"If that's your plan, then Holander, I can only say you're going to be disappointed," Arthur said firmly, shaking his head at Alex.
"There's absolutely no possibility of that, okay?"
"That's fine," Alex replied calmly. "Even if you don't beco the King of Atlantis, the conditions stay the sa."
He had no interest in arguing with Arthur over titles or destiny.
Arthur paused for a mont, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Then… what can you offer ?"
"Don't you want to see your mother again?"
Alex's voice was steady and unhurried as he delivered that sentence.
"What… are you talking about?!"
Arthur was completely stunned.
His mother was dead—how could he possibly see her again?
For a split second, a terrifying thought crossed his mind. Was the Holander implying that he planned to kill him?
That made no sense.
If Alex wanted him dead, Arthur would already be gone. There was no need for all this talk.
"Holander, I don't understand what you an," Arthur said, staring at him.
"I an exactly what I said," Alex replied. "Your mother isn't dead. I know where she is. Is that clear enough?"
"What did you just say?!"
Arthur was hit hard by those words. His emotions surged violently, his voice rising several octaves.
"You're not lying to , are you?!"
"I've said everything I need to say," Alex answered calmly.
"This chance only cos once. Believe or don't—it's your choice."
He offered no further explanation.
Arthur fell silent.
Believe… or not?
The hesitation barely lasted a second.
"Holander," Arthur said heavily, "I'll take the deal."
With Alex's godlike power—power that could crush him effortlessly—there was no reason to play tricks or lie.
And more importantly…
This concerned his mother.
Arthur couldn't afford to hesitate.
"Arthur—" ra reached out instinctively, pulling at his arm. She felt he was being too impulsive.
"This is sothing I have to do," Arthur said decisively.
"You take the Mother Box back as soon as possible. Don't let anything else go wrong."
Seeing his determination, ra knew there was nothing she could say to change his mind.
This was about his mother.
Even if it ant walking into hell, Arthur would go.
"Be careful," she said softly.
The next mont—
Splash!
Standing at the riverbank, ra gave Arthur one last look, then dove straight into the water with the Mother Box, vanishing beneath the surface.
"Alright," Alex said casually, turning to Arthur.
"It's ti for us to go too."
"Where are we going?" Arthur asked imdiately.
"You'll know when we get there."
Alex raised his hand slightly.
An invisible force wrapped around Arthur's body.
Whoosh!
The next instant, Alex stepped onto his transparent board and lifted off—carrying Arthur through the air.
"…What the hell?"
Arthur's eyes went wide.
The Holander could fly?
Flying was one thing—but carrying another person with sheer invisible force?
That was absurd.
Completely absurd.
The scenery blurred violently around them, whipping past at terrifying speed. Arthur felt dizzy just trying to keep his eyes open.
In the blink of an eye, they were hovering above the vast, endless ocean.
This was the exact coordinate Alex had seen on the bottle.
"Follow ."
Alex gestured casually and released his grip.
Arthur dropped straight into the water.
Splash!
Alex followed, diving in after him.
Underwater, Alex surged forward at terrifying speed—like a car racing through the sea.
Arthur pushed himself to the limit, barely managing to keep up.
"What kind of monster is this guy?"
Arthur's mind was in complete turmoil.
From Vulko's description, he had assud Alex was like him—a sea-blooded being living on land.
But Alex could fly.
He could use telekinetic powers.
Those weren't abilities a sea-dweller should have.
But if Alex wasn't a sea-dweller, how could he breathe underwater? How could he move so freely in the depths?
Nothing about this made sense.
Arthur's brain felt like it was short-circuiting.
Wait—
What are those?!
Arthur's expression changed abruptly.
Ahead of them, several grotesque figures erged from the darkness.
Humanoid shapes, twisted and monstrous, with deford faces and gaping maws full of sharp teeth.
Predators.
They were the Trench.
High-pitched screeches echoed through the water, sending chills straight down Arthur's spine.
But Alex rely waved his hand.
That was all.
A massive current surged forward, sweeping the Trench creatures away like debris caught in a storm.
Arthur felt a wave of relief.
Good thing he was with the Holander.
If he were alone, dealing with even a few of those things would have been a nightmare.
But that relief lasted barely a second.
Because now—
Arthur saw them everywhere.
Front. Back. Left. Right.
Endless swarms of Trench creatures poured in from all directions, countless beyond asure.
Screeching.
Snapping jaws.
Rushing toward them like starving beasts.
It was like two lambs wandering into a pack of ravenous wolves.
Gulp.
Arthur swallowed hard.
This was completely beyond him.
He'd be torn apart in seconds.
Even Alex… could he really handle this many?
"Holander!" Arthur shouted instinctively, hoping for so kind of plan.
Alex didn't even look back.
He didn't respond.
"Shit!"
In that mont, the Trench sward Arthur, surrounding him completely.
They lunged at him all at once.
Arthur's whole body went tense—certain he was about to be ripped apart—
When suddenly, an invisible barrier enveloped him.
A perfectly smooth, impenetrable shield.
The Trench slamd against it, clawing, biting, screeching…
But no matter what they did, they couldn't break through.
"Haah…"
Arthur let out a long, shaky breath.
Saved—again.
And at this point, there was no doubt left in his mind.
The Holander wasn't just powerful.
He was sothing else entirely.
Sothing closer to a god.
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