With bleach system in the novel "The pregnant villainous princess.”

******

Chapter 9. Soon there will be Snowstorm.

Word counts---- 1800

Enjoy ~~~~

*******""

The teacher's voice rang out sharply, trying to calm the chaos among the students. "Stay here! Don't panic. A professor is going to check what's going on out there."

But as the minutes dragged on, the trembling of the ship grew worse, and anxiety began to settle over everyone.

"Hey, hey, Sister Veronica, let's go see what's happening outside!" Lylia whispered excitedly, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Don't be ridiculous, Lylia! Who knows how dangerous it might be out there?" Guinevere reprimanded her, folding her arms and shooting a stern look.

Veronica tilted her head, a curious glint in her eyes. "Hmmm, I am also curious..."

"Princess!" Guinevere groaned, exasperated. She suddenly felt as though she'd been saddled with two troublesome children.

Veronica, though usually sharp and composed, had a tendency to be swept away by her curiosity, while Lylia's obsession with black magic and doll-making often led her into risky ventures. "Why am I the only sensible one here?" Guinevere muttered under her breath, thinking back wistfully to her calmer friends.

"Don't worry, don't worry!" Lylia chirped, waving a hand dismissively. "We've got big brother here. Even if it's dangerous outside, he can be our meat shield!"

Shinji, standing a little distance away, froze at the statement. 'Meat shield'?

"Lylia..." Veronica began, her tone disapproving. But after a brief pause, she rephrased herself, "Like Lylia said, don't think too much about it, Guinevere. Shinji is strong. He can protect us."

Though she tried to make her words sound more thoughtful, a small pang of guilt flickered in Veronica's expression. She didn't feel it was fair to sacrifice Shinji like that, even if it was technically his duty as a guard.

Shinji, however, was far from amused. "How many times do I have to say this? I can hear you!" he whispered, his patience wearing thin.

'And Lylia...' Shinji thought grimly, suppressing a sigh. 'I thought you were a sweet kid. But no, you're the most dangerous one here! I was even planning to buy you some ice cream later, but now I'm rethinking everything.'

Shinji then muttered to himself, his thoughts spiraling. 'Isn't this supposed to be Veronica's story? I signed up thinking this was a regular shoujo novel. Now it's starting to feel like a chaotic adventure novel'!

Meanwhile, the girls—unbothered by Shinji's inner turmoil—decided to sneak out through another door while the teachers were distracted. The trio slipped outside onto the deck, dragging Shinji along.

What greeted them made their hearts pound. Veronica and Guinevere froze, their eyes widening in shock as the scene before them unfolded. The sight of the massive, ancient gladiator towering over the ship stole the breath from their lungs.

Lylia, however, looked utterly delighted. Her eyes sparkled with fascination, and a small string of drool escaped from the corner of her mouth. "Wow... amazing!" she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "Do you think I can make him into a giant doll?"

"Lylia!" Guinevere snapped, shaking her out of her trance.

Meanwhile, Shinji's jaw hung open as he stared at the ancient gladiator, who was engaged in a tense conversation with Eudora. He couldn't help but think, What kind of crazy story have I been dragged into?

"I owe him a debt," Atlas rumbled, his voice shaking the very deck. "I lay dormant at the ocean's depths for centuries. He freed me. In return, I granted him three wishes. One of them is my protection."

Eudora's face contorted with frustration as she tried to think of a way to turn the situation around. Behind her, Guinevere muttered, "A gladiator granting a lifetime of protection for three wishes? Who wrote that contract, a scam artist?"

Veronica's sharp eyes darted between Eudora and the creature. "It's no wonder that Professor is struggling to keep a straight face," she whispered to Guinevere. "Even she can't believe this nonsense."

Meanwhile, Lydia's eyes sparkled as she tugged at Veronica's sleeve. "Do you think he can teach me how to summon abysmal sea creatures too? I could make one into a giant doll!"

"Lydia, please focus," Guinevere groaned, dragging the younger girl back by her collar.

Shinji stood motionless, letting their chatter fade into the background. His mind, however, was racing. He clenched his fists and, without hesitation, took a step forward.

"Are you an idiot?" he suddenly shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos'. I cannot take this bullshit even in my home planet the myth of wishing lap didn't grant such rediculios wishes.'

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Every head turned toward Shinji, disbelief and shock written across their faces.

Eudora's jaw dropped, her composed demeanor cracking for the first time. "Did... did he just call the gladiator an idiot?"

Veronica gasped, stepping forward. "Shinji, are you insane? That thing is bigger than our whole family tree combined!"

Guinevere pinched the bridge of her nose. "Of all the reckless people here, i didn't think the possibility of you to bring caous."

Even Bane froze for a moment, his mocking laughter caught mid-chuckle. He turned to Atlas, expecting him to crush Shinji on the spot. "Gladiator, you're not gonna let some blind brat talk to you like that, are you?"

Atlas, however, tilted his massive head and rumbled in confusion. "What do you mean by that, boy?"

