The Lost Trident
Chapter 113: The Lost Trident
He returned home and placed the mutable Prometheus Metal he obtained under his bed.
Because the process of obtaining abilities from it was somewhat bloody and brutal, and also tested personal will, David temporarily didn't know how to proceed. He decided to set it aside for now and deal with it later if needed.
After leaving home, David paid a visit to Themyscira to check if the Amazon warriors were slacking off.
His appearance before them served as a silent spur.
Following that, he began searching for Atlantis along the North Sea.
...
Within the frigid, azure waters.
David floated quietly in the sea, enveloped by an oval gravity field.
Fish of all shapes and colors swam past him.
He closed his eyes, sensing the pulse of the planet beneath his feet, perceiving the state of this vast ocean through the omnipresent gravity.
"Atlantis, the Seven underwater kingdoms, each distributed within the seven seas."
Although they were called kingdoms, they were essentially just a few cities. Finding a few cities within the waters of this planet was no different from searching for a needle in a haystack.
"Fortunately, I gained the ability to manipulate gravity."
Being able to sense things thousands of miles away through the planet's gravity field saved him a great deal of time.
In his mind, silent, colorless images resembling sonar flashed by, making distant lands as clear as reading from his palm.
David swiftly searched for traces of cities.
Speaking of his newly acquired abilities, he used his dual-tasking mind to recall an anomaly before the Black King template was fully integrated.
"This actually happened today and yesterday. The template's integration speed exceeded my expectations."
He originally thought it was because something had happened on Themyscira, like someone secretly plotting a rebellion, or a large-scale gathering inciting resentment and hatred towards him. But after visiting Themyscira, he found nothing of the sort.
"When did this abnormal increase begin?"
Was it when he appeared before the public, or when he attacked the military base outside Metropolis to rescue Clark, causing shock and discussion among many?
What was the connection between these two events?
David had always believed that ordinary people couldn't provide him with any emotional points, but was that not the case?
Suddenly, the silhouette of a high-tech underwater city appeared in his mind.
"Found it! The Seven underwater kingdoms!"
David's eyes snapped open, and he decided to put his doubts aside for now.
"I'll get what's certain first, then think about the uncertain."
The surrounding water seemed to come alive, pushing his gravity shield and breaking through the seawater as he sped towards his destination.
...
"Princess."
A middle-aged elder with a hooked nose walked into the palace, which was as beautiful as if constructed from underwater crystals, and bowed slightly, placing a hand over his chest.
"Vico, you've come again."
Mera, the princess of Xebel, clad in a form-fitting armor that resembled green fish scales, sat in the room. She turned her head slightly, her brow furrowed, her expression listless, not particularly welcoming this elder who had taught her in her youth.
"This time is different, Princess Mera."
Vico was subtly excited, clutching a roll of ancient parchment.
The Late Queen's dying wish to him finally had an opportunity to be fulfilled.
"What's different?"
Mera stood up, her fiery red hair floating beautifully in the water like red coral.
"Aren't you here again to persuade me to help the Queen's eldest son, Arthur, ascend the throne?"
She admitted that she had an extraordinary affection for the Late Queen.
"When I was little, the Queen practically took on my mother's role, teaching me how to grow up and the principles of being a person. The time I lived in Atlantis was the happiest and most carefree period of my life.
Even after I grew up and my father established his kingdom, making me the princess of Xebel, it remained the same."
Mera's face showed a hint of reminiscence.
"But that doesn't mean I have any special feelings for the Queen's eldest son, whom I've never met.
To the extent that I would help him overthrow my father's chosen successor, the current King Orm of Atlantis, and help someone else ascend the throne."
"But you don't love him, do you? You and Prince Orm have only met a few times."
Vico got straight to the point, appealing to her emotions.
"Your father pushed you towards Prince Orm to gain power over the seven seas. He doesn't seem to have considered your happiness at all."
Atlantis operates under a system of joint rule by a king and queen. If Mera can become queen, the King of Xebel, who hides his ambition behind a facade of benevolence, will gain supreme power over the Seven Seas.
"I cannot betray my country and my people."
A struggle flashed in the red-haired princess's eyes as she shook her head.
In terms of ambition, King Orm was the truly ambitious one, showing no restraint. If he wasn't held in check by the ancient system, he would eventually wage war and annex the Kingdom of Xebel.
"This time is different, Princess. Arthur's chance to ascend the throne is no longer slim."
Vico emphasized again, quickly moving to a crystal table and unrolling an ancient scroll.
Seeing her hesitation, he had persuaded Mera several times, but she had always been indecisive. Today, however, was finally different. No matter how difficult the late queen's dying wish was, he would fulfill it.
Atlanteans hated land dwellers, and the Great Prince, born from the queen and a lighthouse keeper from the land, had half the blood of land dwellers. Without the support of a powerful faction, he could not ascend the throne.
"Princess, do you still remember the Lost Trident of Atlantis?"
"That legend?"
Mera glanced at the scroll twice in surprise. A golden trident radiating power was depicted at its center. This was a mythological scroll, depicting a legend.
"No, not a legend. Perhaps it's because things are too ancient, and our people have come to treat it as a legend. But in the royal and high-level family records, it was real history."
Vico shook his head excitedly. "Historically, the greatest weaponsmith of Atlantis forged the trident for the first Atlantean king using Poseidon's cold iron. Legend has it that it possessed the power to rule the oceans."
Mera recalled ancient rumors and murmured softly. "Whoever gains its approval will immediately possess supreme power to rule the Seven Seas without limitation, and all Atlanteans will have to submit to him!"
As a member of the Atlantean Royal Council, Vico read out the latter half with fervor. It was the undisputed symbol of supreme authority over the Seven Seas!
Mera frowned, looking at him with doubt. "Regardless of whether that's true or not. Because of the greedy desires of the Atlanteans, an accident occurred during the research into the trident's power. Atlantis sank, and our land civilization was destroyed. The trident disappeared along with the self-exile of the first Atlantean king."
Looking around, Vico carefully took out a rusty, cylindrical object from behind his waist. "Not long ago, our archaeological team discovered this at the old site."
"This is an ancient recorder dating back to the first dynasty. It contains the final message left by the Atlantean king for his people. Following it will lead you to the supreme trident."
As soon as Vico finished speaking, the water in the room seemed to turn into a hand and snatched the recorder from him. He thought Mera was convinced and looked at her excitedly.
"Princess Mera!"
Manipulating water was Mera's innate talent, unique in Atlantis. But in the next second, Mera looked at the recorder floating between them, held by the water, and stepped back, her face filled with shock.
"This... this wasn't me!"
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