A battle is over, but the war against Tyrion continues; however, those Naga who follow Mira and Lucien, as well as the Mermaids who just fought, are very optimistic about the future.
But soldiers just follow orders and trust their leaders because it's up to them to realize the bright future that the people want. And it's precisely what Lucien, Nea, and Mira are doing right now.
"What are we going to do next?" Mira asks, looking at Lucien and Nea.
"We must travel quickly to the capital and defend our position there until Tyrion appears." Ramla can't help but speak; she clearly doesn't think that decision is up to her, but as the Mermaid army's most important general, she wants to make clear the best course of action from the military point of view.
"We are not going to abandon smaller cities to focus on protecting the capital." Nea quickly responds. "Our greatest forces are in the capital, so they can hold on until we've destroyed all the portals in the rest of the Kingdom."
Lucien nodes. "I agree with Nea; no more Mermaid or innocent Naga need die in this war."
Pride really likes the way Lucien acts, mainly because it makes all those Mermaids and Naga respect him even more. Yet, she couldn't help but find his resolve somewhat naive and delusional.
"Do you really expect that no soldier dies during a war??" She asks in a sarcastic tone.
"I couldn't expect that still being realistic..." He comments in a neutral tone, but his confident smile remains. "However, no one can stop me from trying that."
Lucien's words sound like pure arrogance, but his family knows that's just his way of thinking; anyway, several women around him can't help but smile, including Pride.
"I think that's totally possible." Envy comments. "I mean, this portal storm is clearly coming from the west and central region, so we can stop them before any city falls and force Tyrion to face us with his main army."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"With Maya's help, of course." Lust completes.
"I'm ready," Maya responds in a determined tone.
Lucien nods, but his expression seems more thoughtful than determined. "First, we need a solid plan and know where to focus our efforts."
"What do you suggest?" Nea asks.
He looks towards the eastern horizon. "We have to know if the storm has reached any cities and divide our troops to help as many cities as possible."
Nea agrees with that and points northeast. "The nearest city is about a thousand miles in that direction. Could you... use that vision ability?"
Lucien understands how useful it would be to be able to see if that city to the northeast is already under attack by Krakens. Still, when he thinks about using his vision ability again, he remembers how strong those mysterious feelings he felt in the central region were.
Despite being focused on the war, a part of his mind can't stop thinking about his supposed relationship with the Water Spirit, which leaves him concerned about using the vision ability again. [What if she calls me again... could I ignore her calling??]
When Lucien hesitates to use the vision ability, he remembers that he is never alone, and just by thinking about Maggie, he already hears her voice. "Hubby??"
She floats over to the group and approaches him. "Do you need me?"
Lucien can't help but smile as he's not surprised that Maggie could feel he's thought of her; after all, the connection between him and his wives only grows stronger.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Yes, my dear." He holds Maggie's hand lovingly. "I need you to look as far as possible and tell us everything you see about this storm."
"Alright." Maggie wastes no time before activating her vision ability. She is very tired of the battle, but she only used her fire mana to fight the Krakens, and along with Lucien, her power grows even more, allowing her to see hundreds and even thousands of miles away in any direction.
She focuses east and northeast, that is, into the Mermaid Kingdom, and starts reporting. "The storm is moving fast... it looks like the clouds are focusing around a city a thousand miles to the northeast, and... also nearly two thousand miles ahead... Still no Krakens in sight, but the storm is getting more intense... I can't see any further than that."
"It is enough." Lucien kisses Maggie's lips.
"We don't have much time..." Nea thinks aloud.
He nods. "Yes, we have to divide our forces now, and a group will accompany Maya to the nearest town so she can destroy the portals with her fire magic."
"Divide our forces..." Nea thinks aloud as she looks at the Mermaid troops with a concerned expression. "I'm not sure the troops will be able to fight anytime soon; although they are confident, they are exhausted, and I can feel that many of them are still scared."
"The Nagas are no better off." Mira comments.
"I see," Lucien comments as he thinks of something.
Maya approaches him and speaks in a confident tone. "I don't need an army to do that again, you know."
"But you get vulnerable after burning your body like that..." He comments in a concerned tone, making Maya wonder how much he cares about her. "Anyway, you need people to help you."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"I can go with her," Nea suggests. "Or you can, and with some of the strongest people among us."
"If you go with her and take some of us, Eve and I could stick with the troops..." He explains. "She and Pride would take away any remaining fear in their hearts, and I could help them recover quickly, even get stronger, so we can hold the Krakens until you and Maya reach us."
Nea finds that plan good, but she can't help but wonder what Lucien will do to help the troops recover quickly and get stronger. Then she gazes at him with a slightly upset expression. "You're going to do that with them, aren't you?? But... with all of them???"
"There's no time for that with all of them, so a few kisses and caresses will have to be enough." He casually comments about kissing tens of thousands of Mermaids and female Nagas.
That situation looks pretty bizarre, but somehow, Nea is already getting used to how peculiar things are around Lucien. "Be kind to them."
"Of course." He smiles.
She sighs. "Alright, so who's coming with Maya and me?"
"I will!" Saria is the first to volunteer; she very much wants to be close to Lucien, but she efficiently manages to put her duties to her people before her personal desires.
"No." Nea quickly denies it. "I know you want to fight, but our troops need to know that a member of our family is with them."
"We will also be in battle soon." Lucien smiles at Saria.
She doesn't need much to agree with that. "Then I'll stay..."
Claire is a little hesitant as she really wants to help the Mermaids, but at the same time, she doesn't want to stay away from Lucien and Saria or leave them together away from her. "I think I'll stay with Saria too."
"I'm glad to hear you're protecting Saria," Nea comments gently; she is still very fond of Claire, especially now that they are inevitably becoming a family.
"I'd like to keep with Luci too, but..." Donna flies to Lucien's side and pats his arm before looking at Maya and Nea. "You need my ax, so Wrath and I will fight alongside you now."
Lucien kisses Donna's lips in front of everyone, making it clear that there is nothing else between their love. "We'll be together soon; for now, kill all our enemies that cross your path."
"We're going with them too," Amelia speaks for her and Envy; they both want to become better girls for Lucien, so helping Nea and Maya feels right.
"I don't even need to say I'm going with Maya, right?" Naomi smiles. She also really wants to get close to Lucien, but now doesn't seem like the time for that.
"Helena, Olivia, and Angela are also going with you, but the others aren't ready for such a challenge yet," Lucien comments before looking at Mira. "Do you want to go with them and let Kamala lead the Nagas?"
"Yes," Mira responds positively.
Lucien nods and then looks at Maggie. "I also need you to go with them to be their eyes."
"Understood." Maggie hugs Lucien and kisses him again. "I'll do my best."
"I know." He smiles as he pats her hair and then looks at the Sea Devil. "You should use the ship; Daisy and Valencia can make it sail really fast, saving you both time and energy."
"Sounds good." Nea agrees; She can swim really fast, just like Maya can fly at incredible speeds, but the rest of the group isn't that fast yet, so the Sea Devil will come in very handy.
"So we have a plan," Lucien comments.
Everyone agrees. "Yeah."
