Dolphin Castle — A Fantasy Short Story

1. Dolphin Castle

In the vast South China Sea of the western Pacific, on the clear and shallow seafloor, stood an underwater castle shaped like a giant transparent jellyfish. Its long pillars were made from coral skeletons, while its walls were covered with all kinds of colorful seashells. They sparkled and shimmered like stars scattered across the ocean floor, even more dazzling and magnificent than glazed tiles.

This Dolphin Castle had rested on the seafloor for countless years. No one knew exactly when, but at some point, it had become the home of the dolphins. All kinds of dolphins lived there—spinner dolphins, striped dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and many others. Under the leadership of an old dolphin, the different groups had once lived together in friendship and harmony, enjoying happy lives. The dolphins possessed extraordinary intelligence, and their architectural craftsmanship was the finest among all the creatures of the sea. The Dolphin Castle was the highest symbol of their civilization.

As the various dolphin populations multiplied rapidly, their living space gradually became cramped. The different dolphin groups in the castle frequently argued and clashed over territory, and the groups were no longer united and harmonious. This gave the ambitious shark clan an opportunity to take advantage of their divisions.

Among the dolphins was a beautiful young bottlenose dolphin named Jibao. He had a delicate snout, a graceful streamlined body, and dark skin as smooth as satin. He was extremely intelligent and had a strong personality. He did not like staying inside the castle all day amid the noisy crowds of his companions. Instead, he often wagged his little tail and swam outside the castle all by himself.

Near the castle was a beautiful coral reef where all kinds of strange underwater plants and animals grew and lived. As the seawater flowed, the coral and sea anemone tentacles swayed with the tidal currents. At night, brightly colored tropical fish that glowed in the darkness swam back and forth, illuminating the coral reef in a dazzling array of colors. It was even more beautiful than a star-filled sky. Jibao loved coming here to flip through the water or lie quietly on the white sand. He regarded this place as his secret hideaway and never told anyone about it except his father and mother. Jibao lived a contented and happy life of his own.

But before long, a terrible disaster descended upon Dolphin Castle.

2. Disaster Strikes

One morning, the young dolphin Jibao went alone to play in the coral reef area. After playing for a while, he became tired and was just about to lie down on the soft pile of sand for an afternoon nap when, suddenly, a piercing commotion came from not far away. Then wave after wave of powerful currents surged toward him. The water was so strong that it nearly knocked him down onto the sandy seafloor. He was stunned with fright and took quite some time to recover. He hurriedly swam toward the castle.

He had not traveled even halfway when a voice suddenly came from a pile of underwater mud and sand.

"Little dolphin, little dolphin, where are you going?"

Jibao looked down and saw that it was Uncle Flounder.

"I heard a huge commotion over there. Something may have happened, and I have to go back and find out," Jibao said anxiously.

"Oh, you dont know yet? Your castle has been taken over by an old octopus monster leading the shark clan. Look over there! The seawater has turned red. Thats all the blood flowing from the dolphins!" Uncle Flounder said anxiously.

"What? What did you say?" Jibao began to sob desperately. "What octopus monster? Where are my mom and dad?"

"I dont even know where that old octopus monster came from. His belly is bigger than a house, and he has eight tentacles, each one as long as ten surfboards placed end to end. I was lying here just now, getting ready to take an afternoon nap, when I saw the monster lead the sharks straight into your castle."

Uncle Flounder looked terrified.

"Your mom and dad are probably already in grave danger. Whatever you do, dont go back there now. Run for your life!"

With that, Uncle Flounder hurriedly swam away.

For a moment, Jibao had no idea what to do. He anxiously spun around in place. But soon he calmed himself.

"I absolutely cannot go back now. Ill wait until nightfall and then go see if there is anyone still alive. I must find a way to drive the octopus monster and the shark clan out of our castle."

He secretly made this vow in his heart.

Jibao returned to the coral reef, buried his body in the sand, and quietly waited for night to arrive. During this time, several sharks patrolled toward the area, but Jibao was hidden so well that they did not discover him.

Before he knew it, the little dolphin fell asleep. In his dream, he seemed to hear his mother calling to him tenderly and repeatedly. He opened his eyes and discovered that a jellyfish glowing with blue light was floating before him. She looked like a transparent parasol, opening and closing with the movement of the seawater.

The jellyfish spoke.

"Child, my name is Merixi. I am an ancient, grandmother-level magical jellyfish, the wisest soft-bodied creature in the western Pacific. Your Dolphin Castle has been seized by an old octopus monster and the shark clan. That old monsters name is Scissor Tiger. He is a poisonous leopard-spotted octopus who has hidden himself in a pitch-black ocean trench to practice magic for more than eight hundred years. Now his magic is complete. On top of that, he has tamed the fiercest shark clan, making him even more powerful. His first move was to seize Dolphin Castle and use it as his base for expanding his power. He controls all the dolphins and forces them to gather intelligence for him, rob human ships, seize their possessions, and gradually carry out his plan to dominate the entire western Pacific."

Jibao listened carefully. The jellyfish continued.

"Now, child, except for you, every dolphin has been brought under Scissor Tigers control. You are their last remaining hope. If you want to rescue your people, kill Scissor Tiger, drive away the shark clan, and take back Dolphin Castle, you must find three treasures: the Sun Anemone, the Moon Sea Urchin, and the Sting of the Magical Sailfish. When you find the third treasure, the justice-loving sailfish clan will accept your request and help you drive away the shark clan, so that you can concentrate on dealing with the old octopus monster."

"But where am I supposed to find these three treasures?" Jibao asked anxiously.

"Dont worry, child. The Sun Anemone is in the warm tropical waters of the south, but a fierce electric eel guards it. You must find a way to lure the electric eel away, obtain the anemone, and then quickly escape from the area."

"I dont understand, Grandmother Jellyfish. I risk my life to find the Sun Anemone, but what exactly is it for?" Jibao asked, puzzled.

"The powerful light emitted by the anemone will temporarily blind the terrifying shark clan. Only then can the sailfish use their sword-like bills to defeat the sharks. The intense light will also penetrate the thick neurological ink released by the octopus, breaking his hypnotic magic and awakening the dolphins. Once his magic is broken, you will have a chance to approach the old monster and attack him," the magical jellyfish explained.

"Then what is the second treasure? Where can I find it?" Jibao asked again.

"Good child, the second treasure you must find is the Moon Sea Urchin. It grows beneath the dark, freezing layers of ice in the Arctic Ocean. A bad-tempered thirteen-headed sea serpent surrounds it. You must find a way to anger the sea serpent and circle around it, causing its thirteen necks to become tangled together. Only then will you have enough time to take the Moon Sea Urchin right under the sea serpents nose," the jellyfish patiently explained.

"How do I use the Moon Sea Urchin?" Jibao asked again.

"The poisonous spines of the Moon Sea Urchin are extremely toxic. They can paralyze the old monsters powerful tentacles and render them unable to move. At that moment, you must quickly take the Sting of the Magical Sailfish and drive it straight into the old monsters vital point. That will kill him."

"His vital point? What is a vital point?" Jibao asked, confused.

"A vital point is the weakest part of the body," the jellyfish explained. "The old monsters thick layer of fatty skin is slippery and elastic, more effective than steel armor. Ordinary knives and weapons cannot hurt him at all."

"Then how can I find the old monsters vital point?"

