Chapter 46: The Lost City

“There are secrets that cannot be found in books… but deep beneath the sea.”

The world is vast, yet not always visible. Sometimes, the greatest things remain hidden — veiled by ancient currents, buried under layers of oblivion, protected by the fear of gods.
History tells that Atlantis was once a city of wisdom and splendor, a submerged jewel and, at the same time, an echo of betrayal. No one enters without paying a price… and no one leaves without being changed.
But time waits for no one. While men gaze at the surface, monsters awaken in the depths.
The question is simple, yet unavoidable:
What part of yourself will you leave behind to cross the border between myth… and truth?

——————————————————————————————————————————

A small ship swayed gently with the tide, anchored at the port.
Yohei watched the horizon with his hands in his pockets and a furrowed brow.
—Looks like this mission will be fun… Though they told us not to cause trouble, I doubt that’ll be possible —he thought, as a soft breeze tousled his hair.

Aphrodite stood beside Yuki, arms crossed. She watched her with a mix of doubt and respect.
—Are you sure about going?
—Yes… —Yuki answered without hesitation—. I think this mission will help me improve a lot. I’m far behind that idiot, and I can’t allow that.
Aphrodite raised an eyebrow.
—Does it bother you to be behind Edén?
—Yes —she admitted, her voice filled with restrained anger—. I can’t let a brainless sheep like him surpass me. Not in any way.

Aphrodite let out a quiet, almost mocking laugh.
—Just to be clear —Yuki continued firmly—, I’m not doing this for you. I still don’t like you one bit. I’m doing it for my father… and for Naz.
—I know —Aphrodite replied with a calm smile—. When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting here for your revenge.

A bit farther away, Jason and Poseidon were talking quietly near the dock.
—Are you really sure about sending a bunch of teenagers on this mission? It’s insane, —Jason said, visibly tense.
—There’s no other way, —Poseidon replied in a dry tone—. It’s the only chance we have to prevent more deaths.
—By sacrificing them?
—Don’t underestimate them. Those two have incredible potential.
Jason narrowed his eyes.
—Those two? But there are three of them… what do you mean?
—It’s nothing. Forget it. Just do your job.
—Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, —Jason sighed, extending his hand to receive an envelope—. And this?
—It’s the only way they’ll be allowed to enter the kingdom. A special authorization from the king.

Jason opened it briefly, and his pupils widened.
—Seriously? Just how isolated are they now?
—I don’t know… I haven’t heard anything from that kingdom since the throne was taken from me.
—I see… I’ll keep you informed once we’re close, —Jason said, carefully putting the envelope away.
—Thank you. Be careful. I don’t know what that bastard is capable of if he finds you.
—If it comes to fighting… I’ll do what I must.

The ship began to move slowly, drifting away from the port as its sails unfurled in the wind.
—Well, —Jason said, opening three metal cases—, here’s everything you’ll need.
—What’s this? —Yohei asked, looking at the contents with disdain.
—It’s a covert mission. These are the instruments you’ll be using.
—I think carrying all this junk will just make us look suspicious. We should get rid of it.
Jason raised an eyebrow.
—Then what do you suggest?
—With my electricity, I can send signals through their bodies without anyone noticing. The more you carry, the more suspicious you look. Don’t you think?
—I see… you might be right. I’ll trust you on this.

He then turned to the others.
—And you two?
—Yeah, yeah, —Yuki sighed—. Let’s just do what he says.
—He might be right, —added Zef, arms crossed.
—You don’t look very enthusiastic, —Jason murmured.
—Can’t blame them, —Yohei interjected—. Strategy isn’t their thing. It’s a shame that guy with the golden eyes isn’t here.

Jason straightened up, intrigued.
—Golden eyes? You mean one of you can use the Eyes of God?
—Yeah. Why do you look so surprised?
—That boy… will be dangerous if he ever turns against us.
Yuki and Zef exchanged a quick glance.
—I doubt that’ll happen, —Yuki said—. He’s too righteous to go against his own principles.
—Wouldn’t be so sure, —Zef added quietly—. When he activated them during his test, he completely changed.
—Changed?
—Yeah. He turned into some kind of monster of victory. He didn’t care how—he just wanted to win.

Jason fell silent, processing the information as the clouds on the horizon began to gather over the sea.

Jason frowned.
—How strange...

A jolt ran down Yohei’s back.
Zef narrowed his eyes as he picked up faint, distant whispers, barely audible, as if the water itself were speaking.
—Watch out! —they all shouted in unison, lunging at Yuki and Jason.

A bolt struck just meters from the boat, lighting the sky with a violent glare. The sea, which had seemed calm until then, began to roar like an awakened beast.
Zef looked at Yuki, his chest heaving.
—Are you okay?
—Yes... I think so.

Jason clung to the helm, soaked by the sudden rain.
—How is this possible...? Why the hell is it night? —he thought, looking up at a sky gone completely black.

Yohei spun around urgently.
—This doesn’t look good. It looks like a giant storm is coming. If we don’t get out of here fast... we’ll die.
—Yeah... —Jason muttered, hesitant.
—No way! —Zef interrupted forcefully.
—What the hell are you talking about?! —Yohei shouted.
—We have to hold our ground at all costs! We’re not leaving!

Yuki stared at him in disbelief.
—That’s madness. What are you thinking?

Jason clenched his teeth, thoughtful. The sails creaked under the wind’s force and the waves struck with increasing violence.
—Please, trust me! —Zef insisted.

