Wizard: Starting With the Knights Breathing Method Chapter 2856: 582: Defying Level-10! Complete Blood Armor!
Previously on Wizard: Starting With the Knights Breathing Method...
The Sain World, known as the Mermaid Sanctuary, spans a vast expanse where endless oceans cover ninety-nine percent of its domain, interrupted only by isolated islands scattered throughout.
From ancient times, the merfolk clan flourished in this realm, achieving the height of their civilization three centuries back... and that was when Whale Emperor Sain came into being.
From that moment onward, the merfolk clan possessed their very own Level 10 powerhouse.
Yet, in the same breath, the merfolk clan entered their darkest period.
The invasion from the Abyss ignited a ferocious blood war, shattering countless lives in its wake.
Leading the charge as commander of this chaotic front is the ruler of the Abyss's 186th layer, [Old Sea Dominator] Rul, whose actual form manifests as a grotesque Fish Demon, backed by a formidable array of Level 9 generals.
At first, the Abyss believed they could crush this budding level-10 society in a flash, yet to their surprise, guided by the Whale Emperor, the merfolk clan held firm right up to the present!
This very day.
Within the Whale Emperor’s Palace.
There, a colossal silhouette stretching ten thousand feet in height loomed imposingly—none other than Sain himself.
Beneath him, six elite Level 9 warriors from the merfolk clan positioned themselves in rows on both sides, delivering updates on the ongoing conflict.
Once he had heard their reports, Sain's fury surged, prompting him to rise abruptly to his feet.
"What a blatant outrage!"
This Rul had sent forces to seize the mermaid princess—his own daughter. The infamous cravings of Fish Demons were no secret; he refused to let them tarnish her purity!
Over the preceding years, numerous female merfolk suffered violation at the hands of Fish Demons, spawning twisted demonic offspring that rampaged through the oceans, endangering the very bloodline of the merfolk.
"Summon the attendants, ready the chariot; I'm heading straight to the demon outpost myself!"
"Emperor, please hold back— this could well be a scheme laid by the demons."
"So, what course of action would you propose for rescuing my daughter?"
"Well..."
The assembly of Level 9 merfolk advisors stood dumbfounded, exchanging uneasy glances.
If it were their family at stake, the dilemma would weigh just as heavily.
Family ties pulled in one direction, while the fate of their entire society tugged the other.
Regaining his composure, the Whale Emperor declared:
"I've clashed with that Old Sea Dominator before; its might barely surpasses my own, merely bolstered by longer tenure at level 10 and deeper reserves... curse it all, if granted another ten thousand years to advance, I'd hack it apart with my own weapon!"
One advisor ventured tentatively:
"Emperor, perhaps we ought to request aid from the Nora Council?"
The Whale Emperor shot back with icy disdain:
"Nora? Do you not recall the treachery those wizards inflicted upon the Sea Clan?"
Silence gripped the advisors.
To most foreign peoples, the cunning and malice of wizards stood as irrefutable truths. Even the wizards themselves harbored no illusions of moral superiority.
Another, quivering beneath the oppressive weight of level-10 presence, spoke up:
"Emperor, circumstances have evolved; right now, preserving our merfolk society demands priority. You stand as the merfolk clan's unparalleled genius through the ages, yet our roots remain shallow. Facing this dire blood war, I urge you to think it over again."
"Absolutely, Emperor; word has it the Sea Clan thrives over there, with merfolk enduring in Nora as well. Given your prominence, securing entry to the Supreme Council and carving out a spot for our people should prove straightforward."
With one bold voice breaking the ice, the remaining advisors chimed in with their views. Three centuries of relentless blood wars had eroded all traces of optimism from them.
At present, a single lord from the Abyss's 186th layer alone sowed endless turmoil among them. Should the demons reinforce their numbers, how could they possibly endure?
By the time remorse set in, it would be far too late.
In contrast, Nora had triumphed through three successive grand campaigns, felling five level-10 demons—including the mighty chief of the Four Great Demon Lords, the Earth Demon Lord!
Even the formidable barbarian civilizations had integrated into Nora, alongside Heavenly Will, that near-Level 11 supreme entity, now aligned with them.
What reason did the merfolk civilization have to waver?
In the shadowed realms of the Land of Darkness, mere survival reigned as the unyielding creed!
All other principles could bend as needed!
"Oh, and Emperor, I've caught recent rumors: Nora's premier genius, the Dusk Palace Master, alone vanquished the incarnation of the Holy War Army Master.
He's roaming the vast Pan-Plane at this moment. Should we appeal to Nora for support, maybe this figure could aid us in weathering this storm for now."
At the mention of the Dusk Palace Master, a flicker crossed the Whale Emperor's gaze.
From the intel available, this individual harbored favorable sentiments toward the Sea Clan, and Nora's merfolk fell under his safeguard... If committing to alliance with Nora, he indeed represented the pivotal link.
"Proceed, reach out to the Nora Council."
The Whale Emperor stated evenly; a choice had to be forged.
Yet the thought of his daughter ensnared in the demon stronghold filled the Whale Emperor with sorrow—a level-10 titan, yet powerless to shield his nearest and dearest.
Without the burdens of his people, he would have stormed the demon lines ages ago.
It all traced back to insufficient strength.
Dare that Old Sea Dominator snatch Edmund's daughter away?
That would be like demanding to devour the sun itself!
Buzz!
A surge of overwhelming might pierced into the Sain World; the Whale Emperor's features twisted, his immense whale form rearing up like a mountain, while a blade four thousand feet in length materialized in his grasp.
This was the pinnacle Level 9 artifact, the [Sea Suppressing Blade], a heirloom of the merfolk clan honed across eras to its utmost potency in recorded history.
Regrettably, it fell short of true supremacy.
A streak of radiant light sliced through boundless voids, materializing at the heart of the grand chamber.
Clad in dark armor, his face etched with resolve, he gripped a sword in his right hand; in his left, a shadowy chain trailed the remains of a Level 9 demon, as he advanced with purpose.
The advisors beheld this intruder, their faces twisting in astonishment.
The Whale Emperor refrained from striking, for a peak Level 8 female merfolk descended into the hall beside him—a thousand feet in stature, revealed as the princess of the merfolk.
"Father! I've returned!"
Here's how it unfolded.
Not long prior.
Levi masked his presence and drew near the demon base in the surrounding Land of Darkness beyond the Sain World, intent on snaring some demons to bind as slaves for extracting secrets.
En route, he crossed paths with a Level 9 demon.