In the evening, another system announcement reached across the whole realm.
[ Global Announcement!! ]
[ Invasion Detected! ]
[ Estimated Time Until Arrival: 18 Hours 13 Minutes 12 Seconds ]
[ Special Notice: Skylords / Adventurers will receive 10 BC per kill ]
Once again, the global chatbox was in a state of palpable fear and tension.
[ Firestarter ]: What? Another invasion? And this soon?!
[ xX_GamerDad_Xx ]: Only 18 hours? That’s bad. We just finished the last event.
[ ThreeBeautifulPrincesses ]: 10 BC per kill... this doesn’t feel like a reward. It feels like bait.
[ DesertFox ]: Invasions mean casualties. Everyone prepare your army and defenses. Oh wait... why am I giving advice when I barely prepared myself?
[ EternalWarrior ]: Because you’re a sucker.
[ RandomUser_881 ]: I’m only Stage 2... am I even supposed to survive this?
[ Holy_Emperor ]: Hahaha! Finally, something worth farming. Hope the invaders are stronger this time.
[ Admin_01 ]: All Skylords are advised to reinforce their domains immediately.
[ Curious_Loli ]: I need to stack resources. Where is the Water Tycoon?
[ IronCladMiner ]: I’ve got a good defense now, but I need food and water. @Aegis, please shower us with your divine water.
[ ThreeBeautifulPrincesses ]: @IronCladMiner Creep. Don’t make it sound so gay.
Aegis quickly typed his message.
[ Aegis ]: I need animal / beast / monster corpses, as many as you can provide. 1 corpse for 10 liters of water. I am also ready to trade with BC if necessary.
The message appeared in the global chatbox almost instantly.
For a while, there was just silence.
Then the reactions came flooding in.
[ Firestarter ]: Huh? Corpses? Why would you need those right now?
[ xX_GamerDad_Xx
[ RandomUser_119 ]: Water is insanely valuable before an invasion... Is Aegis mad?
[ ThreeBeautifulPrincesses ]: Corpses of beasts or monsters? Darling, what are you planning?
[ DesertFox ]: @Aegis Are you preparing something big? I might have some remains from earlier hunts.
[ Holy_Emperor ]: Hahaha! What kind of broke strategy is this? You’re scavenging now?
Some mocked him.
Some were confused.
Some, however, began to think.
Water.
Pure-grade water was more valuable than Bronze Coins during an invasion. Many islands lacked natural water sources. Others had contaminated reserves after previous invasions.
Back in the Aquabyss Domain, Naida glanced at the chat window, then at Aegis.
"Are you planning to synthesize them?" she asked quietly.
Aegis nodded.
"Corpses still carry genes," he replied calmly. "Bones, blood, organs. Even after death, they are resources."
Eterna’s intelligence kicked in.
"Papa, you want to turn dead monsters into new sea creatures? Just like last time?"
"Yes," Aegis confirmed. "With those genes, I can create more powerful followers and also make the existing ones stronger."
Billy and Milly screeched excitedly, understanding his intent.
Naida felt a chill. She still remembered how overpowered his ability was.
But considering the upcoming invasion, this was very much needed.
This wasn’t desperation.
This was preparation.
Another private message popped up.
[ DesertFox ]: Your Grace, I can deliver twenty beast corpses. Mostly wolves. I’ll give them to you for free.
Aegis refused.
[ Aegis ]: No. I can’t take things for free. I will give you 10 liters of purified water per corpse. If you still insist, then forget it.
The private chat went silent.
Then—
[ DesertFox ]: What else can I say? Deal!
The trade was completed quickly. Aegis sent him 200 liters of water, while Felix delivered twenty beast corpses.
The global chat grew excited after seeing the successful trade.
[ RandomUser_774 ]: 10 liters per corpse... that’s insane value.
[ Firestarter ]: I’ve got goblin corpses. Anyone else trading with him?
[ ThreeBeautifulPrincesses
[ Holy_Emperor ]: Tch. Let him play merchant. I’ll farm kills.
Aegis continued to receive corpse after corpse.
Soon, they formed a small mountain in the palace courtyard.
Afterward, he summoned the swordfish and crab swarms to gather.
