The next morning, Mel awoke in a small hut in Atlantis, a far cry from the grand castle he had never even seen, let alone entered. His sleep had been restless, his body sprawled awkwardly on the simple bed in the back. As he rubbed his eyes, still blurry from the deep-sea pressure of sleeping at the literal bottom of the ocean. Still wearing his armored gloves, he yawned and swung his legs off the bed. Still in his school uniform, he lazily slipped on his shoes, deciding he'd ask Lance if he could shower at his place later.
He reached for the door, and as it creaked open, he was met by an unexpected sight—his entire fish army, all standing guard. There had to be at least a thousand of them, their shimmering scales catching the underwater light. Mel let out a tired sigh as Gosen, one of his largest soldiers, approached. Bowing deeply, Gosen held out Mel's ragged robe. Without a word, Mel took it and draped it over his shoulders, feeling the weight of command settle once again.
Mel let out a sharp whistle, and within moments, a massive megalodon shark surged through the water, parting the crowd with its sheer size. Without hesitation, Mel leapt onto its back, gripping the enormous fin as the shark prepared to take off. Just as they were about to swim away, Goda hurried forward, his expression earnest.
"My liege!" Goda called out, bowing deeply, followed by the rest of the army behind him. Mel glanced over his shoulder. "What is it, Goda?" he asked, his voice calm but curious. Goda shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the army's expectant gazes, before taking a deep breath and finally speaking.
"MY LIEGE!" Goda's voice boomed with emotion. "WHEN THE JESTER INCIDENT HAPPENED, WE WERE TERRIFIED—NOT FOR OUR LIVES, BUT BECAUSE WE FEARED YOU WOULD PERISH. You saved us from our former king—whose name we do not dare speak. You protected us during the Wild Storm Spider attack, and you stood against the Jester with the help of our former king. YOU are our true king!" Goda declared, his voice filled with reverence.
Mel slid off the megalodon, landing gracefully on the ground. "Goda, I did all of that because you're my people. There's no need to—"
But before he could finish, Goda interrupted, his voice growing more fervent. "AND NOW, when you've warned us of a potential king killer, we cannot allow you to leave! We want you to remain here, in your kingdom, where we can protect you!"
The weight of Goda's words lingered, and the entire army watched Mel in anticipation. He chuckled softly, a smile forming on his face. "If you wanted me to stay," he said warmly, "you could've just asked."
With a playful grin, Mel placed a hand on Goda's scaly head, giving it a gentle rub. As soon as he did, the reaction was immediate—just like every time before. The fish kingdom erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the water in a resounding display of loyalty and joy.
At the school, the black cards were prepping for training, stretching and loosening up. Astroman hovered in midair, meditating in a perfect lotus pose thanks to his gravity magic. Jasper, while stretching, glanced over and frowned. "Uh, what the hell are you doing?"
Kai, jumping rope nearby, chimed in without missing a beat. "What kind of dumbass question is that?"
Jasper shrugged. "It's not a dumbass question unless you count me asking a dumbass a question—except Astroman isn't a dumbass."
Kai rolled his eyes, pausing his jump rope routine. "Your question makes no sense. You can clearly see what he's doing. And stop calling him that dumbass name."
Jasper smirked. "There you go again, calling him a dumbass. I just want to know why he's doing it. Which brings me to my next question—"
Kai sighed in exasperation. "Why are you asking so many questions?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Why is he doing this?"
"Astroman isn't his name?" Dorian asked, casually fencing the air with his dagger.
Draven shook his head, arms crossed. "Nope. He's the prince of the Astronomer Royal. His real name is Akoni," Draven explained.
Astroman stopped levitating and walked over to Kai. "I'm not a dumbass," he muttered, giving him a shoulder bump. In response, Kai shoved him, knocking him to the ground. Astroman sprang up with a growl.
"When did the sophomores get so angsty?" Kai chuckled.
Astroman raised his hand, his eyes narrowing. "Focused pressure," he chanted. Instantly, Kai was slammed to the floor, pinned by the crushing weight of Astroman's gravity magic. Struggling to get up, Kai's nose began to bleed under the intense force.
