The coral field lay bathed in an eerie stillness, the vibrant colors of the corals starkly contrasting with the palpable tension that hung in the water.
Meanwhile Nereus's senses were on high alert, every ripple and current a potential sign of danger.
Nearby schools of fish drifted and darted nervously through the corals, their movements erratic and jittery, sensing the tension in the water.
It was almost like the serene beauty of the underwater world was mocking the impending violence that was about to unfold.
The three sea essence signatures grew ever closer, their intent clear and murderous.
Nereus steeled himself, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings, ready for any sudden movement.
At that moment the shadows in the water seemed to coalesce into three distinct forms, each one radiating a formidable aura.
As the attackers emerged, their identities became clear.
Judging by their distinctive green and black tunics Nereus recognized them from stories in Argent's memories as members of the notorious mercenary group known as the Abyssal Eels, a notorious mercenary group known for their ruthlessness and efficiency.
The Abyssal Eels were feared throughout the seven seas, their name evoking images of death and subterfuge in the dark depths.
One of the mercenaries, a tall, muscular merman with a wicked-looking bident, sneered at Nereus.
"So, you're the one causing all this trouble," the leader said, his voice a chilling whisper that cut through the water. "Argent, is it? You've made some powerful enemies."
Nereus's eyes narrowed, his suspicions confirmed. "Who sent you?"
The leader's smile widened. "Hehe wouldn't you like to know, let's just say some people are willing to pay a high price to see you dead. But enough talk. It's time to finish this."
With that, the three mercenaries attacked without warning, their movements swift and coordinated.
Nereus barely had time to react as the first attack came at him, a vicious swipe from a torpedoing serrated coral blade aimed at his throat.
WHOOSH
He ducked just in time, feeling the water ripple as the blade sliced through the space where his head had been.
The other two mercenaries followed up with equally lethal strikes, the one wielding a bident that wildly swung at his head and the other mercenary, wielding a pair of curved daggers, darted in from the side, slashing at Nereus's midsection with deadly precision.
The third attacker, now rearmed with a short spear, circled behind, looking for an opening to strike.
WHOOSH
'Damn it, that was close!'
Thought Nereus after dodging another particularly close blow from the bident, the force of the blow sending vibrations up his arm.
SWISH
SWISH
At that moment he then twisted his body to avoid a pair of daggers sent whistling toward his direction, feeling the water ripple as the blades narrowly missed his skin.
The spear-wielding attacker chose that moment to then strike from behind, but Nereus rolled to the side, the spearhead grazing his scales.
Suffice to say the attacks were relentless, each blow aimed to kill. The mercenaries were not holding back in the slightest.
'They're serious I see,' Nereus realized with startling clarity, 'If I don't figure something out I'm certain they have every intention on ending my life here and now...So be it, may the best merman win then!'
With a fierce determination, he resolved to meet their lethal force with equal ferocity.
At that moment Nereus went on the offensive.
Using his water affinity he quickly summoned pressurized water which quickly coated his fists in a pair of makeshift gauntlets, reinforcing his blows now making them hard enough to maim and kill.
"Now let's try this again shall we."
Wasting no time he then launched a flurry of counterattack blows with all his strength, his movements fluid and precise.
SWOOSH
He launched a jab at the nearest assailant who swam just out of the way in the nick of time.
BANG
He threw a cross strike after a quick swim over to the spear wielding assailant. Sadly it was blocked, pushing the mercenary back some before his comrade launched a fearsome counter attack.
'Fuck I'm definitely not doing enough damage.' Nereus admitted finding himself at a disadvantage as he was pushed back from the ferocious blows.
He had no weapons, relying solely on his control over water and earth. He tried to create water construct weapons, but the mercenaries gave him no chance, their relentless assault leaving him no room to maneuver.
Plus he could feel his energy being sapped with each passing moment.
As he worked to defend himself, Nereus kept the sea wraiths on standby, their invisible forms waiting for his command.
'I need more time to gauge the slowest attacker, the one that would be the most vulnerable to their assault...'
For now, he focused on surviving the onslaught, using the environment to his advantage.
The coral field became a chaotic battleground, the once tranquil area now filled with the sounds of clashing weapons and the roiling currents from powerful sea essence fueled attacks.
Nereus moved swiftly through the corals, using the natural formations to block and deflect attacks.
'There!'
As the battle raged on, Nereus finally saw an opening. One of the mercenaries, distracted by a miscalculated lunge, left himself exposed.
Seizing the moment, Nereus summoned a column of sharpened earth from the seabed, propelling it upward with tremendous force.
"Arghh!"
In the blink of an eye the mercenary was impaled through the midsection, a look of shock and pain frozen on his face as he died.
"You'll pay for that!" the bident wielding merman sneered as an aura of seriousness seemed to install in his being.
This victory was short lived however as the other two attackers did not hesitate or show any sign of mourning their fallen comrade.
Instead, they attacked with renewed fury, their strikes faster and more vicious. Nereus barely had time to react, his muscles straining as he blocked and dodged their relentless blows.
The lead mercenary's bident came at him with lightning speed, while the dagger-wielder's attacks were a blur of deadly motion.
Nereus felt his energy waning, the exertion of the battle wearing on him.
He knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer.
Just as his strength was nearing its limit, Nereus spotted another timely opening.
The dagger-wielder, in his fury, had become erratic and left his defenses momentarily down. Nereus's eyes narrowed, his mind made up. It was time to unleash his sea wraiths.
'He is your target, go!'
With a sharp command in his mind, he ordered the three spectral entities. Wasting no time they seemingly materialized out of the water, their ghostly forms shimmering with a deadly aura.
The sea wraiths, his hidden trump card, moved with a deadly purpose, their target unaware of the true danger he faced.
"W-What the-"
The erratic attacker's eyes widened in surprise and horror as the wraiths shot towards him, their forms blending in and out of the water as they closed in for the kill.