Harem Tournament of Champions

With a careful movement of her hand while walking past as quickly as possible.

The fountain stopped mid-fall, bursting into tiny droplets and getting everyone's attention.

"What's going on?" A mermaid pointed at the suspended water in the air.

Coagulating, tiny droplets formed a dagger that shot through the air with great speed.

Splash!

The attack Melody had created was deflected by the very merman that had some information.

He was still in the defensive position and exhaled as his eyes searched the crowd for any suspicious individual who could have done so.

There were murmurs all around as they all feared another attack, scurrying off to safety.

Melody quickened her pace, cursing at the fact that the merman also possessed the ability to manipulate his Sux in the water.

There were only a selected few who could use their Sux effectively without getting any setbacks.

'This doesn't look good!' Melody rushed through an alley to her left.

Whoosh!

Looking above and on the roof was the merman walking casually with his hands behind him.

The moment they locked eyes on one another, she put in more effort on racing out of his range while holding onto her hood tightly.

Picking up on what she planned on doing, he drew water around his fingers and froze it, throwing it in her direction.

"It's you, isn't it? You picked just the right spot for a little duel!" He cackled with a hint of amusement.

Unable to dodge due to the narrow terrain, Melody let out a groan in pain at the ice claw digging into her shoulder at the command of its user.

"Come on, I just want a brief discussion with the maiden that tried to pathetically kill me!" He mocked with a burst of hysterical laughter.

'Fuck no! Who the heck is he?!' Melody panicked, realizing she had underestimated hidden prodigies in the marketplace.

Sliding on the rooftops while freezing it to aid his smooth movement, he looked down the narrow pathway through which the hooded female ran through.

Clenching his fingers as his gaze was placed on her injured shoulder.

'Master!' She screamed out in her thoughts, hoping to get his help, tumbling over when she tripped on her cloak.

Hisha's brows furrowed as he witnessed a distress call being put up by Melody, immediately connecting to her visuals.

Huff!

Huff!

Melody got to her feet, pushing her feet to run once more.

[What the hell is going on, what is this place? What are you doing–]

Whiii!

As did Hisha to the noise, Melody looked over at the merman who had thrown more condensed projectiles her way.

"I love a good chase!"

Halting in her steps and jumping back just at the right moment, she was able to escape the attacks by a hair.

It all began to register on Hisha that she was in danger and had been running from the opponent.

'Ice-like abilities on the offense, huh?' Hisha rubbed his chin, hoping to get a hold of the ability.

[What the hell were you thinking pissing off an opponent like that?!]

Melody clutched her shoulder as her eyes narrowed and her breathing ragged.

Jumping down behind Melody and onto the passageway, the merman grinned. "You might not recognize me, but as you had heard, I am friends with the tavern owner–his name is Fin and because of you, he's going to be killed!"

Punching on the floor, a large area of the ground with ice, trapping her feet in ice.

Melting the ice, Melody created a wave to push him away from her as she began to flee once more, crying out in pain as she lost the feeling in her left arm.

[I've given a bit of my Sux, but you only have 20 minutes to utilize it effectively]

Melody nodded her head, she needed all the help she could get.

"Mermaids are meant to be docile and submissive!" The merman snapped. "Yet you are strangely aggressive."

Stomping on the ground with her right foot, she lifted him off the ground using blood manipulation granted by Hisha's augmentation.

"Ahhh!" He screamed as part of his body forcefully turned in different directions.

Dropping him hard to the flood, crack marks were made around him after making a dent in it.

As much as she needed to kill him to save herself, there was also the issue of the ice claw still stuck in her shoulder.

"Get this thing out of me!" She spat in despair, forcefully pulling him out and determined to show how fearful he should be of her before the augmentation would wear off.

"Haha! It is you." He smiled as he caught sight of her hair. "You are a feisty one."

Bending one of his fingers, she watched him scream in pain, "get it out and I might spare you!"

"Spare me? I'd like to propose a deal instead."

[Let's hear it] Hisha agreed to the condition.

"You have three minutes to do so!" Melody warned.

Snapping back his finger in place, he made a hum as he stomached the unsettling pain.

Exhaling, he grinned. "It's a pleasure meeting a mermaid who goes against the norms, I'm Thel."

Melody looked at his outstretched arm, "170 seconds and counting."

Retracting his hand, he nodded his head. "I need you to help me save my friend who is to be killed in the middle of the market square in a few minutes and I would dissolve the claw lodged in your arm and also throw in a little extra of giving you precious information that I'm sure your master would be pleased to know about."

Melody was quick to hide her shock at his words, and in a bid to hide her identity, she snapped. "I have no one I work for!"

Chuckling at her response, Thel tilted his head. "No mermaid acts this way except they've got some backing and I am certain you didn't have that ability a few minutes ago."

'Are some merfolks this smart?' Hisha questioned his system, pleasantly surprised that a cover of his ruse was easily discovered.

[He is a blood sibling of Kenna, there is some sort of connection with their heightened perception]

"What do you say?" Thel pressed on with a grin.

"What sort of information do you want to share?" Melody hissed, unsure about his offer.

"How about the secret of the pearl and what is the ultimate use?" Thel wiggled his brows.

His words felt like a slap to her confidence, not only does he know about her new identity but also had a surface knowledge of her original body?

"Who are you?"

Thel looked around him but was silent, shaking his index finger in a 'no'.

It took a few seconds to understand what he was driving at, "this isn't explaining the deal, why are you acting petty?!"

[You have only 7 mins till it wears off]

'His response is suspicious, can I trust him?'

[18:04:56]

Looking at the timer, she had little time before she would lose consciousness and existence.

[What do you intend to do, host?]

[He is a sibling to the old lady that had almost guessed your true nature. Judging from her actions, they aren't with Mich]

'Incredible...' Thel watched patiently as he stared at Melody having an internal battle.

"As much as I want to kill you, you are useful to my cause and I would help you with yours," Thel assured.

'Real soothing to my ears.' Melody sarcastically replied, cursing at him for his pompous, yet casual means of saying it.

"Am I meant to say, thank you?" She expressed with a roll of her eyes.

"There are other ways you could thank me if you are willing." Thel rubbed his hands and licked his lips while scanning her layered clothing.

Bam!

Melody kicked him to the head, causing him to drop down, groaning in pain the moment he felt a tug in his heart.

"Don't you ever think on that line!" She snapped.

Pushing himself up, he wiped his bloody forehead. "This is embarrassing."

He forced a smile, knowing she was the second to have him downright bad and vulnerable after his older sister.

Raising his hand, he dissolved the ice claw that had lodged in her shoulder. "As a token of good faith. You should heal up soon."

Feeling relief wash over her, she exhaled with a smile as she watched the wound close up and vanish as though it had never been there.

[How about using your ability to create a bit of chaos, I'd like to know how the neighboring lands take this.] Hisha advised with a nod, given that his given augmentation had been deactivated.

"I guess you aren't that terrible," Melody smirked as she offered out her hand.

Getting to his feet himself, he straightened out his collar and shook his head. "That would be a blow to my pride."

Melody raised a brow but nodded to his decision.

"How about you take off that hood, it stands out a little too much that you could do some shady shit." Thel teased.