Chapter 69: Entering Atlantis
Victor stood quietly among the corpses of the three Atlantian Sages. Their severed heads lay scattered across the ruined training ground while their blood slowly soaked into the cracked earth. A few moments earlier, these men had carried themselves with absolute confidence. They had threatened humanity, mocked its strongest defenders, and spoken as if victory had already belonged to Atlantis.
Now they were dead.
The students stared at the bodies in stunned silence. Many of them still could not comprehend what they had witnessed. Three Sage Realm experts had fallen before their eyes. The sight had shattered everything they believed about cultivation and power.
Victor slowly turned toward the students. "You may all leave now. However, none of you are allowed to speak about what happened here today. Until further notice, nobody is permitted to leave the academy grounds. Your mobile networks will also be jammed." His voice remained calm, but nobody doubted the seriousness of his words.
The students exchanged nervous glances before nodding. "We understand, sir. We will keep our mouths shut. No information will leave the academy." One after another, they quickly departed from the training ground.
Within minutes, only Victor, Diana, Arthur, and Elyndros remained. The atmosphere immediately became much heavier. Victor glanced at the corpses one last time before turning toward Arthur.
"President, do we know how many Sages Atlantis possesses?"
Arthur frowned. "Unfortunately, we do not. Their empire is protected by some kind of enormous barrier. We believe it may be powered by an ancient artifact. Human scouts have never been able to infiltrate their territory. Very few people even know what Atlantis truly looks like."
Victor narrowed his eyes. "I have a theory."
Arthur immediately became serious. "What theory?"
Victor folded his arms. "The assassinations. The beast tides. The strange mutations. I think Atlantis is behind all of them."
Arthur’s eyes widened slightly. "What makes you believe that?"
Victor looked toward the dead sages. "Do you remember the mutated wolf chimera I killed before?" Both Arthur and Diana nodded.
Victor continued. "That creature was not natural. Three different wolves had somehow merged into a single body. It should not have been possible." He pointed toward the corpses. "Today I witnessed something similar. When those three sages combined their aura, the result was abnormal. Their pressure did not merely increase. It multiplied. The effect was completely unnatural."
Arthur’s expression darkened. "You think they are researching forbidden techniques?"
"I am certain of it."
Silence filled the training ground. Everyone present understood the implications. Forbidden experiments often led to disasters capable of destroying entire civilizations.
Arthur slowly clenched his fists. "If you are correct, then Atlantis may already be preparing something far worse than war."
Victor nodded. "That is why I need answers."
Arthur looked at him. "What are you planning?"
Victor’s eyes became cold. "I am going to enter Atlantis."
The words shocked everyone. Arthur immediately shook his head. "That is impossible."
Victor smiled faintly. "Nothing is impossible."
Arthur stared at him. "Even if you somehow reach their territory, they will identify you instantly."
Victor’s smile widened. "Not necessarily." He looked upward. "Nova. Bring me the gadgets."
A flash of light appeared beside him. Moments later, two metallic wristbands materialized in the air. Victor caught them effortlessly.
He handed one to Diana. "Put this on."
Without hesitation, Diana secured the wristband around her wrist. Victor then looked toward the invisible AI. "Nova, find me two Atlantian citizens who recently died. They must be individuals whose deaths have not yet been reported."
For Nova, infiltrating most information networks was a trivial task. Within minutes, streams of information appeared before Victor’s eyes. Photographs. Personal records. Family histories. Travel logs. Everything. Nova quickly selected a young Atlantian couple who had recently perished during a dungeon expedition. Their disappearance had not yet been discovered by Atlantis.
Victor studied the information carefully. "Perfect."
The wristbands suddenly activated. Silver light flowed across their bodies. Their skin began changing. Their facial features shifted. Their hair transformed. Even their height adjusted slightly. Within seconds, Victor and Diana no longer resembled humans. They looked exactly like Atlantians.
Arthur stared in disbelief. Even he could not identify a single flaw in the disguise. Victor examined his reflection. "Excellent."
Diana looked at her transformed appearance. The resemblance was perfect.
Arthur finally recovered from his shock. "You are truly planning to infiltrate Atlantis."
Victor nodded. "While humanity prepares for war, we will strike from within."