"That's enough!" Jasper shouted, and Astroman released his hold. Kai gasped for air, his chest heaving from the strain. Fury flickered in his eyes as he stood up, seizing a bit of iron from Astroman's body. Forming a metal glove with it, Kai lashed out, delivering a punch that sent Astroman flying.
Astroman staggered to his feet, spitting blood onto the ground as he wiped his bruised lip. Jasper, still seething with fury, lunged to strike again, but before he could land another blow, Cassius stepped in. Now far stronger than when the black cards had fought Melanthius, Cassius effortlessly held Astroman back.
"Enough," he muttered. Astroman, still burning with defiance, tried to push Cassius away but found himself unable to—both physically and out of loyalty. He couldn't bring himself to use magic against a friend.
"Here," Cassius said, tossing a few chocolate bars his way. "Eat these, you need to replenish your iron."
Astroman caught them, nodding in gratitude, and bowed slightly before tearing one open, accepting the small gesture of peace.
King Aldara stood on the stage alongside the wardens, and with a single clap of his hands, the students quickly took their assigned seats. It didn't take long for them to notice that Clay was shirtless. Renita raised her hand, her curiosity too strong to ignore.
"Why is he shirtless?" she asked.
Clay groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. "Because apparently, nobody has a shirt," he muttered.
Jessica stepped forward, her eyes locking on the group. "We had a little... conversation with your friend last night," she said, nodding toward Clay. "He's strong."
Elowen and Dorian exchanged glances, tension thick in the air. "What happened?" Dorian asked, his voice edged with concern.
Clay growled before anyone could answer. "That's not important," he snapped, clearly eager to move things along. "Now, we've got a little challenge for you today."
He gestured to Jessica, who raised her hands, and in an instant, the scenery shifted. The students found themselves standing at the entrance of a dense forest.
"What are we doing here?" Lincoln asked, scratching the fleas out of his ear, even though he was in human form.
Jessica conjured weapons in front of each student. "This is a hunting challenge," she explained. "King Aldara gave us permission to booby trap this entire forest. And, to make things interesting, there are some... very dangerous people in there. People trained by the same man who trained us."
Her tone was serious as she continued, "Your goal is simple: survive the night without getting caught and tied to a tree. These weapons are ones you're already familiar with."
Elowen glanced down, spotting Excalibur gleaming before her. She reached for it, feeling its weight in her hands. Dorian spun his dagger skillfully before sliding it back into his holster. Arid knelt down, his fingers brushing a wooden staff covered in vines.
"Hell yeah," he grinned. "Finally, a chance to use my magic and prove I'm the strongest." The staff pulsed with green energy, and his eyes glowed in sync.
Jessica smirked. "You may use any means necessary to survive. And don't think we won't be joining in on the hunt."
Sonic chuckled darkly, the excitement in his eyes matching that of the students.
"Now!" the wardens called out, their voices cutting through the air. Jessica waved her hand, and in an instant, the students were scattered across the forest.
"They won't get hurt... right?" King Aldara asked nervously, the weight of responsibility starting to creep in.
Clay turned to him, sneering. "You asked us to train them and push them to their limits. If you're worried about them getting hurt, maybe you should head back to your castle."
"I'm upset," Clay added, his eyes narrowing as he looked to the sky.
Jessica, hearing his tone, glanced at him with a raised brow. "Why, da?" she asked, her thick accent cutting through the tension.
"Melanthius didn't show up. If we could take him down, how do you expect your students to survive us?" He smirked, referring to the other participants lurking in the forest, waiting for their prey.
Meanwhile, in Atlantis, Mel stood before his army of fish, watching them lift massive rocks as if they were weights. Some of them were even sparring, practicing the cloud martial arts techniques he had taught them. He raised an eyebrow, impressed.
"When did they get so strong?" Mel muttered under his breath, distracted by the sight of an elderly woman struggling to pull a heavy wagon nearby. Without hesitation, he jogged over to her. "Let me help you, ma'am," he offered, lifting the wagon with ease.
