Chapter 51: Crisis

There are moments that were never meant to be chosen.
Moments when destiny doesn’t ask… it simply destroys.

Sometimes, truth doesn’t come with answers, but with responsibilities.
And the blood running through your veins — even if you ignore it — never stops speaking.
Sooner or later, it reaches you.

Crisis isn’t only an external threat.
It’s the fracture within.
The fear of not being ready.
The weight of a story you never asked for.
And the question that echoes in the soul:
Who am I, when everything around me collapses?

Because in the heart of chaos, it isn’t the strongest who survives.
It’s the one who stays standing…
when everything else falls.

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

Zef lunged forward with all his strength. His sword carved a direct arc toward Vail’s chest — but the strike never landed. The general’s palm caught the blade with insulting ease.
—Is this all you’ve got? —Vail muttered, his expression one of boredom—. What a waste of time.

Zef clenched his teeth in fury.
—You bastard!

Before he could step back, Vail drove his knee into Zef’s stomach. The blow was sharp, crushing. Zef fell to his knees, gasping for air.
—Zef! —Mneseo shouted, taking a step forward.

Vail turned to the prince with mockery in his eyes.
—What a shame, Mneseo. I thought you shared our ideals… Triton’s ideals.
—Never, —Mneseo shot back, eyes blazing—. I’ll never share those rotten beliefs. I won’t deny my Atlantean blood.

Vail’s face twisted into a sneer.
—Blood? You? All I see is a surface-born bastard. Or maybe the late queen—

He didn’t finish.

Zef, still trembling from the pain, rose with fury and punched him square in the jaw. The impact was so fierce that Vail’s body shot backward, crashing through a stone pillar.
—I don’t remember her! —Zef roared—. But I won’t let you speak her name with that filthy mouth!

Vail stood among the rubble, touching his face in disbelief.
—What was that…? I didn’t even see it coming… Was he hiding his power?

Zef turned to Darian.
—Thank you. I don’t remember what you did for me, but your aura doesn’t lie. You’re someone extraordinary. Thank you for offering me the throne… but I can’t accept something so great without knowing who I am. Even so… I won’t hesitate to give my life to protect people like you.

His body began to vibrate. An immense energy surged from his chest, surrounding him in a boiling aura. The pressure split the ground beneath his feet.
—Mneseo… get everyone out of here. Now.
—But—
—Now! I don’t want anyone else getting hurt!

Mneseo hesitated for a second… then nodded.
—Alright. Take care, Zef.
—I will.

Vail emerged through the dust, smiling with disdain.
—You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But there’s a problem…

The sky seemed to darken.
From every corner of the city, soldiers began to appear — hundreds, maybe more. Armed, disciplined, the symbol of Triton gleaming on their armor.
—I’m not alone.

Zef swallowed hard. The numbers were overwhelming.
—Damn it…

—ATLANTEANS! —Darian’s voice thundered through the chaos.

Everyone turned toward him.
—Take up your weapons! Protect King Zef, even if it costs your lives!

The echo of his words rippled through the sunken city.

The old Atlanteans responded instantly. Many wore no armor, but they raised spears, swords, rusted shields — pure magic itself. They surrounded Zef in a circle of defiance.
—What…? —Zef muttered, overwhelmed.
—I’m sorry, young master, —said Darian firmly—, but I believe in you. Even if I die today… I know you’ll do what’s right. The entire people are ready to give their lives for you.

Mneseo stepped beside him.
—Don’t take it personally… but I envy you. I’ve never seen so many people united… for a king. If I have to die here, I’ll do it with pride.

Zef felt a lump in his throat. His soul, torn by doubt, began to ignite.

Vail burst into laughter.
—Fine then… if that’s your dream, I’ll send you all to the next world together with your false king!

And the battle erupted.

Soldiers against citizens. Steel against faith. Magic against conviction.

