Evan hurriedly shifted his gaze to where Akada had disappeared.
A massive crack lay below.
Given the situation, it seemed likely that Akada had fallen down there.
Though he thought about exploring the surroundings a bit more while waiting for him to come back up…
The current of magical power he’d felt chasing after them was growing clearer from beneath that crack.
‘That must be the source of the magic I felt when I entered the lake earlier.’
Having concluded he needed to go down, Evan signaled Lucia with his eyes.
Then, he leaped into the crack where Akada had fallen, pulling her along.
‘Ugh…?!’
As soon as they entered the crack, a force that seemed to drag their bodies downward was felt.
It was a strong enough pressure that both of them could sense it.
They might have felt a sense of fear at being pulled into the depths of an unknown waterway, but they could feel that this force was leading them to the source of the magical power, so they went along without resistance.
After being dragged for a few minutes,
Something entered the view of Lucia and Evan, who were being pulled down by the unknown force.
It was a city.
Although the buildings were crumbled to the point of being described as a fallen civilization, Evan did not perceive the city as such.
The entire city was glowing with a brilliant golden hue.
‘It looks just like something out of a fairy tale…’
A place located at the deepest point of the Lisea Lake.
It was the sunken city known as Atlantis, said to be the sanctuary of merfolk.
‘Did it really exist?’
As Evan gazed at the city, a strange sentiment washed over him.
Just as he contemplated this, they had nearly reached what appeared to be an entrance.
The closer they got, the weaker the force became.
This force had brought them to the surface of the city but had now completely vanished.
“You’ve arrived as well.”
Akada, who had arrived earlier, welcomed them.
Evan, unable to speak underwater, simply nodded in response, to which Akada continued.
“From here on, we can talk. I’ve investigated the magical power enveloping all of Atlantis, and it seems someone has adjusted it so that non-merfolk can breathe and speak here.”
Hearing Akada’s words, Evan withdrew the magical power wrapped around him and took a breath.
It truly felt like breathing comfortably on land, despite being underwater.
“It’s the same feeling I had in Cordelia. Even seeing it again is still amazing.”
After a long exhale, Lucia looked around and spoke up.
“Yeah. It’s a barrier created with even higher-level magic than Cordelia.”
“What’s different about it?”
“Cordelia’s magical barrier seems weak in comparison, due to its strong protective abilities and the concealed ability to hide the entire city’s tracks. What’s even more surprising is that all these barriers were created by a single person.”
According to known information, the magic that enveloped Cordelia was said to be created by dozens of renowned magicians from across the continent.
If a barrier of an even higher level than that could be made by just one person…
“Surely the one who created the barrier of Atlantis is not human.”
That person must be none other than the Apostle of the Sea, Undine.
“After all, this is a city that could only appear in fairy tales or myths.”
“By the way, where should we go now? Just arriving doesn’t mean we’ll get the Trident of Atlan.”
“Let’s head inside for now. There’s a thicker magical presence flowing from the castle at the center of Atlantis than what surrounds the barrier.”
Akada pointed down the road.
A long road leading toward the center of the city.
The three of them, resolved to go inside, entered through the entrance and began walking along the path.
*
As they continued their steps,
Evan felt his whole body tense as they moved further inward.
It was due to the immense magical power emanating from the center.
Even though they were still a little ways off, the pressure of the magic spread throughout the air made it difficult to breathe properly.
The magical power he felt from Lucia when she was the Demon King and from the monsters and Dragon Lord he’d encountered in Cordelia didn’t even compare to this.
‘This feels like…’
The sensation he got when he encountered the Destruction Dragon, Inferna.
As Evan turned that thought over in his mind, he caught sight of two people who seemed no different from himself.
Akada, who had previously shown no reaction even when he was in mortal danger, now had an expression of tension on his face.
Lucia too seemed tense, as she repeatedly gripped and released her sword.
“Are you all feeling pretty tense?”
“…It seems the presence inside is not of a conventional sort.”
In response to Evan’s inquiry, Lucia answered in a slightly trembling voice.
“Kloe’s words were right. Based on the magical power felt, what exists at the center is…”
She didn’t finish her statement.
