After confirming that the Alfonso on the seabed was a mirror image, Saul immediately noticed the special nature of the surrounding environment.

There were faint magical power fluctuations in the sea area around Alfonso. It was just that with fighting still ongoing above, such magical fluctuations weren’t conspicuous at all.

But Saul believed that as long as he got a bit closer to Alfonso, he would be trapped by the measures the other had set up.

Escaping would probably take some time, but injury or death wouldn’t happen, since Alfonso wouldn’t believe that with just one mirror image, he could kill another third-rank wizard.

If it weren’t for Alfonso still underestimating Saul’s mental power, and Saul discovering before entering Alfonso’s trap that what stood in the formation was not a real person, Saul might really have wasted some time here.

Seeing the situation clearly, Saul didn’t bother to investigate Alfonso’s arrangements in detail. He directly made a turn and flew toward the sea surface.

Now two third-ranks had already left the coast, leaving him with one remaining target.

“A mask that can’t be removed… does this mean Stuart will die in the name of the Black Flame Emperor?”

Alfonso had left at some unknown time, and Royer claimed to be patrolling other areas. These two had already gone far, and Saul had nowhere to pursue them, so he might as well watch the person before him.

Moreover, most crucially, Saul’s third target also needed to be born in this place.

…

At the deep water pool by the seaside.

This place had once imprisoned dozens of atavistic mermaids, with specialized wizards secretly watching over them daily. But in the past two days, with the black tide assault, to ensure the front defense line didn’t fall, the wizards here had also been transferred, leaving only restraining formations to prevent the mermaids from escaping.

This restraining formation could not only seal the deep water pool but also provide warnings when outsiders violently damaged the formation.

But if the formation seal was opened using the correct method, this formation wouldn’t give any warning.

Simply put—inside jobs are hard to guard against.

When the black tide’s power was waning but still occupied most people’s attention, this deep water pool was already empty.

The mermaids who should have been in the deep water pool were now being led by a person wearing black robes and shrouded in black mist, walking through narrow passages carved into a cliff face.

Mermaids had no legs. Although they could barely walk on land, they crawled using their tails like snakes.

Fortunately, mermaid scales were quite sturdy, so they wouldn’t shed or get injured from excessive wear.

But mermaids were, after all, a group that lived in water for extended periods. On their escape route, they still encountered various difficulties both anticipated and unexpected.

“Mr. Black Fish.”

The mermaid Aqua, who originally had long blue hair, had now cut his beautiful locks to two fingers’ length, looking quite comical. But no mermaid in this group would laugh at him, because all the other mermaids looked the same.

Including Coral, who had once amazed Saul.

“Mr. Black Fish.” Aqua called again.

Mr. Black Fish, who was walking at the front shrouded in black mist, finally turned around.

“What is it?” His voice was very low, seeming to be in a bad mood, but the lowness carried determination.

“Sister’s tail is starting to bleed. We need water.”

Coral’s already damaged tail now had several wounds torn open, currently oozing blood.

“It’s too dry here.” Another mermaid supporting Coral said, “Our skin is already starting to crack. If this continues, we’ll bleed too.”

But Mr. Black Fish only shook his head, “If you want to leave this place, don’t have any association with water.”

“There’s ocean nearby, underground currents, springs, but why don’t I take you through water routes? It’s because they think mermaids can’t stay away from water for too long. Only by avoiding water routes can we not be caught up with.”

Mr. Black Fish had actually said this twice already.

The dozens of atavistic mermaids behind him didn’t really have only seven-second memories.

Rather, in their panic, they needed to confirm again and again that their current escape route was correct and their choice was fine, so they could persist in this extremely dry place, crawling with difficulty using their tails.

But Aqua, looking at the weak Coral, couldn’t help but quicken his pace to get beside Mr. Black Fish.

He said quietly, “Sir, sister’s injuries are too severe. Can I just use a small handful of water to moisten her wounds?”

Mr. Black Fish turned his head and also spoke very quietly, “Aqua, do you still remember what I once told you?”

Aqua was startled and tried hard to recall, “No matter what happens, leave according to the plan…”

Before finishing, he suddenly stopped, seeming to realize what these words meant.

But realizing didn’t mean he could understand.

“You, you want me to abandon my sister?” In his excitement, he forgot to lower his voice and didn’t even use honorifics when addressing Mr. Black Fish.

Strangely, Coral, who was not far behind them and clearly heard Aqua’s words, remained completely calm and said nothing.

Aqua hadn’t yet noticed the calmness of the person behind him. He only noticed Mr. Black Fish’s silence, so he tried hard to speak up for his sister.

“Mr. Black Fish, it was my sister who first cooperated by taking the potion you made, contracting that terrible pollution disease, which allowed experiments on atavistic mermaids to be suspended and made it so atavistic mermaids were no longer strictly guarded.”

Seeing such an agitated Aqua, Mr. Black Fish said nothing, only silently continued forward without a moment’s delay.

During the time Aqua was speaking, he had already fallen several meters behind Mr. Black Fish.

He hurriedly caught up again, but saw Mr. Black Fish suddenly turn back and glance at him.

Those eyes carried coldness, as if he didn’t care what he wanted to say.

Because of Aqua’s concealment talent, he had always been a very special existence among the atavistic mermaids.

Many tasks of exploration, observation, and information transmission could only be done by him without being discovered.

So normally, other mermaids would take him as their leader and value his safety most. Even sacrificing other mermaids, they would protect him from being discovered. Follow current novels on ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet

But today, on the escape route, Aqua suddenly realized that perhaps in Mr. Black Fish’s heart, he wasn’t the most important mermaid.

Or maybe just important, but he had no voice in the decision making.

But Aqua didn’t want to give up. He could abandon anyone else, but not Coral!

However, before Aqua, who was catching up to Mr. Black Fish, could speak again, Mr. Black Fish ahead suddenly stopped.

Aqua nearly crashed into him.

The leading Black Fish stared intently ahead, where there was clearly no one, but there were footprints on the ground.

Aqua followed Mr. Black Fish’s gaze and also saw the footprints.

He immediately shut his mouth and stopped disturbing Mr. Black Fish.

Flames suddenly ignited around the footprints, and the flames seemed to have their own life and autonomous consciousness, spreading to Mr. Black Fish’s feet.

Wizard!

Aqua’s eyes suddenly widened!

Fear that had seeped into his bloodline made him involuntarily start trembling.

He could only place all his hope on Mr. Black Fish in front of him.

Black Fish remained motionless until the flames spread before him, then suddenly released a black smoke that directly extinguished the flames.

However, after the flames were extinguished, they suddenly erupted with a loud explosion. Heat waves like facing molten lava rushed toward Black Fish, directly vaporizing the black robe on his body.

Revealing the man hiding inside the black robe.

And the unconscious mermaid the man was tightly holding in his arms!

(End of Chapter)

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