Chapter 52: Operation Atlantis

War never begins with a scream.
It begins with a decision.
With a betrayal disguised as duty…
With a promise left unfulfilled…
With an “I’ll do what’s necessary” that ends up costing far too much.

And when everything explodes — when the city trembles, bonds shatter, and bodies fall —
that’s when the soul reveals its truth.

How far are you willing to go to protect your own?
How many parts of yourself can you sacrifice before you stop being you?

Because in the heart of battle, you don’t always fight the enemy.
Sometimes, the real fight…
is with the beast growing inside.

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

Explosions. Boiling water. Screams.
The offensive had begun.

The sky was a canvas of fire and salt, and the Atlantean army struck without mercy against the divine fleet. Magical defenses cracked under the pressure. The ocean itself raged like a wild beast.

—Young master, please… be careful! —Darian’s weak voice reached him through the chaos, barely a whisper.
—You just focus on recovering, —Zef replied without looking back, his eyes sharp and steady—. Understood?
—Yes…

A few meters away, Poseidon raised his gaze toward the submerged city.
—Are you ready?
—Wait a second, —Artemis interjected, gripping a glowing locator crystal—. We’re still detecting the students’ position.

But Poseidon was already gone.

In an instant, he dove into the sea like a divine spear — and wherever he passed, enemies vanished. Turrets, ships, sea beasts — all were annihilated in his wake. Columns of blazing water erupted behind him as if the ocean itself were screaming.

—Damn it! —Artemis growled—. Couldn’t he wait just two seconds?!

A soldier ran up, panting.
—Lady Artemis! We’ve found the students! They’re near the city’s outer perimeter!
—Perfect. Damn it… everything’s moving too fast.
—My men and I will go after them, —Mneseo said firmly.
—Are you sure? —Zef asked, worry in his tone.
—Yes. We can’t stand idle while this unfolds.

Zef nodded, clenching his fist.
—Thank you… brother.
—See you soon. Let’s move!
—YES! —shouted his soldiers in unison before diving toward the outskirts.

Zef, Ares, and Artemis descended toward the city in perfect sync — as if fate itself pushed them forward.
In the distance, the banners of Atlantis were collapsing. The heart of the city trembled. And time was running out.

The three landed in the city center and split up without another word.

From a fallen tower, Artemis unleashed a storm of arrows, cutting down enemies from afar with flawless precision.
Ares roared as he tore through walls and soldiers alike with his spear, each step shaking the ground beneath him.

—Handle the civilians, —Ares commanded as he passed her—. When you’re done, cover me from above.
—Understood, —she replied, already aiming at another target.

Zef, still catching his breath, stopped for a moment.
—And me? What should I do?
—Head to the main sector. I doubt Poseidon can handle all of them alone.
—Got it.

Without another word, the three took separate paths — each marching toward their own battlefield.

At the outskirts of the city, Mneseo emerged with his squad. The waters were swarming with enemies—
but also with unseen shadows.

One by one, the opposing Atlanteans were dragged into the depths, never knowing where the strikes came from.
—Where are they?! —shouted a soldier, spinning around in panic—. Damn it! Where are they attacking from?!

The answer came as a single punch that knocked him out cold.

Mneseo slipped through the remains of a collapsed structure, searching for the students. A strange instinct guided him.
And there they were.

A blade brushed against his neck. Jason, eyes tense and steady, didn’t hesitate.
—Ally or enemy?
—Ally! Ally! —Mneseo raised his hands quickly—. But… how are you free?

Jason lowered his sword, relieved.
—When you’ve got a monster like Yohei on your side… prison bars don’t last long.

Behind him, the bodies of enemy soldiers twitched on the ground, their chests still glowing faintly with electrical burns.
Yohei, his face dripping with sweat, stepped forward.
—Where’s Zef?
—In the city center. Fighting.

A deafening rumble shook the ground. The walls quaked. The floor cracked beneath them.
—What was that?! —Jason exclaimed.
—Looks like your allies have arrived, —Mneseo said grimly.

—Allies? What are you talking about? —Jason frowned—. We didn’t call for reinforcements. We were captured… but our mission was still covert.
Yohei narrowed his eyes.
—Something smells off.

Until then silent, Yuki finally spoke.
—We need to get out. This place is going to collapse.
—This way, —Mneseo said, pointing ahead—. I’ll guide you to the ships.
—No way, —Yohei replied instantly.

Mneseo looked at him in surprise.
—What?
—We’re not leaving without Zef. We’re a team. Aren’t we?
—Yeah, —Jason and Yuki said at once.

Mneseo stared at them for a moment, then smiled—a mix of admiration and reluctant acceptance.
—All right. I’ll take you to the city. Let’s go.

And without looking back, they all ran straight into hell.

The roar of explosions was distant now — far too distant to drown out the sound of what was truly breaking.

Mneseo halted for a moment as his men rushed toward the secondary access tunnels of the city. Something felt wrong.
—Send word to the fleet… tell them that signal came from another source, —he ordered quietly.
—Yes, sir.

