Ella? No, She Was Kakin's Second Prince

After that male voice came from the small cocoon, the cabin fell briefly silent.

The human-faced, horse-bodied monster crouched beside the Golden Blood Pool, the embryos in its abdomen still moving.

It stared at the small cocoon overhead and forced out several more ancient Kakin syllables from its throat.

Milluki's translator stalled for two seconds.

"It says... the king's brother has returned to the nest, and Mother will awaken."

Bai Zhu raised his blade.

Milluki immediately shouted, "Wait! It might know more!"

"Doesn't matter if it does."

Bai Zhu slashed at the nearest cluster of Black Gold pipelines.

The pipes snapped, and pale golden blood sprayed across half the cabin.

The monster jerked its head up, and the embryos in its abdomen bulged at once.

"King—"

The second slash came down.

The main cable beside the pool was severed, and the Golden Blood Pool's water level visibly began to drop.

The monster flailed its limbs, trying to pounce.

Bai Zhu lifted his foot and pinned down its foreleg.

"Riddle-speakers shut up first."

Ryujin Jakka slid across its chest and abdomen.

The monster's body convulsed. Several malformed things in its abdomen split open, spilling blackened blood.

Milluki's voice tightened.

"You were too rash. This had so much research value."

"Mm."

"Then why did you cut it down?"

Bai Zhu watched the thing slowly collapse.

"Once it's dead, everything's settled. Isn't that nice?"

The small cocoon in the Merfolk's chest overhead knocked three more times.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

That male voice came again.

"Bring him... up..."

Bai Zhu glanced upward.

"Wait there. You're next."

He did not go up immediately. Instead, he turned toward the next Black Ship.

Milluki panicked.

"What are you doing? The Main Sacrificial Ship is up there!"

"There's a debt to settle down here."

"You know that too?"