Even so, Evan easily figured out who Akada was referring to.
“But try not to be too tense. In the myths, she’s depicted as a warm presence to humans.”
“There’s no guarantee that she’ll look like what’s described in myths, though.”
“The Atlantis we’re seeing right now is exactly as it was in the tales, so I think it’s worth believing.”
Finding some credibility in that statement, Akada nodded.
“Then let’s trust it for now.”
After walking toward the castle for about an hour,
The three of them finally reached the entrance to the castle.
At the entrance, they were met with a pressure of magic that was beyond description.
It was an overwhelming presence.
Evan swallowed dryly and grabbed the doorknob.
“Are we ready to go in?”
“Ready.”
“Me too.”
“Alright, then let’s open it.”
Finally, the door creaked open.
*
Inside the castle, at the innermost throne.
The woman sitting on the throne with the trident propped up as a staff slowly lifted her eyelids at the sound of their approach.
She had a mysterious and elegant aura about her.
Her hair flowed with an emerald hue reminiscent of the ocean before arriving in Cordelia, and her sky-blue eyes held pupils that resembled droplets of water.
The white dress she wore danced as if following the currents of water.
“Ah…”
As she opened her mouth, a soft resonance filled the air.
“My apostle, and… you’ve come bearing another purpose as well.”
Then came a hand gesture as fluid as water.
At that moment, the pressure of magic that had weighed down the space vanished.
“Undine… my lady…”
Akada, recognizing her at first glance, called out to Undine with a trembling voice.
“Yes, my apostle… What brings you all the way here?”
In a gentle tone, she responded.
Fortunately, there was no hostility in her demeanor.
“I came seeking… the Trident of Atlan.”
Kneeling before Undine, Akada continued.
“Cordelia is in danger. An incredibly powerful monster has come, and I cannot fend it off alone. Please… I beg of you, help us…”
“Hmm…”
After listening to his words, Undine fell silent as if contemplating.
A lengthy period of silence followed.
After what seemed like a considerable amount of time, she finally spoke.
“The Trident of Atlan can only be taken by those deemed worthy among the Apostles of the Sea. Can you prove that you possess such worthiness to me?”
“I will do anything I can.”
“Very well.”
Undine rose from her throne.
Then, she struck the trident against the ground once.
Thud—
As the trident hit the ground, a wave of magical energy resonated throughout Atlantis.
“You will undergo a trial to prove your worthiness.”
As the resonance spread, the scene of Atlantis transformed into that of an arena.
In the completely altered space, Undine descended the golden staircase and said,
“Three of you, come at me. But be prepared, for you may lose your lives. This is a trial for worthiness.”
With her blue pupils fixed on the three of them.
“Wait, why are we…?”
“You are companions of my apostle, are you not? Then it seems all right for you to face the trial together.”
She smiled slightly and unleashed the magic within her.
Wooooom—
The magic that resonated now was on a level far beyond what they had felt before, shaking the waters with its presence.
Even without any aggression, they felt a tingling sensation across their bodies.
Evan and Lucia tensed slightly as they lifted their swords.
“…Well, it’s certainly not a suitable opponent, but practice for taking down a monster would be good.”
“If it’s a trial you’re asking for, then let’s do this properly.”
With the Power of Destruction enveloping him, Evan charged forward to make the first strike.
Clang!
The clash of sword and trident rang out with a metallic echo.
“Ugh…!”
Evan grimaced.
But just for a moment, he regained his composure and began to strike with determination once more.
“Let’s combine our efforts.”
Lucia, who had joined him, swung her sword in attack at Undine.
Though it wasn’t perfect, it was strong enough to be considered a joint effort.
Yet, Undine negated all those attacks with her trident.
“Attacks that cannot land have no meaning.”
Clang! Clang!
The ongoing exchange was only marked by the clashing of metal.
There wasn’t even a hint of opening in her defense.
In an attempt to create a chance, Evan called out to Akada.
“Akada!!”
But there was no response.
He seemed to be in a daze, merely watching their battle.
“Hmm…”
For a brief moment, Undine glanced at him and murmured quietly, in a tone meant only for herself.
“Is this trial a failure…?”
Disappointment tinged her voice.