But his gaze never left the horizon.
—If it wasn’t them… then who? —he thought—. Triton wouldn’t expose himself to open war. This doesn’t make sense…

Then he saw it.
A group of figures — barely visible through the mist.
A dense, suffocating energy crept toward them from that direction.
—What… the hell is that?

In the heart of the palace, the tension was thick enough to cut with a whisper.
—What are you planning to do, Triton? —Anferes asked, voice strained—. They’ve got us surrounded. There’s no way out this time.

Triton, seated at the edge of his throne, didn’t answer immediately. His gaze drifted into the void.
—Such sadness…

Everyone stared at him — startled, confused.
—What are you talking about? —Anferes barked—. Have you lost your mind?
—Sadness? —Evemo interjected, incredulous—. They’ve got a damn army at our gates, and you’re talking about sadness?!

Triton stood. Slowly. As if his bones had doubled in weight.
—It’s sad… because I always believed family was everything. That the bond of blood was unbreakable. That even in silence… family remained.
His voice trembled, but his eyes burned.
—That’s what Mother taught us — no matter what happens, brothers must protect each other. Stay together. Even if the world falls apart.

—What are you talking about? —Gadiro asked, confused.
—He’s gone mad… —Méstor whispered.

Triton drove his trident into the floor. The metallic echo rang through the entire hall.
—My own brother… Mneseo… has betrayed me. Betrayed us all. He turned his back on this family. Abandoned his home for his own selfish gain.

He twisted the trident, its tip now pointing toward Elasipo.
—I love you, brother.

Elasipo stepped back, alarmed.
—What are you doing?
But Triton simply lowered the weapon… and kept walking.

—He’s lost it… —Gadiro muttered, his throat dry.

Triton turned to face the rest of the princes, his gaze sharp and distant — as though looking at strangers.
—We will not fall today. We will defend our family. That’s what Mother would have wanted. But… there are things that even blood cannot forgive. And one of them… is betrayal.

His eyes locked onto Atlas.
—Isn’t that right, brother?
—Y-yeah… of course, —Atlas stammered, still confused.

Triton grabbed him by the throat.
—Then why did you sell out your family?
—What…?
—I know what you did. You sold the kingdom’s security codes to the divine forces. You opened the gates for them.
—That’s a lie!

But Triton wasn’t listening. His fingers tightened around his brother’s neck.
—You let them in! You betrayed your own blood!

He slammed him into the ground with a deafening crash. The stone shattered beneath them.
—Am I lying, Autóctono?

The room froze.
Autóctono lowered his head.
—No.

—Forgive me, Mother… for I have sinned.

Elasipo screamed. The others jumped to their feet. But it was already too late.

Triton lifted Atlas’s head — severed — holding it up like a trophy.

A deathly silence fell over the hall. Some tried not to vomit. Others simply couldn’t look.

Triton smiled through tears.
—Autóctono…
—Y-yes?
The trident pierced his chest without warning. Blood blossomed like a crimson flower.
—I told you. I don’t like traitors.

The body fell. Lifeless.

Evemo stumbled back.
—This… this can’t be real…
—What the hell are you doing, Triton?! —Méstor shouted.

Triton wept — wept like a child who had just broken his favorite toy.
—What… what happened to my brothers?

And in that instant… everyone in the hall understood the truth.
Triton was no longer there.

Outside, Mneseo and his group reached the city’s edge. The roar of chaos surrounded them.

Artemis had just finished evacuating a group of wounded when a chill stopped her in her tracks.
A presence. Nearby.

A figure emerged from the smoke — clad in a tight armor, dark eyes glinting, two daggers dripping with moisture.
—Thanks for waiting, —Artemis said with sarcasm—. Who are you?
—My name is Tsunami. Third commander of King Triton… and I’ve come to kill you.

Artemis raised an eyebrow.
—Really? Let’s see if you can.

With a swift motion, she drew her bow. Tsunami sharpened her daggers.
The city trembled around them, yet between the two… only silence reigned.

—Wait a second, —Mneseo said suddenly, halting.
Yohei stopped beside him.
—What is it?
—I think it’d be a waste if we all charged straight toward Triton. Odds are… we’d just get in the way.
—So what do you suggest? —Yuki asked, breathless.
—We split up. I can sense Triton’s three commanders — they’re lurking around the outskirts. Too dangerous to ignore.

Jason nodded grimly.
—Understood. But you… make sure to bring Zef back. Alive.
Mneseo smiled seriously.
—You can count on me. Stay strong, everyone.

The four split off in different directions — pieces pushed by destiny toward their battles.
And on one of those paths… the hunt had already begun.

Arrows whistled through the air like black birds.
Artemis fired relentlessly, but Tsunami danced between the projectiles as if she were part of the wind itself.

—I can’t keep this up much longer, —Artemis thought, gasping—. She’s barely hit me… but every strike aims straight for my vitals. If this continues…

She dropped her bow.

Tsunami tilted her head, amused.
—What’s wrong? Giving up? I expected something more thrilling from a goddess.

Without a word, Artemis drew a short sword from her belt.
—Oh, so you can handle smaller toys too. Come on then, entertain me.

