Arthur had no time to react. A column of water struck him from below, flipping him through the air like a tossed sandbag. It twisted into a dragon-shaped current, wrapped around his waist, dragged him back from several yards away, and slammed him onto the reef with a smack.
His back hit the rock with a dull thud that left his chest numb.
Below, the sea surged back in.
Waves rolled across the exposed seabed, swallowing sand, stones, and shells beneath a sheet of silver-white. The sea returned to its former state, moonlight scattered across its ripples like a mirror shattered and pieced back together.
Far away, a dark Kurenai shape sped toward them beneath the surface, riding the current.
It stopped behind a half-submerged rock at the edge of the shore, showing only half its face. Long Kurenai hair floated in the water like a tuft of seaweed.
Mera, princess of the undersea Kingdom of Xebel.
She quietly studied the two people on the reef and listened intently.
On the reef, Arthur wiped wet sand and seawater from his face. His chest still hurt.
He coughed twice and gritted his teeth as he pushed himself upright, beer foam mixing with wet sand around his mouth. He looked at the Dark Divine Trident, then at Yongye's malicious grin, and promptly backed down:
"I'm sorry. I spoke too rashly just now."
He didn't want to get beaten over something so trivial, much less killed.
He cursed Yongye inwardly, but put on an expression of surrender:
"I think... your idea for The Boys is great. I'll give it serious thought when I get back. For now, let's get a drink. My treat."
"This place may be remote, but the beer here is fantastic!"
If he couldn't escape by the sea, he might