A few moments later, the twelve Black Cards found themselves at a pristine beach within the kingdom. "Beach time!" the upperclassmen shouted, already in their swim trunks as they sprinted toward the sparkling water, their excitement infectious.
Elowen and Mel sat on the warm sand, Elowen still in her school uniform while Mel was stripped down to just his pants, no shirt, socks, or shoes. Mel glanced at her curiously. "Why aren't you in the water?"
Elowen straightened up, adopting a confident, almost regal expression. "A future queen like me has no time for trivial beach fun," she declared. But then, her gaze dropped to the sand, and her bravado faltered.
"You're afraid of water, aren't you?" Mel asked softly. Elowen hesitated before giving a small nod, her usual confidence fading.
Mel nodded in understanding, then scooped up a handful of sand, letting it sift through his fingers. "I've never seen a beach before," he admitted. "The man who raised me used to say it's where people go to have fun with friends and meet girls—kind of like what Dorian's doing right now." He pointed to Dorian, who was surrounded by girls, flexing his muscles and soaking up the attention.
Elowen chuckled, standing up and brushing the sand off her clothes. "Come on, we'll swim together," she said with a warm smile.
Mel grinned, rising to his feet. "Really? I thought you were afraid of the water," he teased, noticing the slight tremor in her response.
"I am," she admitted, her voice wavering just a bit. "But I know you wouldn't let anything happen to me. You're the one who saved us from falling into the water, remember?" She playfully punched his stomach, and he laughed, rubbing the spot where she hit.
"Yeah, that was definitely the hardest thing I've ever done," he joked, stretching his arm. As he moved, he felt something soft against the back of his hand. He absentmindedly brushed against it, then began squeezing. "This is soft..." he muttered, turning around only to realize he was touching Princess Rue's stomach. His eyes widened in horror.
"Perv," Rue muttered, her tone icy. Mel yanked his hand back in a panic. "No, no, no! That was a mistake!" he stammered. "Real men would never touch a man without consent!"
Rue's shoe transformed into a rocket boot, and before he could react, she kicked him square in the face, sending him flying into the water. He let out a loud, goofy scream as he splashed down.
Elowen groaned, crossing her arms as she glared at Rue. "What are you doing here, Princess Rue? Shouldn't red cards be in school?"
Rue laughed, her boots powering down. "School? I'm the princess of this kingdom—I go where I want, when I want. How about you? Not wearing a bathing suit because you're afraid too many boys won't be interested?" She smirked, gesturing to her own stylish purple swimsuit.
Elowen sighed, glancing over Rue's shoulder to see a group of boys approaching. "I can pick up boys if I want," she declared, striding past Rue and deliberately bumping shoulders with her.
She confidently walked up to a tall boy, looking up at him with a polite smile. "Hello, I'm Elowen Pendragon. And you are?" she asked, offering a small curtsy.
The boy looked down at her, extending his hand. "Hello," he replied simply.
Elowen reached out, but her nerves got the best of her. As she grabbed his hand, it was slick with sweat. She began shaking his hand, a bit too vigorously, causing the boy to wince. "You need to calm down!" Rue called out from behind, but it was too late. In her flustered state, Elowen accidentally flung the boy into the water with surprising force. "Whoops."
Meanwhile, Mel found himself lying on his back at the very bottom of the ocean. The water around him was pitch black, and when he tried to float to the surface, nothing happened. He tapped his chin, puzzled. "I can breathe underwater?" he wondered aloud, watching as bubbles drifted from his mouth.
He pushed off the ocean floor with his feet and glanced up, realizing just how far the surface was. Pulling out his book, he noticed something strange—it wasn't wet at all. "That's odd," he muttered, flipping through the dry, blank pages. "Maybe I can find some light."
Mel raised his hand, concentrating on the spell. "Night Sun," he whispered. Instantly, his hand began to glow, casting a soft light around him. But as the darkness receded, he noticed something that made his heart race—five enormous anglerfish had surrounded him, their sharp teeth gleaming in the eerie light.
He screamed, his voice muffled as bubbles escaped his mouth, and he took off running as fast as he could. The anglerfish chased after him, their massive jaws snapping dangerously close to his legs. Just as one was about to bite down, Mel flipped over all of them, changing direction in a desperate attempt to escape. He darted behind a large rock, extinguishing the light from his hand to hide in the darkness.
Peeking out cautiously, he sighed in relief when he saw that the creatures were gone. But as he turned back, his heart nearly stopped—they were right in front of him, ready to strike.
