Chapter 153: I Want You To Be Emperor!
In the ocean, Mera's speed had already surpassed ten Mach. That was even faster than a Black Hawk jet in the sky.
With a surge, a dark current swirled through the seabed and easily left the pursuing Atlantean warships far behind.
She surfaced near a calm coastal area, where the dark current dissipated, revealing Mera in her black battle suit.
"Xi Nian, you've ruined me…"
Mera's voice echoed weakly in thought, "Xebel is finished too. Atlantis will unleash their rage over Om's death on my kingdom."
"But at least this way, the alliance between the two nations is broken, and the war between the sea and land has been stopped in advance… Isn't that the result you wanted?"
Her tone turned bitter with that final thought.
But even as she said it, her heart couldn't truly hate Xi Nian. After all, this was Om's own doing.
"What are you talking about?"
Xi Nian's voice was steady. "I never planned on turning the oceans into chaos, letting the kingdoms tear each other apart. Killing Om was only the first step."
"What else do you want to do?" Mera's heart sank. A bad premonition crept over her.
"I want you to be Empress, Mera."
As Xi Nian spoke, the surrounding ocean currents surged as if the entire sea had stirred.
"You… what did you say?" Mera froze in shock.
Through their shared bond, she could feel it wasn't an empty lie. This was truly his goal.
Xi Nian's voice deepened. "Not just Queen of Xebel, not just Queen of Atlantis. I want you to unite the Seven Kingdoms and become the true ruler of the ocean!"
To him, killing Om wasn't enough.
As long as Atlantis' royal bloodline carried hatred for humanity, another Om would rise. Sooner or later, another war between sea and land would erupt, draining the Earth's extraordinary forces in meaningless conflict.
So instead—why not unify the seas under one ruler?
And for Xi Nian, Mera was the perfect choice.
Connected through thought, he knew Mera didn't despise humans. In fact, she was curious and even longed for the surface world.
More importantly, she wasn't weaker than any royalty. Her water manipulation abilities, unique to her alone, surpassed all royal gifts. It was a power feared by all Atlanteans.
But because she was a woman, Mera had been denied Xebel's throne. Instead, she was to be married off as Om's bride.
Even if she wanted to fight him, she could only rely on Arthur, the exiled Aquaman.
Yes.
In the ocean kingdoms, no matter how powerful or noble a woman was, she was still treated as a decoration, a political pawn.
Even Atlantis' former queen—though called a queen—had been dragged back after loving a human, forced to bear heirs for the royal line.
"Mera, think carefully."
Xi Nian's thoughts were like a blade, sharp and clear. "Do you want to be the Empress who controls her own destiny, or a flower vase, a woman who lives only as Aquaman's support?"
"The Empress of the seas… Can I really do that? Not just Atlantis, even Xebel would never allow it." Mera didn't give a direct answer, but her hesitation revealed she was tempted.
"You can. But only if you claim the lost Trident of the King." Xi Nian's response was unwavering.
Mera's eyes widened. "The artifact… the true scepter of the seas. But only one with the heart of a king can wield it."
"King? Didn't I just kill one?" Xi Nian said carelessly. "I don't believe in so-called destiny. If even you don't believe in yourself, how can you expect to rule?"
...
"I understand now."
After a moment of internal struggle, Mera made her decision. "Then let's do it, Xi Nian."
"You're still not determined enough," Xi Nian warned.
"Help me. I want to be Empress!" Mera's voice rang firm and deep. She'd killed an emperor already, what's even left for her to fear?
"Good. As you wish." Xi Nian's tone carried a smile.
…
Blackened Mera's eyes opened, gleaming with brilliance.
Schools of fish circled around her, their scales glimmering like silver halos in the water, illuminating her with an almost sacred aura. A noble, commanding presence radiated from her body.
For the first time, Mera fully embraced their bond. She no longer resisted Xi Nian's control, allowing their symbiosis to approach perfection.
…
On the coast.
"Vulko, what did you just say?"
Arthur stared in shock at Vulko before him.
"It's true. You have another brother. A real blood brother."
Vulko continued, "Or maybe he's your older brother. The truth is, you were twins. Even your mother didn't know which of you was born first—you two looked identical as children."
"But… my father never told me anything about this." Arthur's voice faltered as he glanced at his father's peaceful face in his arms.
"That's because the moment you were born, Atlantean soldiers took your twin away," Vulko said grimly. "But he's alive. He's been living in the royal palace of Atlantis all this time. His name—"
"Namor."
…
In Atlantis, within the royal palace.
The currents surged.
A black figure carried the dying Om through the oxygen barrier and into a dry chamber.
He laid Om on the bed.
Then he pulled off his cloak, revealing a rugged face, strikingly similar to Arthur's—though clean-shaven. His muscular torso was bare, his lower half clad in scaled black pants.
"To think… in the end, it's you, the bastard, who saved me…" Om coughed blood, looking weakly at the man beside him.
"I didn't save you. I just want you to live long enough to taste despair." Namor sneered coldly.
"Good… that's good. I never needed saving. I just… I just can't accept it… Mother…" Om let out a hollow laugh. Blood spilled across the bed as he gasped one final warning: "Mera… she has a tracker on her…"
And then, with that last breath, Om was gone.
Namor remained expressionless. He picked up the bloodstained crown from Om's head.
"Don't worry. I'll finish what you couldn't. I'll unite the ocean—and purge the filthy humans above."
"As for Mera… I'll kill her for you."
Namor placed the crown upon his head, his words cold and resolute.
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