The dark heart of the abyss pulsed quietly, hidden beneath layers of oceanic shadow. At its center, Ursula hovered, suspended in water tainted black. Her eyes, now empty voids, stared out unblinkingly. Within her imprisoned mind, the sea witch fought desperately—but helplessly—against her unseen bonds. The parasite combed through her memories and saw a plan to make its target come to it.
Flotsam and Jetsam circled obediently, their enlarged, monstrous forms undulating smoothly. Their eel bodies, now gigantic and covered with jagged fins and dark scales, twisted eagerly as darkness flowed freely through them.
The parasite within Ursula commanded them effortlessly, its voice cold and precise.
"Go," it hissed, Ursula's lips barely moving. "Bring me a child—the king's daughter. Triton will exchange anything for her safety, even his precious trident."
The corrupted eels hissed in delighted anticipation. The darkness wrapped around them, granting not only size and power but a new, insidious gift—cloaks of invisibility that shimmered like light refracted through oil. They faded from sight completely, leaving only faint disturbances in the water.
Invisible predators glided swiftly upward, unseen by all, and slipped through the patrol lines with effortless precision.
Helios stood silently near the palace's main hall, his eyes narrowed in thought. The tension around him was palpable. Despite Athena's reassurances, he couldn't shake a nagging unease—a feeling deep in his bones.
Athena approached gracefully, her expression gentle yet resolute. "Helios, are you certain it's wise for you to remain here alone? My husband's guards have secured the palace thoroughly."
Helios met her gaze calmly. "The Heartless are never predictable. Triton assumes Ursula will attack head-on. But I don't believe that's how she thinks. I believe that Ursula will favor deceit or a sneak attack."
Athena frowned slightly. "You believe she has another plan?"
"Undoubtedly," Helios responded firmly. "If it were me, I would strike where the king is most vulnerable—his wife or his children."
Athena paled slightly, worry darkening her eyes. "My daughters are safe within the palace, heavily guarded. I personally made sure—"
"It may not be enough," Helios interrupted gently. "I've already sent my friends Kurai and Thalen to watch over them closely. But your guards should still be alert."
Athena nodded slowly, visibly troubled. "Then I trust your judgment, Helios. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must ensure every household receives adequate food supplies. This curfew burdens our people greatly."
"I'll go with you," Helios advised. "you have guards but one more helping hand couldn't hurt."
Athena offered a small, grateful smile and departed swiftly. Helios followed behind her, alert, his senses stretched outward, reaching into the currents for any hint of threat. After all, something was effecting him and Ursala seemed like a possibility so he needed his bait nearby.
Inside the royal chambers, Ariel sat quietly beside her sisters. Despite the reassuring presence of palace guards, a strange tension lingered, thick and unsettling. She glanced nervously toward the entryway where Thalen and Kurai floated vigilantly.
"Are you okay?" Thalen murmured quietly to Kurai.
"I despise waiting for enemies to strike," Kurai replied coolly. "It's inefficient."
Suddenly, Thalen stiffened. His gaze shifted sharply, his bioluminescent tail pulsing in rapid, disturbed rhythms. "Something's… here."
Kurai's eyes narrowed immediately. Without hesitation, she summoned spheres of dark energy, illuminating their immediate surroundings in a faint, violet glow.
"Show yourselves," she commanded coldly.
Nothing appeared—but the water vibrated with concealed movement.
Then, abruptly, two massive forms flickered into visibility, monstrous eels coiled with malicious intent. Their red-gold eyes burned with anticipation, and darkness oozed from their enlarged bodies.
"Stay behind us!" Thalen urged Ariel and her sisters, who quickly retreated in fear.
The creatures surged forward. Jetsam lunged first, snapping viciously at Kurai, darkness streaking behind his attack. Kurai smoothly evaded, her counterattack sharp and immediate—a burst of dark firaga erupting underwater, sending steam and shockwaves outward.
Flotsam swung around the guards who charged at it. The empowered eel's powerful strike quickly incapacitated them.
Ariel screamed as dark tendrils erupted from Jetsam, reaching hungrily for her. Thalen surged protectively forward, shield blazing, intercepting the assault.
"Help!" Thalen shouted desperately.
Kurai turned sharply, firing concentrated blasts of darkness that forced Jetsam backward momentarily. But Flotsam vanished once again, slipping effortlessly through the shadows, unseen.
"Watch out!" Ariel cried.
Flotsam reappeared directly behind them, his jaws wide. Kurai pivoted sharply, snarling in frustration, unable to reach them in time.
A sudden flash of bright silver intervened—Helios appeared, wielding Equilibrium in its unified form. A spinning strike sent Flotsam hurtling away.
"Helios!" Thalen exclaimed in relief.
"Focus!" Helios commanded sharply. "They won't retreat easily."
The eels regrouped instantly, their invisibility shifting unpredictably. Kurai growled in irritation, "This is absurd. If we can't see them clearly—"
"Then force them into an enclosed space where their advantage doesn't matter," Helios ordered decisively.
Kurai nodded curtly. She summoned vast waves of darkness, shaping them into a sphere that expanded outward violently, colliding with unseen forms. Flotsam and Jetsam flickered violently into view, disoriented and vulnerable.
"Now!" Helios shouted.
Together, Helios and Kurai struck—dark and light magic entwined, exploding into destructive fury.
The empowered eels shrieked, stunned and severely wounded—but in a final desperate maneuver, Jetsam lunged wildly through the confusion and knocked back Thalen violently. Ariel cried out as powerful coils wrapped tightly around her, pulling her swiftly away.
"Ariel!" her sisters screamed desperately.
The creatures vanished into invisibility once more, swiftly retreating despite their injuries.
"No!" Thalen shouted, anguish in his voice.
Helios' expression darkened grimly. "Damn, they've taken her to Ursula. We lost the initiative."
"We have to go after them!" Thalen pleaded desperately.
"We will," Helios promised firmly. "But rushing recklessly plays directly into Ursula's trap."
Kurai's voice remained chillingly calm. "Then we use caution, but swiftly. If the king learns of this, he'll act impulsively. Afterall we're here because of your deal, so this sea witch can't be captured if you plan to keep your part of the bargain."
Helios nodded slowly. "Agreed. Let's hurry. Ursula expects Triton but she'll get us."
Deep below, Ursula watched through shadowed eyes, smiling coldly at the struggling Ariel held tightly in Jetsam's coils.
"Perfect," she murmured, voice twisted by the parasite's control. "Soon, Triton will beg to exchange his power for her life."
In the darkness behind the witch's eyes, the faceless figure smiled, pleased.
The test continued exactly as planned.