Suddenly, a figure appeared between him and the anglerfish. The boy whistled sharply, and the monstrous fish screeched in agony before swimming away as fast as they could.
Mel collapsed onto the ocean floor, looking up at the boy who had just saved him. He had long blue hair, tattered shorts, gills on his neck, and held a trident. "W-who are you?" Mel stammered, still shaken.
The boy grabbed Mel by the arm, pulling him to his feet. "I am Maren Poseidon, the king of Atlantis. What are you doing on my property?" he demanded, studying Mel's face. "No gills, yet you're breathing underwater? What exactly are you?"
Mel's eyes widened as he glanced past Maren, casting his night sun spell once more. The light revealed something that made his heart drop—the lost city of Atlantis, sprawled out before him in all its forgotten glory.
Mel's gaze swept across the vast expanse of the underwater city, and his heart sank at the breathtaking sight. Atlantis, once lost to the annals of time, now lay sprawled before him in an eerie yet majestic display of ancient grandeur.
The city was a labyrinth of towering spires and colossal domes, all crafted from shimmering coral and luminescent stone that glowed softly in the underwater gloom. The structures were adorned with intricate carvings of mythical sea creatures and flowing patterns that seemed to dance in the dim light of Mel's spell. Enormous arches and bridges connected the buildings, their surfaces encrusted with glittering gemstones that caught and refracted the light.
Great columns rose like the trunks of underwater trees, their bases surrounded by gardens of bioluminescent flora that pulsed with soft hues of blue and green. Between the buildings, vast canals of crystal-clear water meandered, their surfaces rippling gently as schools of vibrant fish swam past, their scales flashing like living rainbows.
In the distance, the silhouette of a colossal palace emerged from the depths, its spires reaching toward the surface like the fingers of an ancient god. The palace was adorned with massive, gold-encrusted tridents and intricate mosaics depicting scenes of gods and mythical beasts. Surrounding it was a grand amphitheater, its stone seats long since claimed by the sea, but still hinting at the grandeur of past performances.
The city was silent save for the soft hum of the water and the occasional distant murmur of sea creatures. An aura of solemnity and faded glory hung over Atlantis, its once-proud streets now covered in layers of sand and coral, but still echoing the memories of its lost civilization.
"What is this place?" He stood up and looked in awe. Maren walked and dragged Mel with him. "You've never heard of Atlantis? It's one of the strongest kingdoms." He groaned and showed Mel the local places in Atlantis.
Mel awed at everything and followed Maren. "This is amazing!"
Back on the surface, Draven walked up to Elowen and Rue and groaned when he saw Rue. Rue sat up from laying in the sand and scoffed. "What? You gonna do? Tell uncle Thad?"
Draven's eyes widened with disbelief as he turned to the group. "Forget about the spoiled princess—has anyone seen Mel?"
Elowen, rising from the sand, pointed anxiously towards the water. "Rue knocked him into the ocean," she said matter-of-factly. Draven's face went pale as he processed the information.
"You let the son of a wizard dictator, who was raised in captivity for 15 years, fall into the waters of Atlantis?" Draven's voice trembled with frustration as he rubbed his temples. "Do you even understand what kind of danger he's in?"
Elowen's eyes widened with alarm, and she turned to Rue, who was brushing sand from her clothes. "You knew that was Atlantis, didn't you?"
Rue merely shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "Go save your friend's life if you care so much," she said, a hint of malice in her tone. "Maybe we'll talk later if you manage to get him out of this mess." With a mocking laugh, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving the group in stunned silence.
Draven grabbed her by the back of her shirt. "Nope, you threw him in there and you're helping us get him out," He threw her behind him into the water and she screamed. We're gonna have to be careful, the king of Atlantis, Maren, is a pure psychopath." He said nonchalantly to Elowen who looked shocked at how casual he was.
Back in Atlantis, Mel and Maren walked and Maren turned to Mel, "So who are you?" He asked and Mel, who held four roasted fish sticks, brought his finger to his chin. "I'm Melanthius, I'm a prince but I don't have a kingdom. My father's the wizard Merlin, you probably heard of him."
Maren approached a field where a group of fish hybrid children were playing an energetic game. They skillfully deflected a ball of blue energy with their hands and dribbled it with their feet, their movements fluid and graceful. As Maren watched, he turned to Mel with a thoughtful expression.
