Chương 12: Atlantis Falls...

The title sounds like a great amusement park. No for real though.

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The kingdom of Atlantis—a marvel hidden beneath the surface of the sea—was one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Its history spanned millennia, filled with advancements that surpassed anything the surface dwellers could comprehend. The Atlanteans were a people of immense strength, accustomed to the crushing depths of the ocean, and their mastery over both magic and technology was unrivaled. Despite their superiority, the only reason war hadn't been waged against the surface was due to one man: Arthur Curry, King of Atlantis.

In the majestic underwater palace, Arthur sat on his ornate throne, his expression weary. He was delegating as usual, listening to the endless complaints and concerns that seemed to define his role as king.

"...And what is it now?" Arthur sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. He missed the days of freedom, roaming the seas without responsibility. Now, his duties kept him chained to this throne.

A nervous-looking messenger stood before him, hesitant to speak. "Well, Your Majesty, the Pacific Ocean's trash levels have risen again. The tribes are asking whether war shall be started—"

Arthur stood up abruptly, cutting the messenger off with a wave of his hand. "NO! Why is it always war?" His voice boomed across the throne room, echoing through the halls. "We're the rulers of the ocean! Scare the troublemakers away, we don't need to wage war over this! Just deal with it normally!" He gestured dismissively, and the messenger quickly bowed and left.

As the doors closed, a figure approached the throne—Mera, with her flowing red hair and fierce green eyes, moved gracefully across the room. She placed her hands gently on Arthur's shoulders, massaging his temples to ease his tension.

"Thank you, Mera," Arthur muttered, sinking back into his throne. If it wasn't for her, he knew his temper would have gotten the better of him by now. The constant pressure of ruling weighed heavily on him.

Mera smiled softly. "No problem. It's not me suffering under the crown, now is it?" She sat down in the throne next to him, mirroring his posture. "So... what's got you so worked up? Normally you deal with this kind of thing pretty well."

Arthur groaned. "The weird bird-bat guy annoyed me. Came talking about some threat he thinks I can't handle. I kicked him out, but the whole thing is still bothering me."

Mera raised an eyebrow. "And you didn't think to ask him about the threat? You usually like dealing with mankind's problems, Arthur."

Arthur shrugged, leaning back in his throne with an air of casual indifference. "I'm the King now. If I can't handle it, my wife will," he said with a playful grin.

Mera shook her head, exasperated but amused. "We're engaged, Arthur, not married yet. My father would have a fit if he thought I rushed into this without his blessing." Her voice carried a hint of tension—her father, Ryus, was not one to be trifled with, especially concerning the future of Xebel, her home kingdom.

Arthur waved her concerns off. "Ah, that's fine. Besides, I've heard Xebel has a new king now. He should be fine with it."

"A new king?" Mera frowned, confused. "My sister Hila hasn't married yet… it doesn't make sense."

Arthur shrugged, unconcerned. "We can check it out later. Everything's peaceful enough for now—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the sound of shattering stone filled the room, as if to mock the very idea of peace. The thick walls of the throne room caved in as a bloodied Atlantean soldier dragged himself through the wreckage, his body broken and his legs missing. His voice was barely a whisper as he looked up at Arthur and Mera.

"Your Majesty... run!"

An instant later, the soldier's head was crushed by a massive axe, its blade gleaming with malevolence. Stepping through the crumbling wall, his presence dark and menacing, was none other than Steppenwolf—his injuries from the battle with Diana and Hippolyta still visible, but his rage burning brighter than ever.

"Run?" Steppenwolf sneered, his voice a deep, gravelly rumble that echoed through the watery halls. He kicked the lifeless body of the soldier aside with disdain. "What a faithful soldier... a shame I found you."

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his trident at the ready. "Who the hell are you?" His voice was filled with barely restrained fury. The air between them crackled with tension.

Steppenwolf grinned, baring his teeth like a predator. "You must be the king," he said mockingly, taking a step toward Arthur. "You hold one of the Motherboxes, don't you?"

Arthur's grip tightened on his trident. He had heard whispers of the Motherboxes, ancient devices of unimaginable power, but he hadn't thought the surface conflict would reach Atlantis. Now, standing before this monster, he realized the danger was very real.

"Stay back," Arthur growled. "Whatever you're after, you won't find it here."

Mera stood beside him, her eyes blazing with determination. "This isn't your world," she said coldly. "You don't belong here."

Steppenwolf let out a low chuckle. "I belong wherever Darkseid wills it. And your precious kingdom will fall before him, just like the rest of this planet."

Before either of them could react, Steppenwolf lunged forward, his axe swinging in a deadly arc. Arthur barely blocked the strike with his trident, the impact sending a shockwave through the water. Mera quickly summoned a wave of force, pushing Steppenwolf back, but the general only grinned wider, relishing the challenge.

"Your resistance is amusing, but futile," Steppenwolf said, readying his axe for another strike.

Arthur's heart pounded in his chest. This was not a simple invasion—it was an act of war. And if Steppenwolf succeeded in finding the Motherbox, Atlantis and the surface world alike would be doomed.

"Mera!" Arthur shouted. "We need to evacuate the palace, get the civilians to safety!"

Mera nodded, already in motion. Her mind raced as she summoned her hydrokinesis, ready to flood the hallways and keep Steppenwolf at bay. But even she knew this wouldn't be easy. Atlantis had faced threats before, but this... this was different.

Steppenwolf stood tall, his eyes gleaming with dark purpose. "You can run, Atlantean king," he said. "But you can't hide from Darkseid."

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[Auther: Oh wow, Arthur got swarmed and yes, Arthur has more plot coming up, Nereus and Xebel's New King...hehe, I made a joke.]