All at once, the cocoon abruptly shattered to pieces, revealing a startling silver-white body that glowed and glimmered in the dark.

The body was mainly a pale silver, but it had white patterns all over its body that seemed to contain some kind of power. The body shape itself was elongated and flexible, but where in the past it was similar in size from top to bottom, now, it was smaller at the tail and progressively got bigger the closer it was to the head, moreover, there were small but thick spikes that ran over its top that looked like they would be agonising to bypass, which proved its increased defences But one of the biggest changes had to be the head.

Previously, the centipede’s head hadn’t been too different from others if you didn’t take into consideration its jaw, but now, the whole head had morphed completely and no longer resembled a centipede at all. In fact, it didn’t look like any known insect. If you had to use another animal as a reference, it would be more accurate to say that it looked like a monstrous hammerhead shark.

It was a pretty thick head too, unlike the shark’s, and the jaw from before had not been tucked underneath, but instead was part of the ‘hammer’, creating a slight T shape if you shrunk the height.

Besides that, the over 100 terrifically sharp limbs were still there, naturally sharper than before but also longer and thicker at the base. Just 1 of them looked like they could skewer a Sea King to death, and there were over 100.

Many were awed even as they were terrified as they watched the body slowly uncoil itself with a grace that stood out even more than its appearance in this savage sea, not to mention the unparalleled authority it was expressing without even doing anything.

And as they watched the shining figure surrounded by darkness move around gently and softly as if it had just woken up from a blissful sleep, uncaring of the countless hostile forces that had come here to kill it, they couldn’t help but think that he looking like a transcendental being that existed on a different wavelength or reality.

They didn’t even know what that meant, but looking at the sharp contrast between them and what was undoubtedly Zuko, that was the only thought that came to their mind. They felt like he was untouchable. He looked like an illusion. Could he even see them? Was any of this real?

Some were actually beginning to doubt the authenticity of the whole situation. It was just too preposterous. However, that thought process was shattered when the creature began to speak.

“So…” He started, making many who knew him notice that his voice had changed, becoming deeper and more regal, and also less savage which made him resemble Kazolix a little. However, his following words…

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“What brings you broken, worthless pieces of debris, to see me?”

‘?!!!’

*BSSSSSH!*

Bilibu’s lightning flared up wildly, and many could see Kazolix’s eyes narrow as his mood undoubtedly plummeted. And seeing all this, they couldn’t help but regret with all their being their decision to come here. They had swam all this way so happily – thinking they were going to make at least a small gain in knowledge if nothing else – not knowing they were swimming to their deaths.

Zuko on the other hand was perfectly calm. He just looked around at them with that hatefully graceful head of his, not even pausing when he was obviously caught sight of Bilibu and Kazolix, as if there was no difference between them and the smaller fish to the left or right.

What kind of posing was this? He was just a new Enlightened Beast! What was giving him this much confidence?! Although they felt his power which was nothing like they had ever seen before, it still didn’t make sense!

“Aah.. I see it now.” Zuko spoke again as his head moved backwards a little. “So the pointlessness of your existence has finally caught up to you all. You must have decided that there was no more point in living, and decided to offer yourselves to my stomach, hoping to grasp a bit of usefulness before you all perished.”

Many eyes widened at that.

“Honestly, I must commend you all. This is a genius idea. So much so that it took even me a while to figure it out. But then again, I never comprehended the laws of futility and waste like you all obviously have. It must have given you unique thoughts. In any case, come, fulfil your destiny and enter my stomach. Perhaps with this first and final act of usefulness, you will find peace.”

Then Zuko opened his mouth – revealing perfect sparkling teeth and inner flesh that was a silver only a couple shades darker than his carapace, with his grey tongue being the darkest thing about him – and just waited there, as if he really expected people to throw themselves in.

What’s worse is that a few people actually tried before they seemingly caught themselves. Zuko’s royal demeanour along with his ethereal aura and Realm 4 cultivation, was just that compelling.

It was only effective against those in the 2nd Realm since it was much harder for people in the 3rd Realm aka Sea Kings, to believe any of those words. But the words still had mass effect. Some would shrug it off within days, but there were likely to also be some that would kill themselves even if they survived today’s inevitable battle. His words made them feel that depressed.

How could they not be when they were faced with such a thing? Even if it was generally frowned upon to be so bright since it destroyed all attempts at camouflage, Zuko’s new appearance was amongst the most marvellous things they had ever beholden. And when they compared themselves to that…

…They truly felt worthless.

What was it that Zuko called them? Broken pieces of debris? Ha. Haha. They couldn’t refute it at all...