I was standing in front of the coral throne, feeling the weight of King Triton's gaze.
The hall was quiet, only the sound of the water stirring the coral outside.
Ariel was next to me, with a mixture of pride and nervousness in her eyes. Arista and Attina were further back, one with an amused smile, the other still analyzing me as if I might do something wrong at any second.
Triton's trident was no longer glowing, but I knew he could change his mind very quickly if I made a false move.
"So, Eric de Miralune..." Triton said, leaning back in his throne, his voice calmer, but still with that force that made the sea tremble. "You haven't answered. This power that Ariel talks about so much... where does it come from? Because, boy, I felt something in you. Something that reminds me a lot of... the sea." He tilted his head, his eyes narrowed. "That's not something any human can carry."
I swallowed, my brain spinning to find an answer.
Explain Meta Essence Gacha? No way.
Saying that I was using the powers of a guy called Percy Jackson, who happens to be an alternative half-brother of Triton himself? That would sound crazy.
I had to say something that made sense to him, that didn't give the game away, but was still true enough.
Using the story I had planned, I began in a firm voice. "King Triton, I don't know everything about how this works, to be honest. But ever since I was younger, I've always felt... a connection with the sea. As if it spoke to me sometimes." I paused, choosing my words carefully. "When I almost died in the shipwreck, and Ariel saved me, that connection grew stronger. It was as if the sea had blessed me, given me a new chance. Since then, I've been able to do things... control the water, shape it with my sword, breathe underwater."
Ariel smiled, relieved, and even Arista nodded, as if she thought my story was cool. But Triton didn't look so convinced, he leaned forward, trident firmly in hand, and I felt a chill as he stared at me. "Blessed by the sea..." he repeated, low, as if testing the words. "It's a good story, kid. But I know the sea better than anyone. That power in you... it's not just any blessing. It has deep roots, older than you know."
I kept my posture, without looking away. "Maybe I don't know the roots yet..." I replied using half-truths, since I didn't really understand how Olympus worked in this world, the roots from which this power originally came, and I kept a touch of humility so as not to sound arrogant. "But I promise I'll use it for good. For my kingdom, and for those who need me." This part I said with great sincerity, and glanced at Ariel, who was almost glowing with pride.
King Triton stood still with a serious face, drumming his fingers on his trident, thinking. "You speak with sincerity." He said at last. "But I feel there's more to this story. Something you don't know... or don't want to tell." He raised his hand before I could speak. "I'm not going to force you just yet. My daughter trusts you, and I've seen you fight. This power is real, and it's strong. But it carries the echo of my father, and that makes me uneasy."
Attina raised an eyebrow in surprise, and even Arista stopped swimming in circles, looking at her father. "Do you think he's... like, connected to Grandpa Poseidon?" asked Arista, half-joking, half-serious.
Triton snorted, but didn't deny it. "I don't know, Arista. Maybe the sea has its own plans for this human." He looked at me again, and now there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "Have you ever felt it calling you, Eric? The sea, I mean. Not just the water, but... something bigger, as if it wanted to guide you?"
I hesitated, thinking about how Percy's power sometimes seemed alive, drawing my sword as if it knew where to go. "Sometimes." I admitted carefully. "When I fight, it's like the water knows what to do before I do. But I thought it was just... practice."
He laughed, a deep sound that filled the room. "Practice doesn't explain it, kid. The sea doesn't dance for just anyone." He leaned back, more relaxed. "You intrigue me, Eric. I don't trust you yet, but I don't hate you. That's something."
Ariel stepped forward, excited. "So you're going to give him a chance, Dad?" she asked, her voice full of hope.
Triton looked at her, then at me, and sighed. "A chance, Ariel. But he'll have to prove more than just pretty words." He pointed the trident to the side, where an open area shone beyond the hall. "I want to see this power up close, with no monsters to get in the way. Just me, you, the water, and what you say it does for you. Let's go?"
I felt my heart racing, but I smiled, ready for the challenge. "Whenever you want, King Triton," I replied, already feeling Percy's Chi and power pulsing through me, as if the sea was really calling me.
-
I followed King Triton into the great hall of Atlantica, with Ariel by my side and her sisters swimming behind us.