Just as he was about to move it, Goda appeared, taking the wagon from his hands. "My king, you shouldn't be doing labor like this," Goda said with a bow before carrying the wagon to where the woman directed him.
"Right... I'm a king," Mel said quietly to himself, glancing upwards toward the distant surface of the ocean. Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, making him jump. He spun around, eyes wide. "Oh, Jilcari! What's up?"
Jilcari bowed and presented a key shaped like a fin. "King Melanthius, I found this," he said respectfully.
Mel took the key, examining it curiously before glancing at the distant, towering castle of Atlantis. He had never set foot inside its grand halls, and holding the key now brought that reality sharply into focus.
"That's the key to the castle of Atlantis, isn't it?" Jilcari said, his voice filled with reverence. "Perhaps you can finally enter and truly claim your place as king—"
"No," Mel interrupted, shaking his head. "Entering the castle is out of the question. The generations that followed Maren... they must be rolling in their graves knowing I—the son of an overlord—defeated him and became the king of Atlantis. I can't face that."
Jilcari bowed lower. "I understand, my king. I will keep this secret between us."
"Thank you, Jilcari," Mel said softly, slipping the key into his robe. The weight of his title pressed a little heavier on his shoulders as he turned his gaze back toward the horizon.
"King, we've grown some ocean strawberries. Would you like to try one?" Ada, a fish lady with long, flowing seaweed-like hair, approached Mel, her woven basket brimming with vibrant green strawberries. Her skin had a soft, bluish tint that shimmered under the ocean's filtered sunlight, and her wide, motherly smile radiated warmth as she extended the basket toward him.
"What's a strawberry?" Mel raised an eyebrow in confusion. Ada giggled, her laughter like the gentle sound of water cascading over pebbles. "It's a type of fruit, my king," she said, selecting one and holding it up to his mouth with a playful glint in her eye.
Curious, Mel took a bite, and his eyes immediately widened in delight. The tart sweetness exploded on his tongue, making his taste buds dance with joy. "I thought apples were the only fruit!" he exclaimed, reaching eagerly for more and stuffing his mouth with enthusiasm.
Ada chuckled, pulling the basket slightly out of reach. "Slow down, King," she teased, patting his head with affection. "These are for the feast."
"A feast? For what?" Mel asked, cheeks full of strawberries and a bit of drool threatening to escape.
"We Atlanteans love Halloween so much that we've organized a grand feast in celebration," Ada explained, her eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought.
Mel's face paled mid-bite. The strawberries suddenly tasted less sweet as he coughed, spitting out bits of fruit in a panic. "A feast on Halloween?!" The memories of the Dragon's Rage Moon rushed back to him—uncontrollable fury and violence, his time in Caldara Bastille. The thought of attending such an event during Halloween filled him with dread.
"I-I can't attend that!" he blurted, gripping his stomach as anxiety churned within him.
Ada's smile faltered, her expression turning to one of disappointment. "Why not? Everyone was hoping you'd be our guest of honor," she said, lowering her gaze.
Mel's heart sank. "Wait, haha! I was just joking! Of course, I'll join the feast!" He awkwardly patted her seaweed-like hair in an attempt to reassure her.
Her face lit up immediately. "That's wonderful!" she beamed. "I'll go tell everyone!" With a joyful bounce in her step, she hurried off toward the heart of the town, leaving Mel standing alone, unsure of his next move.
As soon as she was gone, Mel glanced around before summoning a small cloud beneath his feet. In one smooth motion, he jumped on it, launching himself out of Atlantis with a splash and landing at the entrance of Solstice City in the Auroria Dominion. Lying on the ground, people stared and whispered about his abrupt arrival, but Mel barely noticed.
"I can't go out on Halloween. What am I supposed to do?!" he groaned, clutching his head in frustration.
Back in the forest, Renita moved cautiously, her rapier clutched tightly as her eyes darted from side to side. The dense trees loomed overhead, casting eerie shadows. Suddenly, a massive werewolf burst out from behind a tree, roaring with enough force to shake the ground. Her heart raced, and she let out a startled scream, ready to strike when—
"Wait, wait! It's just me!" Lincoln quickly transformed back into his human form, laughing nervously.