Zef watched bodies fall, sweat and blood mixing with the screams.
—What can I do…? —he thought, desperate—. Can I… really defeat him?

Vail fought Mneseo and Darian at once, showing no sign of fatigue.

Then, a voice echoed in Zef’s mind — strong, clear.
—Never give up. The harder the situation seems… the stronger your will must be. Especially if you want to protect someone…

And then, another voice — softer, warmer.
—I love you, my son.

Zef’s eyes snapped open.

And in an instant, everything changed.

He launched himself toward Vail with feral speed — faster than before, moving like a predator. His attacks were sharp. Precise. Deadly. Vail staggered backward, his body marked by cuts he couldn’t anticipate.
—What… what the hell are you…? —Vail gasped, struggling for breath.

From a distance, Mneseo watched in disbelief, frozen.
—Those movements… they’re identical to…

His mind raced back to the past — to Poseidon’s combat lessons for the princes. To a technique that no one had ever been able to replicate.

Zef’s speed increased with every step. His precision became inhuman. But then, amid the storm of blows, something flashed before his eyes.
An arrow.

—Darian!

He tried to move — but Vail intercepted him with a brutal strike that left him stunned.
The arrow pierced straight through Darian’s chest.

—NOOO!
—You bastards! —Mneseo roared, unleashing a storm of water orbs that tore through an entire line of soldiers.

Vail, panting and grinning, mocked him.
—What’s wrong, Zef? Did you find a gold coin on the floor, or is that why you’re kissing it so much?

He slammed Zef’s head against the ground with violent force.
—Get… off… me… you bastard…!

Zef tried to rise. His body wouldn’t move — but his spirit refused to yield.
—I can’t… I can’t let him die… not again…

And then, a voice — cold and unfamiliar — thundered through the battlefield:
—Annoyance.

A fist appeared out of nowhere, striking Vail with such power that it sent him flying several meters.

The silence that followed was suffocating.

—Impossible…? —Mneseo whispered.
—Already…? —murmured Darian, barely conscious.

A figure emerged through the smoke. Golden. Unshakable.

Zef lifted his head, eyes wide with disbelief.
—No way…

Vail staggered up from the rubble, his face mangled by the blow.
—No… it can’t be real… You… what are you doing here… Poseidon?

The golden figure stood before them all. The god’s face was stern, his gaze colder than the depths of the ocean.

—I have come… to reclaim what was stolen from me.

Vail could barely think. His mind was a storm of confusion and fear.
—Why is this guy here? —he wondered, swallowing hard as he watched Poseidon advance through the rubble—. Did he… come alone?

Zef crouched beside Darian, ignoring the chaos around them.
—How are you feeling?
Darian smiled weakly, his lips stained with blood.
—I don’t think I’ll last much longer… the arrow pierced my organs. There’s no going back.
—This can’t be true…
—Stay calm, young master… everything will be fine. Carry on. The whole people believes in you.

Zef looked up. Dozens of Atlantean faces watched him with hope—wounded, exhausted… but steadfast.
Behind them, Poseidon loomed like a mountain.
—Mneseo, get everyone out of here, —the god ordered—. If they stay… they will all die. I don’t care if I finish you off too, but right now… you’re only in the way.

Mneseo stepped forward.
—It’s impossible. Outside is full of soldiers.
—Soldiers? —Poseidon repeated with scorn—. They’re all dead.

Silence fell. No one dared speak. Only ragged breathing and the slap of water against the ruins.
—That… has to be a lie, —Vail thought, his body tense—. He’s a god, sure, but without his trident… he can’t be this strong.

Poseidon lowered his gaze for a moment.
—The first mistake I made that day… was showing mercy. I won’t repeat it today. Today… they will all fall.

His eyes settled on Darian.
—You’re still alive, old friend.
—Not for long, —Darian replied with a tired smile.

Poseidon bent down briefly. His words were soft.
—Thank you… for protecting them.

