20. Clash of Kings

"I thought about the scene when you came to Atlantis."

"Actually, I've been preparing for it ever since Orm told me about the dream where you met him."

"I thought you would come with an army from hell, and I also imagined that you would come alone and drown everything with the power of the Father."

On the way to the palace of Atlantis, Vico drives a golden fish-shaped flying machine.

With a complicated tone, he said to Merlin who was sitting beside him, admiring the underwater scenery:

"But I didn't expect...you would appear in this capacity."

Vico looked down.

He saw the golden scepter held by Merlin.

Like a staff, the whole body is golden yellow, but it doesn't look extravagant or rich.

On the contrary, like the most beautiful works of art.

Two entangled snakes are coiled around the top of the staff, with their mouths wide open on the left and right, as if roaring. On the staff, there is a lifelike sculpture of an eagle with spread wings, surrounded by two snakes.

This is the staff of the demigod Lady Cassandra handed over to Merlin, the symbol of the Gatekeeper of Atlantis.

It is a real "artifact".

It was forged by the gods of ancient Greece in the workshop of Hephaestus, the god of fire. This is a gift from the gods forged by the gods of Poseidon, and it is used to open the key to the city of Atlantis.

That city in the First Age was built by the gods.

Poseidon was its first owner, and Ocean Emperor Atlanta is a direct descendant of Poseidon.

The great King of the Seven Seas received the key to the great city from the gods who left the world, which is one of the symbols of the King of the Seven Seas' royal power.

But when the catastrophe of the great fall occurred, Atlanta handed over the key to the mysterious guardian, and he led his subjects to escape the collapsed continent and kingdom.

He saved his people, but lost his throne and glory.

Since then, the real city of Atlantis has been lost in history.

This story is fully recorded in the literature of the people of the sea.

Everyone in the sea knows the story of ancient Atlantis, everyone has seen the staff in Merlin's hand in the atlas, and everyone knows the legend of the gatekeeper.

But most people thought it was just a legend.

As most people think, the origin of the submarine civilization, the magnificent city of Atlantis, has been destroyed in the catastrophe of the Great Fall.

The great civilization has perished, and now it can only continue to live under the deep sea in a divided manner.

But that origin story is so important, it is engraved in the soul of every submariner.

Even the first city built by people under the sea after the disaster was named after Atlantis.

It's not just a nostalgia.

It's more of an expectation.

Maybe one day, the real hometown will open its doors again for these wanderers.

"But it doesn't."

Merlin was admiring the rare beauty of the underwater world, his fingers stroked the eagle sculpture on the staff, and he said softly:

"The city of Atlantis has always been there, but it's hard for you to find your own origin, but today, I brought back the legend engraved in your soul..."

"Vico, old friend."

Merlin turned to look at Vico, he said with a smile:

"Shouldn't you and your people thank me for that?"

Vico's face was expressionless. From the projection of the aircraft, he could clearly see those people on land who were holding weapons and who were not kind to the people following the aircraft.

The two leading are Namor and Arthur.

Armed with silver and gold tridents and clad in ornate ceremonial armor, the brothers were dressed just like the masters of the place.

They have the most noble blood of Atlantis in their bodies, and this city should welcome them.

But behind the two, there was a group of strangely dressed mutants.

They were led by Emma, ​​the White Queen, in her elegant gown, the mutants of the Hellfire Club.

There are also some mutants who have a very good relationship with Namor, and they also come to cheer their friends.

And Emma herself, just behind Namor, behaved very docilely, like a young daughter-in-law who just passed through the door.

Compared with Namor's big battle, the number of people following Arthur was much sparser.

But it's only a small number, and the quality is definitely not weaker than the mutants of the Hellfire Club.

Carla, the superwoman who just broke up with Arthur, didn't want to see her ex-boyfriend break into the dragon's lair alone, so she brought her new boyfriend to help, lest the weak Arthur be beaten up by the unhospitable sea people.

And her new boyfriend is a young man with black hair in a red and gold combat uniform, a coquettish short white cape.

Shazam!

Or, Billy Batson!

Another disciple of Merlin.

