Naida hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"Your Grace… what are your orders?"
Aegis was silent for a long moment.
Then—
"No negotiations."
The words were soft, but absolute.
"No warnings. No messages."
He turned slightly, his divine authority rippling outward like an unseen tide.
"He threatened my domain."
Another step.
"He insulted my people."
Another.
"And he thought he could take what is mine."
The ocean responded.
Far away, storms began to gather without clouds.
Aegis finally looked back at them.
"Prepare the domain," he said calmly. "Recall the Hydra. Seal the inner sea. I will go meet this MadDog myself."
For the first time, Naida felt fear.
Not for them.
But for the man who had dared to bark at a Sea God.
Naida's eyes shone as she saw the man she loved and chose standing up for his people.
She immediately summoned the dual-headed Hydra and the Crab King from the sea.
Afterward, all of them headed out.