"Indeed, that is a difficult problem, because even I dont know. After you find the first two treasures, go immediately to the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. A creature of the sea who is among the wisest in the entire ocean world lives there in seclusion: Doctor Seahorse. He will guide you in obtaining the Sting of the Magical Sailfish. It is a divine weapon left over from ancient times, extraordinarily sharp and powerful enough to sever the old monsters deadly tentacles. As for the old monsters vital point, the widely knowledgeable Doctor Seahorse may know."

"I dont understand. Why are you helping me so much, Grandmother Jellyfish?" Jibao asked curiously.

"One who has been entrusted by another must faithfully carry out the trust, good child. I cannot tell you yet. Once you complete your mission and kill the octopus monster, you will meet her."

The jellyfish continued moving her skirt-like body as she spoke.

"Dont think about it too much, child. It is time for you to set out."

The jellyfish urged Jibao to begin his journey. With that, the magical jellyfish swam away and gradually disappeared from sight.

3. The Sun Anemone

Jibao followed the Kuroshio Current southward. The seawater was gray-blue, and he could not see the path ahead. At that moment, a krill suddenly jumped in front of him.

"Little dolphin, Ill light the way for you."

The krills body emitted a faint glow as it led the way. When dawn finally arrived and sunlight appeared over the surface of the sea, the krill quietly departed. Jibao had not even had time to thank his kind friend.

"Warmhearted friend, I will remember you."

Jibao silently repeated these words in his heart.

He kept swimming, not knowing how far he had traveled. He became extremely tired, and his dorsal fin and tail were almost out of strength. Suddenly, far in the distance, he saw a coral reef enveloped in an intense mushroom-shaped glow. He guessed that the glowing object might be the "Sun Anemone" the magical jellyfish had told him about, and that an electric eel must be guarding it nearby.

Jibao decided to hide first and observe the situation carefully before waiting for the right opportunity to act.

Sure enough, when a foolish porcupinefish was attracted by the powerful light and came wobbling toward the coral reef, an electric eel more than ten feet long suddenly shot out from a hole in the rocks. In an instant, it bit the porcupinefish and dragged him into the rocky cave.

"That was close!"

Jibao was relieved that he had remembered the magical jellyfishs warning and had not recklessly approached the coral reef. That creatures sharp little saw-like teeth did not even seem to care about the poisonous spines covering the porcupinefish. If it managed to bite him, he would be lucky to survive with only half his life intact.

Jibao hid behind a cluster of sea grass and thought, "I have to find a way to lure this creature away first."

So he decided to turn back and ask the group of squid friends he had encountered earlier to help him.

Jibao persuaded the leader of the squid to have them spray out thick, black ink, creating a huge smoke screen to cover his movements. At that moment, an old sea turtle appeared just in time. He had come here specifically to help Jibao.

“Little dolphin, someone informed me that you would run into trouble here and told me to hurry over to help you,” the old sea turtle said breathlessly.

“Oh? Was it the wise jellyfish who told you?” Jibao asked, guessing.

“Of course not. That old jellyfish moves far too slowly,” the old sea turtle replied, panting.

“Then who could it be? Who could know my whereabouts so well?” Jibao was actually asking himself.

“That is not the important thing, little dolphin. What matters is that you must hurry and obtain that Sun Anemone.” The old sea turtle brought the conversation back to the matter at hand. “With this hard shell of mine, that old electric eel cannot bite through me. I think you will have enough time to take the anemone from the reef before he manages to electrocute me unconscious.”

“Grandpa Sea Turtle, how can I let you suffer like this?” Jibao said apologetically.

“Dont be so polite. Compared with the debt I owe for saving my life, this little hardship is really nothing...” the old sea turtle said thoughtfully.

“A debt for saving your life? Whom do you owe such a debt to?” Jibao tried to coax the answer out of the old sea turtle. His curiosity about the mysterious person who could command both the wise jellyfish and the old sea turtle was growing stronger and stronger.

“There you go again, young fellow. Dont try to trick me into talking. When the time comes, you will naturally know,” the sea turtle said as he turned around and pulled the squid leader aside. In a low voice, he said, “Squid leader, you and your men must do your best to spray black ink later and help the little dolphin obtain the anemone. This is a message the princess asked me to deliver. When rewards are handed out according to merit in the future, you certainly will not be left out.”

“The princess? Is this a mission assigned by the mermaid princess?” The squid leader was both surprised and flattered.

“When have I, old sea turtle, ever boasted? Especially about something this important,” the turtle said solemnly.

“That is true. Grandpa Turtle has always meant what he says and never tells lies,” the squid leader agreed with a nod and a smile. “Since this is a mission from the princess, we brothers will risk our lives and fight to the end. Even if we have to sacrifice ourselves, we will complete the mission.”

“The princess did not ask you to risk your lives fighting the old eel. Once I engage the old eel, you can begin releasing the smoke and block his vision,” the old sea turtle explained the steps of the operation.

“All right. We will do as you say,” the squid leader replied.

After everything had been explained and everyone had taken their positions, the old sea turtle put on an air of complete calm and leisurely made his way toward the coral reef where the anemone was located.

Although the old electric eel was old and half-blind, he could smell the old sea turtles distinctive scent from far away. “Has this old fool grown tired of living? What is he doing wandering into my territory for no reason?” The old electric eel watched the sea turtle swimming toward him and thought suspiciously, “He does not seem to be in any hurry, and he does not look like he has any bad intentions. I had better watch him for a while.”

“Oh my! What is this? What a beautiful sea anemone!” To lure the old electric eel out of the cave where he was hiding, the turtle deliberately spoke loudly to himself. Then he raised his voice even more. “This is quite a treasure. If I carry it home, it will certainly come in handy.”

The old electric eel, who had heard every word clearly from inside the cave, could no longer hold himself back. He charged out of the cave and opened his jaws to bite the old sea turtle while releasing more than a thousand watts of electricity.

“Oh, my goodness! Who dares to ambush me?” the old sea turtle deliberately shouted.

By then, the old electric eel had already bitten down on the turtles backside. The old sea turtle struggled to drag the electric eel away from the coral reef.

“Let go of my stinking backside, you old eel! Im about to fart!” the old sea turtle deliberately taunted the electric eel.

The old electric eel kept his teeth clamped onto the turtle and, naturally, could not open his mouth to speak. He violently swung his body back and forth, making the old sea turtle dizzy and disoriented.

“You rotten eel! I never did anything to you, yet you dare bite me and electrocute me, and now youre dragging me around and swinging me back and forth!” The old sea turtle was already seeing stars.

At that moment, the squids quickly surrounded them and began releasing clouds of ink. The seawater instantly turned gray-black, and both the old sea turtle and the electric eel were completely enveloped in the smoke screen. The old sea turtle endured wave after wave of electricity passing through his entire body. Even with his exceptionally strong endurance, he was still shocked until his mouth twisted and his eyes crossed.

Seeing that he could not miss the opportunity, Jibao immediately rushed toward the Sun Anemone. Without thinking twice, he picked up the anemone in his mouth and took off, quickly escaping the chaotic scene.

1. Moonlight Sea Urchin

Jibao fastened the anemone in front of his pectoral fin and headed north.

Jibaos heart was filled with gratitude for the help he had received from the sea turtle and the squids, especially for the mysterious person who had secretly arranged every step of his journey.

The seawater grew colder and colder. Fortunately, the heat of the Sun Anemone continued to warm Jibaos body. After who knew how many days and nights, Jibao finally saw patches of floating ice, with seals lazily basking in the sunlight on top of them. He thought, “The Arctic Ocean must be close now, right?”