Renita groaned, her hand thudding against his chest. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she spat, glaring at him.
"Sorry, sorry, just a little icebreaker," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Have you found anyone yet?" she asked, crossing her arms impatiently.
"Nope," Lincoln replied, scanning the eerie surroundings. "It's spooky as hell in here though."
They started walking deeper into the forest, the silence between them broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves. Renita glanced at him. "So, how'd you end up here? You're obviously not that great at fighting, as we saw during the flag challenge." Her voice was teasing, but her eyes were curious.
Lincoln shrugged, looking up at the trees. "I was just hanging with my pack when King Aldara said I'd be a good fit. I guess it's because I'm the only werewolf in a family full of real wolves." He chuckled, then glanced at her. "What about you?"
Renita smiled slightly. "I'm from the Vampire's Crypt Runners clan. I know, it sounds weird, but we're the fastest vampires around." She laughed softly before continuing. "King Aldara came to the Biba Kingdom and said I should join the school." She shrugged, but before she could say more, they both heard an unsettling laugh echo behind them.
Turning quickly, they saw a man in monk robes standing a few feet away, his eyes narrowed in a mischievous grin. "Heya, kids," he greeted casually, waving as if they were old friends.
Without hesitation, Renita lunged forward, jabbing her rapier at him. The man moved with lightning speed, bending backward to dodge the strike effortlessly as dust swirled around them.
"We should get to know each other first," the monk chuckled, evading her follow-up attacks with ease. "I'm Dainin, from a wayward temple far from this continent," he introduced himself, sidestepping with fluid grace.
Lincoln shifted back into his wolf form and lunged, aiming to sink his teeth into Dainin's arm. But with a swift twist of his body, the monk spun Lincoln away, sending him crashing headfirst into a tree.
"Lincoln!" Renita shouted, but before she could react, Dainin appeared right in front of her, his movements almost a blur.
"Dainin means 'great patience,'" he said calmly, his voice almost teasing as Renita instinctively backed away.
"Why don't you talk to your wife about patience, old man?!" she snapped, rushing at him once more. But with a single fluid motion, he grabbed her face and hurled her into the air as if she weighed nothing.
"I can't," he said, his voice cracking with an unexpected sadness. "I'm divorced." He looked up at her soaring figure, his grin fading for a brief moment.
"That's two already," he muttered into the card that connected him with the wardens, his voice thick with emotion. He sniffled.
"Are you crying?" Ingrid's voice came through the card, laced with amusement.
"Shut up. There's a complication," he snapped, looking up just in time to see a flock of bats gently lowering Renita's unconscious body to the ground. As the bats reached the forest floor, they shifted back into Dorian, who stood with a smug grin.
"Old man, you should know something," Dorian announced, his tone cocky as he drew a dagger. "I'm the son of Vlad Dracula. So if you lose, don't be surprised. I'm just that strong."
The monk's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Ohh, you're the kid with zero points I heard about. That's too bad. I was hoping to fight someone worth my time—maybe Melanthius Shadowbane or Elowen Pendragon. How did I end up with the bottom of the barrel?"
The insult hit hard, and Dorian's eyes flared with fury. With a roar, he charged, dagger aimed at the monk's chest. But before he could land a blow, the monk sidestepped and threw a devastating punch, his fist crackling with green magic. The blow landed squarely in Dorian's side with bone-crushing force.
"Wasted potential, really," the monk chuckled as Dorian doubled over, blood spilling from his lips.
Dorian staggered, clutching his side, glaring at the monk with hate-filled eyes.
Blood dripped from Dorian's mouth, sizzling as it hit the ground and evaporated into the air. His chest heaved, and a grimace twisted his face. "Am I really weak?" he muttered, his eyes narrowing as his blood began to boil—just like it had when he fought Mel.
The temperature around him spiked, waves of heat radiating from his body. Dainin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Hm. So you do have a trick up your sleeve," he mused, cracking his knuckles.
"Bring it on." The monk's grin widened, eager to see what came next.