Polvina's group evaded Parker's forces as they made their way onto Dryland. Once they surfaced on José Menino Beach, they continued heading north before walking up a hilly road to the Unified Resistance Army base.
Meanwhile, trouble was brewing inside the base as Daniel, Kelvin and Windy tried to keep anyone from entering the base. At one entrance, Windy was standing off with Fabio Yabusaki and his army, which included the Combo Rangers and Demon Slayer Corps.
"This is not a joke," exclaimed Fabio. "Where is Commander Zhou?"
Windy replied, "I'm telling you again, he's not in the base. I've also been ordered to put this base on lockdown."
"I know what that means. If you won't let us in then I'm afraid you leave us with no choice. We'll shoot our way in if we have to."
Fabio and his men brandished their weapons and in response, Windy and her men brandished theirs. "Lord Fabio Yabusaki, you do not want to play things this way. We have defences in place around this base to fend off intruders."
"You underestimate my army, General Windy Adams. How do you think my officers have gotten to where they are today?" Fabio and his men stood aside to reveal his officers' mentors, among them the Mighty Combo, Mirrorman, Peacemaker, Camilla, Fabi and Dr Cooper, the mentors of the Combo Rangers.
Windy began to realise that Fabio and his men were getting serious. "Look, let's not make this any more hostile than it already is. If you'd like to sit down and wait for Parker to come back, we can have some food and drinks brought out so you can have a picnic while we wait."
"Stop joking around!" bellowed Fabio. "Parker led his army into Salacia without telling me or anyone else. He has undermined our alliance and I demand an explanation for his actions."
From within the Yabusaki Army ranks, Ken and Lisa were working away on a couple of laptops. "We've gained access into the Kongming Army's systems!" reported Lisa.
"Base defences neutralised. We're all clear to head in," added Ken.
Windy's attempts at stalling for time had been exhausted. Without Parker, they were no match for the Yabusaki Army's warriors. "Fall back, all of you." Windy and her men all made their way into the base as the Yabusaki Army followed them in.
At another gate, Kelvin was facing off against the UNIT convoy that had come all the way from Melbongkong, with their leader joining them in São Paulo along with the local police force, who had been working on a criminal investigation into Parker.
"My name is Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Chief Scientific Officer and Commander-in-Chief of the Unified Intelligence Taskforce. The local police have a warrant for Commander Parker Zhou's arrest and in response, I am taking full control of this army and its operations effective immediately. The Unified Resistance Army is officially under UNIT jurisdiction. Open the gate."
Kelvin said, "My apologies, ma'am, but I am under strict orders not to let anyone in."
"This isn't a request. We can have you arrested right now for insubordination." Seeing that Kelvin wouldn't budge, Kate decided to scare him into complying. "You know, your commander may be an unparalleled warrior who unified his homeland against the Salacians, but are you aware of the destruction and sorrow he leaves behind in the wake of his violent conquest? Not even towards humanity, but the people who live in the sea as well. They have families and friends just as we do. I wonder what people say about Parker when they see him in the news? Some people think of him as a hero, a saviour, even a god, but others think of him as a bigot, a murderer, a demon. But me, I read through his files and after I did, I realised that beneath all that anger and vengeance is a cunning and sociopathic boy who defied everything and everyone to get what he wanted, then defied the consequences when it was too much for him. I think you'll be interested to know that Parker has a secret he can't bear to accept. Would you believe me if I told you I'm actually here to help him?"
After hearing Kate say all that, Kelvin was informed that the base's defences had gone down. He ordered his men to fall back, allowing Kate and the UNIT forces to enter the base.
Polvina and her group approached the third gate with their white flags. Ester was exhausted after having to walk up a hill. "Whoo… the hills in Salacia weren't this bad!"
"That's because in Salacia you could swim up a hill instead of walking," replied Tubarina.
Inside the base, a soldier reported to Daniel, "General! There's a bunch of sea monsters approaching the base with white flags! I think they're here to surrender."
"Is the Shark King among them?"
"No, it's a group of princes and princesses."
"Open the gate! I want to see them."
