Harem Tournament of Champions

"As my mership pleases." The maiden's melodious voice flirtatiously replied with an upbeat, hoping to be considered the right one.

Hik gulped as he walked ahead knowing what was to take place soon and couldn't bring himself to witness the gruesome sight.

Mich winked at the maiden, "have a pleasant sleep."

Pulling the left-opened door, he locked her in and whistled with a mischievous grin on his lips.

"Hik! Wait up!" Mich laughed as he scurried towards his best friend and personally chosen right-hand merman.

Hik halted and froze as he stiffly turned to see Mich throw his hand over his shoulder and tousle his hair.

"Were you trying to ditch your friend?! I'm still the same wild and silly friend, remember?"

Hik grimaced but tried to keep his composure and forced a smile, easing his muscles.

"Do we have to continue with this ritual?" He blurted out unconsciously, his eyes widened with fear at the slip.

Mich's mood suddenly turned dark at the question and fell silent.

'What the hell is wrong with me?!' Hik scolded his stupidity for picking on the sensitive topic of their tribe.

A scream could be heard from Mich's chamber and Hik couldn't help but grit his teeth at the gruesome screams that resonated from the distance.

Mich pulled Hik toward their hideout when they were kids and pulled on a shell then twisted it to reveal a secret hideout they could pass through.

"My mership, I-I don't think..."

"Would you stop referring to me with that status when we are alone?" Mich hissed and pulled on Hik's wrist.

*****

Coming out of the dark tunnel that was illuminated by glowing planktons on the walls.

Mich opened his arms and inhaled. Looking above was an arch made of clear water magically held in place by the blue blood magic that was the very foundation of Mertac.

Hik was uncomfortable stepping foot in this place as he watched fireflies hover in the air and scatter about, illuminating the cave-like structure in the form of a dome that had a bit of illumination from the mysterious holes borne into it.

The ray of light that seeped through looked as though the light could be held. Moths flocked to the source of light.

Hik stook awkwardly at the grassy terrain, his toes grabbed a few of them and for the first time, he felt a bit at ease.

Mich was caught up by how the blue scale markings on his hands transformed into real scales when he dipped it into the water arch, mesmerized by his nails growing into a claw.

A grin spread out on his lips, but quickly diminished when he pulled them out and had already reverted to his pale skin with well-trimmed fingernails.

'Damnit!' He hissed at the condition he had to meet to fully gain control of his transformation to his evolved version of himself.

Only the pearl could grant him the power to effectively control this part of him and the only reminder of what he didn't have was this magical water arch he had found out while he snuck to spy on his father when he was the tribal chief.

Clenching his hand in a fist, his eyes glowed as he stared at the arch showing him only a half reflection of himself which signified an incomplete power of the merchief.

Looking back at Hik, he pulled his hands behind him and walked toward his friend.

"Tell me, do you think I would be able to get the pearl?"

Hik nodded his head in affirmation, "if your father could get a glimpse of the power that is granted to a blue blood merfolk like your family, although suddenly fell ill and died a few years ago, he would have been great."

Mich let out a chuckle and patted Hik on the shoulder, "you never cease to amaze me with your response."

"If your brother had not been brutally murdered by that–" Hik found it hard to express himself in an attempt to speak ill of the werewolf tribal chief.

"It's alright, my brother deserved what he got for almost causing the downfall of our territory with his speech with Lord Hisha," Mich explained with a stoic expression.

Hik was left speechless at how insensitive his friend had become after the death of his father.

Mich turned around so he could mask his devilish grin afterward, he rubbed his index finger and turned the silver ring with a fin insignia on it that belonged to his father, his twin brother, and now in his position.

'I had killed that old man to usurp the throne, and had instigated Wae to help me to end that cowardly twin of mine.' Mich thought with his grin increasing.

In an attempt to steer the conversation in another direction, he questioned on the scroll tightly fisted in Hik's hand.

Hik quickly brought up the scroll and glanced over to Mich's back contemplating reading out its content.

"Go on," Mich commanded, feeling his hesitation.

"The message is from an unknown informant..."

Mich turned around with a raised brow and snatched the scroll from Hik's clutches.

Examining the paper, he spotted a green symmetrical triangular ornament outlined in gold of three interlaced arcs on a circle.

This symbol had been placed above the words written below.

His eyes read the information in a rush and when he was done, he let out a peal of maniacal laughter.

Hik flinched at how changed Mich had become just from reading its content. "Mich, don't you think it would be unwise to follow through with a plan from someone we barely know?"

Mich raised his arms and exhaled, "who would have thought there would be another secretly bold enough to want Lord Hisha's downfall?"

Hik had wanted to chip in on what he thought of the situation but sealed his lips when Mich occasionally snickered still deep in thought on what information he had suddenly acquired.

"It's time we deploy a few of our soldiers for some hunting, don't you think?" Mich questioned Hik with a twisted smirk.

*****

A/N

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