difficult to react."
Lyannis spoke for the first time.
"Rapid movement in three main directions. They use the ocean currents as routes."
She discreetly pointed toward a few areas.
"They know the terrain better than they should."
Scarlet frowned.
"Then they're using the ocean itself against you."
The princess nodded.
"Yes."
I took a deep breath.
This complicated the situation.
It wasn't just brute strength.
It was adaptation.
And adaptation in the ocean meant an extreme advantage for whichever side mastered the environment.
Rai'kanna looked at me.
"If they're using the environment like this, it's not just an invasion. They studied this place."
I nodded slightly.
"They're preparing something here."
Silence returned for a few seconds.
The princess then spoke.
"That's why we need to act quickly. If they continue expanding their presence, it may become impossible to contain them."
I looked at the open area again.
The marks on the ocean floor looked recent.
Very recent.
And that meant they were still nearby.
I raised my hand slightly.
"Everyone, stay alert."
The girls immediately changed their posture.
Liriel began discreetly gathering mana. Scarlet was already in a combat stance. Lyannis analyzed escape routes. Rai'kanna prepared energy in silence. Eara moved closer to the group.
The princess took a step back, surprised by the sudden change.
Then the movement happened.
A powerful current swept across the battlefield.
And shadows emerged from it.
Fast.
Organized.
They were not ordinary creatures.
And at that moment, it became clear that the first real demonstration of the war in the ocean had finally begun.