Chapter 73
Genji was knocked senseless, and was pinned by the tree branches under the water. He was losing air…but he was also hearing more echoing voices in his head…
He heard 16…
17, don't be a fool! Cell's not dead! Get out of here now!
Another voice, 17, laughed…
No way. It's obvious you're stronger than he is. And with the three of us by your side, then nothing will stand in the way of our gang. The whole world will be ours!
A very unfamiliar voice…
"17! HE'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU! LOOK OUT!"
The demon…
You should have listened to your friend, 17!
Then, the sounds of screaming and demonic laughing clashed together in horrible chorus…
Suddenly, Genji hacked a cough, blowing out huge bubbles from his mouth. Keeping what air he had left in his mouth, he started ripping branches away from himself and tried to swim up.
He felt something sharply pull on his hair. He turned and found his hair tangled around a branch. As he tried to tug his hair free, a very big black shadow swam above him. Genji quickly hid in the thicker branches as Don swam around the sunken tree. Genji noted to himself how much quicker Don was in the water than on land…
Damn…I really don't like the direction this encounter is going. I could really use some help…
Then ask for it.
Huh?
You got those sand dollars still, right?
Oh my God! You're right!
Genji reached into his item pouch, and took out one of the silver sand dollars.
I just have to throw it in water, which means I have to surface…
Then, he saw a small shadow swimming towards him. It looked like a human. Genji squinted his eyes, and saw that it was 18! He waved to her frantically. She swam up to him, and pulled some of his tangled hair out of the branches. Then, she grabbed him around the waist and used her artificial ki to propel herself up and out of the water. She and Genji gasped for air as they broke the surface and hovered just a couple of feet above the water.
"Are you okay?" 18 asked Genji.
**Yeah. Thanks.**
Po and Sei were still arguing, so 18 and Genji didn't pay them any mind. Genji tossed his sand dollar in the lake. It "plopped" quietly before lightly sinking below the murky water.
Don surfaced at that moment, and spotted them.
"There you are!" Don yelled, jumping out of the lake and charging for them. "You're all mine, suckers!"
"Enough." A tiny voice ordered.
Don stopped dead in his tracks, and looked to the lake. Po and Sei instantly fell silent.
An enormous bubble blew from the lake, and inside floated what looked like a small child. It was a little girl with short, white hair, and small torso, and below the waist was a long fish tail with silky fins.
18 gasped in awe.
"Is that…a mermaid?"
Genji blinked a couple of times.
How was that scrawny girl going to help him?
Don lowered his head to the bubble for a closer look. He seemed puzzled.
"Udine-sama?"
"Don-san?" the mergirl blinked, then she turned to the gawking Po and Sei. "Oh no, not you bozos again!"
Don began to smile sheepishly.
"Udine-sama, hello. My, you look different from when I last say you. I don't remember you being so…ahem…young."
The mergirl, Udine, scowled.
"I overdosed my last drink from the Fountain of Youth, but it'll wear off in a couple of months. Now, what are you morons up to now?!"
Don began to laugh nervously.
"So that's Udine?" 18 blinked. "The Empress of the Seven Oceans?"
**I've heard of her.** Genji nodded. **Udine is a beautiful woman who was married to a life god named Kappa Gami. When he died, she became the joint ruler of all bodies of water on Earth. She's also extremely powerful. She's no person you want a wrath to suffer on.**
"So, what exactly does she do?" 18 asked.
**I dunno. Let's wait and see.**