Kai's grip tightened around his sword as Atlantis raised his spear, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

"We can hide in the coral and strike when he least suspects it," Kai whispered, eyes flickering with determination.

Atlantis nodded, shifting his gaze toward the distant glow of the Diamond Kingdom's outpost. Just as he turned to move, a spear whistled through the water, its sharp tip grazing his arm. He hissed, clutching the bleeding wound.

"Ambush!" Atlantis snarled, spinning around as Kai followed his gaze.

An elderly, yet undeniably powerful, merman floated before them. His salt-white beard flowed like silk threads in the current, his muscles taut beneath his coral-encrusted armor. His eyes, sharp as harpoons, gleamed with knowing satisfaction.

"You didn't think I was blind to your schemes, did you?" The old merman's voice was rough like stones grinding together, his words laced with venom. "Cowards always think themselves clever."

Kai's tail flicked with agitation. His eyes darkened, glowing faintly with emerald light. "We'll see who the coward is, old man."

The moment was razor-thin — a spark away from an explosion.

*********

Ren's heart pounded in her chest as she clung to the shadows of the coral reef. The water pressure around her felt heavier than usual as she crept forward, pressing herself against the coral-covered rocks. She pulled aside a strand of seaweed from her face, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Her gaze finally settled on a familiar figure, but the sight made her breath catch in her throat.

Her fingers dug into the coral as she watched in awe.

Kai was changing.

His body shimmered with an otherworldly green glow. His tail, already fearsome, grew longer and sharper, the emerald scales along his tail and arms turning into jagged points. Spikes ran along his back, trailing to his shoulders. His once-human ears elongated and webbed at the edges, like a predator from the deepest trenches. As his transformation neared completion, his torso was a masterwork of power and grace. Ren swallowed hard, her eyes trailing over the sharp lines of his muscles.

Focus, Ren. Focus!

Beside her, Morgan's voice was barely a whisper. "He's taking his true form."

Ren turned to him, confusion written on her face. "True form? Is that... is that how he's supposed to look?"

Morgan's eyes were fixed on Kai, his lips pressed in a thin line. "It is the form of royalty — a king's true form. Only those of the purest royal blood can transform like this. Every monarch of the Seven Kingdoms has a form that represents their birthright. This is his."

Before Ren could respond, the Diamond King's taunting laughter echoed through the water.

"Look at you, parading around like a beast," the king sneered, his grip tightening on his trident. "All that power, yet you still skulk about in the shadows like a common thief."

Kai's gaze was razor-sharp, his pupils narrowed into predatory slits. His grin was all teeth — sharp, shark-like teeth. "You mistake patience for fear, pretender. Your bloodline is as false as your crown. I was born to rule. I don't need to steal anything."

A murmur passed through the Diamond King's soldiers. Some glanced at each other uneasily. The truth of Kai's words cut deeper than any sword.

************

Destan swam with urgency, every movement fueled by the burn of purpose. His side still throbbed from his earlier wound, but he grit his teeth, his resolve stronger than his pain. Cornelius and the other soldiers swam close behind him.

"Prince Destan, look ahead!" Cornelius called, pointing toward the horizon.

Destan's heart dropped.

Two armies. One bearing the shining white-and-blue armor of the Diamond Kingdom. The other, a wall of green and black, the Emerald Army. They faced each other like predators on the edge of battle, ready to clash.

"Not today," Destan growled, his eyes narrowing. He surged forward, moving with the command of a prince. He swam past his soldiers and into the heart of the standoff, his presence drawing every gaze.

"Enough of this!" Destan bellowed, his voice like thunder through the waves. "There is no war! Not today!"

The Diamond soldiers stiffened, their eyes darting to one another. One soldier, braver than most, swam forward. "Your Royal Highness, we have orders—"

"Orders from a false king!" Cornelius interrupted, his voice cold and sharp. "Heed the words of your true prince."

There was a pause, but then, one by one, the soldiers lowered their weapons. Without a word, they began to swim back toward the kingdom. The Emerald Army watched them retreat but did not follow.

Destan turned toward the entrance of the Blue Coral, hearing the clang of steel against steel in the distance. His pulse quickened. "Kai..."

************

The water buzzed with the raw energy of magic and metal. The king's trident clashed with Kai's sword in a burst of sparks and bubbles. Each swing of their weapons echoed like thunder in the sea. Kai's strikes were precise, each swing an extension of his calculated fury.

But the king was no fool. His trident spun in perfect arcs, deflecting every attack with well-honed skill. His breathing, however, was becoming labored.

Destan swam in just in time to see it. His father's panting form, struggling to block Kai's relentless assault. His gaze flickered to Kai — to the sharpened scales and savage glow of his eyes.

"Father," Destan's voice was quiet but firm, "what have you done?"

The king glanced at him, his eyes flickering with something between pride and guilt. "My son... I did this for you."

"No," Destan said, his grip tightening on his sword. "You did this for yourself." Power surged within him, warmth filling his chest, and suddenly he understood. He knew what he had to do. He swam forward, eyes locked on his father.

"I challenge you to a Rhumakto."

The world fell silent. No one moved. No one dared breathe.

The Diamond King's eyes widened. His trident trembling in his hands.

**********

Morgan's face was pale as he watched Destan declare the Rhumakto. "A duel to the death," he whispered. His eyes met Ren's. "He has no choice. It's the only way."

Ren's chest tightened, her heart pounding against her ribs. "He's going to kill his own father?" she whispered, her voice cracking.

Morgan didn't answer, his gaze locked on the fight.

Steel met steel, and Ren's heart lurched in her chest. She tried not to watch, but her eyes wouldn't look away. The movements were a blur — sparks flashing from every strike, water swirling in vortexes from their swings.

Destan fought with unrelenting ferocity. The glow of his true form began to show in the tips of his hair and scales. His attacks became sharper, faster, and more brutal. His father's face twisted with shock and fear.

"No," the Diamond King breathed, his trident shattering beneath Destan's final strike. The weapon broke into splintered fragments, sinking slowly into the ocean floor. His eyes lifted to meet Destan's.

"I surrender," the king gasped, dropping to his knees. "The throne is yours."

Ren felt a wave of relief wash over her, her body sagging against the coral. "It's over," she whispered, her body finally relaxing. She watched as Destan lowered his sword.

Then it happened.

A sharp, metallic snap. A flash of silver.

Pain.

Ren's eyes widened. Her hands trembled as they reached down. Blood bloomed from her stomach, staining the water in red clouds. Her fingers brushed the spear that now pierced her body.

Behind her, the true culprit grinned.

The Diamond King's eyes locked with hers, a triumphant sneer curling his lips.

"Cowards never surrender," he whispered.

Her vision blurred. Her body went limp.

"REN!" Kai's roar echoed through the depths. His arms were around her in seconds, cradling her. His hands pressed against the wound, green light sparking at his fingertips.

"Stay with me," he pleaded. His voice cracked with desperation. "Stay with me, Ren."

Her gaze drifted toward his face. His eyes were wild, full of rage, fear, and something else. Something unspoken.

Her lips curled into a weak smile. "Kai...," she whispered before darkness overtook her.

The waters around them turned red.