Daniel approached the gate as the soldiers opened it. As they did, the first person Daniel saw was the very same Salacian octopus girl he wanted to see after all those years. Daniel and Polvina were shocked to see each other, and so were Ester, Tubarina and Leia, for Daniel was the Drylander boy who helped them save a beached whale over a decade ago.
Seeing that he and the Salacians were just awkwardly standing there, Daniel decided to break the silence. "I am General Daniel Camielez of the Unified Resistance Army. State your name, rank and intent."
Polvina stood forward to introduce herself. "My name is Polvina and I am the princess of the Octopus Kingdom. We have come to seek parley."
Daniel came up to Polvina and the others as he looked at them, faintly recognising the princesses from their previous encounters. "Those hats and clothes… you're them, aren't you?"
"We are!" replied Tubarina. "You're the boy who helped us save that beached whale!"
"It's so great that we can finally understand you!" said Leia. "I'm amazed you even remember us!"
"Oh, he did a little more than that," corrected Ester. "Polvina found the shells you left for her. You knew who you were looking for, weren't you?"
"I-It's a long story," replied Daniel.
Polvina said, "I'm sorry we didn't get to properly meet, Daniel, but it's great to finally know your name. Would you please let us in so we can talk?"
"I'd be glad to. It's great to know your name too, Polvina." Daniel turned to his men and ordered, "Let them in."
"But sir, Commander Zhou gave us strict orders not to let anyone in," a soldier replied.
"I have waited years and endured so much for this very day and I will not let anyone ruin this opportunity for me. Besides, these enemy officers have come to parley and they have a right to be heard. Now let them in."
Daniel and his men withdrew into the base as Polvina and the others came in. "Thank you," Polvina said to Daniel.
As they went in, Ester and Tubarina quietly sang to themselves, "Somebody likes Polvina, somebody likes Polvina!"
"Oh, quit it, you two!" chided Polvina with a smile on her face.
Back in Salacia, the Kongming Army managed to push back the Salacians to the Shark Palace. Although the Revengers' ranks were broken after the Whale King was disabled, they begrudgingly worked together with the Shark and Turtle Kings to hold back the Drylanders.
The Hammerhead Queen found Marcello and went to ask him about Marcela as the Hammerhead King followed after her. "Marcello!" called the Hammerhead Queen. "Where's Marcela? You said she was among the Drylanders!"
Marcello replied, "I don't know, Mother. There's too many people to tell!"
The Hammerhead King caught up to her and gave her some reassurance "Molly, please, you need to keep your composure. I'm sure Marcela will turn up eventually."
"I know, Macnus. I can't stay composed under pressure."
The Shark Queen found Marcello as well. "Marcello! Where are Tubarina and Veto?"
"They went up to Dryland with Polvina and Ester. Don't worry, they know what they're doing. Right now, we need to find Uncle. Let's go!" The four of them set off for the Shark Palace.
As his soldiers continued to clear a way into the Shark Palace, Parker saw an opening and immediately rushed inside, ordering his men to guard the entrance so nobody else could get in or out. Parker even had troops guarding the windows as well as they could swim up and enter from one of them. Because of this, Marcello asked his friends to create distractions around the palace while he, his parents and the Shark Queen snuck in through different windows.
Inside the palace, Parker was fighting off the Shark King's soldiers until he was confronted by someone whose crown was vaguely familiar to him. It was the Sea Serpent King Shai. "Parker Zhou. You killed my father at Azuchi Castle a decade ago. You know, I must thank you for taking care of him. My father was never nice to me and he wanted to be king even in death so if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be king today."
As Shai thanked Parker, the memories began flooding back into Parker's head. Something he wanted to forget more than anything else in the world. The words "Open fire!" echoed in his memories. Parker saw himself back on that terrible day a decade ago, when Shai's father, the then-Sea Serpent King Shanbin, captured Parker's brother and brought him to the main keep of Azuchi Castle. Parker led an unauthorised operation to rescue his brother, but when he refused to negotiate with Shanbin, he was forced to destroy the main keep, killing his brother along with Shanbin and his troops.