The clash was instant. Blade against blade. Leg against leg. Two blurred figures trading blows at inhuman speed.

From a distance, Yuki watched.
—That speed… they’re monsters… I shouldn’t interfere… I’d just get in the way…

But then something changed.
Amid the chaos — amid the blur — she could see.
Every slash. Every dodge. Every blind spot.

—How is this possible? Am I seeing their attacks… before they happen?

Artemis, as if hearing her from afar, turned and winked.
Yuki understood instantly.
It was her moment.

Tsunami kicked Artemis several meters back.
—Not bad… —the commander said, wiping blood from her lips—. Not bad at all.

Artemis picked up her bow.
—Back to your long-range tricks? I thought you liked the hunt.
—A good hunter knows when to strike… and when to wait.
—Nice line. But tell me — who’s the real prey here?

Before she could respond, chains of water erupted from the ground and bound Artemis’s limbs.
—When did she—?!

Tsunami smirked.
—What a disappointment. I was told you were one of Olympus’s favorites. But you’re no stronger than a common Atlantean.
—You bitch…
—Let’s finish this quickly. I have to report back to the king.

Her daggers began to drip with a thick green liquid.
—Poison… —Artemis thought—. Why didn’t she use it before?
—Relax, goddess. You’ll join your little friends in the afterlife soon enough.

But just as Tsunami took another step—
A massive shadow rose behind her.

—What—?!
—Water Technique: Dark Megalodon! —Yuki shouted.

The aquatic beast crashed into Tsunami, hurling her away like a rag doll.
The chains dissolved. Artemis collapsed to the ground, free.

—Thank you… you saved me, —she breathed, looking up at Yuki.
—Don’t mention it.
—Damn it… this isn’t over yet…

Tsunami, bloodied and trembling, crawled toward the sea.
—I’ll… show you my true power…

Artemis reacted instantly, firing an arrow straight through her hand.
But the flesh healed before her eyes.
—Impossible…!

Water enveloped Tsunami’s body, sealing her wounds and reshaping her form. Her muscles bulged, her skin turned a deep, dark blue, veins writhing like twisted roots.
In an instant, she was no longer human.
She was a monster.

Artemis and Yuki couldn’t react. Both were seized by the head and slammed into the ground.
Darkness swallowed Yuki.

A place without time. Without sound. A room beneath the sea. Absolute silence.

—Well, well… —a raspy voice sneered—. Look who’s back.

The demon awaited her — red eyes, cruel smile.
—Why am I here?
—I guess losing consciousness brought you back. So? What do you want?
—Power.
—Again with that? I told you — you can’t handle it.
—I’m willing… to pay any price.
—Any?
—Yes.

The demon studied her closely. And for the first time… smiled with respect.
—Very well. Let’s see… what you’re really made of.

Tsunami struck Artemis again and again.
—Come on, pathetic goddess… make me laugh! Entertain me!

Each blow was fiercer. More savage.
And then… she froze.

Her left arm was gone.

—What…?!

Blood gushed in torrents — something had torn it off before she even noticed.

And there, standing like a shadow born of nightmare… was Yuki.
But not the same Yuki as before.

Her eyes blazed red. Her teeth had sharpened. Her whole body shook with rage… and hunger.

—You wretch! —Tsunami roared.

Yuki vanished.
Reappeared in front of her.
Her fist sank into Tsunami’s stomach. Then another. And another. And another.

—Die! Die! DIE! —she screamed hoarsely, punching without pause.

Tsunami’s body was ripped apart piece by piece.
Artemis could barely watch. Could barely believe.

The commander’s screams filled the air.

Yuki bit her. Tore into her with claws. Devoured her.

Tsunami, disfigured, launched one last desperate strike that sent Yuki flying.
—You damned demon! I’ll kill you!

Water surged upward. Energy crackled around her.
Artemis, still wounded, knew there was no turning back.

—I have to protect her… no matter what it costs.

She gathered all her strength. One arrow. One final shot.

But before she could release it—
Yuki appeared behind Tsunami. Silent.

The attack vanished.
Only a single drop of water fell onto Artemis’s hand.

Tsunami collapsed.
A rib was missing.

Yuki spat it at her feet.

The monstrous aura vanished. Yuki looked at her…
and smiled.

Then… her body broke.

One by one, her muscles burst. Her bones gave way. She fell to the ground, motionless.

—Yuki! —Artemis screamed.

She caught her in her arms. Lifted her. Ran. Didn’t think.

Minutes later, she was left in the medical ward of a ship.
The doctors went pale.
—How… how is she still alive?
—Save her! —Artemis demanded.
—Her muscles, her bones… everything is shattered…
—I don’t care! She saved me!

The physician exhaled.
—I’ll do what I can.

Yuki, in her inner world, floated like a shadow.
—Well… you’re still breathing, —the demon said.
—Why didn’t you help me?
—Because you said you would pay any price. And so I did. I left you to your fate. My true wish was for you to die. I dislike being bound to a child.

Yuki lifted her face — pale, resolute.
—Whether you like it or not… I will tame you.

The demon leaned closer until it hovered right before her.
—I’d like to see you try…