Jibao asked a nearby group of seals about the Moonlight Sea Urchin. The leader of the seals looked at the spirited young fellow before him and said kindly, “Little friend, trying to steal the Moonlight Sea Urchin right under the nose of that thirteen-headed sea serpent is a thousand times harder than meeting the Sea God Dama. You may very well become the sea serpents snack before you even get a chance to touch the sea urchin.”

“No matter what dangers lie ahead, even if I have to cross a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I will keep moving forward,” Jibao said firmly.

“All right! Since you are determined to go, I wish you success.”

“Where can I find the sea serpent?”

“That is not difficult either. He is coiled beneath the frigid ice cap north of Greenland.” The seal leader pointed toward Greenland to the north. “You had better go to the bay in the south first and ask the leader of the blue whales there about the sea serpents location. That way, you will not make a wasted trip.”

Jibao thanked the seal leader, gathered his strength, and continued swimming toward the island.

The island was visible in the distance and seemed quite close, but in reality it was still very far away. It was not until sunset that Jibao finally swam into the bay on the southern side of Greenland. The deep calls of the whales echoed throughout the waters. Dragging his exhausted body along, Jibao followed the sound of the whales and soon found them.

The whales had just finished hunting and were lazily resting. Jibao swam toward the largest blue whale among them.

“Big Brother Blue Whale, Im sorry to disturb your rest,” Jibao said close to the blue whales ear canal.

The blue whale slowly lifted his eyelids and looked to see who was calling him. “You finally came, little brother. Ive been waiting for you for several days.”

“Waiting for me for several days? How did you know I was coming?” Jibao asked in surprise.

“Thats right. I received a message a few days ago and have been waiting here for you.” The blue whale stretched lazily and continued, “Its getting late. Why dont we rest first? We need to sleep well and save our strength so well have the energy to deal with that sea serpent tomorrow.”

“You already know?” Jibao thought. It must have been that mysterious person who had notified the blue whale as well. Who on earth was this person, that he could command these enormous creatures?

“Of course. I am in charge of this entire Arctic Ocean,” the blue whale said.

With that, the blue whale fell sound asleep.

At the first faint light of dawn, the blue whale woke Jibao and set off with him toward the ice-cap region in the northern part of the great island.

The thirteen-headed sea serpent took turns keeping watch, with each head taking a shift. The Moonlight Sea Urchin was attached to a small rocky reef directly beneath their watchful eyes, surrounded by the serpents body.

“Little dolphin, I will lure the sea serpent away in a moment. You go and retrieve the sea urchin,” the blue whale instructed.

He then swam boldly toward the sea serpent.

When the sea serpent saw the blue whale, he instinctively became more alert. “Big Brother Whale, what brings you here today?”

“Heh-heh. Brother Sea Serpent, I heard youve been spreading the word everywhere that you want to challenge me and compete for my position as the leader of the Arctic Ocean. Is that true?” the blue whale deliberately provoked him.

“That is not true, Big Brother Whale. I have never thought about challenging you. It must be a rumor spread by those meddlesome sea creatures.” One of the serpents heads quickly denied it. He had no desire to provoke this giant.

“You certainly are no match for me in a fight. How about this? To avoid damaging our friendship, I heard that you are a very fast swimmer. Lets have a race and see who is faster,” the blue whale proposed.

“All right. Since Big Brother Whale wants to race and see who swims faster, I will gladly accept the challenge,” said another head that wanted to settle the matter peacefully.

“Then lets swim around Greenland and see who can complete one full circle and return to the starting point first,” the blue whale explained the rules of the race.

“But I have to guard the Moonlight Sea Urchin. The Sea God Dama assigned this duty to me,” another head said.

“Dont be so rigid. Youll ruin Big Brother Whales mood and make him angry. If you do that, hell never let it go!” another head said.

“Heres what well do. Ill find someone to guard the sea urchin for you,” the whale said. He then turned toward Jibao, who was hiding behind the rocks, and called out, “Little dolphin, come out for a moment.”

Jibao timidly swam out.

“This is the one!” the whale said to the sea serpent.

“He looks sneaky and shifty. Can we really trust him?” another head asked.

“No one has ever dared question what I say. You are the first!” The whales expression suddenly changed.

“Please dont take it personally, Big Brother Whale. He was only joking,” another head quickly explained. “Lets just treat this as a friendly race. I will race with you, Big Brother.”

“Little dolphin, you give the signal to start,” the whale said.

The starting signal was given, and the sea serpent quickly swam south. The whale deliberately slowed down, allowing the sea serpent to take the lead. Once the two of them had moved far enough away, Jibao picked up the Moonlight Sea Urchin in his mouth, bowed deeply three times toward the distant whale, and then quickly headed south toward the Hawaiian Islands.

…

1. Doctor Seahorse

After three days, Jibao arrived in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. He asked the various sea creatures for directions to Doctor Seahorses residence.

Doctor Seahorses home was located near Oahu, in a warm tropical coral reef. Jibao spent half a day searching before he finally found the grand and luxurious residence.

Jibao rang the special bell for visitors at the entrance, and a servant immediately came to open the door.

Jibao was welcomed inside and asked to wait in the main hall. The hall was spacious, bright, and well lit. Paintings, calligraphy, pictures, and books filled the room, giving it the scholarly atmosphere of a learned mans home.

Doctor Seahorse came out of his laboratory.

Jibao went forward and said respectfully, “Doctor Seahorse, I am Jibao the dolphin. Someone directed me to come to you and said that you could take me to the Sea Gods palace.”

“You want to go to the Sea Gods palace?” Seahorse narrowed his farsighted eyes and carefully examined the dolphin before him. “What do you want with the Sea God Dama?”

“I want to borrow the Magic Sailfish Sting from him,” Jibao explained the reason for his visit. “I need this sting sword to deal with the octopus monster. He has occupied our dolphin homeland and enslaved my people.”

“Young fellow, are you sure you want to look for the Magic Sailfish Sting? That sting sword is in the Sea God Damas palace. Both routes leading to the palace are dangerous. The route on the left passes several lairs of vicious sea monsters. The route on the right is even more dangerous. You must pass through a long underwater volcanic tunnel, and the boiling lava will certainly cook you and your friends alive. So far, no sea creature has ever come out of there alive.”

“No matter how dangerous the road ahead may be, I must keep moving forward and obtain the Magic Sailfish Sting. I am not afraid of danger or hardship. Please help me and show me the way,” Jibao pleaded.

“The Magic Sailfish Sting is an extremely sharp divine weapon. The Sea Gods palace contains all kinds of rare and precious treasures. Since you have decided to risk your life to go to the Sea Gods palace, why are you interested only in that sting sword?” the doctor asked curiously.

“Only the Magic Sailfish Sting can pierce the octopus monsters thick belly and kill him,” Jibao continued explaining. “Someone told me that I must find three treasures—the Sun Anemone, the Moonlight Sea Urchin, and the Magic Sailfish Sting—in order to destroy the octopus monster and the shark clan around him. I have already obtained the first two treasures. All I am missing is the sting sword.”

“Oh? Then it must have been the wise jellyfish of the Western Pacific who told you. She is the wisest sea creature in that region, and she is also the nursemaid of the Sea Gods daughter, the mermaid princess. Young fellow, you have encountered someone of great importance. She was willing to guide you, perhaps because the princess asked her to. The princess is a beautiful young woman with a compassionate heart,” Doctor Seahorse speculated.

