They never stood a chance.
Slash.
Pierce.
Golden arcs of light flashed again and again.
Mermen died in groups, their attacks failing to even scratch his defenses.
"…Too easy," Alan muttered.
It wasn't arrogance—it was simple fact. None of them posed a threat anymore.
Without slowing down, he pushed deeper into the lair.
After prolonged slaughter, a massive structure appeared ahead.
A boss door.
Alan stopped in front of it, resting Dialseif on his shoulder.
"The elder said the boss here used to be the Merman King," he murmured.
"But he's already dead… so who's holding the throne now?"
Piaro hovered behind him, arms crossed, silently observing. He hadn't lifted a finger since entering the lair—simply letting Alan fight as much as he wanted.
Alan placed his hand on the door and pushed.
The massive stone gate slowly opened.
Inside the throne chamber, a lone figure stood waiting.
A regal merman draped in flowing azure robes, her presence cold and overwhelming. A crown-like coral structure rested on her head, and her eyes glowed with sharp, hostile intelligence.
Alan's gaze sharpened.
[ Merman Queen – Level 160 ]
"Oh?" Alan muttered. "So after the king, it's the queen."
The Merman Queen sneered.
"Human… you slaughtered my people and still dare to stand before me?" she hissed.
"You think killing my mate makes you worthy to enter my domain?"
Alan met her gaze calmly.
"I killed your king," he said evenly.
"What makes you think you can stop me?"
The Queen laughed, her voice echoing through the chamber.
"Hahaha! Foolish human. That was outside my territory. This—"
She spread her arms.
"—is my domain."
"I hardly feel any difference" Alan said calmly.
"…You're bluffing."
The Queen's smile widened.
"How long do you think you can hold your breath, human?"
With a wave of her hand, the water around Alan compressed violently.
Spears of water formed instantly and shot toward him from every direction, aimed to crush him between converging pressure waves. The jaws of the deep closed in.
Alan's eyes narrowed.
"So you're a mage-type," he muttered.
"Unlike the king."
He activated Quick Step.
His body blurred, slipping through the water with impossible speed as the water spears missed by inches. One after another, the attacks failed to land.
Alan burst forward.
The Queen's eyes widened.
"Impossible—!"
"Just die," she screeched, summoning dozens of water nets and blades at once.
Alan activated White Lion's Roar.
A spectral lion erupted around him, roaring through the water.
The Queen froze.
[ Stunned: 2 seconds ]
"That's enough," Alan said calmly.
He closed the distance in an instant.
Kill.
The skill activated the moment her stun began to wear off, resetting her resistance window. Dainslief flashed as Alan drove his blade straight through her chest.
The Queen coughed, blood blooming into the water.
Alan didn't stop.
Slash.
Thrust.
Another clean strike.
Her body trembled violently as her HP plummeted.
"N–No… how can you… fight under water…?" she whispered.
With one final swing, Alan severed her core.
Her body shattered into pixels.
[ Merman Queen has been slain ]
[ You are the First Player to Slay Merman Queen ]
[ All stats +15 ]
[ You have single handedly slain both the Merman King and Queen ]
[ The power of Merman clan have decreased ]
[ Other Sea beings rejoiced that the Tyrants are dead ]
[ You have acquired the Blessing of Sea ]
[ Blessing of Sea (passive) ]
[ You can communicate with all sea creatures ]
[ All Sea creatures will be friendly towards you ]
[ In presence of Water all Stats +10%, power of all skills rise by 10% and their consumption will get reduced by 10% ]
[ Requirements to learn Water and Sea based Skills/spells have been reduced by half ]
Drops scattered through the chamber.
A staff floated gently in the water—radiating a cold, regal aura.
Beside it, a necklace gleamed softly.
Alan exhaled slowly.
"…Done."
Piaro stared at him in silence.
The boy hadn't just fought well.
He had dominated an entire underwater domain alone.
Alan turned his gaze toward the floating staff.
Its name appeared before his eyes.
Tidal Staff.
Just like the Tidal Trident, it was a royal weapon of the Merman tribe.
Alan examined its properties calmly.
The staff greatly increased Intelligence by 350, reduced chanting time by 30%, and boosted spell power by 30%. On top of that, it came with two bound spells—
Sea Spears and Sea Bite.
Both were S-rank spells.
Alan let out a small whistle.
"…Not bad."
Even though he could use the staff, it didn't suit his current combat style. Without hesitation, he stored it in his inventory, a satisfied smile on his face.
Then, his eyes shifted to the other drop.
The necklace.
[ Merman Queen's Necklace ]
Rating: Epic
Intelligence: +300
The favored necklace of the Merman Queen, crafted using the heart of a mermaid.
It carries a gentle yet powerful life-bound mana.
Effect:
• Increases all water and Ice based skills and spells damage by 20%.
Granted Skill: Healing Wave
Healing Wave
Heals the user or allies using life-stream water.
• Instantly restores 30% of maximum HP for 10 seconds.
Cooldown : 10 minute
User Restriction: Level 160 or higher
Weight: 10 ]
The necklace was a silver chain wrapped around a blue, heart-shaped gem. The moment Alan wore it, his Intelligence surged by 300 points, as he gained more mana.
Alan then turned his gaze toward the throne.
A book now rested there.
It hadn't been there earlier—but after the Merman Queen's death, it had appeared as if waiting for him.
"Is that the second fragment?" Alan muttered as he walked forward and picked it up.
A series of notifications flooded his vision.
[ Alabantinos's Diary – Second Part ]
[ Alabantinos, in his search to create a legendary artifact, met the Grandmaster of the Saharan Empire and learned ancient rune arts from him. ]
[ Congratulations! A hidden piece of Alabantinos's Legacy has been acquired. ]
[ You have acquired Ancient Rune Engraving Art ]
[ Ancient Rune Engraving Art (Passive) ]
Rank: Ancient
[ While crafting equipment, there is a chance for random Ancient Runes to appear on the item. Each Ancient Rune grants a new additional option to the crafted equipment. ]
Rare Rank: 1% to gain Ancient Rune
Epic Rank: 2% chance to gain Ancient Rune
Unique Rank: 3% chance to gain Ancient Rune
[ You have cleared the First Test of Alabantinos's Legacy ]
[ Second Test Unlocked ]
[ You have three years to forge 100 Epic-rank equipment items, or the quest will fail. ]
Alan stared at the notifications, his eyes gleaming.
"…Ancient runes," he murmured.
"It seems there are ranks beyond Legendary and Mythical too," Alan added quietly as he turned back toward Piaro.
"But isn't the probability is too shit?" Alan mumbled looking at the skill.
"Alright," he said calmly, tightening his grip on his weapon.
"Now we can start the training."
Piaro's eyes sharpened, his posture straightening as a veteran warrior's aura slowly seeped out.
"Very well," he replied.