42 The Atlantis Palace
Zeras stood there mind blown as he looked at what was right in front of him.
Plank's shrill scream managed to bring him out of his reverie as he closed his mouth but was still shocked nonetheless.
Right in front of the trio, a colossal structure stood, more than a thousand metres tall with four huge golden pillars supporting it from its rear. The palace itself seemed to be made from some glittering gold tiles that shone occasionally illuminating those close to it in its golden glow.
In front of the Atlantis Palace, a multitude of Athlantheans moved inside, but even with the crazy population number, there was still space left for them to climb those golden stairs that extended up into the distance.
There was an extremely beautiful aura present when one looks at the palace making one ignore whatever comes to mind and simply look at it while also invoking an aura of respect into them.
"Is this...Is this real?" Zeras asked as he started absentmindedly at the structure.
"Yes, it is..." the old man replied, his voice quivering as they headed towards the steps and began climbing up them.
The steps were long filling their entire sight but it wasn't uncomfortable to climb in the least as golden waves of light emanated from the stairs with every step, and the higher one climbed, the more the golden light shone.
The trio finally arrived at the top of the stairs and right in from of them was a gigantic room, the end of which Zeras failed to see.
But at the farthest he could see, a Golden-coloured throne stood there oozing out a powerful majestic aura that Zeras could perceive from so far away.
The only thing ruining the aura of the throne was that it was empty as just stood there vacant, desperately waiting for the most outstanding of men to sit on it.
Athlantheans filled this entire space, but even with the great number, there was still space left as if the room could never get filled.
"Now all you just need to do is wait for the Competition to begin, and you'll be called out soon. Best of luck, brother..." Plank said as he quickly mixed in among the crowd off to god knows where.
"Tch, damn fatty." Zeras directed his look away as he stared at the old man instead noticing something strange about him.
The old man stared forward right at the golden throne, unblinking, as if he had lost his mind as his eyes slowly turned red probably remembrance of a painful memory in the past.
"Do you know that throne had stood there for millions of years now and even till today it's still standing? Waiting for him, waiting for the man of fate." The old man enunciates absentmindedly.
"I..." "Welcome to the Atlantis Palace, citizens of Atlantis." A loud voice reverberated through the entire space as all eyes focused on the far-away figure of a man dressed in blue-white colored robes while carrying a small staff in his hands.
"We have gathered here today due to the wish of our former King, His sovereignty Atlas of Atlantis. He was the greatest of men in the history of our great kingdom, Atlantis.
But our mighty king has felt the need to pass on the baton and due to his love for Atlantis, he didn't automatically give it to his son.
Instead, he created a rule where the most powerful fighters of the five cities would gather together to look for the strongest and hence purest in bloodline to once again inherit the throne.
This is a great show of love by King Atlas as even in death all he had in mind was making us Athlantheans live peacefully and protected.
And today, the grand ceremony to decide this rightful king begins.
The man said as he raised his small staff causing a blue light to flare from it as unbelievable change occurred in the entire space.
"Let the Atlantis Battle Competition begin."
The floor they were standing on suddenly began rising by some mysterious force while only a circular middle part was left staying instead. When the floor got high enough, circular iron bars rose surrounding the floor to prevent accidental falling while a blue protective barrier covered the rings acting as as a protective barrier.
Now looking from above, a wide-spaced circular battle stage could be seen from above, giving the viewers a perfect vision of any ongoing battles that take place on it.
"Without wasting more of our time, let's meet the seven contestants who will be participating in this competition. Shall we?"
"First Amedeo Sponge and Pietro Tilapian. Two powerful fighters form the city of Midas. The strongest city in Atlantis." the man said as two figures moved out of the crowd slowly swimming over to the man.
They were dressed in silver armor that covered all their body parts, with their helmets under their armpit. Even though they were covered in armor, their burly size was effortlessly distinguished.
"Next is Julius plankton of plankton city."
A lean man slowly came out from the crowd, with a lean blue-colored trident in his hand as he floated over to the stage. His eyes were crooked and his movements were fast. Even though lean and not domineering. He radiated an aura of experience.
"Next is Raiain Octopile of Mermon City." A man slowly swam out but instead of legs, he had tails instead.
"Next is Tristan Seahorse of Limaga City." A middle-aged with a face like that of a seahorse emerged from the crowd as he moved towards the pulpit.
"Lastly, Zeras Celestria of Ligeris city." The man said as Zeras sighed again.
Zeras slowly moved out of the crowd drawing surprised gasps from the crowd. The fighter was a young chap besides he wasn't even putting on any semblance of armor.
Zeras arrived before the other fighters as he noticed them looking at him strangely but soon turned up their nose in disdain all except for that crooked-eyed old man who looked at him with a curious expression.
But Zeras couldn't blame them. When a 16-year-old boy gathered among warriors who were more than 50 years old. It would be strange if they looked at him in respect. He wasn't even putting on armor making them look like a joke.
"And finally, can we all put our hands together for his majesty? King Atlas's very own son. Sammodra Zean."
The crowd cheered madly as a circular hole appeared on the roof where all the fighters assembled.
A figure dressed in golden-colored armor and a flowing dark cape slowly descended from above, his golden hair floating behind him.
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