“The mermaid princess?” Jibao exclaimed in surprise. The mystery was finally solved. The mysterious person who had secretly been helping him was actually the beautiful mermaid princess. “I have heard that she lives on Pearl Island in the South Pacific. On every night of the full moon, the mermaid princess sits on a coral reef and sings. Her singing is so sorrowful that the pearl oysters in the water are moved to tears, and their tears become crystal-clear pearls. That is why the shallow seabed around the place where the mermaid princess lives is covered with pearls, and it is called Pearl Island.” Jibao told him everything he had heard from his grandparents about the story of Pearl Island.

“You have quite a wealth of general knowledge! But back to the matter at hand, young fellow. This octopus monster has committed countless evil deeds over the years. The Sea God Dama has sent several generals to subdue him, but the creature is naturally cunning and has spies everywhere. Every time, he receives advance warning and manages to escape,” Seahorse said as he led Jibao into the laboratory. “First, Ill use my universal computer to investigate this monsters background for you. Knowing yourself and knowing your enemy will make it easier for you to deal with him later.”

The doctor called up the octopus monsters records on the computer. “Wow! This fellow really is a formidable character. In the past few years alone, he has ambushed nearly a hundred ships. No wonder Dama wants to subdue him as quickly as possible.”

The doctor moved the mouse and scrolled down the screen. “Found it. Ive found the weak point on this creatures body. Its right on his belly button.”

The doctor turned around. “Based on these records, this fellow is extremely difficult to deal with. His eight tentacles are as powerful as long whips made of steel. Only the Magic Fish Sting can deal with him.”

Doctor Seahorse pondered for a long while. His expression became serious as he said, “Young fellow, this mission will be extremely difficult. You may very well die at the hands of the octopus monster.”

“As long as I can save my people and reclaim the castle, I am willing to sacrifice my life,” Jibao said firmly.

“If you have made up your mind, I will accompany you to the Sea Gods palace,” the doctor said.

1. General Lanternfish

The Sea Gods palace was located beneath the Hawaiian Islands, in the crater basin of a dormant volcano. Doctor Seahorse led Jibao through an underwater tunnel, and their first stop was the military station of General Lanternfish. When the crab warrior guarding the entrance saw that the visitors were the wise old seahorse, he immediately went to announce their arrival. The old seahorse and the little dolphin were invited into the reception hall.

General Lanternfish personally came out to welcome them. “Ha-ha! What a rare guest! With your distinguished visit, Old Seahorse, my humble place is truly honored,” Lanternfish said warmly.

“Lanternfish, no need to be so formal. I wouldnt come here without a reason. This time, I am bringing a new little friend of mine to meet the Sea God Dama. Since were passing by your place, we stopped to say hello,” Old Seahorse said simply and directly.

“You are so difficult to invite even on ordinary occasions. For you to be willing to come and sit in my humble station for a while is already the greatest honor I, Lanternfish, could receive,” the general said.

He was about to order his men to prepare a feast when Old Seahorse stopped him.

“Dont bother. Were leaving right away.”

“Stay for a while! It is such a rare occasion to have you here,” Lanternfish said.

He turned toward the little dolphin and asked sharply, “Young fellow, are you going to meet the Sea God?”

“Yes,” Jibao answered calmly.

“To pass through my station, you must fight one of my men. I will let you pass only after you win. That is the rule I have established,” Lanternfish said sternly, his eyes shining with authority.

“Lanternfish, forget your ridiculous rule. We are in a hurry,” Old Seahorse sprang up from his seat and said dismissively.

“I am sorry, old friend, but although you may freely enter and leave the Sea Gods palace, outsiders may not,” Lanternfish said firmly. Clearly, there was no room for negotiation.

“All right. I am willing to accept the generals condition,” the little dolphin agreed, not wanting to make things difficult for either side.

Old Seahorse looked troubled. He was worried that the little dolphin would not be able to handle the challenge.

The two opponents went outside to the flat seabed along the sandy floor.

Lanternfish agreed that neither side would use weapons and that the fight would be conducted with their bodies alone. Jibaos opponent was a huge swordfish named Wula. The long, sword-like spike at the front of his head was powerful enough to pierce the body of an adult shark. Just on that point alone, the little dolphin was clearly at a disadvantage.

The swordfish was agile and could swim long distances at tremendous speed.

Facing such a formidable opponent, Jibao showed no fear. Relying on his greater speed, Jibao repeatedly dodged Wulas sword-like attacks and repeatedly found opportunities to use his short snout to shove Wulas body aside. The two fought back and forth. Wula gained no advantage and was knocked over several times by the little dolphin. Feeling humiliated, Wula grew increasingly furious, and his attacks became even more fierce.

As Wula repeatedly missed his attacks, General Lanternfish applauded with great sportsmanship and shouted encouragement. His subordinates, however, loudly cheered and jeered from the side.

After the two had fought for half an hour, Wula already had several bruises and abrasions on his body. Jibao seized an opportunity, spun around, and swept his tail across the swordfishs head, knocking his opponent unconscious on the spot.

“Excellent! Very good! Indeed, heroes emerge among the young!” Lanternfish walked forward, took hold of Jibaos pectoral fin, and praised him enthusiastically.

Old Seahorse also came over. He finally breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the little dolphins high fighting spirit and remarkable agility, he began to believe that even against the octopus monster, the little dolphin would not be without a chance of victory.

1. General Coelacanth

At their second stop, they arrived at the military station of General Coelacanth.

The coelacanth is known as a “living fossil.” It is believed to have appeared in the oceans approximately 350 million years ago and belongs to the lobe-finned fish group that was already thought to have gone extinct 65 million years ago. It is a prehistoric fish with lobed fins along its sides. Lobe-finned fish could not only breathe air but also use their fins like legs to walk, which is important evidence of the evolutionary transition from fish to amphibians.

Coelacanth was clearly much gentler than Lanternfish. He had also established a condition for passing through his station, but he allowed visitors to choose between a physical contest and a battle of wits.

Jibao had already expended considerable energy fighting the swordfish Wula at Lanternfishs station, so this time he chose the battle of wits.

Coelacanth came from a distinguished scholarly family and was extremely knowledgeable and well traveled. He was the most intelligent and wise scholar-general under Damas command. In his eyes, apart from Old Seahorse and the wise jellyfish, there was no other sea creature wiser than himself.

The rules of the battle of wits were very simple: if a visitor could ask a question that stumped him, the visitor would pass.

This time Old Seahorse was even more worried, because apart from himself, no one had ever managed to stump Coelacanth.

Jibao had already thought of his questions in a very short time. His inspiration came from the Sun Anemone and the Moonlight Sea Urchin.

“General, may I ask you this: an anemone is clearly not a plant and cannot perform photosynthesis, so why is it named after a plant? And a sea urchin clearly does not secrete bile, so why is it named with the word ‘bile’?”

Jibao threw out both questions at once, leaving Coelacanth completely stunned.

“Give me some time to think carefully about these two questions,” Coelacanth said.

Nearby, Old Seahorse stroked his long beard, also thinking about the two questions.

While Coelacanth was deep in thought, Jibao took the opportunity to look at the collection displayed in the reception hall.

It was said that the number and variety of Coelacanths rare treasures were second only to those of Sea God Dama. Pearls, agates, and diamonds were nothing unusual in this hall. Various rare swords and weapons he had collected were equally commonplace. His most prized possessions were an invisibility cloak and a military treatise.

Jibao studied the invisibility cloak intently.

Half an hour later, Coelacanth spoke.

“I give up. I cannot answer either of these two questions. Young fellow, could you tell me the answers?”

