Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 123: Servants of Ao Guang

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Chapter 123: Servants of Ao Guang

Grim remained standing before the wall carving, lost in thought, when he felt a presence behind him. A subtle shift in the air. It felt like he was being watched. He turned slowly.

The three sea creatures had returned. They stood just a few paces away, their blue-tinted skin glistening in the strange light. Up close, Grim could see more details – gills on their necks, webbed fingers gripping their tridents, eyes that were completely black without whites or visible pupils.

Their armor appeared to be made from the same material as the fragments he’d found scattered through the ruins. Overlapping plates that resembled shell or scale.

One of them, slightly taller than the others with a crest of what looked like coral growing from its head, took a step forward. It made no aggressive movements, but Grim’s hand went instinctively to his sword hilt.

From the corner of his eye, Grim saw movement at the far end of the temple. Lianna and Huangyan had spotted the creatures and were now hurrying toward him, weapons drawn.

The lead creature noticed too. With a swift motion, it struck the butt of its trident against the stone floor. The sound echoed through the temple – a clear, ringing note like a bell struck underwater.

Where the trident touched the ground, water began to rise. Not flowing in from elsewhere, but seemingly materializing from the stone itself. It rose rapidly, forming a transparent barrier that stretched from floor to ceiling, cutting Grim off from his companions.

Lianna reached the wall first, striking it a fire javelin. Grim could see her mouth moving, shouting his name, but no sound penetrated the barrier. Huangyan pulled her weapon and stroked the barrier as well. No steam, just resistance as the water moved as it was attacked. They couldn’t get through the barrier.

The lead creature made a series of clicking and whistling sounds, clearly trying to communicate. When Grim shook his head to indicate he couldn’t understand, the creature reached into a pouch at its waist and withdrew something small that glinted in the light.

It held the object out to Grim – a small, pearl-like orb with a soft blue glow. It than demonstrated placing a similar orb it already wore against the side of its neck, where it adhered to the skin.

The creature than threw the pearl to Grim. It felt warm in his palm, almost alive. Following the creature’s example, he placed it against the side of his neck.

The pearl adhered to his skin immediately. A strange sensation spread outward from the point of contact – not painful, but peculiar, like cool water flowing just beneath his skin. It reached his ear, then his brain, and suddenly the clicking and whistling sounds transformed into words he could understand.

"—can you understand us now," the lead creature was saying. "Good. Lets not waste time."

"Who are you?" Grim asked, surprised they could communicate now.

"I am Zhen Hai," the lead creature replied. "These are my companions, Lian Shui and Bian Yi. We are servants of Lord Ao Guang, Great Dragon King of the Eastern Sea."

"What do you want with me?" Grim demanded.

"We mean no harm to you or your people," Zhen Hai said. "We pursue the Jiaolong, sixth son of our lord. He has defied his father’s commands and escaped to your realm, causing great damage."

"The flooding, the attacks on villages. Yeah we met already."

"Yes. The Jiaolong is young and reckless. He believes his father shows too much deference to the human realm. We were sent to bring him back before he causes more harm."

Grim glanced toward the water barrier. Lianna and Huangyan remained on the other side, watching intently but no longer trying to break through.

"He’s killed innocent people," Grim said, turning back to Zhen Hai. "I can’t just let him go without answering for that."

"We understand your anger," Zhen Hai replied. "But the Jiaolong is not subject to human justice. He will face his father’s judgment, which can be far more severe than anything your kind could impose."

"And I’m supposed to just take your word for that?" Grim asked.

Bian Yi stepped forward. "We are not asking you to simply hand him over... We need your help to subdue him."

"Why would you need my help? You serve a Dragon King."

"Jiaolong has been drawing an excess of water mana since he came to the human realm. In The Sea Realm, his mana intake is limited to what the Dragon King deems necessary. Having someone who can draw on water mana quickly would be a big help.

"Someone like me," Grim realized.

"Yes," Zhen Hai confirmed. "You’ve already faced him once and survived. Together we should be able...."

The conversation was interrupted by a sudden tremor that shook the entire temple. Dust and small pieces of stone fell from the ceiling. The water barrier rippled like a disturbed pond.

"Here he comes," Lian Shui said, speaking for the first time. "He has sensed us."

The tremor grew stronger. Cracks appeared in the ancient stone floor. The blue-green light that had illuminated the ruins began to pulse rapidly, like a racing heartbeat.

"Take up your stance," Zhen Hai instructed Grim, raising his trident. "He will try to separate us."

Before Grim could reply, the water barrier exploded inward, the force of it knocking him and the three guardians backward. Through the spray and mist, a massive creature burst into the temple hall.

The Jiaolong looked even larger than Grim remembered. Its silver-blue scales seamed to pulse like a heartbeat. The Jiaolong made eye contact with the sea creatures. It was clearly angry. When its gaze fell on Grim, his anger boiled up even more.

[AMBROSE, YOUR AS ANNOYING AS YOUR FATHER.]

Lian Shui, Bian Yi, and Zhen Hai all looked at Grim as the Jiaolong spoke his last name. "Your an Ambrose?" Lian Shui said.

Before Grim could answer, the Jiaolong reared back, water gathering around it like armor. It lunged toward them with jaws open wide.

Grim drew his sword and channeled water mana into the blade.

"Don’t kill him!" Zhen Hai shouted, as he and the other sea creatures moved behind the dragon.

As Grim and the Jiaolong met in a clash. Grim was being pushed back.

The force of Jiaolong’s charge was overwhelming. Grim’s boots scraped against the stone floor as he was pushed backward, his sword the only thing keeping the creature’s massive jaws from closing around him. Water mana poured from the dragon in waves, making it difficult for Grim to maintain his balance.

"Celestial Mist: Cross-Cut!" Grim called out, attempting to create space between them. The technique sliced through the water armor surrounding the Jiaolong, but barely scratched its scales.

The dragon laughed, a sound like thunder in Grim’s mind. [I KNOW THIS TECHNIQUE WELL.]

With a powerful swipe of its tail, the Jiaolong knocked Grim sideways. He slammed into one of the stone pillars, the impact made the air from his lungs explode. His sword skittered across the floor, out of reach.