The swordfish and crabs responded to his command almost instantly. Though they could not speak, their eyes shone with intelligence.
They understood that they were about to receive something from their Sea God.
Naida and girls stood waiting to watch yet another miracle.
Before their expectant eyes, Aegis raised his hand.
The ocean responded.
The swordfish stepped forward first. Thirty of them lined up instinctively before him. Their sleek bodies hovered in the water, blades gleaming faintly from their jaws.
"Begin synthesis," Aegis said calmly.
The Sea God’s authority descended.
"Hydro-genesis Activated"
Genes intertwined.
Human (Own) + Werewolf + Lion + Swordfish.
Around every swordfish, water rose like a cocoon . Their bodies dissolved into streams of light and blood-red essence as theur bones reshaped, muscles reforged.
Crack.
Crack.
One by one, humanoid figures emerged from the water.
Thirty children stood before him.
They looked no older than twelve or thirteen. Their hair varied from silver to deep blue, eyes sharp and alert. From each of their forearms extended cracked, jagged blades made of condensed water and bone, fused directly into their hands like living weapons.
"Thud!"
They knelt as one. "Thank you, your eminence. For this blessing!"
Naida’s eyes widened like saucers.
"This is unbelievable. Even for me," she whispered.
The Phoenix girls also stared in disbelief.
"Papa... you turned fish into people," Flama muttered, stunned.
Aegis nodded as a translucent system panel appeared.
[ New Species Created: Inborn Water Swordsman ]
• Quantity: 30
• Race: Hybrid (Human / Beast / Oceanic)
• Rank: Steward (5)
Abilities:
• Water Blade Arm: Natural weapon fused to the body, regenerates when broken.
• Predatory Instinct: Enhanced reaction speed and combat awareness.
• Lunar Buff (Passive): Strength increases at night
• Pack Coordination: Increased combat efficiency when fighting together
"Your are the Water Swordsmen," Aegis addressed them and said. "You will fight in formations, cut through enemies, and defend the domain."
"Yes, your eminence." The children bowed deeper, blades humming softly.
Aegis then turned to the crab swarm.
The crab swarm scuttled forward next. About 15 of them stood on the ground, clicking their claws nervously.
"Prepare yourselves. This will hurt more," he said quietly.
He extended his Hydro-genesis power to the pile of corpses.
He chose:
Human (His Own)
Giga Ape.
Ant.
Crab.
As soon as the Synthesis began, the water exploded upward.
"Crack, crack, crack..."
Their shells cracked violently as their bodies expanded.
Chitin fused with muscle. Arms thickened grotesquely, fists swelling larger than their torsos. Spines erupted along their backs like armor plating.
When the transformation ended, waist length humanoid figures stood before him.
They weren’t cute imps at slightest. They were terrifying.
Their shoulders were broad, hunched slightly forward. Their forearms were oversized slabs of living armor.
Every movement made the ground shake.
They slammed one fist against the other instinctively.
Boom.
The shockwave rippled through the courtyard.
Naida swallowed hard.
"These.....are monsters," she murmured.
Another system panel appeared before Aegis providing with their basic details.
[ New Species Synthesized: Armored Fist Barbarians ]
• Quantity: 15
• Race: Hybrid (Human / Giga Ape / Ant / Crustacean)
• Rank: Steward (6)
Abilities:
• Diamond Fist: Natural fists harder than steel, capable of shattering defenses.
• Chitin Armor: Extremely high physical damage resistance.
• Hivemind Discipline: Immune to fear and mental interference.
• Siege Instinct: Bonus damage against structures and shields
"Clak, Clack, Clack"
The Armored Fist Barbarians dropped to one knee, fists pressed to the ground.
"Hail to the Sea God’s Heir!"
Aegis looked over his creations.
Water Swordsmen for precision.
Fist Barbarians for impact.
A balanced force.
Naida finally exhaled slowly.
"Your Grace..." she said softly. "With an army like this... You’ll conquer all. "
Aegis’s gaze moved toward the distant horizon, where the invasion timer continued to tick down.
"This is only the beginning, Naida." he replied calmly.
Behind him, the Sea God’s domain stirred with life.
And for the first time since the Global transmigration, Aquabyss was no longer preparing to just defend.
It was preparing to dominate.