Chapter 177: PLANET ATLANTIS

Alice and her group members arrived at a distant planet, its surface shimmering under the light of a twin sun system, with vast oceans covering ninety percent of its expanse in deep, azure blues that reflected the sky like a mirror. The remaining landmasses were sparse, rugged islands devoid of any visible civilization, overgrown with alien flora that swayed in the salty breezes.This was the planet of the merfolks, an aquatic race of graceful underwater beings who thrived in the depths, their society hidden beneath the waves. Their civilization and world were intricately built within the ocean’s embrace, with sprawling cities of coral spires and bioluminescent structures that pulsed with life far below the surface.

The merfolks were a highly intelligent civilization renowned for their sharp technological minds, evident in the advanced architecture of their submerged metropolises. The entire planet was safeguarded by a formidable force field, an intriguing and masterful creation engineered by the merfolks themselves, a shimmering dome of energy that enveloped the world like an invisible shield, repelling potential threats with humming efficiency.

Standing just outside the translucent force field, Alice’s group gazed in genuine admiration, the barrier’s faint glow casting ethereal patterns on their faces. Back on Bluestar, their former home, they had been consumed with survival, never even contemplating such defensive marvels. They hadn’t progressed beyond fending off the relentless dungeons that plagued their planet; the idea of erecting a force field to block out invaders was a luxury far removed from their daily struggles.

"It seems we really were backward back on Bluestar," Rose commented thoughtfully, extending her hand to touch the force field’s surface, feeling the subtle vibration of energy against her palm, a tingling sensation that spoke of advanced mana engineering.

"So? Should we subdue them forcefully? Or try the diplomatic way?" Bluestar asked pragmatically, her eyes scanning the horizon where ocean met sky, weighing the options with a strategic mind honed by years of conflict.

"What do you think Aaron would do?" Alice inquired with a playful smile etched on her graceful face, her tone light as she invoked their leader’s infamous approach.

"With his arrogance? Diplomacy is out of the window," Rose giggled softly, her laughter like a gentle melody in the salty air, imagining Aaron’s straightforward, domineering style.

She stepped closer to the force field, her posture confident and poised. She began singing slowly, her voice rising in a haunting, ethereal tune as she activated her skill, Moonlit Song. The notes were sweet and captivating, carrying an alluring enchantment that seemed to weave through the air like invisible threads, drawing in all who heard it with an irresistible pull.

[◈ Moonlit Song

Her voice carries enchantment; through whispers, hums, or full song, she can calm rage, sow fear, or enthrall listeners temporarily, their emotions bending to her melody, the air shimmering with her power.]

After several minutes of her mesmerizing performance, the force field flickered intermittently, its energy wavering like a candle in the wind, before deactivating completely with a soft, fading hum.

"Shall we?" Rose asked with a triumphant smile, gesturing invitingly toward the now-open world. She entered first, stepping onto the planet’s surface with grace, the others following closely behind her, their footsteps crunching on the pebbled shore as they ventured into the unknown.

----

"You bastard! Why did you deactivate the force field?!" Commander Rudolf bellowed, his voice thundering through the high-tech defense room filled with glowing monitors and holographic displays. As the head of planetary defense for Planet Atlantis, his fury was directed at a trembling knight responsible for monitoring the barrier, the room’s atmosphere thick with tension and the hum of machinery.

The knight’s fellow comrades stared in stunned incomprehension, unable to fathom why he had committed such a grave error, their faces pale under the artificial lights.

"I’m sorry, sir. I don’t know what came over me. It was as if I was in a trance. I didn’t mean to do it," the knight apologized profusely, fear etched deeply into his features, his scales glistening with nervous sweat as he dreaded the severe consequences Commander Rudolf might impose.

"Take the bastard away from here and lock him up! Put the force field back on and check the surveillance for any intruders!" Commander Rudolf barked his orders sharply, his irritation boiling over from the knight’s inexplicable actions, his fins flaring in agitation.

"Please, Commander! I truly don’t know the reason for my actions! Please believe me!" the knight pleaded desperately, struggling to wrestle himself free from the grip of the other knights, his voice echoing with panic in the confined space.

"Shut up! I’ll add more charges to your crime if you annoy me further!" Commander Rudolf snarled, staring daggers at the knight, his eyes like piercing lasers that silenced any further protest.

The knight bowed his head submissively, sealing his mouth shut, terrified that another word might escape and worsen his already perilous situation, his body slumping in defeat as he was dragged away.

"Sir, four unknown beings have been detected passing through the force field while it was down," one of the knights in charge of surveillance informed Commander Rudolf, his voice steady but urgent as he pointed to the flickering screens displaying thermal images.

"Is the force field up now?" Commander Rudolf demanded, his mind racing through protocols.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Any other threats lurking outside Atlantis?" Commander Rudolf inquired further, his gaze fixed on the monitors scanning the vast oceanic expanses.


"None, sir."

"Good. Activate the Trident and eliminate the four invaders," Commander Rudolf commanded decisively, his tone brooking no argument.

"Yes, sir. Permission to utilize the Trident, sir?" a merman operator asked, adhering strictly to protocols, his hands hovering over the control panels.

"Granted," Commander Rudolf nodded firmly, his expression resolute.

"Requesting verification from King Oren..."

"Positive! Activating the Trident."

"Activation successful."

"Locking in on targets!"

"Lock successful."

"Permission to fire?"

"Granted," Commander Rudolf authorized without hesitation.

The Trident was Atlantis’s greatest invention, a colossal cannon designed in the likeness of King Oren’s legendary trident, the symbol of his unchallenged authority, its three prongs gleaming with infused mana crystals. The weapon could fire compressed energy blasts lethal enough to obliterate an entire planet in a single devastating discharge, its power drawn from the ocean’s depths.