The next morning arrived, and the blue light filtering through the academy windows looked different than usual, as if foreshadowing a heavy day.
Saruto stood before the window, his eyes gleaming with determination, while behind him, Lucien tightened his belt, preparing himself with an uncharacteristic silence. "Now… you're ready, Lucien," Saruto said in his quiet, stern voice. "It's time to reclaim Selena and prove your worth to her brother."
Lucien turned to him, his face serious. "Yes, this time I won't return empty-handed."
Saruto smiled faintly, then reached out and placed his hand on Lucien's shoulder. In an instant, they vanished from the academy, heading for the Sea Kingdom. They had arrived. "It looks as magnificent as I've heard…" Saruto said, taking in the buildings that shimmered like pearls.
But Lucien didn't comment. His eyes were searching for only one face. A palace servant led them into the inner corridors. The walls were polished with coral, and the air was thick with a soft, watery energy. In one of the corridors, their footsteps trailed off as Selena appeared before them.
She wore her royal gown, her blue hair flowing like water, but her eyes held a mixture of surprise and confusion when they met Lucien's. They exchanged glances, speechless. Then she broke the silence with a faint, hesitant voice: "Lucien… why did you come? Please go. My brother will show you no mercy this time."
He replied with a firmness she had never witnessed in him before: "I will not lose this time. I will crush him and take you back from him, whatever the cost."
Her expression froze between fear and surprise, then her face flushed slightly. But before she could speak, Saruto's calm voice came through, watching them with a wry smile: "It seems your romantic conversation will be quite lengthy… but where is this prince? Doesn't he know how to receive guests?"
Lucien chuckled softly and said sarcastically, "Then… why don't we summon him ourselves?"
He unleashed his icy aura, which spread like a tide, shaking the palace walls. Selena recoiled in fear, while everyone in the palace felt the energy piercing the very depths.
On the other side of the palace, Princess Ackles' brother was in the training ground, holding a spear formed from water, preparing to begin his training. But suddenly, his body froze at the powerful aura. He smiled confidently and said, "Ha… he didn't run away, then."
Then he too unleashed a massive, deep blue aura, filling the space as if the waves themselves had burst forth around him.
Sarotto sensed Atlas's counter-aura and said, "There he is…" Then he grabbed Lucien and Selena by the shoulders, and before she could speak, they vanished from the passageway.
In an instant, they reappeared in the training ground. The space was vast, saturated with water suspended in the air, and magical circles encircled the stone floor. There stood Atlas, tall, his hair the color of the shifting sea, his eyes gleaming defiantly. He smiled as he saw them arrive and said sarcastically, "You've arrived quite quickly..."
Lucian strode forward, raising his spear. "Come on... let's begin."
But Atlas didn't look at him first. Instead, he turned his gaze to Saruto, then smiled contemptuously. "And who is this? Who's this weakling you've brought with you?"
Saruto grabbed a lock of his hair and chuckled. "Weakling? Ah, I forgot to introduce myself."
He took two steps forward, and before he could open his mouth, his expression changed abruptly, and the pressure of his aura surged terrifyingly. The air froze, the ground shook.
Atlas felt as if a mountain had been placed on his shoulders. His knees trembled, and cold sweat trickled down his face. He couldn't even lift his head, and Saruto's voice pierced his ears: "Who's the weakling now, you fool? Don't you dare say that again, understand?"
Atlas trembled, struggling to compose himself, but Sarotto broke the tension when he heard Lucian's voice beside him: "Saruto! He's my opponent."
Saruto stepped back with a calm smile and gestured for Selena to move away.
"Sorry for the interruptions."
Saruto and Selena sat on the terraces, watching the arena. Atlas, still in shock, tried to catch his breath. Lucian turned to him, his eyes blazing with determination. He raised his spear and said confidently, "Come on, let's begin now."
A small smile touched Atlas's face, concealing a mixture of anger and defiance. The sea around them began to churn, as if the depths themselves were preparing to witness their battle.