"So, you're the son of Merlin, the wizard king who conquered so many kingdoms," Maren said, his tone neutral but laced with curiosity. "Your father caused a lot of trouble for my father, Triton, and his people. But that doesn't mean we have to carry any malice between us."
Mel barely registered Maren's words, his attention completely captured by the game the kids were playing. "What's that?" he asked, pointing at the glowing ball of energy.
Maren followed his gaze and walked over to the children, gently taking the ball from them. "This," Maren explained, holding up the glowing orb, "is a bioluminescent crystal. The locals here came up with a game called Spell Ball using it." He handed the crystal back to the kids, who eagerly resumed their play.
Mel approached the kids and asked if he could join their game. The children nodded eagerly and kicked the ball over to him. As soon as his hand made contact, a searing pain shot through him—the crystal burned into his skin, leaving a smoldering hole in his palm. He let out a groan and dropped to his knees, clutching his wrist in agony.
Maren immediately rushed to Mel's side, crouching beside him. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern etched across his face. He gently rubbed his trident against Mel's injured hand, and the wound healed instantly. Mel flexed his fist, his eyes wide in amazement. "Wow, is that your father's weapon or something?" he asked, still in awe, and as he looked up, he saw Maren with a cold expression on his face, sending a shiver down Mel's spine. "Yes," Maren muttered, "that would've been dangerous."
Meanwhile, the rest of the black cards, along with Rue, trudged along the ocean floor. Thanks to Kai's powers, a protective bubble allowed them to breathe underwater, while Astroman's gravity magic kept them from floating away. Rue crossed her arms, clearly displeased as Draven dragged her along the ocean floor. "This is not how I imagined spending my first day at school," she grumbled.
Jasper's gruff voice echoed through the water as he chuckled. "You didn't even go to school."
Draven turned to Laurel, who was rubbing her temples in frustration. "Have you sensed him?" he asked, a hint of urgency in his voice.
Laurel sighed, exasperated. "It would be a lot easier to use my psychic powers if you all would stop talking and let me concentrate!" she snapped. The group fell silent, allowing her to focus.
"Finally," Laurel murmured in relief, closing her eyes. "Atlantis is just up ahead. I can feel Mel... he was hurt—but something healed him."
"I can't believe you dragged me away from all those amazing women just to find Mel," Dorian grumbled, his tone dripping with irritation. Elowen, not missing a beat, smacked the back of his head. "Don't you think that if any of us went missing, Mel would be the first to come looking for us?" she snapped, her eyes narrowing at him. Dorian rubbed the sore spot, reluctantly nodding in agreement.
As they continued walking, Dorian sidled up to Emrys, his eyes wandering over her bikini before he flashed a smirk. "So, you come around here often?" he asked with a playful grin. Emrys responded by slapping him with a burst of green fire, the flames licking at his cheek without burning him. "OW!" he yelped, rubbing his face but still admiring the fire. "So... if you don't mind me asking, what's everyone's abilities?"
Emrys, surprised that he was still standing there after being slapped, sighed and gave a small shrug. "Draven's a dragon-human hybrid," she began, listing off their group's powers. "Jasper can forge weapons using the iron from living things. Kai's got wind and water magic. Laurel, being the daughter of the spirit queen, has psychic abilities. I'm a pyrokinetic—my fire comes in different types: red for burning, blue to create weapons, yellow for healing, and green doesn't burn at all."
Dorian listened intently as she continued. "Kali can create clones of herself, and each clone grows stronger than the last. Amara has ice manipulation. Cassius, despite looking like a small human, is a minotaur hybrid with the strength of 10,000 minotaurs. And Astroman controls gravity."
Dorian whistled, impressed. "That's some serious firepower," he muttered, more respectful now.
Emrys nodded and then asked, "What about the freshmen? What are their powers?"
Dorian's expression turned smug as he began. "Well, Elowen is the daughter of Arthur Pendragon. She wields Excalibur, and as you saw during the black card introduction, she can probably wield lightning also. Mel? He's a wizard, I guess—so far, he's just shown some strength and made it rain." He added with a touch of annoyance. "And as for me? I'm the son of Dracula, half-vampire, so the sun doesn't bother me. You could say I'm the strongest around here." He stretched, his confidence radiating.
Suddenly, they were surrounded by a group of massive anglerfish, their bioluminescent lights casting an eerie glow in the murky water. The students quickly pressed their backs together, forming a tight circle. Rue's eyes widened in confusion. "What the hell?! Why are they so huge?!" she exclaimed.
Elowen drew Excalibur, her face lighting up with a grin. "Didn't think I'd be fighting on my first day of school," she remarked.
