Hero instinctively widened her blue eyes, as the lake water swiftly erected a huge barrier in front of her, blocking the demonic sounds capable of piercing eardrums and shredding skin, with only muffled sounds coming through.
The screaming gradually subsided, and the Hero removed the barrier, her gaze calm as she stared at the lake surface illuminated by a faint light.
Then, the waves erupted again, and a figure with a fish tail for a lower body and a female upper body shot out of the lake.
Under the Gleaming Scale Serpent's faint light, she cast a huge shadow on the cave wall.
The lake transformed into a tall throne, upon which she sat, looking towards the Hero on the shore, her hollow eye sockets gleaming with greed.
And finally, the Hero could clearly see the figure before her.
It was a Rotten Mermaid Shark, its body covered with jagged, toothy maws, opening and closing emitting a fanatic screech unlike any humanoid.
"Princess, ah, my dear princess—"
Why is the Princess here? Devoid of the mind to harbor doubt, the Undead merely emitted joyful and greedy screams.
"Just a tail is not enough—just a voice is not enough!
"All of it! Your soul, your flesh, give it all to me!"
[Witch's Ghost: Rotten Mermaid Shark R5]
In fairy tales, the Deep Sea Witch who exchanged her voice with the Siren Princess for a Human Transformation Potion.
In reality, she put the Princess to sleep with the Magic Potion's power and seized the opportunity to steal the Princess's tail and vocal cords.
The royal family of Sirens possesses long lifespans and powerful Magic talents; their king can evoke tsunamis and manipulate ocean currents just by singing.
The Witch attempted to seize this power to elevate her level of existence, achieve prolonged life, and escape the nightmare that follows death.
But clearly, she failed.
The flesh of the Siren Princess did not grant her immortality; instead, it transformed her into an Undead that is neither alive nor dead.
The very nightmare she sought to escape enveloped her all the more swiftly because of her own greed.
The corrupted her fled the sea, the uncontrolled spilling of her Magic Power formed a pitch-black lake, binding her and concealing her beneath this land.
Atop her decaying body, numerous shark-like mouths symbolize the demise of this greedy being.
LV:D25+30=d25(10)+30=40
Note: Magic Creatures above level 50 are considered transcendent and receive bonuses.
[Witch's Ghost: Rotten Mermaid Shark LV40]
Rotten Lake LV7: The witch in life was far more powerful than in death, the uncontrollable Magic flowing out from her corpse condenses into thick black water, also providing this Undead a struggling refuge. Spellcasting over the Black Lake does not consume Magic Power, and Water Magic receives an Erosion bonus.
Erosion Sound LV6: A greedy Spirit mutates the body, using mouth-like appendages spread across the entire body for multilayer chanting, the sounds disrupt the enemy's Spirit.
Living Corpse Count (unusable): I have already escaped, I have already escaped!
Lingering Dream of Agony (unusable): I will not be caught, I will not be caught!
After eons, the Witch's reason has long perished, leaving only painful delusion in her rotting shell.
On the Water Throne rising in the center of the lake, she brandishes a Magic Wand shaped like a Long Spear, madly yearning for that existence she thought she would never encounter again.
Hero, with her azure eyes filled with a touch of sadness, looked towards her.
She spoke gently, her voice pleasing to the ear.
"Although I do not know you, nor what you have been through, I feel as though I must defeat you..."
During a previous journey, the Little Girl's Guard had told her that every bestowed power might conceal a special mission, waiting for the one who receives it to fulfill it.
The Magic Power inside her operated with unprecedented precision, Jade Scales covering her cheeks and limbs, her eyes transforming into Snake Eyes, still maintaining their azure hue.
Without following steps, the Hero immediately activated the Fusion Avatar of the Serpent Queen of the Woodlands, and the Water Element still obeyed her command, competing with the Witch for control over the lake.
"Perhaps, now is the time."
[Siren's Curse lifted, Hero gains Special Skill: Daughter of the Sea]
[Hero (Serpent Queen of the Woodlands) LV24]
Constitution: 95 (+23)
Intelligence: 66 (+16)
Beast Spirit Magic Power: 1800
Steel Whip Soft Bone: Constitution Armor*2, +Armor Break
Emerald Skin: Armor+20
Special Skill: Daughter of the Sea (time-limited): Gain Water Element Manipulation (Purifying Water) LV5, unaffected by Extreme Failure during battle.
The mistakes I once made, the love I once missed.
The poison left to posterity by my irredeemable naivety, yet plunging a girl into peril.
Even though I am no longer here, I cannot turn a blind eye.
The dissipating, no longer lingering Soul: 'Don't lose... I will help you.'