"Angie" dodged the blows from Prince Phillip as if he was just blowing water. The fish glided, ducked, bobbed, spun. The [Knight-Captain] was madly pissed and out of breath. Panting, he threw heavy swing after heavy swing, trying to end the duel. "Fight back, you damn fish!" He taunted. In the next exchange, Angie slapped his face with a long fin. Then the back of his head with the tail.
"Raaaargh!" Tossing all reason aside, Phillip attempted a mighty blow. "{Inescapable Slash}!"
Angie tried to move away but found herself stuck.
> You cannot dodge this blow.
She instead whipped the sword arm with a fin, causing the hand to spasm and open. The sword flew from the hand and disappeared in thin air.
Phillip punched Angie's scales, not causing even a hundred points of damage. He shook his hand. "Damn, how resistant is this fish? Bloody Queltphion, look at these many defensive Perks! What level is this creature?" he asked out loud.
On her corner of the sparring arena, Angie was blowing bubbles, waiting for the [Prince] to get his shit together.
"{Appraise} says she's level one!" Someone shouted.
"Level one my ass!" He spat and raised a hand, "Sword!" Someone gave him a sword. "Get ready! I won't hold back now!"
The fish blew a raspberry at him. Then she caught on fire.
The next exchange saw a sword flying in the air, along with the hand and gauntlet that held it. Like the previous one, these too vanished.
Phillip looked at the stump on his hand, the pain of the amputation only then hitting his brain. He screamed and fell on his knees.
A fish wreathed in flames swam through thin air and bit his other arm, detaching the limb right below the elbow and cauterizing the stump immediately. The rest of the arm vanished, some onlookers believing it was eaten. Then one knee and she went for the last limb when the [Prince spoke something coherently. "I yield!"
"Angie, that's enough. You don't know where he's been, stop eating him!" Adyra chided the fish.
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Adyra sighed in relief when Angie-sister decided to let the prince live. She looked at the lame lame man and said, "Your gear is broken. I'll be magnanimous and let you keep them."
Silence reigned. People couldn't cope with what just happened.
"Fuck you, mermaid-bitch!" Phillip screamed from the ground. "When my father knows what you've done, there will be wa--"
The angelfish vanished from Adyra's side and reappeared next to the prince's neck. People got a glimpse of a head separated from a torso before both body parts vanished.
> For killing level 156 Prince, you gained 1B Exp (243,360 base x3.05 Exp Split x0.5 Split x7.59 Favored Enemy x3.05 Duel x8 Rank x4 Class Rarity x4 Species Rarity)
> You reached Fae-Touched Dolphin Mermaid level 20
>
> You gained 2 Attribute Point
>
> You gained 2 Magic
>
> You gained 1 Luck, 1 Mind, 1 Willpower
>
> You gained 1 Dexterity, 1 Endurance
>
> You gained 16 Skill Points
>
> You gained 1 species Perk
> You reached Wizard level 20
>
> You gained +3 Magic
>
> You gained +1 Mind
>
> You gained +1 Willpower
>
> You gained +1 Endurance
>
> You gained +1 Dexterity
>
> You gained 1 class Perk.
> You reached Negotiator level 20. You gained 20 points of proficiency. Your maximum proficiency increased by 10 points. You have one ability left.
>
> You reached Administrator level 20. You gained 20 points of proficiency. Your maximum proficiency increased by 10 points. You have one ability left.
>
> The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
> You ranked Up. Available Exp divided by 100. You have 10M Exp left.
> You became a Clovertail Dolphin-Mermaid (ultra-rare).
>
> Clovertail Dolphin-Mermaid reached level 8.
>
> You became an Elemental Wizard (very rare).
>
> Elemental Wizard reached level 8.
Just like that, she'd jumped twenty levels. Angie swam back and Adyra patted the fish. "If it is a war they want, a war they get," she lamented with a heavy sigh. "Sorry, sister. Another kingdom for you to destroy."
Count Zede approached, clapping his hand. "Bravo! A stunning performance. Now I see why Atlantis let their Crown Princess visit another nation. With such a chaperone, there's no danger that could threaten you!"
Adyra could swear she felt a hint of fear or anger in his voice. "He offended me and threatened my realm with war," she told the Count out loud. "Should I act any different?"
"Everyone knows fighting Atlantis is a fool's endeavor," Zede added, apparently agreeing with her. "We all remember how well it ended for Virturia a decade ago."
Like a shark, Adyra smelled blood in the waters. She approached the Count, "Do they now, Count? While I loathe sending my sister to collect another bloody crown to her collection, there are those that think they can trample all over us, going as far as dreaming of enslaving mermaids," She said. "Humor me, dear Count. Hypothetically speaking, what do you think would happen if someone attempted to sell mermaids as slaves?"
