The Water Divine Plane was covered by a vast, boundless ocean. Islands of all sizes dotted its waters, and not a single sizable stretch of land could be found.
In an extremely deep trench beneath that ocean stood a magnificent crystal palace, hidden inside a giant clamshell.
Maidservants with aquatic features moved through its halls, while Highgod soldiers riding giant manta rays guarded the palace from outside the shell, surrounding it like stars around the moon.
As the residence of Polk, the Water Overlord, it naturally needed no such throng of guards and maidservants. But Polk had always enjoyed a grand display and was never one to be outdone in that regard.
A golden-crowned mermaid swished her tail and quickly sped to the palace entrance. The guards and maidservants did not stop her.
She swam all the way to the depths of the palace, then knelt before a door carved with an octopus, her tail curled beneath her. "Overlord, Fesi has something to report. We've just received a report from the legion. The Azure Dragon Clan and the Azure Dragon Legion have begun occupying our waters! They say it's the Azure Dragon Chief God's will. May I ask what you decree, Overlord? Should we fight back?"
Polk's clear voice rang out. "After several peaceful millennia, Leiding is stirring up trouble again... This time, he's even deployed his legion to occupy our waters outright."
"That's right, Overlord. If we let them invade at will, what will become of our reputation? Of yours?" Fesi pleaded.
In truth, territory meant little to Sovereigns, especially Overlords. But for a Lower Sovereign to occupy an Overlord's territory was a blatant slap in the face.
Inside the inner hall, Polk stopped riding the aquatic beauty beneath him. His brow furrowed as he recalled the Four Divine