Yohei looked up at the sky, alarmed.
—This is a bad sign! More than a hundred lightning bolts are coming at high speed! In a few minutes we’ll be burnt to a crisp if we don’t do something!

—Jason!
—Jason!
—Jason!

—Got it! —Jason finally shouted—. Do nothing! Let the sea do what it wants! Lower the sail and get everyone below!
—What?! —the three of them exclaimed at once.
—Damn it, —Yohei growled—. If we die, I’ll make both of your lives miserable in the next world.

They took down the sails and sheltered inside the boat.
One by one, lightning bolts began striking nearby, shaking the hull. The boat trembled, held on, but started to crack. Until...
A final roar.
And everything went dark.

The boat capsized violently, swallowed by the raging waters.
Silence.
For several seconds there was no sound at all... no rain, no wind. Just the deep whisper of the sea.

Then... the hull slowly rose from the depths. The surface was calm. The sky, clear blue. The sun shone as if nothing had happened.
One by one, they began to climb out, soaked and coughing.
—What the hell was that...? —Jason murmured, panting.

Zef stood, drenched, staring at the horizon.
—That storm wasn’t normal... That storm was the gateway to Atlantis.

Jason glared at him.
—What are you talking about? Have you been to Atlantis before?
Zef shook his head.
—No... but someone told me about it...

Yohei looked at him with a scowl.
—I hope you’re lucky that the person was right... because if not, I’ll kill you.

They went out onto the deck. The sea stretched to the horizon in complete peace.
—Looks like we’re not in Atlantis —Jason sighed.
—We’re close... I trust them —Zef replied, pointing toward the water.
—Who? —Jason asked.

Zef extended his hand toward the fish swimming alongside the boat.
—Them.

Yohei rolled his eyes.
—Now you’re blaming the fish? Have you gone stupid?

Jason, however, studied him more closely.
—No... he might be right. After all, he is Poseidon’s son, right?
—I suppose... —Yohei said disdainfully.
—Sorry, —Jason added—. I see this is a complicated matter. But maybe he inherited those powers.

Yuki, who had been watching in silence, averted her gaze.
—This boat is full of maniacs —she thought.

—For now —Jason continued— it’s better to travel slowly. The boat isn’t in good shape. Go rest; I’ll take care of the repairs.
—Yes —the three of them answered in unison, exhausted.

Hours passed. The sun sank slowly toward the horizon. The sound of the waves accompanied Zef’s solitude as he stared fixedly at the water.
Jason approached from behind.
—You look worried. Everything okay?
Zef shook his head.
—No... it’s nothing.
—I see... If you need to talk, you can talk to me.
—Thanks... but I’m fine.
—Alright, —Jason said with a faint smile before returning to the mast.

Zef’s heart hammered, out of rhythm. It wasn’t fear. It was something else.
He looked back at the fish swimming nervously around them. Their movements were erratic. Agitated.
—Something’s wrong… —he thought.

Then he felt it: a pressure from the deep. Something approaching at high speed.
In a single motion, Zef spread his arms and a wave pushed the boat aside. A huge tentacle erupted, smashing part of the hull with brutal force.
—That was close...! —he thought.

—What the hell is that thing?! —Yohei shouted, rushing on deck.
Yuki joined him, frozen.
—An octopus...? No... it’s too big to be one… —she thought.

From the depths rose a colossal head. A giant squid, with shining, aware eyes. Fixed on Zef.
A voice echoed in his mind.
—Prince...
Zef shuddered.
—Is it you…? —he murmured, without looking away.

—What are you standing around for?! —Yohei roared—. We have to kill that beast!
—Stop! —Zef ordered firmly.
—What do you want now?!

A pod of dolphins appeared at the sides of the boat, moving in formation.
—Perfect... more company —Yohei snorted.
The creature sank silently, vanishing.

A moment later, several figures rose from the water, circling the boat with spears aimed at their hearts. They were humanoid, with marine features and bright eyes.
Yohei frowned.
—They caught us by surprise…

One of them, scaly-skinned with sharp claws, spoke up.
—What are you doing here? Remember that entry to Atlantis is forbidden to any outsider.
Jason raised his hands calmly.
—Easy. I just want to take a letter from my pocket.
—One false move and we’ll all die —the guard warned.
—I know… I’m not an idiot.

Slowly, Jason took out the letter and handed it over.
—We have a special permit from the king. Please check it.

The guard walked away, murmuring in an incomprehensible tongue. A couple of minutes later he returned and lowered his weapon.
—The king has given his approval. Since your ship is in poor condition, we will carry you. Afterwards you will be given a new one.
—Thank you, —Jason nodded.

One by one they took their belongings and mounted the dolphins, which began to swim at full speed.
The sea opened before them like a divine path.
Zef looked ahead, fascinated.
—This is nothing like I expected... —he whispered.
—This is only the outer wall, —one of the guardians replied—. You’ll see the real Atlantis soon enough.

A gap opened in the underwater wall. As they passed through, an intense golden light lit their faces.
—What the hell is this...? —Zef said, wide-eyed.

Before them, a colossal city emerged: canals, walls, shining vegetation. Submerged towers. Floating domes. And in the background, a throne hidden in shadow.
Triton, seated with an iron expression, watched the energy screen before him.
—So you sent my little brother in your place... You haven’t changed, father. You’re still a coward.