Starting from Ainz Ooal Gown, simultaneously traveling through time

"High Priest, how are you?"

Seeing the high priest retreat from the edge of the pervasive blood mist with a strange expression, the Sea Emperor immediately inquired with concern.

The high priest quickly used magic to check himself, and found that his body was indeed unharmed.

But an indescribable chill and strangeness was slowly and steadily seeping into the depths of its body from the place where it had inhaled that wisp of blood mist.

"That blood mist... there's definitely something wrong with it!" The high priest suppressed his unease and turned to the Sea Emperor, his tone more solemn than ever before.

"Your Majesty, please immediately lead the warriors and civilians who have not yet been exposed to the Blood Mist to retreat to the Red Coral Tower and rely on its structure to form the final line of defense!"

"Leave the outer layer to me and those warriors already stained with blood mist to delay them."

Upon hearing this, the Sea Emperor frowned, his voice tinged with displeasure: "High Priest, are you advising me to desert my post?"

"I am the Sea Emperor; how can I cower before the battle even begins and abandon my soldiers on the front lines?"

"Your Majesty, I had no such intention!" the high priest hurriedly explained, his voice hoarse with urgency.

"Precisely because you are the Sea King, the pillar of the nation and the faith, you cannot take any risks!"

"The strangeness of this blood mist is beyond imagination. I am worried... worried that those of us who have come into contact with it may encounter unpredictable changes at any time."

"If you are on the front lines, the consequences would be unimaginable if anything were to happen!"

Poseidon remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the warriors who were still fighting but showing signs of exhaustion, before finally shaking his head slowly.

It said firmly, "High Priest, I understand your concerns, but the war has begun. Where is there any absolutely safe rear?"

"The Red Coral Tower is the last bastion, but if morale collapses at the front, retreating into the tower will only delay defeat."

"At this moment, standing here with the soldiers is the greatest source of stability."

Seeing the unwavering resolve in the Sea God's eyes, the High Priest knew he could no longer dissuade him.

It could only nod heavily: "...Your subject understands."

"But Your Majesty, please promise me that if any signs of the battlefield spiraling out of control appear, you must prioritize the safety of yourself and the national treasures, and evacuate immediately!"

"Alright, I promise you." The Sea Emperor solemnly promised.

Just then, a commotion and shouts far more terrified than before erupted from the front lines.

"What...what is that?!"

"A whale? No...impossible!"

"A dragon! Is it a dragon?! It looks... like the incarnation of a sea dragon god!"

"What nonsense! How could the messenger of the Sea Dragon God attack us?!"

Everyone's attention, including that of the Sea King and the High Priest, was drawn to the enormous creature that had suddenly appeared in the center of the battlefield.

It was a monster as big as a dragon, its outline vaguely resembling that of a humpback whale, but its form was twisted like a nightmare!

Its entire body is covered with thick, dark scales with sharp edges, and its pectoral and caudal fins have been transformed into giant bone claws capable of tearing through steel. Its huge mouth is filled with sharp teeth that are intersecting like a forest of swords.

What's most terrifying is its enormous eyes—

Those were completely emotionless, dark golden pupils burning with cold flames.

Every Sea King warrior who was swept by that gaze felt their heart stop, as if they were prey targeted by their natural enemy.

"Our strongest 'piece' has entered the game." Leylin, hidden in the shadows, watched with great interest.

"Hopefully you can pull out some decent cards, otherwise... this game will end too quickly."

This is precisely the strongest sea monster he has trained so far—

A [Dragon-Transformed Demon Whale] that has been deeply corrupted by dragon blood, resulting in a near-complete dragon transformation.

Its strength level has reached level 35, making it an undisputed overlord in this sea area!

"Sea King? Sea Emperor? Those are impressive titles." Leylin thought dismissively.

That so-called "Sea Emperor" is only around level 30 in strength.

While he might be considered a hero on the mainland, he's not quite up to par in the context of his current situation.

"Go, let them see what a real... deep-sea catastrophe is like." The order was given.

The dragon-transformed demon whale moved.

It did not charge forward rapidly, but merely swayed its pair of ferocious bone claw tail fins.

An irresistible and terrifying undercurrent then formed, scattering the Sea King warriors who were trying to form an array in front of them.

Then, it slightly opened its mouth, and ancient, deep, and majestic syllables echoed in the deep sea—

That is the language of dragons, the chanting of the Word of Power: [Blazing]!

The moment the singing suddenly stopped.

A massive and condensed torrent of blazing white liquid fire, larger than all the previous sea beasts' spews combined, poured out of its throat like a volcanic eruption, instantly engulfing a large area!

"No--!"

"The shield! Where is the [Shield of the Sea Dragon God]?!"

"Sea Dragon God! Save us!"

Flames burn in the deep sea!