The little dolphin smiled and said, “Actually, both the anemone and the sea urchin were named according to their appearance. Their names have nothing to do with their own properties or functions. The naming of species is simply a matter of convention.”

Coelacanth suddenly understood and burst into hearty laughter.

“That makes sense. What an interesting explanation. Young fellow, in all these centuries, you are only the second visitor to have ever stumped me. From now on, you are welcome to visit me here at any time.”

Jibao really liked the invisibility cloak. He thought that when he returned to his homeland and needed to enter the castle, this invisibility cloak would certainly come in handy.

He decided to make a request to General Coelacanth.

“Thank you for conceding, General. I humbly have a request to make. May I borrow the invisibility cloak in your collection?”

Coelacanth looked slightly surprised.

“Young fellow, you certainly have an eye for valuable treasures. You recognized that this is a fine treasure. Since you are the one asking, I will lend it to you.”

1. GENERAL STINGRAY

The third stop brought them to the military station of General Stingray. Stingrays, relatives of sharks that appeared during the Mesozoic Era, in the Jurassic Period (approximately 180 to 140 million years ago), have the habit of hiding in the sandy seabed. These are the stingrays we know today. Their dorsal fins evolved into sharp venomous spines, which are replaced every year. The venom is potent enough to kill a predator.

General Stingray had a very strange temper. He liked listening to jokes, but he never laughed. To pass through his station, one had to tell a joke that could make him laugh; otherwise, one had to fight him. But fighting him was definitely not a good idea.

Jibao was confident. He told this old joke he had heard from his grandfather:

“There was once a Buddhist abbot who loved eating fish before he became a monk. After becoming an abbot, he often went to the market to buy fish and bring them back to cook. Whenever worshippers asked about it, he would say that the fish were for offering to the gods.

“One day, the abbot bought two fish, wrapped them in lotus leaves, and placed them on the altar. When he wasnt paying attention, a stray cat carried them away. When he asked a young monk to take the fish to the kitchen for cooking, the young monk in charge of the offerings discovered that the fish were missing. Afraid that the abbot would blame him, he thought it would be better to find a ready-made substitute and make do with it.

“Half an hour later, the young monk put the steamed fish into a large bowl and carried it to the abbot. The abbot lifted the lid and was startled. Guess what happened?”

Jibao asked General Stingray.

“What happened? Wasnt it just steamed fish?” General Stingray asked, widening his eyes.

“When he looked closely, it turned out to be the black wooden fish from the altar. The abbot deliberately asked, ‘What kind of fish is this? Can it still be eaten?’

“To his surprise, the young monk scratched his head and smiled foolishly. ‘The fire was too hot, and all the water evaporated, so it turned into this.’

“It turned out that the young monk had taken the wooden fish that was used for chanting on the altar and put it into the cooking pot. At the time, he thought, ‘Well, a wooden fish is still called a fish, so I might as well steam it.’”

After hearing the joke, General Stingray suddenly broke with his usual manner and burst out laughing.

“Youre a good one! What a terrible cold joke, and yet you actually managed to come up with it. Youve really got something!”

Dr. Seahorse had told Jibao that General Stingray was an expert in poisons. Jibao thought that since he possessed the extremely poisonous Moonlight Sea Urchin, he would need a pair of gloves capable of protecting him from its venom when he faced the Octopus Monster in the final battle. So he made a request to General Stingray.

“Young fellow, youve come to the right person. I always use poisons to defeat my enemies, so of course I have plenty of gloves like that. Since you made me laugh so heartily, consider them my gift to you as a welcome present.”

General Stingray immediately ordered someone to bring out a pair of gloves and handed them to the young dolphin.

They passed General Stingrays station easily with just one joke.

1. THE SEA GODS PALACE

The Sea Gods Palace was magnificent, with a grand and dazzling golden exterior. The Sea God Dama ruled over countless aquatic creatures and was a wise and mighty god of the sea.

Over the past several decades, as human industry on land developed rapidly, pollutants such as garbage, wastewater, and oil spills from tankers flowed into the ocean, causing enormous damage to the aquatic ecosystem.

As a result, Sea God Dama had endless problems to deal with every day and was kept so busy that he was nearly overwhelmed. Fortunately, his daughter, the Mermaid Princess, was intelligent by nature and helped him shoulder much of his workload.

When Seahorse and the others arrived at the palace, their host, Dama, was not there. They learned from a servant that he had gone to the North Sea to deal with an oil spill from a tanker. Therefore, his chief steward, Minister Lobster, came out to receive them.

“Old Seahorse, my master knew you were coming and specifically instructed me to wait here and receive you,” said Minister Lobster in his slow, unhurried manner.

“Since old Dama already knows were coming, theres no need for me to beat around the bush. My young dolphin friend wants to borrow the Magic Swordfish Sting from old Dama to deal with the Octopus Monster that has occupied the western Pacific and wipe out his evil forces,” said Old Seahorse.

“Dealing with the Octopus Monster and eliminating his evil forces is certainly a good thing. Originally, my master took pity on him because he had trained for so many years and had acquired his abilities through great effort. He still held out some hope for him and sent several generals under his command, one after another, to subdue the Octopus Monster, hoping to guide him onto the right path.

“But judging from the current situation, the monsters evil forces are rapidly expanding, and it is no longer possible to bring him under control. My master has therefore agreed that he must be eliminated.

“Destroying the monster and his evil forces is originally the responsibility of my master and those of us who serve under him. Yet this heavy responsibility has now fallen upon the shoulders of this young dolphin. My master feels deeply sorry about that. Not only has he agreed to lend him the Magic Swordfish Sting, he has also ordered the deployment of his most elite combined force of swordfish and marlin to accept your commands, as well as those of your dolphin friend, and fight against the vicious shark clan.”

Minister Lobster carefully explained the Sea Gods decision.

“That is excellent! With the combined force of swordfish and marlin helping us, victory is practically assured.”

Old Seahorses wrinkled face showed a relieved smile.

“However, young dolphin, old Lobster must warn you first. Although this swordfish sting is unbelievably sharp and can pierce almost anything, there is something sinister about it, and you may very well have to pay for it with your life. You had better think carefully about the consequences…”

Minister Lobsters expression became solemn as he spoke seriously.

“Elder, Jibao has no other choice. If I can save my entire people, I will not hesitate even if I have to die a hundred times!”

Jibaos voice was firm.

“If you take the swordfish sting with you, your death is almost certain. Arent you afraid at all?”

“Without this swordfish sting, I cannot kill the Octopus Monster, and my people will remain enslaved by him. If I live alone while they continue to suffer, then even if I am free, what meaning would such a life have?”

After questioning him repeatedly and confirming the young dolphins true intentions, Minister Lobster ordered the servants to bring the command banner and the swordfish sting. He personally handed them to Seahorse and the dolphin, and then sent orders to General Lanternfish to lead his combined swordfish-and-marlin force on the expedition.

1. THE EXPEDITION

The news of the expedition soon reached the spies of the Octopus Monster. When the monster in the castle heard the news, he threw his head back and laughed from his throne.

“I was just worried that they wouldnt come looking for me. In the past, I was all alone and had to hide everywhere to escape their pursuit. But now I command the most powerful fighting force in the ocean—the shark army—and I control the dolphins here. Even if Dama himself leads an army against me, I wouldnt take him seriously.”

