A Journey That Changed The World.

Archer watched his women's eyes widen in astonishment. Excitement quickly lit up Lucrezia's face, and without hesitation, she dove into the water, her form shifting into that of a Mosasaur.

Moments later, Teuila, the blue-haired woman, followed suit, transforming into her sleek Tylosaurus form. With a grin, he leaped onto Teuila's head, steadying himself as the two massive sea creatures plunged beneath the surface.

Together, the trio disappeared into the depths as Archer got comfortable. When under the waves, it was like a new world that he couldn't get used to. Schools of sea monsters darted out of their path, fleeing in panic as if sensing their power.

'They have gotten stronger. No wonder they're running away,' he mused.

As they descended deeper, the water darkened, and an awe-inspiring sight unfolded before them. An immense underwater forest stretched endlessly in every direction, its towering, kelp-like trees swaying gently with the current.

Bioluminescent plants and creatures lit the forest in hues of green and blue, casting an ethereal glow that seemed otherworldly. Archer guided the ladies to the Swarms entrance and found a cavern.

After arriving, Teuila and Lucrezia returned to their human forms before appearing beside him as the blonde commented, ''Are we going down there?''

''Yes, you two can help me destroy it as I can barely use magic,'' he answered.

Following that, the three of them entered the cavern as the darkness consumed them, but thanks to Archer's dragon eyes, he could see everything. Large worm-like creatures were trying to flee into holes.

Ten minutes later, the trio appeared at the bottom of the cavern, where there was a cave entrance. ''I can sense those vile creatures' mana all over this place. We should collapse the tunnel, then the rest of it.''

Teuila agreed with a nod. ''Yes, that would be the best course of action,'' she said.

Archer remained silent as something in the distance caught his eye. Driven by curiosity, he swam toward the dark cave, his heart quickening when he discovered a glowing portal within.

Excitement surged through him, but as he approached, an overwhelming wave of mana erupted from the portal, slamming into his body.

A sharp, searing pain shot through his mind, forcing him to his knees. His vision blurred as thousands of vivid images flooded his consciousness, scenes of countless places, both wondrous and terrifying, flashing before him in a chaotic storm.

Before he could fully grasp what was happening, the portal shimmered, its light collapsing inward, and vanished, absorbed entirely into him. Archer gasped, clutching his head as the echoes of the images lingered in his mind.

Teuila quickly comforted him while Lucrezia watched their surroundings. His body was in agony, causing the blue-haired woman to swim into the cave before seeing an air pocket not far away.

The trio swam toward it just as a group of Ginsu Sharks chased after them as their jaws snapped. As Lucrezia saw this, she quickly lunged at the monsters and tore them apart with ease.

When the last creature tried to flee; she sucked its life force from it before following them. Minutes later, they jumped into the small caves just as Lucrezia pulled out some blankets before wrapping them around Archer as Teuila used her magic to dry him.

He smiled when feeling this just as he thought, 'These girls worry so much.'
Your next chapter awaits on empire

Archer pulled the two women close, planting a quick kiss on each of them. Their soft giggles filled the air, lighting the cave with warmth. Smiling, he turned his attention to the crackling flames, soon casting a cozy glow as they settled in.

A few hours later, he felt better and suddenly stood up, which surprised Teuila and Lucrezia as he stretched. ''Let's get to the southern wall. There might be some survivors,'' he said before opening a Gate.

The trio entered and appeared below the seawall and hundreds of Homeguards buzzed around like worker ants. Archer scanned the surroundings and found a few dozen injured soldiers.

He started walking toward the tent with the two women following behind. When arriving, Archer noticed a few healers running around tending to the groaning soldiers that survived the attack.

'Let's heal them despite the pain,' he thought while casting Aurora Healing over off of them.

When the healers and commanders saw this, their eyes widened in amazement, but Archer coughed up some blood. Lucrezia supported him. ''Take it easy, handsome, they're better now. Let's return to the palace.''

