"If that's your plan, then Homelander, 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 become the King of Atlantis, the conditions stay the same."
He had no interest in arguing with Arthur over titles or destiny.
Arthur paused for a moment, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Then… what can you offer me?"
"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 Homelander 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.
"Homelander, I don't understand what you mean," Arthur said, staring at him.
"I mean 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 me, are you?!"
"I've said everything I need to say," Alex answered calmly.
"This chance only comes once. Believe me or don't—it's your choice."
He offered no further explanation.
Arthur fell silent.
Believe… or not?
The hesitation barely lasted a second.
"Homelander," 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—" Mera reached out instinctively, pulling at his arm. She felt he was being too impulsive.
"This is something 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, Mera knew there was nothing she could say to change his mind.
This was about his mother.
Even if it meant walking into hell, Arthur would go.
"Be careful," she said softly.
The next moment—
Splash!
Standing at the riverbank, Mera 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 time for us to go too."
"Where are we going?" Arthur asked immediately.
"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 Homelander 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 me."
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 assumed 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 emerged from the darkness.
Humanoid shapes, twisted and monstrous, with deformed 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 merely 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 Homelander.
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 measure.
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?
"Homelander!" Arthur shouted instinctively, hoping for some kind of plan.
Alex didn't even look back.
He didn't respond.
"Shit!"
In that moment, the Trench swarmed 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 slammed 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 Homelander wasn't just powerful.
He was something else entirely.
Something closer to a god.
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