In the bedroom on the castle's third floor, a giant rectangular fish tank took up most of the room. The water inside was crystal clear. Near the surface, a mermaid floated motionlessly. Her upper body was wrapped in strips of cloth, with faint traces of blood seeping through and diluting into the clear water.
Thump, thump, thump.
Su Xiao knocked on the giant fish tank, but the mermaid inside showed no reaction, as if she had been played with until she broke.
"Part of her brain is missing."
The Old Shaman lightly tapped his chest, tracing an inverted triangle.
"Bloomer did it?"
Su Xiao had long expected Bloomer not to hand over the Moon Queen easily. Removing part of her brain wasn't impossible.
"Not very likely. His Majesty once... did something similar."
The Old Shaman sighed softly. He had been prepared to help the Moon Queen find release earlier, but Su Xiao had stopped him. Bloomer had risked so much to hide the Moon Queen. Su Xiao absolutely didn't believe there were no secrets involved.
"Has she shown any unusual reactions?"
"No. She hasn't eaten anything, but she doesn't show any signs of weakness."
"Is that so? Then stay here and observe her."
Su Xiao headed out of the room. The moment he reached the corridor, he heard a series of loud bangs.
"Sir, I can't hold out much longer."
Zos, his whole body shrouded in black smoke, had his back pressed against a door. The impacts were coming from inside.
"Move aside."
Su Xiao waved at Zos as crystalline layers climbed over his hands.
The instant Zos dodged to the side, the black smoke on the door dissipated. With a crisp crack, a figure charged out from within.
"Roar!!"
A beastlike roar rang out. The little girl who had