Annabelle glanced at the golden-tailed mermaid swimming ahead, her crown shimmering in the dim ocean light.
"Godmother… where are we going?"
Alora turned gracefully, her long white hair flowing like silver threads. She raised her wand, its blue orb glowing faintly.
"To my Golden Lair, of course."
"What about it?"
"There's something there that may help you with your daughter's… situation."
"A magic artifact?" Annabelle asked, her grip tightening on her sword.
"No. Not that one." Goddess Alora said smiling at her.
Annabelle's heart skipped. "Then what is it?" she pressed impatiently.
Alora's golden lips curved into a knowing smile.
"It is a necklace that can transform into anything. An ancient enchantment."
Annabelle's eyes widened. "A magic necklace?"
"I prefer its true name," Alora said solemnly. "TheReverse Weapon."
Before Annabelle could respond, a shrill screech echoed through the water. From the shadows, a storm of tailed purple turtles surged forward, hundreds of them twisting and flashing in unison. The swarm darkened the sea like a violet thundercloud.
Annabelle's blood ran cold. "Godmother, we have a Pacling situation." She readied her sword and shield.
Alora's calm voice carried a weight of experience. "Hold on.These are no ordinary Paclings. Not only do they blind their prey, but when struck, they explode into a scorching green toxin that devours flesh until nothing remains."
Annabelle lifted her shield. "Then let's blast them before they get close!"
But Alora raised her hand. "No, child. The best way to win is to let them destroy themselves. And for that, we use their greatest fear—light."
She swirled her wand, conjuring a brilliant white sphere that pulsed with divine energy. With effortless grace, she hurled it toward the oncoming horde.
The Paclings shrieked, recoiling as the glow washed over them. They writhed and convulsed, their shells flashing with violent purple sparks.
"They can't stand it," Alora murmured. "Now swim."
The two darted away, golden and sapphire trails of bubbles behind them. But the Paclings, maddened, gave chase—colliding with the blinding orb.
The ocean detonated.
BOOOOOOM!
The blast tore through the sea in a chain reaction, each Pacling bursting into vile green fire. The water churned with a storm of poison, clouds of acid streaking toward them like a living tidal wave.
"Godmother—it's catching up!" Annabelle's tail brushed the venom, and she screamed. "It burns!"
Her blue scales began to bubble and blacken, fins dissolving as if eaten by invisible fire. Her speed faltered. The poison chewed upward toward her abdomen, leaving raw flesh and blood in its wake.
Alora caught her, pulling her close, but even her strength faltered against the wave's pursuit.
"GODMOTHER!" Annabelle cried, her voice breaking with agony. "Do something!"
Alora's expression hardened. She thrust her wand forward, its orb blazing like a miniature sun. A golden bubble enveloped them just before the venom engulfed their trail.
Inside, Annabelle gasped for breath, clutching her ruined tail. "We can't outswim it—"
"You don't need to," Alora interrupted. "What you must do is look back, child. Scream at it."
Annabelle's eyes widened in horror. "If I scream now, I'll shatter the bubble!"
Alora covered her ears. Her eyes gleamed with steady faith. "This barrier was forged by gods. Trust me—it will hold."
Annabelle's throat burned with fear and pain, but she obeyed. She inhaled deeply, summoning every last shred of breath from her lungs. With rage, grief, and desperation, she unleashed a sonic scream so fierce it tore through her throat and rattled the sea itself.
The sound slammed into the golden barrier, ricocheting outward with a deafening boom. The bubble shot forward like a cannonball, streaking away at supersonic speed, leaving the toxic tide behind.
Annabelle's vision blurred. Her scream choked off as darkness closed in, and she slumped into unconsciousness.
Alora caught her, cradling her as a mother would. Her golden crown glowed softly as she whispered, "You did it, child. You truly did it."
From the distance, the sea shimmered with a new light. A colossal cave, its walls glowing like molten gold, beckoned them closer—the Golden Lair.
And somewhere within lay the enchanted necklace,the Reverse Weapon.
>>>>>>