Behind the three people with complicated relationships, there are three sisters of Merlin, Raven, Lorna and Laura, who appear as a group of relatives and friends.

Because of Merlin's relationship, Arthur and them are also relatives.

Naturally, they couldn't just sit back and watch Arthur return to the underwater world alone.

Of course, there is Icarus, the private secretary who is inseparable from Merlin, and Icarus's two followers, Hope and Adam, as well as Zatana Zatara, a magician lady who came here on a special trip with a camera in her hand. .

If it wasn't for today's business, it is estimated that Carol would come to join in the fun.

After all, little Arthur always called her aunt very well and winkingly.

Now that she has accepted this title, the strong aunt can't just sit back and watch the weak nephew be bullied, right?

In short, compared to the heavily armed Atlantean legions on both sides of the halo waterway, the number of "army" brought by Namor and Arthur is at an extreme disadvantage.

But if a war really breaks out, relying on the strength of this group of people, it is probably not a problem to overthrow this underwater city.

Not to mention...

These two princes in exile, and a heavenly father to help them fight.

"What are you worried about? Vico, old friend."

Merlin, who was sitting on the aircraft and heading towards the palace ahead, said gently:

"Are you worried about Arthur and Namor's friends destroying their hometown? No, no, with me here, there will be no war today, and no one will be injured."

"You know, I'm a pacifist and I hate disputes."

Merlin's words made Vico sigh.

The old seaman held the joystick, and he said:

"Is it really this far? Is there no possibility of recovery? Aum is just a slightly arrogant young man, he..."

"I gave him a chance, and he gave it up himself."

Lord Raven blocked all Vico's pleas with one sentence.

"He's about to start a senseless war, my Vico."

Merlin closed his eyes and leaned on the driver's seat. He put the golden scepter in his arms, and said softly as if sighing:

"Do you think he's doing the right thing?"

"If you think it's wrong, why don't you stop it?"

"Is it because you think Aum is also Ms. Atlanta's son, and the guilt towards your old friend made you give up your persistence?"

Merlin's words were like a long whip.

Slapped on Vico's heart, leaving the old seaman speechless.

A few seconds later, Merlin reached out and patted Vico on the shoulder, and he said:

"This is Ms. Atlanta's family matter...Let the three brothers solve it by themselves, I will not interfere, and others...don't interfere either! How?"

"This is about the throne!"

Vico gritted his teeth and said:

"How can it be such a joke?"

"so what?"

Merlin said calmly:

"Compared with the future of the stars, a mere throne, a mere Aum... what's the point?"

Maharaja looked at Vico, who was struggling beside him, and said:

"Or, are you rejecting the offer of peace? Do you want me to end this in a more decisive way?"

An orange light wrapped around Merlin's finger, and he said:

"As long as you nod, Vico, I promise, in a few seconds, all this will be over, and you don't need to be entangled between responsibilities and feelings."

Vico's hand clenched the joystick in his hand, causing the solid steel to twist. After a few seconds, the old seaman heaved a sigh of relief.

He said in a low tone:

"Just do what you want."

Merlin nodded.

The next moment, his calm voice rang out on the undersea waterway guarded by the Atlantis Legion.

"Namor, and Arthur..."

"You and Aum, the grievances and grievances between you and this country are your private affairs, which should be resolved by your own hands, and no one else can interfere!"

Hearing this, Namor and Arthur glanced at each other, and the two brothers clenched the trident tightly in their hands. They looked at the palace with the open gate in front of them, with flames shining in their eyes.

Today, the pain and entanglement of the past, the nightmare of memories, the past of despair...

Everything will be today.

The dust has settled!

Merlin's voice spread out quickly along the water flowing under the sea, just like Huang Zhong Dalu's sound waves.

The cheers of those underwater people who were still immersed in the parade were like a switch being turned off at this moment.

The entire city was silent, but soon, like sparks dripping into hot oil, the entire city boiled at this moment.

Atlantis abides by ancient traditions.

When the king is crowned, any member of the royal blood can challenge the king's successor.

In ancient times, this was an important part of the succession of kings, but today, it has become an ancient and about to be forgotten tradition.

At least the alternation of kingship between Ohm's father and grandpa was harmonious.