Shinji, unfazed by the reactions around him, crossed his arms and continued. "Didn't you say you've been dormant for centuries?"

"Yes," Atlas replied, his tone genuinely curious. "Today is my first day above the ocean in what feels like an eternity."

"Then aren't you curious about the world? About what's changed in all that time?" Shinji asked.

Atlas leaned closer, his massive eyes narrowing. "I am curious. The ocean has shifted, and the air smells different. But what does that have to do with my agreement with him?"

Shinji sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Everything. You're an ancient being with untold power, yet you're wasting it playing bodyguard for a guy with an octopus for a head."

At that, Bane's face turned red with fury. "You little—"

"Silence," Atlas interrupted, raising one enormous hand to hush Bane. "I... don't get it."

Shinji smirked. "Let me put it this way. You've been around for centuries, right? You should know that there are ways to extend someone's lifespan—magic, potions, artifacts. People live for thousands of years in history books. Why would someone as powerful as you tie yourself down for a lifetime to be his glorified babysitter?"

Atlas's massive form stilled as he processed the words. "I... I hadn't thought of that."

"You haven't thought of that?" Eudora hissed under her breath. She pinched the bridge of her nose, so let me get this straight," she interjected. "A legendary creature it's being scammed... and it's working?"

Bane, now visibly fuming, stomped forward. "Don't listen to him, Atlas! He's trying to deceive you!"

But Atlas held up a hand again. "Quiet, I want to hear more from this boy."

Shinji ignored the chaos around him and stepped closer to Atlas, his voice calm. "Think about it. You have the strength to crush entire fleets, the wisdom of centuries, and the curiosity to explore the world. Why would you waste that on someone else's selfish desires?"

Atlas tilted his head, his glowing eyes narrowing in thought. "But he freed me from the ocean's depths. I owe him a debt."

"And that's fine," Shinji replied. "But do you really think chaining yourself to him for eternity is the best way to repay it? If anything, you're letting yourself be used. Is that what you want your legacy to be?"

The massive creature rumbled, a sound like rolling thunder. "I... don't know."

Bane, on the other hand, was shaking with rage. "You insolent brat! Do you want to be buried alive deep inside the sea?"

Shinji waved a dismissive hand in Bane's direction. "Yeah, yeah, lord of the high seas or whatever. Nobody cares."

Atlas's massive frame loomed still as his deep voice resonated like thunder, shaking the very air. "I cannot walk away from this agreement. What alternative do you propose?" His question hung heavy, like a verdict waiting to be cast.

Shinji's expression didn't flinch, his calm defiance unwavering. "Simple. Just amend the terms. Instead of eternal protection, make it three protections—three wishes, three times. No more, no less."

For a moment, the ancient being's eyes narrowed in thought, his immense presence stilling the chaos around them. "That... is possible. Yes, I can do that."

Bane, watching this exchange, scoffed with disdain, though his expression betrayed a flicker of desperation. "Don't be deceived, Atlas! Forget what that brat says. If you want, I can nullify the agreement entirely and renegotiate. Make it even more in your favor!" His voice was thick with urgency, his silver tongue working overtime.

But Atlas, unfazed, glanced down at Bane with something akin to pity. "I don't need your offer. What I want is what the rule is, but as the rightful order of the oceans. I have already fulfilled one of your wishes. That leaves two. Do you intend to use one now?" The gladiator's booming tone left no room for argument.

Bane's face twisted, his anger barely contained as it simmered into a deep purple hue. His fingers twitched with rage, his teeth grinding audibly. He wanted nothing more than to obliterate the smug child who dared meddle in his plans. Yet, his own survival instincts whispered caution.

'If I waste a wish here, I'll lose the advantage over that blasted mermaid queen,' Bane thought bitterly. His ultimate goal—to parade Kadita's broken form as a trophy—was too enticing to risk.

A storm of fury overtook him as he bellowed, "It doesn't matter! Even without him, I can disintegrate you fools!" His voice was a snarl, his declaration a promise of destruction.

Raising his hooked arm to the sky, Bane unleashed his power. "Shark Wave!"

With his roar, the ocean responded violently. A monstrous swarm of sharks—thousands, no, millions—rose from the depths like a living tidal wave, their fins slicing through the water as they charged toward the ship with feral hunger. Their mouths gaped wide, rows of razor-sharp teeth gleaming under the eerie moonlight as they surged forward to destroy and feast.

The air turned electric with tension as the deck quaked beneath the onslaught.

"Watch and despair!" Bane bellowed, his laughter ringing out like the toll of a death knell. "This is the power of the ocean's wrath!" His voice grew colder as he lifted his weapon high.

"Sode no Shirayuki—the sleeve of white snow!"

As someone chant, The temperature plummeted instantly, the air filling with mist as snowflakes began to fall. The sound of ice cracking echoed faintly, foretelling the chaos to come.

"Hakka no Togame!"

-The showdown was about to start -

******

Sorry for being lazy [°_°]

******