Arthur remained silent for several moments. He knew Victor well enough to understand that changing his mind was impossible. Finally, he sighed. "Be careful."
Victor smiled. "I always am."
The two of them began walking toward a hidden passage beneath the academy. Once they disappeared into the tunnel, the outside world vanished behind them. The underground passage stretched deep beneath the earth.
For several minutes neither of them spoke. Eventually, Diana broke the silence. "What did it cost?"
Victor already knew what she meant. He looked forward. "My lifespan."
Diana’s footsteps slowed. "How much?" Victor hesitated. "I do not know."
She stared at him. The answer was not enough. "Victor."
Her voice remained calm, but he could hear the determination hidden beneath it. Victor released a quiet sigh. "Probably a few months."
Diana stopped walking. Victor immediately knew she did not believe him. The silence between them grew heavier. A powerful killing intent slowly leaked from Diana’s body. It was not directed at Victor. It was directed at Atlantis. At the people responsible for forcing him into such a situation.
For the first time in her life, Diana genuinely wished for an entire race to disappear. She slowly took a deep breath. "Never use that technique again."
Victor looked at her. "I cannot promise that." Diana clenched her fists.
"If necessary, I will sacrifice every remaining year of my life." His voice remained calm. "I will do whatever is required."
Before Victor could react, Diana suddenly wrapped her arms around him from behind. Her embrace was firm. "If that happens, then take my lifespan as well."
Victor froze. Diana rested her forehead against his back. "I have more lifespan than you do."
For several seconds, neither spoke. Then Victor chuckled softly. "You silly girl." He placed his hand over hers. "Do not worry. Give me a month or two. After that, nobody on Earth will be capable of forcing me to use that technique again." He turned around and pulled her into his arms.
Diana looked up at him. For a moment, neither spoke. The distance between them slowly disappeared. Diana closed her eyes. She knew exactly what Victor was thinking. She was ready. Yet the next moment, space distorted around them. Everything blurred.
Victor activated teleportation. The scenery vanished. Then vanished again. And again. Each jump carried them farther away from human civilization. Eventually, they arrived at a remote coastline. The vast ocean stretched endlessly before them. Waves crashed against the rocks while the evening sky reflected across the water.
Victor looked toward the horizon. "I am still not at your level." He whispered the words into Diana’s ear. Before she could respond, he jumped into the sea. Diana followed immediately. Nova had already prepared a detailed route. Using hidden underwater passages and abandoned tunnels, they would be able to approach Atlantis without drawing attention.
Far beneath the ocean, the greatest empire on Earth remained completely unaware of the danger approaching its gates. Inside the Atlantian Imperial Palace, a tense atmosphere filled the throne hall. The Emperor sat upon his massive throne while thirty four Sages occupied seats throughout the chamber. Every one of them possessed enough power to devastate nations.
The Emperor’s expression remained grim. "Orlan, Harris, and Ismo are dead."
The hall fell silent. The news shocked even the veteran Sages. The Emperor continued. "Their life forces vanished completely."
Several Sages exchanged uneasy looks. One eventually spoke. "How is that possible? Even if all twelve human Sages attacked together, those three should have been capable of escaping." Another nodded. "The speed of their deaths is suspicious."
The room grew quiet. Everyone understood the problem. Three Sages had disappeared without providing any useful information. That should not have happened.
One of the older Sages finally stood. "I advise caution. We know almost nothing about the circumstances of their deaths."
The Emperor listened silently. The Sage continued. "Launching a full scale war without understanding the enemy would be reckless. We should investigate first." Several others nodded in agreement.
The Emperor slowly leaned back against his throne. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Finally, he spoke. "Very well." The hall immediately became attentive. "We will test humanity first." A cold smile appeared on his face. "Initiate the beast tide."
The Sages exchanged glances. The beast tide was one of Atlantis’s most effective weapons. Countless monsters would descend upon humanity, forcing them to reveal their true capabilities. Only then would Atlantis determine the extent of the threat. The Emperor’s gaze became icy. "Let us see what humanity is truly capable of."
....
Victor and Diana appeared near the barrier.
"Here I come.", Victor smiked. Then he wrapped Diana into his embrace again and vanished.
