Legend has it that a thousand years ago, mysterious and beautiful Mermaids truly existed in the vast, boundless ocean. These Mermaids governed the immense seas, wielding magical powers that allowed them to purify the water and ensure the ocean—the very source of human survival—remained clear and pristine. Whenever fishermen encountered violent storms or other disasters at sea, the Mermaids would never hesitate to reach out and help. For this reason, the Mermaids were devoutly worshipped by fishermen as gods of the sea, receiving endless reverence and adoration.
However, as time passed, greedy merchants learned of the Mermaids' ability to purify water and became increasingly unscrupulous. Not only did they dump sewage and waste into the ocean without restraint, severely polluting the once-clear blue water, but some even conceived the evil idea of exploiting Mermaids for immense profit. Thus, a brutal and inhumane campaign of mass capture began. Merchants hired countless sailors and hunters to scour the seas for traces of Mermaids. Once found, they would use the most cruel methods to capture them and bring them back to land for human amusement. Some merchants even went so far as to butcher the Mermaids for their tender flesh, seeking to amass vast fortunes.
In just a century, the once-numerous Mermaid population that thrived in the depths of the sea had vanished. With the loss of the Mermaids' purifying influence, the water gradually became murky and foul. Every ocean on Eart…
Chapter 288