We saw the peaceful mermen village as we made our way through the last trial's setting description. After wandering across the seas for many years, Aquarius finally found the first shows of civilization, of intelligent beings aside from the dragons he always knew about. Suddenly, he remembered what his mother had once told him, about the Mermen, and that they were people of the sea, the last tribe of intelligent sea people.
"Are those Mermen? So they're real…" He said in surprise, his two Familiars seemed surprised as they saw a beautiful underwater town constructed using colorful coral stone and seaweed. "Huh? What's that?!"
However, as the description of the scenario explained, this wasn't just a visit. The moment Aquarius arrived; the Mermen were being attacked. Their town was falling apart and their warriors dying as dozens of giant sea monsters appeared from the depths, commanded by two gigantic Sea Kings.
And much like before, both monsters and the two other Sea Kings were overflowing with a powerful, black aura of darkness that encompassed their entire bodies. One of the monsters was a gigantic black squid with one big red eye, and the other was a sea serpent with a long body size and sharp teeth.
Both were most likely, Rank 9 monsters much like Tyrant and the Piranha were. They were slowly attacking the town, destroying the buildings apart and picking up people to devour slowly. They looked vicious and brainwashed.
"Stop! You damn monsters! I know you're here, Chaotic Spirits! Invaders of this world! Stop your slaughtering of this world's precious people!" Aquarius swam rapidly, his voice echoed around the waters as all monsters quickly directed their gazes at him, finding a gigantic sea dragon approaching.
"GYOGYOGYOGYOOOHHHH…!"
"SHAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"
The Giant Squid and the Sea Serpent immediately confronted him, making strange noises as they made their way towards him, bringing their own armies of sea monsters as well.
"W-Who is that?! Another monster?!"
"We were living so peacefully until now, will we all die today?!"
"Another monster has come to eat and torment us all!!!"
"RUUUN!"
"Everyone! That is NOT a monster!"
As the Mermen panicked, a beautiful young mermen woman appeared amidst the crowd. She looked incredibly similar to Sapphire, but much younger, and with a childish and innocent light in her eyes.
"He's a Dragon! I've seen them before in the statues! Sea Dragons are our guardians! Please entrust him with your Mana! Do the ritual!"
"What are you talking about, Sapphire?! There is no time for a ritual!"
"You may be the Saintess but this is too much, we have to run away!"
"If we run, we'll be eaten by the monsters anyways!"
"What do we do?! Heeelp!"
"T-That dragon's already getting overwhelmed!"
While the Mermen were panicking and slowly being driven into a corner in their ruined town by many monsters, Aquarius was incapable of getting towards them, as he and his two familiars were battling the Sea Kings and their army of monsters.
And then, as we were readying ourselves to fight and complete the trial, the dream slowly started to become more and more reality, until we were finally able to interact with it.
Ding!
[While Aquarius wanted to go rescue the mermen as fast as possible, both possessed Sea Kings and their army of brainwashed monsters wouldn't allow him. The mermen people, led by a mysterious young saint that knew about sea dragons, was panicking and slowly, they would get eaten one by one by the beasts surrounding them and destroying their city.]
[As the last trial of this Dungeon and Inheritance, you must complete several tasks to successfully clear all of its conditions.]
[Assist Aquarius on defeating both Sea Kings [Abyssal, Red-Eyed Titanic Squid Queen (Rank 9 Peak Stage)] and [Wrathful Sea Snake King (Rank 9 Peak Stage)] while also making sure to protect the lives of all surviving Mermen and unite their hearts together with the Saint to assist Aquarius with their Mana.]
[If either Aquarius, his two familiars, or any Mermen dies, the trial will automatically end.]
[Time Limit: 30 Minutes.]
"Shit, we'll need to divide our forces right away! Benladann, Miranda, you come with me to help out Aquarius and beat the Sea Kings! Everyone else, protect the city and make sure NO mermen dies! Benladra, Rose, Sapphire, I am counting on you three to convince them to unite together, I know you've got it on you." I said.
"Okay papa!" Benladra happily replied. "I won't disappoint you!"
She quickly expanded her powerful Heavenly Light Aura and stretched it into gigantic draconic claws, slashing apart several monsters and freeing the mermen from immediate danger.
CLAAASH! CLAAAASH! CLAAAAAAASH!
"W-Who is that girl?!"
"S-She's using light magic!"
"I've never seen her before…"
The Mermen were flabbergasted, but Benladra wasn't all. Kate and Rose immediately summoned their armies of familiars and ordered them to fight incoming monsters, mechanical fishes and mirage illusory fishes appeared in large quantities.
"Queen, help me out dealing with that big guy over there!" Rose summoned her familiar, the gigantic sharp-toothed fish queen, which she named "Queen".
"GRAAAH!"
The giant fish immediately attacked an enormous lobster-shaped sea monster, tearing apart its giant claws and then biting its hard shell into pieces.
CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!
Meanwhile, Sapphire swam towards the rest of the Mermen, calming them down as all surviving mermen were panicking by seeing all these new faces and their fancy powers. Of course, her Familiar, Tyrant, was swimming around the mermen and attacking any monster that got closer, adding an extra layer of defense.
"Please, everyone calm down!" She said, using Ancient Mermen Tongue, which I was able to decipher using the System's analysis.
"A Mermaid?!"
"Y-You! Did you brought these freaks with you?"
"Well, they're helping us survive, don't call them freaks!"
"Young Lady! Who may you be?! As you can see, we've been caught in a terrible crisis! But you… have come to save us?" Wondered an old-looking mermen. "I am the chief of this humble village…"
"Elder…" Sapphire sighed, suddenly remembering this old man, sighing. "Yes, we've come to save you! Is there anybody here named Sapphire?"
"M-Me?" The little Saint wondered, swimming towards Sapphire.
It seemed I was right, she was indeed Sapphire when she was younger.