Although he spoke confidently, the monster still mobilized his troops and actively prepared for this decisive battle of the century, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

He knew that once he crushed the invading swordfish-and-marlin force, there would no longer be any power in the entire region capable of threatening his position. Furthermore, without the swordfish-and-marlin force, Sea God Dama would be nothing more than a toothless tiger, and the remaining shrimp and crab soldiers would pose no threat at all. He could even press his advantage and successfully replace Dama, taking the throne as ruler of the entire ocean.

The swordfish-and-marlin force was led by the brave and battle-tested General Lanternfish, while the resourceful Old Seahorse naturally served as military adviser.

During the journey, the swordfish warrior Wula, who had once been defeated by Jibao, unexpectedly became Jibaos closest friend. It truly proved the old saying: “You dont really know someone until youve fought them.”

The swordfish sting was fastened beneath Jibaos belly fin, and its crystal scabbard emitted a cold, clear glow. Jibao was full of energy, with a heroic spirit shining from his face. His heart was already racing toward home, and he could hardly wait to face the Octopus Monster in a decisive battle.

1. THE OUTER PERIMETER ENGAGEMENT

The moment the swordfish-and-marlin force approached the waters of the South China Sea, the Octopus Monsters shark army was already fully prepared for battle.

The two sides formed their battle lines, and the sharks launched the first charge. In an instant, the waters erupted into rolling clouds of mud and sand.

At the right moment, Jibao threw out the Sun Anemone. Its intense light immediately caused the shark soldiers to temporarily lose their sight, leaving them with only their sense of smell.

General Lanternfish saw his opportunity and ordered the messenger to sound the signal for a full-scale charge.

Waving the swordfish sting, Jibao charged into the enemy formation side by side with the swordfish warrior Wula. The swordfish sting was unbelievably sharp and cut through the enemy lines like a hot knife through butter. Jibao swung it left and right, moving through the enemy ranks as if no one were there. The soldiers of the swordfish-and-marlin force followed close behind and charged into the enemy formation.

With nothing but a blinding white haze before their eyes, the shark soldiers were terrified, and their formation was immediately shattered by the enemy assault.

Within only half an hour, the shark army collapsed completely. The soldiers scattered in panic, covering their heads as they fled in all directions. The swordfish-and-marlin force pursued them relentlessly, leaving the defeated enemy stripped of their weapons and armor, with bodies strewn across the battlefield.

The swordfish-and-marlin force won a complete victory in this battle. Only a small number of soldiers were wounded, and their injuries were minor.

The Octopus Monster lost two-thirds of his forces. After hearing from the soldiers who had escaped that the enemy had used a terrifying secret weapon during the battle, causing the entire army to lose its sight and suffer a crushing defeat, he became furious. He smashed things and stomped around the hall in rage.

The swordfish-and-marlin force quickly advanced toward Dolphin Castle, intending to wipe out the Octopus Monster and the remaining shark forces in one decisive attack.

Some of the sharks realized that the situation was hopeless. Continuing the fight would only mean throwing away their lives for nothing, so they fled one after another. Only a unit of palace guards and a small number of soldiers remained inside the castle. As the saying goes, “Once an army is defeated, its collapse is like a landslide.”

Seeing that the situation had become critical, the Octopus Monster used hypnosis to control the dolphins who had already lost their own will, ordering them to go outside the castle and fight the swordfish-and-marlin force.

Jibao and Old Seahorse immediately noticed that the creatures charging out were all dolphins. They knew that the Octopus Monster must have hypnotized them.

Old Seahorse immediately told the young dolphin to release the Sun Anemone once again. At the same time, he ordered General Lanternfish to command the entire swordfish-and-marlin force to hold their positions temporarily.

The intense light emitted by the anemone instantly broke the monsters hypnotic spell. Many dolphins reached the front lines of the army and suddenly regained consciousness. They were completely bewildered, wondering why they had all somehow traveled such a long distance to the area outside the castle.

When Jibao saw that his people had regained consciousness, he immediately went forward to look for his parents.

After searching for some time, he finally found his mother, but his father was nowhere to be seen.

With tears in her eyes, his mother sorrowfully told Jibao:

“When the shark clan attacked the castle, your father led more than a dozen young dolphins in a brave resistance. Later, they all died heroically in battle. I heard that the sharks tore their bodies to pieces. From that moment on, I never saw your father again.”

When Jibao heard the terrible news, his grief overwhelmed him, and he burst into tears.

Old Seahorse, standing nearby, could not help but have tears well up in his eyes as well.

General Lanternfish and the swordfish warrior Wula supported the heartbroken Jibao and quickly comforted him, urging him to turn his grief into strength and pull himself together.

1. The Decisive Battle Inside the Fortress

All the dolphins had completely regained consciousness, and Jibao no longer had any worries holding him back.

The octopus monster was furious and utterly stunned that his proud hypnotic magic had been so easily neutralized by the enemys magical treasure. Even more astonishing was the fact that the one who had broken the spell was the little dolphin who had escaped his grasp before. The monster realized that he had made a terrible miscalculation. He should have taken the elderly dolphins and the dolphin children hostage and forced them to fight the swordfish and marlin forces to the death. But by now, it was too late for regrets. As frustration overwhelmed him, the monster also became increasingly anxious, pacing back and forth across the hall. At this point, it seemed that all he could do was seal the fortress gates and wait helplessly inside his own stronghold.

Jibao put on the cloak of invisibility. Old Seahorse instructed him to sneak into the fortress first and open the gates from within, allowing the forces outside to launch a coordinated attack from both sides.

Jibao lowered his body and quietly approached the fortress, hiding outside the gate and imitating the mournful sounds of a shark. As soon as the shark guards stationed at the gate opened it and swam toward him, Jibao immediately stopped making any sound. The sharks were simple-minded. After searching around for a while without finding even a trace of anyone, they had no idea what was going on. They could only shake their heads and swim back. After this happened more than a dozen times, the sharks became dizzy from turning their heads back and forth. Unable to contain their anger, they began roaring and thrashing wildly, stirring up the sand on the seabed until the water became murky and obscured their vision. Only then did the little dolphin quietly swim up to the gate and slip inside.

Once inside the fortress, Jibao first slipped into the city hall building, wanting to get a look at the evil octopus monster himself. He cautiously hid behind a stone pillar and watched the monster, knowing full well that the right moment had not yet arrived. Even so, the octopus monsters keen sense of smell detected Jibaos scent. He shouted at the shark guards beside him, "Theres an intruder in this hall! I can smell the scent of a dolphin. Search every inch of this place carefully. Dont miss a single corner."

Jibao calmly withdrew from the city hall and returned to the eastern gate of the fortress. He saw that the guards were about to change shifts, so he patiently waited until the shift change was completed before looking for an opportunity to act. He would first eliminate the four guards at the gate and then open the fortress gates.

By then, the swordfish and marlin forces were already lying in ambush outside the eastern gate. The coral reefs in that area provided excellent cover. The army was waiting for Jibao to open the gates so they could charge into the fortress and engage the remaining shark forces in one final battle.

Meanwhile, inside the hall, the shark guards searched everywhere for quite some time but clearly failed to find even a trace of the intruder. Although they did not dare openly question the octopus monster, they could not help complaining among themselves.

After the guards changed shifts, Jibao quietly approached the guard on the left from behind. Because he was wearing the cloak of invisibility, the guard facing him did not notice his presence.

"What is that smell? It smells a lot like a dolphin," one of the guards on the left said warily.

"I smell it too. We need to stay alert," another guard on the left had just finished saying when he turned around.

He let out a muffled "Ugh," and his body immediately went limp and collapsed. A hole had been stabbed through his chest, and bright red blood poured out. His companion beside him was just about to rush over to help when he, too, was stabbed through the chest. He fell to the ground and died.