The place was huge, with coral columns shining like stars and the floor looking like a mirror of water.
The current there was strong, as if the sea wanted to remind me who was in charge.
It made me a little nervous, but also excited.
I imagined that I would only have to show the king a little of my power, not that I would have to face him in battle.
Triton stopped in the center of the hall, the trident glowing in his hand. "No tricks, Eric," he said, his deep voice echoing. "I want to see what you do with water, do your best to impress me." He slammed the trident into the ground, and a gentle but heavy wave washed over me, like a warning.
Feeling the power of this simple wave he caused, I took a deep, surprised breath as I gripped my sword tightly. "Beauty, King Triton..." I said, trying to sound confident. "I'll show you what I know."
Ariel gave me a supportive look, while Arista whispered something like "Don't die, human!" and Attina just crossed her arms, serious, listening to the other sisters' excited comments.
I started with what I knew best: 'Water Breath, First Form, ' I thought, focusing on Chi.
My sword slashed in front of me and the water around me formed a bright arc, flying towards Triton.
It was a blow that took down goblins easily, but he only raised his hand, and the water stopped midway, spinning like a ball before disappearing. "Nice..." he said, with a half-smile. "But weak."
I swallowed, feeling my heart race.
Okay, he was joking with me, which was good news for my safety, but not for my pride. 'Second Form. ' I tried, spinning the sword.
The water became a whirlpool, stronger, targeting his chest. Triton didn't even move. He pointed the trident, and my attack was parried, as if the sea had changed its mind. "You need more than that, kid..." he said, swimming closer.
I focused on Percy's power, feeling the water around me like an extension of me.
Using its control to propel me, I swam quickly to the side and decided to try a direct hit with the First Form again, but now closer.
The water followed my sword, this time even sharper than my first attempt, but Triton spun the trident, and a current pulled me back, making me lose my balance. "Quickly..." he said. "But the sea doesn't just obey you."
I was starting to sweat, even underwater.
I decided to use Johnny's Chi, channeling it into my hands. "Come on." I murmured, creating a small green sphere, like the one I'd shown Ariel. I threw it, and it flew up, glowing brightly. Triton touched it with his trident, and poof... it turned into bubbles. "Interesting energy," he said, now more serious. "But it's not enough."
Ariel was biting her lip, worried, and Arista was laughing like it was a show. I tried another tactic, using Percy's power to raise a wave around me, shaping it into a liquid shield as I prepared Water Breath, Second Form.
With everything ready, I attacked with all my might, sending the water spinning like a tornado towards him.
Triton slammed his trident into the ground, and my shield shattered, the wave falling like rain.
This time he said, almost impressed. "You're trying well, but you're still green."
I knew I was a long way from winning, but the feeling of fighting someone so powerful undoing my seemingly invincible attacks so easily was hard to swallow, so I went for it.
'Water Breath, Third Form. I thought, putting every drop of Percy's Chi and power into the blow.
The water formed a slashing wave, the strongest I'd ever made, flying straight at him.
Triton finally moved the trident, and with a gesture, my wave turned into a wall that fell on top of me. I used Percy's water control to try to dodge, swimming against the current, but the pressure threw me backwards, bringing me to my knees.
I was panting with the sword trembling in my hand.
Triton swam up to me, his face serious but not angry. "You have potential, Eric," he said quietly. "But that power... isn't really yours yet. From what I can sense in you, it's as if you know that this power isn't yours, and it's not letting you use it to its full potential." He looked me in the eye as he said this, giving me goose bumps.
Ariel quickly swam over to me, helping me up. "You were amazing!" She whispered happily, even though she knew I'd lost badly.
Triton returned to the center of the room. "You've earned some of my respect, kid," he said. "But if you want to be close to my daughter, you're going to have to grow up a lot more." He smiled, just the corner of his mouth. "The sea won't accept anything less."
Despite the defeat, I wasn't discouraged, quite the opposite.
Feeling the power of such an overwhelming figure made my blood boil and pushed me to become stronger.
Knowing that I could reach that level of power one day, or even surpass it, made me look forward to the future.
But the words he said about me understanding that the power to control the sea is not mine left me with doubts.