During the explosion in the filter, water would get blasted through the turbine, which was connected to a generator, allowing it to transform all that mechanical energy into electricity!
It was an incredibly elegant solution, one that was credited only to ChatJK5. She not only solved the problem, but also created something more!
Once he created this proof of concept, he quickly teleported back to New Sparta, finding himself atop the lake once again.
...
...
...
Meanwhile, as Michael was out creating the prototype filter, Princess Serena and Princess Octavia were left alone under the water, their attitude towards each other turning the water even colder.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Serena asked, breaking the silence between them.
Octavia didn’t answer for a second. Her mind seemed to be focused on other matters as she stared off in the distance, towards the opaque luster of an underwater city different from the opposite side of the Sunken Ship.
"Hey, I’m talking to you," Serena said, swimming towards her line of sight. This confrontation warranted a scoff from the octopus princess.
"Yes, I can see you, my beautiful sister," Octavia said sarcastically. "You’ve always been the center of attention, just like him."
Serena frowned. "Why are you so against our brother becoming the leader of the lake? He’s competent enough, you know. He certainly wouldn’t bring us into ruin."
"You just don’t get it," Princess Octavia muttered under her breath. Then, she started swimming back to the Sunken Ship, taking the conversation to a halt.
The red haired mermaid swam after her sister. "What don’t I get?!"
But the octopus princess kept on swimming back towards the lake, only for her to stop just as her territory was in her line of sight.
Octavia’s skin started to undergo a turmoil of colors, ranging from passionate red, to a yellowish hope, to a dejected blue.
She saw a group of Mermen, a family of squid–humans, to be exact. Deep in the darkness, this family was out in the water holding seaweed nets on one hand, and a swordfish harpoon in the other.
They were hunting, searching for food to put in their corals the next day.
Their makeshift bag was barely filled with glowing mackerel. Their night was just ahead of them.
"Mom, can this be eaten?" a young squid mermaid held up a dead, decaying fish in her hands. Its scales were already rotting, its eyes grey and almost popping out of its sockets. Clearly, this was not edible in any way shape or form.
"That’s only for adults, hun. Give that to me and you can have this instead," her mother said, quickly taking away the rotting fish from her daughter’s hands. Its putrid smell almost made her puke, but she was able to hold it back until after her daughter proudly flourished her new fish at her brother.
For a moment, Octavia’s guard loosened as she stared at this grim scenario in front of her.
"What are you looking at?" Serena asked, her gaze wandering around the empty waters.
Octavia’s expression immediately steeled, shaking her head from her thoughts. "It’s nothing..."
"Just a memory," she muttered under her breath.
Urged by this vision, Octavia quickly turned towards Serena. "I can only give the Reborn company one more week before I accept the other company’s offer."
"What?! That’s way too soon. How are they going to fix the lake if you don’t give them enough time?!"
Octavia’s eyes reeled back to that vision—no, that memory—before shaking her head. Protecting her territory and her peace was more important.
"I’m sorry. But I have to secure my campaign."
Serena almost wanted to burst out. "Campaign this, campaign that. Why don’t you consider the well-being of your fellow mermen first?"
"I AM!" Octavia shouted, her voice echoing through the calm waters.
These two princesses had completely different opinions. Serena knew that the quality of life for all Mermen would increase drastically if Reborn were to be the one to help them in this place. But of course, Octavia knew nothing about them and was reasonably suspicious of their so-called promises.
Octavia wasn’t just responsible for herself, but the entirety of the invertebrate Mermen in the lake.
"You have to give them at least a month!"
"A week and a half is all I can give them."
"Oh come on! It’s like you don’t even want to give them a chance!"
It was in that moment that they suddenly heard the sounds of bubbling water from the surface above.
They both looked up and saw a familiar face waving at them.
It was Michael.
...
...
...
Michael descended into the bottoms with the bubble, seeing the tense situation between the two.
"Woah... what happened here?"
Serena, with her hands crossed on her chest said, "Ask her. She’s backing out of our arrangement."
"I’m not backing out. I’m only giving a timeframe for Reborn."
"Yeah, a week! That’s barely nothing, right, Mich—"
Just as Serena was about to reveal his real name, Michael quickly interrupted their conversation.
"A week is totally fine."
"See, I am indignant at this—you said what now?!"
Even Octavia was stunned at his acceptance. "You’re fine with this?"
Michael nodded. "Yeah. that’s plenty of time. Realistically, the Reborn company will need about three to four days of setting up before we’re done. It will take another one or two days before the results can be seen, so a week is actually acceptable."
Princess Octavia stared at Michael with complete and utter shock. She didn’t know if she should be amazed or suspicious.
Meanwhile, Serena on the other hand, couldn’t help but erupt in a fit of laughter. "HAHAHA! I see, I see! Yes, of course!"
Octavia ignored the obvious maniacal laughter coming from her sister and moved closer to Michael.
"I do not appreciate pranks. More so liars."
Michael shrugged. "It’s true. I have the solution right here," he said just as a giant shadow flowed out from his feet and out into the open waters.