This counterintuitive scene brought the most immediate fear and destruction.

The Sea King warriors, swept into the fiery torrent, had their armor and skin rapidly carbonized and peeled off under the intense heat, their screams drowned out by the roar of the boiling seawater.

The centurion, wielding the Shield of the Sea Dragon God, roared, attempting to step forward once more and use the national treasure to block the destructive torrent.

However, the demonic whale casually swung its bone claws, and the violent current it stirred up swept him and his shield away like leaves for dozens of meters.

The centurion struggled to swim back, but the mountain-like body of the demonic whale had already crushed him.

boom--! ! !

Just like a Dayun car running over a speed bump.

An extremely dull thud resounded.

The Shield of the Sea Dragon God still shone brightly, completely undamaged.

But the centurion, gripping his shield tightly, was struck as if by a battering ram. Blood gushed from the gaps in his armor, and he was instantly wounded and fell unconscious, the shield slipping from his grasp.

"National treasure!!" The Sea Emperor and the High Priest exclaimed in unison.

That shield is not only incredibly powerful, but it is also a symbol of the kingdom's faith and legitimacy, and must not be lost!

"This monster... is far stronger than we anticipated!"

Grimace finally appeared in Poseidon's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination: "High Priest, there's no time to hesitate! Let's join forces and stop it, and reclaim the divine shield!"

"Understood!" The high priest suppressed the increasingly obvious discomfort in his body and gathered all his magic power into the scepter.

The Sea Emperor moved swiftly, shooting out like an arrow and grabbing the enormous azure shield before the Demon Whale could reach it.

Its withered and emaciated body contrasts sharply with its massive shield, yet when it raises its shield, it is as steady as a mountain!

"[Ability Enhancement]! [Super Ability Enhancement]!"

The Sea Emperor growled, applying the Warrior buff to himself; his gaunt body bulged with muscles, and his power surged.

"Take this—[Sea Dragon God's Shield Strike]!"

Behind them, the high priest's chant reached its climax: "Fourth-tier magic - [Light of the Sea Dragon God]! [Power of the Sea Dragon God]! [Might of the Sea Dragon God]!"

A deep blue, amplifying light enveloped the Sea Emperor, while a weakening pressure surged towards the Demon Whale like a tide.

"Roar—!" The dragon-transformed demon whale seemed to be enraged, its massive body carrying immense force as it slammed into the Sea Emperor holding the shield.

Boom!

It looked like two underwater hills colliding!

A terrifying shockwave exploded in a spherical shape, compressing the seawater into a transparent shockwave visible to the naked eye, obliterating everything around it—

Whether they were Sea King warriors or low-level sea beasts—they were all thrown away and stunned.

Behind the shield, the Sea Emperor had a trickle of blue blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

But its feet seemed to be rooted to the seabed, and it actually managed to force the behemoth back three steps by relying on the power of the divine shield and the exquisiteness of its own martial arts!

The special effect of the martial skill 【Sea Dragon God's Shield Strike】 is that while wielding the 【Sea Dragon God's Shield】, any enemy can be forcibly repelled.

This is the strongest move created by the Sea Emperor in combination with the national treasure!

"Fellow countrymen!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Sea Emperor shouted, his voice carrying across the battlefield through magic: "The High Priest and I will hold it off! You all must immediately organize the people, abandon the city, and evacuate to the deep sea! Go now!!"

After it finished shouting, it felt an unusual silence.

There was no response, no obedience.

Only... bursts of howls and groans that started out suppressed, then became more and more intense and painful.

Poseidon's heart sank. It slowly turned its head to look at the warriors behind it.

Then, it witnessed the most terrifying and incomprehensible scene of its life:

Those once-valiant warriors are now writhing and struggling in agony.

Beneath their skin, something seemed to be wriggling; fine, dark scales with a metallic sheen were piercing the skin and rapidly spreading to cover it.

Their limbs began to twist and deform, their bones creaking and groaning, transforming into a more grotesque and inhuman form.

What truly froze Poseidon's soul was—

As they raised their heads, the light that once shone in their eyes was gradually being eroded and replaced by a familiar, cold, dark gold...

The color was exactly the same as the eyes of the destructive whale in front of them, and the eyes of those mad sea beasts!

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." came the high priest's hoarse and desperate voice from beside him.

It was clutching its throat in agony, and fine scales were growing between its fingers.

"Run...run...we...we've all...fallen into a trap..."

The Sea Emperor, holding the Radiant and impenetrable Shield of the Sea Dragon God, stood frozen in place, watching the bizarre "mutation" unfolding before him, sweeping across the entire army.

Its mind, which had weathered many storms and ruled a nation, was now blank.

It doesn't understand.

This scene transcends all common sense about war and all understanding of magic...

What exactly is it?