Draven spread his wings protectively behind her. "Why don't you let the upperclassmen handle this?" he suggested with a smirk. Elowen nodded, sheathing Excalibur. "Alright, I've been meaning to see what you can do anyway."
Meanwhile, deep within the ancient and mysterious city of Atlantis, Mel had spent the last few hours exploring its wonders. The city, with its towering coral spires and luminescent structures, was unlike anything he had ever imagined. The streets were bustling with Atlanteans, a mix of human and aquatic hybrids, each moving with a grace that came from living underwater. The bioluminescent lights that lined the streets and buildings cast an otherworldly glow, giving the entire city a dreamlike quality.
Mel found himself mesmerized by the Atlantean culture. He wandered through vibrant markets where vendors sold everything from glowing crystals to exotic sea creatures, all while conversing in a language that sounded like a blend of musical notes and flowing water. He tried delicacies made from seaweed and strange, yet delicious, seafood that he'd never seen before.
Mel took a hearty bite of the grilled fish on a stick, savoring the flavor as he trailed behind Maren. "I gotta say, this might be better than anything in the Auroria Dominion," he mumbled through a mouthful, thoroughly impressed by the Atlantean cuisine. Maren gave a proud nod, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "My people are considered the best of the best—"
Before Maren could finish, a frail, homeless man staggered up to them, hacking violently. "K-King Maren, please heal me!" the man begged, desperation dripping from his voice as he clung to Maren's arm.
Maren's expression darkened instantly, his pride turning to disgust. Without a second thought, he seized the back of the man's head and viciously slammed his face into the nearest wall. "You think I'd waste my trident on someone like you?!" he snarled, his voice laced with contempt. The man's body crumpled to the ground as Maren delivered a brutal kick to his stomach, his eyes flashing with a manic rage.
The shift in Maren's demeanor was startling, a stark contrast to the composed and regal figure he had been moments before. Mel froze, the scene unfolding before him more than he could have anticipated. The raw display of power and the sheer lack of compassion left him both shocked and uneasy, a gnawing sense of dread creeping up his spine as he stared at the Atlantean king who had just moments ago spoken of his people's greatness.
Maren continued to rain kicks on the defenseless man until Mel, unable to bear the brutality any longer, rushed forward and yanked him away. "Stop!" Mel shouted, his voice cracking with urgency.
Maren paused, his breath heavy, and after a moment, he adjusted his shorts and casually wiped his fist against his bare chest, as if nothing had happened. "Now, where were we?" he asked nonchalantly, turning to continue down the path.
Mel looked down at the man, whose chest no longer rose or fell. The realization that the man had stopped breathing hit him like a punch to the gut. He rubbed his head, trying to make sense of what had just happened, but when he glanced up at Maren, he was met with a cold, piercing glare. "I said, come on, Mel," Maren demanded, his tone icy and impatient.
Reluctantly, Mel followed, his face flushing with anger, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His thoughts churned with a growing sense of unease. "He broke my moral code... A real man never inflicts unnecessary violence, and an even better man never kills his people," Mel reflected bitterly, his respect for Maren crumbling as they walked on in tense silence.
Meanwhile, the nine students were engaged in their own battles against the massive anglers. Draven faced three of the creatures that darted at him with alarming speed. "I haven't fought since the jester incident," he remarked with a calm detachment. He deftly evaded their attacks, and with a swift motion, his wings sliced through the water, turning the anglers into a mess of floating pieces.
Amara, with her hands raised, conjured ice spears that pierced the hearts of several anglers. She watched as they thrashed and then stilled. "I wonder how the freshmen are enjoying their first day of school," she mused aloud, a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she surveyed the battlefield.
Laurel, standing apart from the others, used her psychic powers to turn the anglers against each other. The sight of the creatures attacking one another left her feeling drained. "I'm so tired," she muttered, her voice heavy with annoyance as she forced herself to keep going.
Each of the students fought with skill and precision, but the unease in the water was palpable, as if something darker was lurking just beyond the horizon.
Rue, Dorian, and Elowen crouched behind a massive rock, their breaths quick and shallow. Rue gnawed on her fingers, her fear palpable. "Why did I even come here?! You guys are the worst!" she hissed, her voice trembling with frustration.
Elowen shot her an exasperated glance. "Maybe you shouldn't have tossed Gino into the water to begin with," she retorted, her tone sharp as she kept an eye on their surroundings.