And now, after a thousand years, another battle for the throne will begin, and this time, three people will participate!

Can His Royal Highness Aum defeat the challenger?

Will the kingdom of Atlantis usher in a strange ruler?

Well...

This boring, supposedly suspenseless coronation ceremony seemed to be getting more and more interesting.

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Ten minutes later, under the "escort" of several Atlantis legions, Merlin and the two challengers to the throne arrived in front of the white, majestic palace.

On the platform above the hundreds of steps, the four kings of the sea are standing there, and the mages of Kama Taj are standing beside them.

Under the steps, Merlin hovered there with a golden staff in his hand. Arthur and Namor stood behind him. Farther away, their supporters were blocked by the palace guards.

Arthur wanted to step up the stairs to meet his brother, but was stopped by Namor.

Namor looked at the people on the steps and said softly:

"Don't worry, they will come down!"

Merlin's face was calm, and he had no intention of stepping on the stairs.

The golden staff in his hand shone with golden ripples in the infusion of magic power, like a projection, projecting the image of the gate of Atlantis in front of the palace.

"I have received this staff from a worthy elder."

Lord Raven's voice sounded in front of the underwater palace, and he said:

"I also took over the responsibility and mission of that elder. I guard the real ancient city of Atlantis. Without my permission, no one can step into the city that is still in the first era."

He looked at the kings above the stairs, and he said:

"Now, shall I ask you to come down?"

The maharaja's words made the kings look at each other in blank dismay, Aum's face was gloomy, and he was 10,000 unwilling.

Merlin didn't come here today with good intentions.

At least that kindness was not for him.

The first one to act was the lobsterman king, Benbo Erba. This barbaric guy didn't care about the majesty of the king at all.

Those things can't be eaten.

It moved its huge body and walked down the stairs quickly, its small eyes fixed on the projection above the golden staff, the blue light curtain guarded by the two Poseidon statues.

That is the road to the ancient city of Atlantis.

Its beast-like heart is full of impulses. If it is possible, who would like to live like a beast?

But the current technology of the people under the sea is simply unable to reverse the reshaping of the body by the energy of the Great Fall.

If it can enter the more technologically advanced city of Atlantis, perhaps, it can find a way to heal the twisted body and soul.

Really save your own people!

Therefore, Benbo Erba's attitude towards the gatekeeper is the most respectful.

The second person to go down the steps was King Curry. This emotional king didn't care about the changes in his body. Over a long period of time, the people of the Fisherman Country had accepted the new shape.

But as a poet, it has respect for all legends.

What's more, it is standing at the intersection of ancient and present glory.

If you're lucky, it will be one of the first sea people to return to its homeland after thousands of years.

Ah, what a great epic that must be.

King Zebel hesitated for a moment, the old father-in-law patted Orm on the shoulder, and then walked down the stairs with his charming daughter. He leaned slightly towards Merlin, but Lord Raven turned a blind eye to it.

The mages of Karma Taj did not hesitate too much.

Can be selected as the representative of the supreme, they are naturally close people of the ancient master.

They all knew that there was some secret agreement between Supreme and Lord Raven. Although they didn't understand it, they also had respect for this supreme friend.

So, on the steps, there was only Aum who was alone.

He was stubbornly unwilling to bow his head to Merlin.

But the Maharaja didn't care.

"I will return the key to the ancient city of Atlantis to the sea people today."

Merlin let go of his fingers, and the golden staff hovered in front of the eyes of the three kings, illuminating their longing eyes.

"But only after the new king of Atlantis is born..."

Merlin spread his fingers outward, and he said:

"Arthur Curry, the eldest son of Queen Atlanta, and the elder brother of Orm."

"Namo Mackenzie, the grandson of King Thakur, the nephew of King Owax, and the cousin of Om."

"These two also have the noble blood of Atlantis, and they are also qualified to become kings. Today, in exchange for this key, I request to restart the battle for the throne!"

Maharaja's blue eyes looked at the cold Aum, and he said softly:

"Regardless of life and death, only victory..."

"The one who survives will become the new king of Atlantis."

"Everyone present, for my request."

"Who is for? Who is against?"