After handing over the piece of dried kelp bread, Marina forced a faint, tight smile. The burning agony across her back flared up again, shooting icy jolts of electric mana straight down her spine and into her tail. Without waiting for a response from the ragged merman, Marina slowly turned away, intending to search deeper among the dark coral crevices for red lotus leaves.She took only a single stroke of her fin before a firm, warm grip caught her wrist.Marina flinched, instinctively trying to pull back, startled by the stranger's sudden touch. Gathering what little strength and composure she had left as a princess, she looked into Ryker’s sallow face and whispered softly."Please, let me go, kind sir..." Marina rasped, wincing against the sharp pain in her chest. "I didn't mean to disturb you. Take the bread and get out of here before the royal guards spot you and drive you off."Ryker kept his grip steady. Raising his left hand, he began gesturing with his fingers. He understood

Marina approached a few coral merchants and old fishermen, trying to track down the exact location of the hidden black market."Excuse me, do you know where to find the Black Market Auction in the forbidden sea border?" Marina asked, breathless, addressing a red-scaled merchant.The merchant eyed Marina up and down before bursting into a dry laugh. "The Black Market Auction? Why would an outcast princess like you be asking about a death trap like that? That place isn’t for disgraced nobles or fragile young mermaids like you. Get lost!"It wasn't just him; the surrounding mermen who overheard her question began nudging each other and laughing. Not a single soul offered a straight answer. They were either terrified of royal guard retaliation or simply saw Marina as a powerless nobody.Marina balled her hands into tight fists. She couldn't give up. Hidden beneath the folds of her blue gown, her fingers brushed against a Voice-Recording Shell—a keepsake from her late mother that could cap

Cassia smoothed her golden gown with a dramatic, practiced grace, gliding toward the edge of the VIP balcony. A triumphant smirk stretched across her striking face as she came to a stop right beside Marina."Take a good look down there, Sister..." Cassia murmured under her breath, her voice silky smooth yet dripping with venom. "The mute stray you bought with your precious pure fin... he’s standing right there like a living joke. How romantic—a disgraced princess with a homeless fanatic who showed up just to get slaughtered."Marina stared straight down into the center of the lower arena, tuning out Cassia’s taunts despite the tight ache in her chest. Her heart sank as she watched Ryker standing completely alone, surrounded by hundreds of noble princes clad in glittering golden armor.'Why on earth did you come here, Ryker?' Marina thought anxiously, wringing her hands behind her back. 'It’s nothing but ruthless, battle-hardened princes down there. They won't hesitate to crush a merma

"R-Ryker... you... you can talk?!" Marina whispered, her voice trembling. All this time she had assumed the man she rescued was just a helpless, mute merman. But now, his voice radiated a commanding, absolute authority.Ryker turned to Marina, offering a soft, warm smile. "I'm sorry I couldn't speak until now, Marina. My quiet state was a test—and your pure heart shattered every limit."Ryker's eyes suddenly flared with golden light from the depths of his soul. The System interface exploded across his vision, confirming the full release of his true identity.[ TRUE FORM TRANSFORMATION ACTIVE ]Revoking Budget Undersea Form...Activating Mythic Human Anatomy (Sovereign of Land & Sea)!FLASH!A blinding burst of golden light enveloped Ryker. The dull scales and pale tail attached to his body melted away. His fin transformed into a pair of firm, muscular legs encased in Aether Gold Armor, radiating a pure energy that boiled the surrounding waters.His unruly hair floated gracefully, fram

"Marina! Please, listen to me!" Orion cried, extending a trembling hand as tears streamed down his face. "I'm begging you... give me a second chance!"Marina clenched her fists and unleashed a sharp surge of water pressure that blasted Orion backward. "Enough, Orion! For years while I was abused, slandered, and tortured by Cassia and Rosalyn, you saw every bit of it! But what did you do? You closed your eyes and blamed me instead! Ever since we were kids, I was the one who tended your wounds whenever you were hurt. Now, even if you weep tears of blood, I will never care again!"Orion collapsed into the sand, his chest heaving under a suffocating weight of burning regret. Realizing the full extent of his stupidity, his tear-filled eyes snapped toward Cassia, who crouched beside him in terror."I sever our betrothal as of this exact second, Cassia!" Orion barked in a raspy, furious tone. He snapped his head toward his personal guards. "Guards! Drag this treacherous snake to the dungeons