''Yes, you're right, I need to rest,'' he muttered before opening a Gate back to his bedroom.

The trio said their goodbyes to the shocked crowd and left, leaving them baffled but grateful for his help. When Archer appeared on the other side, he collapsed onto the bed while Teuila and Lucrezia joined him.

He recovered swiftly, and in the weeks that followed, the kingdom braced itself for the impending invasion. Preparations intensified as the 1st and 2nd fleets gathered in the south, joined by the formidable 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, 13th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Legions.

Archer commanded the Deepsea Legion to join the invasion effort, bolstered by the relentless bombardment of war crafts targeting the Duskfire Empire's heavily fortified coastal city.

However, instead of relying on spies, Archer chose a more direct approach, deciding to explore the Fire Elf realm himself. This time, he invited Teuila, Kassandra, Eveline, and Aurelia to join him, eager to spend more time with them and deepen their connection.

Later, he sat on the balcony with Olivia nestled in his lap, her body relaxed against his after their hours together. Gently, Archer brushed a strand of her white hair from her flushed, sweat-covered face.

With a soft smile, he cast Cleanse on her, the spell washing over her in a soothing wave that made the older woman shiver and sigh gratefully. ''That feels good,'' she said while walking inside as the door started knocking.

Archer walked toward the door and opened it only to see the beautiful rabbit woman Eveline with a big smile while the purple-haired mermaid gave him a small nod. ''Morning ladies, I'm glad you came. Come in and get comfortable.''

As he gently tended to her, Olivia turned her attention to the two young women approaching. Offering them a warm, inviting smile, she said, ''Hello, girls. Looking forward to exploring Avidia?''

The beautiful brown-skinned woman glanced at Archer with gleaming red eyes. ''Yes Liv, but I wanted my legion to join in on the Avidia invasion.''

''The 20th and 21st Legions will take part in the Southland invasion,'' he answered while giving her a charming smile. ''According to High Command, the support portions of your armies are lacking.''

Aurelia stepped forward, ''We forage most of the time or hunt in the ocean. Why do we need thousands of people following us?''

Archer sighed as he remembered the scene a couple of years ago when he offered them a role in the kingdom. Both women accepted, but thanks to being busy, they only saw each other a half dozen times.

He stood up while shaking his head. ''The support staff and guards are required, Aurelia, especially with the world against us. What happens if the 21st gets cut off from the outside world? You won't be able to get food or water then.''

Without giving them time to reply, Archer hugged the curvy mermaid, who melted into his embrace, ''I won't let you risk yourself to fight the Alliance, you silly girl.''

The mermaid smiled at him before kissing him on the cheek, ''You still owe me that date, handsome. Mother is pestering me to find a partner.''

''Wait until we get to the Emberport, I'll take each of you girls out,'' Archer reassured them.

When Aurelia heard Olivia's words, her face lit up with excitement, though she stepped back to let Eveline take the lead. The mermaid gracefully retreated, allowing Eveline to move forward.

With a playful smile, the rabbit woman wrapped her arms around Archer, pulling him into a warm embrace. ''I look forward to spending time with you, handsome,'' she whispered, her eyes gleaming with affection.

Following that, he motioned for them to sit down while waiting for the other two. The first to show was Kassandra, who stepped into the room with an excited expression. ''When are we leaving, husband?'' she questioned.

Archer looked at the Kraken princess before answering, ''Ten minutes? I've said goodbye to everyone and now waiting for Teu.''

Not long after that, the blue-haired beauty appeared on the balcony, allowing him to open a Gate to the southern shore. Teuila transformed into her Titan form as the others jumped on her back.

Aquarian magic protected the five of them as they peacefully swam through the deep while heading for Avidia. Thanks to Teuila's size, the other monsters fled in fear as she snapped her massive jaws.

Archer laughed when seeing this but soon realized Kass, Eveline, and Aurelia were chatting among themselves.

[Drop some powerstones, comments, and gifts to help the novel grow; I appreciate all the support you can give]