The two guards on the opposite side of the eastern gate saw their two companions inexplicably stabbed to death without any warning. The sight made their scalps tingle and their entire bodies tremble with fear.

"Theres an assassin! Brother, be careful!" one of the eastern guards said nervously.

The two of them immediately raised their spears and took defensive positions, their faces filled with terror and dread.

The blood of the shark guards immediately masked Jibaos scent. He circled around behind the remaining two guards and, with lightning-fast movements, killed them both with a single sword strike each. Poor creatures—they never understood what had happened even at the moment of their deaths.

Jibao immediately lifted the gate bar and pushed open the fortress gates. The swordfish and marlin army swiftly poured into the fortress.

The shark guards on the watchtower at the eastern corner of the fortress spotted the enemy army pouring through the eastern gate and immediately sounded the conch shell alarm. Shark squads stationed throughout the fortress heard the signal and swam toward the eastern gate. The two armies then launched a second round of fierce combat in the streets around the eastern gate. The octopus monsters elite shark guards soon arrived, ready to join the battle.

Jibao released the Sun Anemone for the third time. The shark soldiers who had already suffered from its intense light before immediately recognized how powerful it was. The moment they encountered the blinding light, they turned and fled, forcing the reinforcements from the elite guard to stumble and scatter as their own troops crashed into them in panic.

The elite guards were thrown into a state of panic by their fleeing comrades. Once they themselves came into contact with the Sun Anemone, they realized just how powerful the enemys magical weapon was. They did not dare remain there for another moment and followed their fleeing comrades, turning around and swimming away. General Lanternfish and the two commanders, Swordfish and Marlin, led from the front, brandishing their weapons as they chased the retreating shark guards through the streets.

Many shark soldiers escaped through the fortresss other three gates. Most of the shark guards retreated into the city hall building and sealed the doors and windows. It was truly a case of "once an army is defeated, it collapses like a landslide."

"Your Majesty, the enemy forces have already broken into the fortress. We are completely surrounded. The enemy is carrying a terrifying magical weapon that has rendered all of us powerless," the panicked commander of the elite guards reported breathlessly to the octopus monster.

"Useless fools! What are you panicking about? With me here, the enemy wont dare force their way inside," the octopus monster said, pretending to remain calm.

In truth, he already had a sense that his doom was approaching. The invading enemy possessed a powerful magical weapon, and the Sea God Dama had mobilized his elite swordfish and marlin forces on a massive scale specifically to destroy him.

The commander thought to himself, "Hiding here and refusing to fight isnt going to solve anything."

1. The Decisive Battle Inside the Fortress

As the saying goes, "A cornered beast will fight to the death." The monster knew perfectly well that he had been surrounded by the enemy and would have little chance of escaping unharmed. He simply decided to risk everything and wait for the enemy to break in.

General Lanternfishs army guarded the outside of the city hall building. Seeing that the enemy had sealed themselves inside and refused to come out and fight, they could not think of a way to break in for the moment. The general and his two commanders could only look toward Old Seahorse, their military strategist. They knew that at a critical moment like this, their strategist would surely have a brilliant plan for defeating the enemy.

Old Seahorse was an experienced and calculating strategist. After pondering for a moment, he said, "The monster has nowhere left to run. But to capture the thieves, we must first capture their leader. Stay patient and remain on guard. I already sent the little dolphin inside ahead of us."

"Strategist, how could you send my dolphin brother into such danger alone?" Swordfish Commander Wula asked with a worried expression.

"That old octopus is no ordinary enemy. I am simply using the same trick again, and he will certainly never expect it. The little dolphin is carrying magical treasures, and he knows how to act according to the situation. Once the right moment comes, we will move in to support him. Then we can destroy the monsters lair and wipe them all out," Old Seahorse said calmly.

Jibao put on the cloak of invisibility and followed the retreating shark guards into the city hall for the second time, hiding in a secluded corner. This time, several guards had been wounded, and the water was filled with the smell of blood, so the monster failed to detect Jibaos scent.

After the guards around the monster had each returned to their posts, the monster closed his eyes and rested in his seat. Only a small squad of elite guards remained on duty inside the hall. By then, Jibao had already decided on his course of action. First, he would eliminate the four guards stationed at the hall entrance and let General Lanternfishs forces enter. They would keep the shark guards inside the hall occupied while Jibao concentrated on dealing with the monster himself.

Jibao slipped behind the guards at the entrance and, with two swift strikes of his sword, eliminated two of them. The other two guards were so frightened that they shouted, "Theres a ghost in the hall!" and turned around and ran for their lives. They had not seen the enemy at all. All they had witnessed was one companion suddenly collapsing with his head separated from his body, while the other had a gaping hole through his chest with blood pouring out.

This immediately alerted the octopus monster sitting in his seat and the four personal guards beside him. The four heavily built guards, each carrying a different weapon, rushed toward the hall entrance.

Jibao swung the magical sword and, with a loud clang, cut through the bronze gate bar and pulled open the doors. The Lanternfish forces waiting outside had already raised their weapons and were ready for action as soon as they heard the commotion inside. The moment the doors opened, General Lanternfish led the charge into the hall.

Lanternfish wielded a four-foot-long spiked mace. He struck the two shark guards in front so hard that their heads were split open and blood poured everywhere before they collapsed and died. The Swordfish and Marlin commanders immediately finished off the other two.

The soldiers began leading their respective units in different directions to search for the remaining enemies. At that moment, the monster rose from his seat and walked down into the hall. He let out a long roar and said, "Perfect timing! Now youll all experience the power of my nerve poison ink."

He immediately sprayed out a thick cloud of black ink resembling dense smoke. It first enveloped his own body before rapidly spreading in every direction.

"Jibao, release the Sun Anemone and break the monsters magic!" Old Seahorse shouted.

By then, the invisible Jibao had already quietly circled behind the monster and was hiding behind a stone pillar.

"Leave the monster to me! You go search the hall for those sharks!" Jibao had no choice but to speak up, but doing so would expose his location. Therefore, as he released the Sun Anemone, he simultaneously shifted his position from one place to another.

The moment the Anemone was released, the monsters black ink was struck by its intense light and astonishingly evaporated into white mist. The monsters true form was completely exposed as he coiled himself in the center of the hall.

The swordfish and marlin soldiers split into separate units and moved down the various corridors of the city hall, searching room by room.

The entire main hall was now left with only Old Seahorse, Swordfish Commander Wula, the octopus monster, and the invisible little dolphin Jibao, along with the six dead shark bodies.

"You little dolphin, youve managed to get the better of me again and again. Since youve come all this way, why dont you take off that cloak of invisibility and come out to face me?" the old octopus roared, deliberately provoking him. "Hiding your head and showing your tail is not the behavior of a true hero."

Jibao remained silent. He would not fall for the monsters provocation. He was waiting for the right opportunity to release the Moon Sea Urchin.

"Octopus monster, I will take you on!" Swordfish Commander Wula shouted as he raised his spear and charged forward.

The sudden move happened so quickly that Old Seahorse had no time to stop him.

"Swordfish, its dangerous!" Old Seahorse cried out.

The monster extended two of his long tentacles, swinging them horizontally at Swordfish like two steel whips.

"Brother Swordfish, get out of there!" Seeing Swordfish trapped in danger, Jibao rushed out from the corner behind him without hesitation and positioned himself in front of Swordfish. He swung the magical sword repeatedly, striking four times in rapid succession. One of the blows sliced off the tip of one of the monsters tentacles, but Jibao himself was caught and bound by the monsters other tentacle.

