The Sahara Desert was once one of Atlantis's oceans. Located inland, it formed a massive saltwater lake. As the lake dried up, the Lost Tribe, who lived there, gradually evolved into subterranean creatures. Though they still maintained contact with the various oceanic races, their bodies had changed, no longer suited for aquatic life. Their technology had also suffered a severe decline.
The other oceanic kingdoms discovered the unique nature of the Lost Tribe's territory and transformed it into a land-based prison, exclusively for their most heinous criminals. The arid environment was a deadly trap for Atlanteans, weakening them like a red sun to Superman.
Above the desert, the helicopter approached the entrance to the settlement.
"This is the Lost Tribe's prison. What are you planning to do?" Nick asked gravely. He had wandered the desert for a long time and knew of the subterranean tribe. Generally, they kept to themselves, and Nick had no interest in provoking them. Though their technology had regressed, they were not to be underestimated.
"The objective is to rescue the former King of Atlantis, Orm. We need him to help with the crisis in Gotham."
Yee-haw!
With a flash, Alan leaped from the helicopter. Nanaue followed close behind, falling like a cannonball. Arthur, Edward, and Cobblepot, being ordinary humans, stayed behind, waiting for the rescue to be completed.
"Let's go." Drake shot Nick a challenging look and stepped out of the helicopter. Even without his special abilities, his physical prowess was extraordinary.
"Damn it." Nick cursed under his breath and jumped, a whirlwind of sand enveloping him. In an instant, yellowish bandages wrapped around his body, transforming him into a mummy. A scepter, shaped like a candy cane, appeared in his hand.
THUD!
Alan landed first, his upper body buried in the sand. Drake landed smoothly, looking at Alan's flailing legs with a hint of exasperation. Nick, as a cloud of sand, descended gently. In his mummy form, he could not only control the sand but also lighten his body, allowing the wind to carry him like a grain of sand.
"I almost suffocated!" Alan pulled his head out of the sand, removed his mask, and shook the sand out. "Tom Cruise, open a path. We'll rescue the guy and get out of here."
"You should think this through. Rescuing Orm means making an enemy of Atlantis," Drake warned. As a thousand-year-old vampire progenitor, he was well-versed in the ways of the world. Atlantis was no secret to many powerful factions, but it was too powerful to provoke.
"What's there to be afraid of? If Aquaman gives me any trouble, I'll just call on Namor to put him in his place," Alan said, reminiscing. "Namor has been developing his nation for decades. They must have accumulated considerable strength by now." He had advised Namor to secretly mine vibranium in the waters around Wakanda. By now, their technology must have advanced significantly. With a large population of Atlantean nobles following him, rebuilding a kingdom would not be difficult.
Neither Drake nor Nick had ever heard of Namor. One had been buried underground for a thousand years, and the other had been wandering the desert. How could they possibly know of him?
Nick raised his scepter. Instantly, the sand parted, forming a passageway with a neatly carved staircase.
"Charge!" Alan drew his butcher knife and rushed into the tunnel.
So brazen, they thought. They had expected a stealthy infiltration, a reconnaissance mission to find the target and then retreat. Shouting like that would only alert the enemy.
"It's been a thousand years since I've had a good fight. Time to stretch my legs." Drake's eyes gleamed with battle lust. His reputation as a progenitor had been earned through bloodshed.
Nick, riding a wave of sand, followed closely.
Below ground, they found themselves in a network of interconnected stone caves. Alan stood there, butcher knife in hand, completely bewildered. There were at least a dozen tunnels. He had no idea which way to go.
"Let me," Drake stepped forward, opened his mouth, and emitted a sonic wave. The piercing sound echoed through the caves. By listening to the echoes, Drake, with his long years of experience, immediately pointed in one direction. "This way."
They followed the tunnel and soon came to a large, open cavern.
"Someone's coming," Drake said. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from one of the tunnels, suggesting a large number of enemies.
Soon, hundreds of the Lost Tribe, their skin like the bark of a gnarled tree, rode in on monstrous beasts, shouting in an unintelligible language. They wielded weapons resembling stun batons, ready to attack the invaders.
"Honestly, they look a lot like Groot," Alan commented.
Drake and Nick had grown accustomed to Alan's nonsensical remarks. They stood ready, their eyes fixed on the approaching horde.
"I'll create a sand wave and scatter them all. And I'll find the target in the process," Nick said, holding his scepter to his chest. Instantly, a monstrous wave of sand surged from behind him.
WHOOSH! Alan found himself riding the crest of the wave, effortlessly carried forward. Under Nick's control, the sand wave did not harm them. But for the Lost Tribe, it was like a tidal wave crashing down, burying them in the sand.
Alan stood with his hands behind his back. "I finally understand why so many people are obsessed with cultivation. Riding a sword is awesome."
"Tom Cruise, how are you so sure of Orm's location?" Alan asked the spell-casting Nick.
"Set is the father of the god of death, Anubis," Nick explained. "He holds some dominion over souls. I can sense the general location of a humanoid soul."
"Awesome." The explanation made sense.
"Do you see a soul in me?" Drake asked suddenly.
"No," Nick replied, biting back the retort that vampires didn't have souls.
The sand wave crashed into a prison cell. Two chains bound a gaunt, emaciated man. In the chaos, he was buried in the sand. Nick waved his scepter, and the sand flowed back, sealing the cell door, buying Alan time to rescue him.
Cough, cough…
Orm coughed up sand. "Who are you?" he asked, confused.
"Warren, the exorcist master. We're here to rescue you."
"…"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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