Chapter 157: The Final Master of the Artifact
It was an extremely strange and terrifying scene.
The sacred, golden Trident appeared corrupted, its original light and power gone, completely covered by a living-like dark liquid.
"What is this?"
Namor's heart leapt. The dark protective layer had countless tiny barbs, and his right hand, normally bulletproof, recoiled in pain as if burned.
Following the extension of the dark liquid, he saw Blackened Mera tens of meters away, lifting one of the serpentine tentacles.
Xi Nian didn't know whether Namor or Arthur had the potential to be recognized by the artifact, so he simply concealed it.
"I haven't finished trying yet!"
Blackened Mera pushed forward the tentacle with her left hand and shoulder, slipping from beneath it.
"How is that 'not finished'? How many times have you tried already!"
In a thousand years, Karathen, the guardian sea beast, had never seen anyone as shameless as Blackened Mera.
Nor had it ever seen someone so powerful.
But as the artifact's guardian, bound by the promise to the ancient god, Karathen had to stop any intruder without royal potential.
…
"What's happening down there?"
On the island, Atlanna looked shocked. The ground trembled violently. Pterosaurs scattered in panic, and some land dinosaurs collapsed in fear.
Buzz!
The Earth's core within the sea shook!
Below the island, the water surged. Four or five serpentine tentacles struck down with terrifying force, aiming at Blackened Mera. This was Karasen's first serious attack in a thousand years.
"Mera!!"
Namor charged at her, aiming to seize the artifact and avenge his brother, Orm.
…
Suddenly, Blackened Mera's eyes widened. The attack wasn't directed at her; instead, in front of the throne, a golden light burst through the dark layer. Streams of golden light erupted from the Trident, shaking it free from the dark claw's grip and flying toward Arthur, who had just struggled up from the sea floor.
Arthur instinctively opened his right hand.
"That's mine!" Namor shouted, reaching out across the water.
The Trident hovered between Arthur and Namor, seemingly making its final choice.
"Both of them… do they really have royal potential?" Karathen mused, yet its attacks still fell toward Blackened Mera.
Its task was only to stop her and let the artifact choose its master.
Then, Blackened Mera laughed.
A surge of anger filled her mind. Xi Nian froze, sensing Mera's unusual fury.
Mera's thoughts whispered angrily: "Why do they have so-called royal potential, while I, even leading the way, cannot make the artifact recognize me?"
"Don't you see, Mera? It's bloodline. They carry the royal blood of Atlantis," Xi Nian's mind responded. "But your anger is perfect. A woman who never gets angry and only compromises can never be an empress."
"Xi Nian, what should I do?" Mera asked.
"Trust the empress within you," Xi Nian answered firmly. If she still couldn't believe in herself after everything, what use would this precious chance be?
Step!
Mera, now given control of her body, stepped forward in the water. Her eyes burned like deep blue flames, her crimson hair spreading wildly. Her foot landed as if on the heart of the hidden sea.
Xi Nian guided her actions, from her step, black liquid spread like a drop of ink, engulfing the surrounding sea.
Ten meters, a hundred, a thousand—
Until ten thousand meters!
Splash!
Arthur fell forward, and Namor dropped to his knees, sinking deep into the seabed mud.
The pressure was overwhelming.
Even at extreme depth, where they could normally swim freely under immense pressure, they could not stand against the black water.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The serpentine tentacles in the blackened water also crashed down one by one.
Step, step…
The underwater area was silent except for her steps. Blackened Mera walked elegantly to the floating Trident.
The artifact's light was completely suppressed, dim and lifeless, appearing like an ordinary iron weapon.
Blackened Mera placed her hand on it for the second time. The Trident quivered, trying to resist, but could not move.
"Even an artifact is just a weapon. Who gave it the right to choose its master?" she said coldly, disdain in her eyes.
To Xi Nian, the artifact was nothing extraordinary, and Mera, who read his thoughts, began to share the sentiment.
His aunt had plenty of artifacts. Last time she even acquired a divine arrow, and yet it is still kept under her table like a piece of chewed gum.
At worst, they could melt it down and forge a new one. Maybe then the artifact's soul will finally obey its master.
As they thought this, the Trident suddenly stopped resisting. Golden light entwined with the dark symbiotic suit, forming a golden armor above her.
Golden flames flickered in her eyes.
Circles of divine light radiated outward, marking Blackened Mera at the ocean's center.
Countless sea creatures, sensing ancestral memories, witnessed the birth of a new god reigning over the sea.
Blackened Mera held the Trident, clad in golden armor. Her crimson hair danced wildly, radiating kingly and divine authority.
The dark matter merged into her body, and the surrounding water cleared.
The serpentine tentacles slowly rose, wriggling.
Blackened Mera asked plainly, "Do you still want to fight?"
From the shadows, Karathen was silent for a moment, then said in awe, "I didn't expect… that after all this time, a new sea god would emerge."
"Sea god… what does that mean?" she asked, looking at the golden Trident. "I thought whoever got it would be king?"
"Indeed, that is true," Karathen rasped.
"If the Trident recognizes its master through bloodline, that person becomes the future king of the seas. But if someone without the bloodline earns its recognition, they become the sea god, master of the oceans."
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