Save Snow!

An arrow hits Irirangi's other shoulder. Then her tail. Snow is doing her best to slow the sea witch down as the gap closes, though it becomes more obvious that she no longer cares about any pain she might feel. This is no woman at all--just a monster, long since filled with evil. The Aquatic Scourge has tormented the depths of the ocean for a long time. But all that matters now is that she's threatening Snow, and you won't stand by while your people get hurt. With a little more time to spare than before, you pull in your legs, and try to focus. It's far from easy to Bunny Hop without a surface, but you did it only moments prior, and it matters yet again, so best learn. Through the effort, you can't help but grunt and then shout a purely primal sound from your throat, but through it all, you manage to make it work. The sea warps around you.

In an instant, you're right behind her, but she's fast. You need to act faster.

With a thrust of Lauo, you pierce straight down through her back right before she reaches your ally.

Snow looks up shocked.

Though as you pull back your blade, you're shook by her body still moving. She turns to face you, even with a hole through her torso. "... You're resilient too," you mutter.

"No." Snow squints, loading up not one but two arrows at the same time. "You did it, Kyle. She's finished." After letting them loose, the sea witch's back is pierced.

After that, Kailani darts in with the trident in her hands. The tiny seashell top slips right off with ease as she harpoons the monster right through the heart. The mermaid stares down at her opponent with intensity as she secures victory.

"Get back!" you shout just as the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. You swim forward and grab Kailani, holding her tight as you swim away. Then, the body of Irirangi glows as bright as the sun. She detonates a moment after, sending out an explosion as if a depth charge had just been detonated. Everyone flies in different directions, though thanks to your intervention, Kailani isn't harmed. The power of such a beast is mighty, though this day evil couldn't triumph over good.

"Is everyone all right?!" Snow calls out.

"I've been better," mutters out Candy from right behind her. She readjusts the seashells over her chest. "Though Irirangi was honestly kinda disappointing. It seems like she was probably consumed by power a long time ago. And what kind of evil villain has no minions? Once she was caught, everyone was already over for her. I've seen it happen before."

Kailani swims over beside you. With a long sigh of relief, she releases the trident in her hand and allows it to slowly float away. She places her hands over her face, and stretches her neck back to stare up between her fingers towards the dark sky of the deep ocean. Though it isn't just darkness. Schools of colourful fish start filling the water above with the threat now gone. There may be no sun, but there's still a rainbow of stars.

You place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. It's all good now. Nureteru is safe."

She smiles bashfully now, touching a finger to the string between her shells. "I suppose this means I owe you again," she says with a chuckle.

"If every mermaid here gave me their bras, I don't think I'd have the room to store them."

"I don't know. This one is pretty tiny..."

Snow and Candy join you next.

"Wonderful job as always, Kyle," says Snow.

Candy swims down from above, looking you in the eyes as she hangs upside down in the water with her arms crossed. "And you too, Candy. Right?"

"That's right," you say. "You too."

"Now say... you too, oh powerful mistress of magic."

"You too, silly clown."

"I am silly, aren't I!?" She smiles wide and cackles maniacally right in your face.

You reach out and squeeze her nose with a honk as you slowly nudge her away. "This was quite the side quest, but I think we should make sure the king is all right, as well as claim our prize. Someone else might need saving, and this Shard is gonna help us secure that victory."

"He's down there," Snow says, pointing towards the cloud of debris atop the palace.

You float down along with your allies to a coughing King Agam who has finally recovered. "Hey. Are you all right?" you ask.

The king swings his hand left and right, clearing away the dirt around him. "I'm... alive, I suppose," he mutters. "But this mess. This chaos. It was right beneath my nose yet I was too ignorant to see. Queen Iri. I can't believe it."

"... Really? You can't?" Candy asks sarcastically.

His eyes turn to Kailani. For a moment she grows worried she's about to be in trouble for deceiving the king, though his eyes light up, and he smiles with blushing cheeks. "But all is well. I've been able to lay my eyes on somebody even more beautiful. Oh my dear Krissy."

"You know that's not her name, right?" you ask.

"Come!" he commands. "Follow me to our treasury, for I must promptly reward you for all you've done. Nureteru would have surely fallen if not for your intervention, so I will not only honour your initial request but find what we can spare to pay you further. Guards! Make certain the citizens nearby are well, and explain that their king will speak to them later, but allow them to know that they have been saved by heroes this day." It's certainly off-and-on that he sounds like a proper monarch, and this is one of the times he truly does. With a proud demeanour and booming voice, his people listen, and then he turns to swim straight back down towards the hole in the palace's rooftop. Though he stops partway down to look back towards your party. "Quickly now."

"Right." You nod. "Let's go, guys. The Shard of Draconax awaits us. And I don't know about you, but I'm pretty ready to wear my normal clothes again. And stand on dry land."

"I understand," Kailani says. "Though to be honest, I prefer being wet."

Candy leans in so close to the mermaid that their cheeks gently touch, all while she has the widest smile across her face.

"Wh-What is it?" asks the mermaid, confused.