Dorian, who had been scanning the area, suddenly stiffened. His eyes locked onto something in the distance. "Draven! Atlantis is just down there!" he shouted, pointing towards the fallen entrance below.
Draven turned, his wings unfurling slightly. "You go get Mel! We'll hold off these monsters," he called back as an overwhelming swarm of anglers closed in on them. With a weary sigh, he added, "I can't wait to graduate," before leading the upperclassmen into the fray, their forms becoming a blur of motion and power.
Dorian, Elowen, and a reluctant Rue, who was being practically dragged by Elowen, sprinted towards Atlantis. In a flash, Dorian transformed into a bat, his wings spreading wide as he lifted both Elowen and Rue effortlessly, their weight nothing to his immense strength.
Elowen watched in quiet amazement as they soared through the water. "He can fly, huh," she murmured, nodding in acknowledgment as they raced towards the heart of Atlantis, determination driving them forward.
As Mel and Maren strolled through the vast corridors of Atlantis, Maren spoke at length about the kingdom's history, recounting tales of glory and power. But Mel barely heard a word. His mind was clouded with anger and confusion over the senseless violence he had witnessed. What's wrong with this man? Mel wondered, his thoughts darkening with every step they took.
Out of the corner of his eye, Mel noticed a heavy curtain drawn over an alcove, slightly out of place in the otherwise open space. Curiosity gnawed at him, and he felt an irresistible pull. Without a word, he approached the curtain and pulled it back.
What he saw made his blood run cold.
The room was filled with paintings, each one depicting him—but older, draped in a dark robe, wearing a black crown. In every image, he loomed over a crowd of people who looked like a twisted mix of slaves and knights, their faces etched with despair and fear. He then realized that it wasn't him, but Merlin–his father.
Mel's eyes were drawn to the wall, where a message was scrawled in dark, dried blood:
"Father, it's been years since you were killed by Merlin. I haven't slept a wink since. I've done things I'm not proud of—to our people, to my friends. I can't rule over Atlantis until I kill Merlin's son, so he can feel the same pain I've felt. Luckily, due to your curse on Merlin's blood, they're banned from swimming in the ocean, or touching anything bioluminescent, it'll be easy to kill them. I swear, Father, I'll help him atone."
The weight of the words sank deep into Mel's chest. His breath caught in his throat, and a chilling realization dawned on him. Before he could fully process what he had read, a sharp pain exploded through his back.
Mel gasped, staggering forward as he felt the cold, unforgiving metal of Maren's trident impale him.
Maren's voice, now void of the warmth he once feigned, whispered coldly into Mel's ear, "I never intended for you to leave here alive, Merlin's son."
Mel coughed out black blood as the trident pierced his heart. He fell to the ground and Maren removed it.
"Thousand Fang Slash!" Dorian roared as he launched himself at Maren, his fingers elongating into razor-sharp claws. He slashed at Maren with blinding speed, delivering a flurry of strikes that sent Maren hurtling into a nearby building with a deafening crash. The impact left cracks spiderwebbing through the stone.
As the dust settled, Dorian, Elowen, and Rue rushed to Mel's side. Elowen knelt down, cradling Mel's head in her lap, her eyes wide with panic. "Mel, wake up! Please, wake up!" she cried, her voice breaking as she desperately shook him. But Mel lay still, his breathing shallow and faint.
Dorian lowered his head in grief, the weight of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders. He turned to Maren, who staggered to his feet, coughing up blood, yet a twisted smile still curled his lips.
"It's useless," Maren spat, his voice laced with cruel satisfaction. "He was stabbed through the heart. The ocean is poison to Merlin's blood. Ever since he set foot in Atlantis, his magical strength has been draining away. Melanthius Shadowbane… is dead." He let out a dark, maniacal laugh that echoed through the shattered streets.
Elowen gently laid Mel's head down and rose to her feet, her face contorted with rage. The air around her seemed to crackle with raw energy. Maren's laughter continued, oblivious to the storm brewing in her eyes. But then, like a flash of lightning, Elowen was upon him. She unleashed a barrage of punches into his gut, each one landing with a thunderous boom, driving the air from his lungs and blood from his mouth.
Maren slammed into the wall again, his body trembling from the impact. He struggled to rise, but before he could, Elowen drew Excalibur, its blade gleaming with a deadly light. She slashed at him repeatedly, each strike cutting deeper into his flesh. "Stop, please!" Maren pleaded, his voice cracking with fear as he raised his trident in a desperate defense.