Only then did Swordfish, standing behind Jibao, realize just how terrifying the monster was, and cold sweat broke out all over his body.

It turned out that the monster had deliberately calculated that the invisible dolphin would certainly step forward to rescue his companion when he saw him in danger. He had therefore pretended to attack Swordfish, forcing the dolphin to reveal himself.

At this critical moment, Old Seahorse shouted loudly, “Jibao, release the Moon Sea Urchin!”

However, Jibao was tightly gripped by the monster’s tentacle and could not move. His life was hanging by a thread.

Swordfish came to his senses and thrust his long spear straight toward the monster’s protruding left eye. The monster swung one of his tentacles at Swordfish, instantly beating him until his skin was torn and bloody. Swordfish crashed into a stone pillar and fell unconscious on the spot.

The moment the monster loosened his grip slightly, Jibao put on the protective gloves and took the Moon Sea Urchin from beneath his belly fin. He pressed it against the monster’s tentacle. The sea urchin’s venom immediately entered the tentacle, and a purple aura spread outward from the wound. The numbness instantly caused the tentacle to loosen its grip.

After breaking free, Jibao drew the magical sword and slashed down at the tentacle, severing it from its master. At the same time, he threw the Sun Anemone and the Moon Sea Urchin at the monster again. A violent convulsion caused the monster to roll uncontrollably across the floor, churning up powerful currents that forcibly swept Old Seahorse out through the hall entrance. Jibao was also swept by the current and slammed against a stone pillar.

Jibao quickly carried Swordfish out of the hall and laid him on the steps in front of the entrance before turning around and rushing back inside.

By then, the intense light from the Sun Anemone had left the monster staring into a blinding white haze, while the Moon Sea Urchin repeatedly stung his tentacles. The monster desperately thrashed his body, but the sea urchin followed him like a vengeful spirit, never letting go. The monster’s tentacles were repeatedly wounded by the sword and then stung by the sea urchin. Pain and numbness attacked him alternately, gradually driving him into a frenzy.

Facing the enraged octopus monster, Jibao held the magical sword and circled around his body without the slightest trace of fear on his face. Whenever he found an opening, he slashed and stabbed at the monster. One section after another of the monster’s tentacles was chopped away, as though Jibao were pruning the tangled branches of a withered tree.

After a long while, the monster was left with only two tentacles. One wrapped around his navel, while the other flailed wildly through the air. The venom of the Moon Sea Urchin was gradually spreading through his body. A purple aura traveled upward from his severed limbs into his body, and the monster was struggling desperately on the verge of death.

Seeing that the time was right, Jibao decided to deliver the fatal blow. He fixed his eyes on the location of the monster’s navel beneath the tentacle. He planned to dive from directly above the monster’s head like a falling cannonball, spinning as he plunged downward and driving the sword through the tentacle and into the monster’s navel.

Though blind, the monster heard the rapid rush of water above his head and saw through the little dolphin’s strategy. His remaining two tentacles immediately retracted and coiled over his head. The little dolphin plunged straight into his grasp.

“I’ve got you, you little brat! I’m going to tear you into pieces!” the monster roared.

His two tentacles tightly bound Jibao and repeatedly tightened their grip. Jibao gradually lost his ability to breathe and slipped into unconsciousness...

At that moment, Old Seahorse reentered the hall and witnessed with his own eyes the horrifying sight of Jibao being torn apart. A long, anguished “Ah~~~” escaped from him.

The monster brutally tore Jibao into three pieces and threw them onto the floor. His head and chest, abdomen, and tail were separated from one another, while bright red blood poured from the jagged, torn wounds. The magical sword of the magic marlin fell beside Jibao.

“You little brat, this is what you get!” the octopus monster said, enduring the pain as he waved his remaining two tentacles, exposing his navel.

Then a miracle happened.

After being nourished by Jibao’s blood, the magical sword of the magic marlin suddenly began to tremble as though awakening from a dream. It then shot diagonally toward the monster like a meteor and, with absolute precision, plunged into his navel.

The monster let out a horrifying scream of agony. His thick-skinned belly suddenly burst open, spilling his internal organs. His body immediately went limp and collapsed to the ground, dead.

Old Seahorse had seen everything clearly, and only then did he suddenly understand. It turned out that for the magical sword of the magic marlin to unleash its hidden power, the life of the one wielding it had to be paid as the price. No wonder Dama’s steward, Minister Lobster, had repeatedly warned the little dolphin to think carefully about the consequences and had predicted that he would “certainly die” on this journey.

1. The Mermaid Princess

The hall was packed with swordfish and marlin soldiers and members of the dolphin tribe. Everyone gathered around the body of the little dolphin, Jibao.

Jibao’s mother held the remains of her beloved son in her arms and wept in profound grief. Wounded Swordfish Commander Wula, with several layers of bandages wrapped around his body, crouched beside Jibao and sobbed uncontrollably. He was a straightforward warrior who placed great importance on loyalty and friendship.

Tears and mucus streamed down Old Seahorse’s deeply wrinkled face, making him look like an old cat with watery eyes. Even General Lanternfish, normally known for his extraordinary boldness, could not help wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Many of Jibao’s childhood companions were crying sadly. The older ones among them knew that Jibao had met this tragic fate because he had sacrificed himself to save the entire dolphin tribe. The younger ones could only think that from now on, they would never again see Jibao sitting quietly in his secluded corner, lost in thought.

At that moment, a beautiful song drifted over from the distance. The Mermaid Princess was arriving, surrounded by her attendants. Everyone quickly stepped aside to make way for her.

The Mermaid Princess took Jibao’s head and chest from his mother’s arms. Slowly, she removed the white jade hairpin from her hair, along with strands of golden hair, and carefully stitched together the torn wounds between Jibao’s chest and abdomen and the severed section of his tail.

Two clear tears rolled down the Mermaid Princess’s cheeks. The tears, shimmering with the light of love, fell one by one and instantly crystallized into sparkling, translucent pearls.

The Mermaid Princess picked up the pearls and placed them in her mouth. Then she tenderly kissed Jibao, slowly feeding the pearls one by one into his mouth.

Once again, a miracle occurred.

The fish skin covering Jibao’s body began to peel away inch by inch. To everyone’s astonishment, a human form appeared beneath it: a head and face, a torso, and four limbs. He was also a handsome young man.

Everyone present stared in astonishment, completely stunned by what they were seeing.

The boy slowly opened his eyes and saw the Mermaid Princess with her long hair falling over her shoulders.

“Prince, you’re awake. Do you remember me?” the Mermaid Princess said gently.

The boy, who was called the Prince, nodded. Supporting himself with both hands, he slowly raised his upper body.

“In your previous life, you wronged me. Before you died, you promised that in your next life you would marry me and return to live with me in the ocean. Do you remember?” the Mermaid Princess continued, gazing at the Prince with deeply affectionate eyes.

“Princess, I remember my vow,” Jibao said with a nod. “I saved all the dolphins and fulfilled my promise to Sea God Dama. Princess, today, in front of my people and my friends, I formally ask you to marry me. I will take you as my wife, and from this day forward, we will remain together for the rest of our lives. We will grow old together and never abandon each other.”

After saying this, the Prince lifted the Mermaid Princess into his arms. Amid the blessings and cheers of the countless creatures of the sea lining their path, he slowly walked out, heading toward the vast blue ocean...