Chapter 424: Making the Princess Willing to Follow (1)
The Poisoning Exposed
"Perhaps, that surface-dweller is intentionally hiding his strength."
Maria couldn't find a better excuse, so this was all she could offer.
Nereus twitched his mouth, completely disbelieving her nonsense. Hiding strength in a duel to the death? Was he trying to get killed?
He now suspected Maria, and the Princess Guard also began to doubt her. They had all boasted about how strong the surface-dweller was, but now—is this all there is?
Time passed minute by minute. Luke Shaw's situation grew increasingly dire. He was knocked away by the trident several times. The guards cheered enthusiastically, eager to see such a scene.
Mera hesitated.
"Luke, he..."
Carol Ferris wanted to laugh, but remembering their plan, she frowned and said with a worried expression,
"His condition is a little off. He seems... he seems to be poisoned."
Poisoned?
Mera was stunned. How could that be?
The food the three of them ate was personally prepared by the Princess Guard—pure, natural, organic food with no additives. How could he be poisoned?
"No!"
Carol stood up, her brow furrowed into a knot, and the way she looked at Mera changed.
"He is definitely poisoned, or he wouldn't be this slow."
Mera's eyes widened. "You suspect me?"
Carol silently shook her head. "Neither Luke nor I would suspect you. But the people around you? Not necessarily. Maria, the Captain of the Princess Guard—I can feel that she has held resentment toward us the whole time."
"The reason Luke is like this is definitely because she poisoned him."
Mera froze. She turned and swam to her father, staring intently at the First Female Warrior, Maria.
"Tell me, did you tamper with the surface-dweller's food?"
Maria looked up in surprise, never expecting the Princess to ask such a question.
A person's reaction in a state of shock cannot be hidden. Seeing her face, Mera understood everything.
They really poisoned him!
The Atlanteans, renowned for their noble bloodline, had resorted to such a despicable tactic in a duel to the death!
A flood of emotions surged through Mera: shame, anger, pain, and regret. Luke trusted her so much that he accepted a challenge that wasn't even his, and her own guard captain poisoned him.
Without another word, she turned and rushed toward the arena, intending to stop the fight.
"Stop her!"
Nereus roared. The surrounding guards stepped forward, blocking Mera's path.
Mera stared at her father with grief and indignation, her eyes showing a look of unfamiliarity he had never seen before.
"You knew all along, didn't you?"
Nereus remained silent. Maria quickly swam forward and knelt.
"This was all my idea, Your Majesty. It was my resentment toward the surface-dweller that led me to use poison. His Majesty was unaware."
After speaking, she drew a dagger and thrust it toward her heart.
Clang!
A purple barrier appeared in front of her, blocking the dagger.
Carol, her pupils pure violet, floated above. Her hair surged with the current, and behind her, densely packed purple crystal spheres appeared.
At the same moment, Luke Shaw, who had been constantly taking hits in the arena, suddenly exploded into action, punching Kamils in the chest.
Crack!
The Sea God Prototype Battlesuit, hailed as Atlantis's highest technology, instantly fractured with several cracks. With a crisp, glass-like sound, the armor shattered. The raw energy burst through Kamils's body, exploding into a mass of fire above the lava river.
Kamils spat out a large mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with sheer shock.
"Useless!"
Luke Shaw curled his lips, grabbed Kamils by the neck, and leaped up. He broke through the viewing platform and landed in front of Nereus, casually tossing the nearly unconscious Fish Man onto the ground.
"Give me an explanation, King of Xebel."
Everyone was intimidated by his imposing presence and instinctively backed away. Maria's eyes widened.
"You speak our language?"
Luke Shaw spread his five fingers. A red glow shot from his palm, pierced straight through Maria's body, and exploded with a roar upon hitting the stone pillar behind her.
"The Atlantean language? Ha!"
"It only took twenty minutes to learn. I suppose it was a little hard?"
Everyone: "..."
Mera Chooses to Leave
Nereus glanced at Maria, who was bleeding profusely, and his face turned exceptionally ugly. "Watch your actions, surface-dweller! This is the deep sea."
"Only despicable and shameless fools resort to ridiculous tricks like poisoning. For such people, any response is justified. And you..."
A red flash erupted, and the Float Armor suddenly appeared in front of the Fish Man Lord, Atenel. Luke Shaw grabbed the Fish Man's neck and hoisted him high into the air.
"A pathetic fish, trying to kill me. Are you worthy?"
He tightened his grip, and the ugly fish face instantly turned purplish-blue. Immense terror enveloped Atenel. His body and mind were covered by death; he lost even the will to resist.
The surrounding guards roared and charged, but Carol waved her hand. Purple crystals shot out in all directions, suddenly exploding in mid-air.
Booming sounds erupted one after another, shaking the entire fortress.
The Fish Man guards, along with some of the Xebel soldiers, were all blasted away, landing on the ground in agony.
This scene stunned the Atlanteans present. They abruptly realized that the surface man wasn't the only powerful one; the surface woman also possessed terrifying strength.
Carol didn't need to speak; the crystal spheres behind her said it all.
Nereus clenched his fists, hissing through his suppressed anger.
"Surface-dweller, release Lord Atenel. I will give you an explanation."
Luke Shaw sneered, dragging the Fish Man by the neck as he walked. He applied pressure with his fingers, and the sound of bones snapping echoed in the water.
This sight was deeply etched into everyone's minds. The Lord of the Fisherman Kingdom—a figure second only to the King—was being dragged around like a dead dog. The surface-dweller's brutality exceeded all imagination.
Thud!
Atenel fell to the ground. Luke Shaw stepped on his neck, his gaze sweeping past Nereus and resting on Mera nearby.
"Tell me, Your Highness, does he deserve to die?"
"If you nod, I'll step on his neck and end today's business. If you shake your head, I'll spare his dog life, but..." He paused, then hissed, "You have to come with me."
"Surface-dweller, don't go too far!"
Rola raised her weapon. "This is Xebel. It is not your place to run rampant."
Luke Shaw laughed wildly.
"Atlantis has a tradition—strength prevails. We are the same. King of Xebel, do you want to place a wager? Bet the lives of everyone here against my strength."
The guards' faces flushed with anger. They wanted to fight but dared not, only casting their eyes toward their King. Nereus remained silent. Luke Shaw could afford to lose; Nereus could not. A King cannot gamble his nation.
Mera stepped forward.
"I will go with you."
"Your Highness!"
Everyone was horrified. Mera shook her head gravely. "Say no more. The matter must have a conclusion."
Her words were deeply meaningful, leaving the others ashamed and embarrassed. Maria closed her eyes, her face turning ashen.
"Release him, Luke. Lord Atenel cannot die here."
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