The Count hesitated. "Hypothetically speaking?" He paused again. "I would never wish to be such a person. In fact, I have a gift for Your Highness," added at the end with a grin that stopped before his cheeks.
"Hear me, my dear guests!" The Count shouted. The music stopped and the nobles gathered around like vultures smelling carrion. "Princess Adyra's visit wasn't a diplomatic one. We learned that some scoundrels captured five mermaids and attempted to smuggle her through my domain!"
"My city's guard learned of that and conducted an investigation of their own. We found the culprit. Guards, bring him here!"
Two guards, one of them the first [Sergeant] that came to the tavern, approached, dragging a bound and gagged O'Donnell. The merchant-slash-smuggler was struggling to break free. The other guard cuffed him in the head.
"This man once believed to be a proud merchant in our fair city, betrayed our trust!" The Count declared. "He attempted to smuggle five mermaids through our County! Thankfully, our esteemed guardsmen were more than up to the task. They intercepted the shipment, rescued the mermaids, and collected evidence on his wrongdoings."
O'Donnell looked at the Count like a husband finding his wife in bed with his best friend.
"What do you mean, sister?" Adyra asked.
"No, I understand perfectly," Adyra smiled and shook her head. "You made sure they were not being mistreated, didn't you?" She knew perfectly well her sister could've rescued them as easily as a young mermaid calf collects shells on the ocean floor.
The Count's speech was far from over, however. Adyra half-listened to what he was saying for the best part of ten minutes as her mind drifted to what her sister could possibly be doing right now.
"... And by the powers invested on me by the King, I declare the dissolution of the O'Donnell trading company. All assets will be absorbed by the County. And Mr. O'Donnell, for the crimes of sedition, treason, and incitement of war with a foreign friendly country, I sentence you to death."
A guard handed Count Zede a sword while the former [Sergeant] held him kneeling on the ground. The man was crying when the Count beheaded him.
"Justice has been served, Your Highness," The Count bowed as if he'd dedicated the murder to her. "Your friends are safe in my mansion. I can take you to see them after the auction."
"We are thankful for your help, Count Zede. Atlantis will remember what happened here," she said with narrowed eyes. She hoped the Count wasn't stupid and understood she saw past his ruse.
"I would have it no other way," he handed the bloody sword to the guard. "You have my vow this will never happen again."
"I'll hold you to that promise. Now, I heard there will be an--"
A hunting horn sounded from the mansion. More horns from the perimeter of the estate. Guards and chaperones all drew their weapons as the sounds of combat rang from the outer courtyard. Flashes of magic illuminated the night. Guards marching, ladies fainting and screaming. Smoke, lots of smoke.
Adyra glanced at the illusion of a fish floating next to her.
"Protect the Princess!" Count Zede shouted.
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A couple hours later in a forest clearing, a few kilometers out of the port city
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"That concludes our deal," the thieves' guildmaster said to the black jaguar. "We are taking only the money necessary for our travel expenses."
"I know. I can see what's inside those crappy storage rings you guys have." The cat stretched her paws forward and scratched the rock she was standing on, leaving gashes on the boulder.
"I can't believe none of us died," Marius commented at the edge of the clearing.
"I'm a lucky cat," the jaguar answered, full of herself.
"Hush it, Marius. We aren't out of the woods yet!" Another rogue berated the [Spotter].
A sealed scroll appeared in front of the feline. "You better skip town. The Count will be furious at you and even if he doesn't go after you straight away, someone is bound to talk too much. Take this letter and go to Ackerton. Find the first inn to the north of the central square of the capital, have your people stay in a low-profile inn in the outer city. A maid with blonde hair will greet you on your second day there. Give her this letter. You'll retire in luxury and your men will have a meaningful job."
The guildmaster stared at the jaguar's eyes. "Thank you. Can I ask just the question? "Are you..."
The cat chuffed a laugh, "The [Death Princess]? Let me show you my titles..."
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Adyra
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The thieves stole all the articles as well as the previous deposit of the auction patrons, ging as far as to empty the Count's vaults. Adyra was invited into the mansion where she saw the bleached spots on the walls where once valuable paintings hang. The angry nobles were threatening to flail the Count alive, but Adyra wanted to see her sisters.
The mansion's bath was converted into guest chambers for the mermaids. As she entered the room, she saw the five mermaids enjoying the male company.
"Genowefa?" Adyra called.
"Over here! Who? Oh, little [Princess]! Welcome!" The exuberant mermaid said.
"Are you okay?" She asked as she approached the water.
"Wonderful," Another mermaid squealed. "These guys are awesome!"
"Don't worry about us, we are fine. Come and join us, sister. You can borrow this man here if you want."
Adyra licked her lips as she saw the handsome and gifted men that were lounging in the bath. Now that she could see clearly, there were about twelve men for the five mermaids. "Don't mind if I do!"
The fancy dress was promptly discarded at the edge of the wide bath as another mermaid splashed her tail on the water.