Parker managed to pull himself together just in time as Shai was about to attack him. "Out of my way!" he exclaimed as he knocked Shai away before heading for the throne room.
In the throne room, the Shark King was watching a video of Parker making a "declaration of independence" at Liberty Square – Praça da Liberdade – in São Paulo. "OK 兄弟們! 全體目光向我看齊嗷! 看我看我! 我宣布個事兒! 我是個傻逼! 沒毛病嗷!"
Parker entered the throne room to confront the Shark King. "Ahh, I see you've finally made your way here, Society's Kongming. I was just enjoying a little video compilation." The video on the projector changed to some other videos from other creators like Daniel Teiro, Alex Foley and even Trebon himself. Those were the internet beef videos being hyped all over social media. "Isn't that what you people like to do on YouTube? Oh and look, they even gave these sagas a name – The Legends of Norbey."
"Memory time's over, King Trebon! On behalf of all humanity, I have come to bring judgement upon you!"
It was then that Marcello, Mariana, Macnus and Molly reached the throne room. "Trebon!/Uncle!" The four of them rushed in but Parker took out some throwing knives rigged with explosives, struck them along his coat sleeve to ignite them and threw them at the four, who managed to dodge them as they exploded like firecrackers.
"Stay back!" growled Parker as he did so.
"Uncle, please, whatever you're planning, you don't have to go through with it!" begged Marcello.
"You've already proved to everyone you're the most powerful man in Salacia. Please, Trebon, don't overdo it!" pleaded Mariana.
"If this is about what happened when we were little, then I'm very, very sorry for what happened!" apologised Macnus.
"Think about your children! Think about your nephew, and your niece who I know is still out there!" implored Molly.
Hearing the pleas of Trebon's family, Parker taunted, "Sure is nice to have people who care so much about you. It's too bad you won't live long enough to atone for your sins."
Trebon just laughed. "Hahahahaha! You are a fool, Parker Zhou! I do what I do because I care about my family, my kingdom, my world. I also know that you fight for your world as well, but you've been fighting single-mindedly for so long that you've become arrogant and lost sight about what's important."
Trebon's family looked at each other as Parker replied, "I don't need that kind of lecture from someone like you. What exactly have I lost sight of?"
"You call yourself the second coming of the famous strategist Zhuge Liang and yet, you are nothing like him. I accept that you're a formidable strategist and an unparalleled warrior, but such a combination makes you easily swayed by emotion. You and your people walked into a watery grave and yet you don't realise it."
"You're bluffing."
"Haven't your people worked out who created the technology that allows fish to breathe on Dryland, that allows Drylanders to breathe normally underwater, that allows our peoples to understand each other? In case you didn't know, that technology was created by teams of Salacian scientists who have been of great service to our world. On my command, that technology can be turned up or down to my will. In fact, I've been turning it down slowly since you entered the water. Surely you're beginning to realise what's happening? If I were you, I'd get away from here while we still understand each other, otherwise you'll be just another Drylander in the water without a wetsuit or oxygen."
Trebon's family realised what he was doing. "That's cruel… that's too cruel!" cried Molly. "Even if they're our enemies, that's too cruel!"
"It's not just the Drylanders who won't be able to breathe down here! The fish on Dryland won't be able to swim in the air!" said Marcello.
"You're becoming even worse than what Father was, Trebon!" scolded Macnus.
"Trebon, if you love your family, then please have mercy on Parker and these poor Drylanders!" pleaded Mariana.
"You see? Even my family cares about you, a boy who abandoned his parents for his own freedom. That's not very pious of you. Just what do you think parents are for? So what'll it be? Do you still insist on fighting a battle you know you can't win?"
Marcello called out, "Get out of here before you can't breathe, Parker Zhou!"
Parker slowly realised what was happening to him; his clothes were absorbing water, he began to feel the pressure of being underwater and he was slowly losing the ability to breathe.
Angelina called Parker in a panic. "Parker, something's happening with the troops! They're finding it difficult to breathe underwater!"
Parker bitterly replied, "Spread the word. All units retreat."
"What? What did you say?"
"全軍… 撤退." ("All… units… retreat.")