Those present froze. Even the sounds of battle stilled for a second.
—Did he just… thank him? —Mneseo thought, unable to believe it.
—Good luck, Poseidon… —Darian murmured.

Vail, still catching his breath, ground his teeth.
—I don’t… understand anything. I don’t feel hatred in him. Nor thirst for revenge. What the hell happened to him?

But there was no time for more thought.
In an instant, Poseidon was in front of him.
And he struck.

Once. Twice. Three times. Ten.
Each blow cracked like thunder. The air vibrated. The city groaned.

Mneseo grabbed Zef by the arm.
—Zef, let’s go now!
—Y… yes…

Zef turned his head as they fled.
—Who… is that man, really?

Vail’s body was hurled with such force that a pillar shattered and fell on top of him, burying him deep in the ruins. The entire palace trembled as if about to collapse.

Poseidon took a deep breath.
—This strength… still won’t be enough to defeat Triton. I need my trident.

Minutes later, the Atlanteans surfaced.
Before them stretched a gigantic fleet. Warships. Magic-propelled aircraft. Celestial vessels emblazoned with the sigils of the ancient gods.

Zef’s eyes widened in awe.
—What… what the hell is all this?

A figure descended through the sea fog. She was tall, with white hair and a wild gaze. A bow that looked forged from moonlight hung across her back.
—Quick! Get everyone aboard the ships! —Artemis ordered.

One by one, the Atlanteans were rescued by the divine vessels.
—Wasn’t this supposed to be a covert mission? —Zef asked, still staring out at the sea.
—Yes… —Artemis replied, while still coordinating the evacuation—. But they captured your companions. We had to go to Plan B.
—Plan B?
—Open war.
—But… why so many…?

A deep voice interrupted him.
—That was my idea.

Zef turned. Ares watched with his arms crossed, his face set hard.
—We can’t let them escape. If they do, the mission fails entirely.

Zef nodded, still taking it all in.
—I understand. But… how do you plan to get into the city? It’s practically impregnable.
—I’ll handle that, —Poseidon said, stepping forward.

His presence even stilled the murmur of the sea.
Suddenly a wave of energy erupted from his body like a silent explosion. Zef felt his legs go weak.
—Fear… —he thought—. That’s all I feel right now. There’s no room for anything else. Just… fear.

—This can’t be real… —Artemis whispered, staring at the impossible.

Poseidon’s trident was in his hand. It glowed with an ancient, divine, unstoppable power.
—We don’t have much time, —the god said—. The city will sink in minutes.
—It will sink? —Artemis repeated, bewildered—. What do you mean?
—My trident is what kept it afloat. Without it… Atlantis will fall. It happened once before. And it will happen again.
—Then… why do you have it now? —Ares roared—. Are you insane?!
—Because if I want to defeat Triton… I need my full power. If I hold back even a little… we’ll lose. All of this will have been for nothing.

Darian tried to rise but collapsed to his knees.
—You can’t do this alone…
Mneseo caught him quickly.
—What do you mean?
—Triton isn’t alone. The hooded ones are with him. And…the other princes.

Poseidon smiled with a strange calm.
—Twelve against me? Not bad. That will be a balanced battle.

Zef stepped forward.
—I’ll go. I won’t leave my companions alone.
—Do as you wish, —Poseidon said without even looking at him.
—We’re going too, —Artemis added—. They probably have an army. If they get past the defenses, we’re finished.

Far away, in the heart of Atlantis, a soldier arrived out of breath before the submerged throne.
—Sir! A huge fleet has arrived… with Poseidon!

Triton rose slowly. Then he began to laugh. First softly. Then uncontrollably.
—Send the army… deal with the fleet. Leave that idiot of my father to me.
—Yes, sir!

Triton clenched his fists. His eyes flared an intense red, like embers under the sea.
—Come with everything you’ve got, Poseidon.
This time… I will destroy you completely.