Maren summoned water balls with the force of bullets, hurling them at Elowen. They pierced her chest like a hail of gunfire, but she didn't stop. Fueled by fury and grief, she kept coming, her eyes locked onto Maren with a single, unwavering focus—vengeance.
Maren lunged at Elowen, thrusting his trident with deadly precision. Elowen met the attack head-on, deflecting the strike with Excalibur. The clash of their weapons rang out like thunder, sparks flying as steel met steel. Their battle intensified, each blow exchanged with ferocious speed and power. Maren's trident struck with the force of the ocean's wrath, but Elowen parried every strike with the unyielding strength of Excalibur, their weapons a blur of motion as they engaged in a relentless duel.
Dorian suddenly appeared behind Maren, slashing at the back of his neck with a dagger. But Maren was quick—he conjured a shield of water to protect himself, deflecting the strike. With a deep breath, he exhaled forcefully, causing water bubbles to form around Dorian and Elowen's heads, cutting off their air supply. The protective bubble that Kai had placed in their chests began to fade, and they started to struggle for breath, their bodies convulsing as they began to drown.
The citizens of Atlantis gathered around, their faces etched with fear and confusion. Maren's eyes darted from one terrified face to another, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "Don't worry, everyone! Your future king will save you!" he jeered, expecting applause. But the crowd remained silent, their fear turning into something darker—disgust.
Anger flared in Maren's eyes as he snarled, "Cheer for your king!" His voice echoed off the walls, but no one responded.
Suddenly, a little girl, her eyes brimming with tears, stepped forward and hurled a spell ball at Maren. It hit him with a crackling burst of energy. "You've terrorized this kingdom! You're not a king—you're a bully who kills his people! That sick man was my brother, and he needed your help, but you murdered him!" She cried, her gills shaking as she screamed.
The crowd began to murmur, their fear giving way to a collective rage, as Maren's cruel reign was laid bare by the innocent voice of a child.
"Is that how it is?" Maren sneered, his eyes narrowing with malice. "It doesn't matter. I did what had to be done. Now, everyone bow down to me," he commanded, raising his trident high. In an instant, colossal golems formed from the surrounding stone, their eyes glowing ominously. Alongside them, enormous anglerfish with razor-sharp teeth emerged from the dark waters, summoned by Maren's twisted will. "Or die."
One of the massive golems loomed over Rue, who was still crouched beside Mel's unconscious form. Her body trembled as she looked up at the impending doom. "AHH! I don't want to die! I didn't even get to attend my first day of school! I only acted like a brat since I'm powerless! I wanted to be cool like the black cards!" she cried out, tears streaming down her face. Her confession spilled out as the golem's shadow darkened over her, its massive foot ready to crush her.
Just as the golem's foot came crashing down, there was a blinding flash of light. The golem shattered into countless pieces, its remains raining down like gravel. When the dust settled, Rue and Mel were gone.
High above, on the rooftop of a nearby building, Mel stood, cradling Rue in his arms. A deep scar marred his chest, evidence of the battle he had survived. Despite the pain, he looked down at her with a gentle smile. "You think I'm cool?" he asked, his voice soft but laced with determination.
Rue, still trembling, slowly opened her eyes and blinked in disbelief. "What—? You're alive?!" Her voice quivered with astonishment.
Maren's confidence faltered as he looked up and saw them, fear creeping into his eyes. The realization that his power might not be enough to crush Mel made his blood run cold.
Mel raised his hand, and a dense cloud formed, enveloping Elowen and Dorian's heads, providing them with the oxygen they desperately needed. With a calm precision, he gently placed Rue on top of the building, ensuring her safety before leaping down to confront Maren.
His eyes swept over the frightened citizens and the towering golems that loomed over them. He turned his gaze to Maren, his voice steady and commanding, "For the sins of inflicting violence on my friends, your people, and myself—and for the murder of innocent men—Maren, son of Triton, god of the sea and ruler of Atlantis, you are no longer the king of Atlantis."
Mel's eyes flicked to Excalibur, gleaming with latent power. "I can't defeat him without a weapon," he thought, crouching down and reaching for the legendary sword.
Rue's voice rang out, filled with panic. "Are you insane?! If you try to pick up Excalibur as an unworthy person, you'll die instantly! Just being the son of Merlin makes you unworthy!"
But to everyone's shock, Mel lifted Excalibur with ease, its power surging through him. He smiled, a hint of humor in his voice as he glanced at Rue, "That wasn't so hard," he said with a light chuckle.