Gwen squints, trying to get a better look. "Who are they? Some kind of… blue people?" she asks, her voice laced with curiosity and concern.
Laura, ever vigilant, remains silent, her gaze fixed on the Atlanteans below. Her hands flex slightly, her instincts screaming danger.
Max sighs, his expression turning serious. "Those, my dears, are Atlanteans," he says, his voice low.
"Atlanteans? Like from Atlantis?" Gwen asks, a skeptical frown furrowing her face.
"The very same," Max replies, nodding grimly. "They're an ancient race of underwater dwellers, descendants of humans who adapted to life beneath the waves. Stronger, faster, and far more advanced than most surface dwellers realize."
He explains that Atlanteans are usually isolationist, preferring to keep to their underwater cities. They are distrustful of the surface world, often with good reason. So, seeing them this far inland is… unusual.
Wildgirl perks her head up, sniffing at the air.
"They're guarding something," Ben mutters, narrowing his eyes. He peers through the brush, trying to make out what has the Atlanteans so focused. His Vulpimancer senses sharpen, picking up the scent of seawater and something else, something… organic.
He strains to get a clearer view and spots them—two spheres nestled among the rocks, glowing with an eerie orange light. They're roundish, almost the size of yoga balls, and covered in pulsating veins that throb with an inner light. Recognition hits him like a physical blow.
No way… those are—
"Those are the Krakken's eggs," he whispers, his voice tight with realization.
"The what now?" Gwen asks, confused.
"The Krakken!" Ben exclaims, his mind racing. "The thing we just fought! Those blue guys—they must have stolen its eggs!"
He turns to Max, his expression urgent. "Grandpa, that's gotta be why it was so ticked off. They took its kids!" He can only imagine the rage a creature like the Krakken would feel at the loss of its offspring.
"It's Hero Time!" Ben shouts, slamming his fist down on the Omni-Exo armor ring.
In a burst of fuchsia light, the Omni-Exo suit covers him, gunmetal plating encasing his body, and the Chaquetrix emblem glowing on his chest. He's ready to stop these Atlanteans.
"Ben, hold on!" Max says, his voice laced with concern. "We can't just rush in blindly. We don't know what they want or how many of them there are."
"We don't have time to wait, Grandpa!" Ben retorts, his voice amplified by the helmet's modulator. "Who knows what they'll do to those eggs? We need to act now!"
Wildgirl barks, nodding her furry head in agreement. Her stance is wide, and her claws are out.
Laura simply nods, her expression grim. Her adamantium claws extend from her knuckles and feet, glinting in the sunlight. She's going with Ben, no matter what.
Max throws his hands up in exasperation. "Fine, fine! But be careful, you two! Atlanteans are not to be trifled with."
But it was too late; they were already moving.
With a battle cry, Ben leaps from the bushes, sonic gauntlets charged. Laura and Wildgirl follow close behind, their feral snarls echoing through the cove. The Atlanteans turn, their luminescent eyes widening in surprise as the trio of heroes descend upon them.
The lead Atlantean shouts something in his native tongue, and the warriors react with startling speed. They brandish their weapons—tridents and spears crafted from shimmering, blue metal, each point humming with contained energy. Vibranium, Ben recognizes, a metal capable of absorbing incredible amounts of kinetic force.
Time to see if this suit can hold up against the real deal.
Ben fires a sonic blast from his gauntlets, but the Atlanteans deflect it with ease. Vibranium is really something else. How am I supposed to beat them? Their tridents create a ripple in the air that disperses the sound waves harmlessly.
One of the warriors lunges, spear aimed at Ben's chest, but Ben sidesteps, narrowly avoiding the strike. That was too close! The spear slams into a nearby rock, sending shards flying.
Laura moves with deadly grace, her claws slashing through the air. An Atlantean tries to parry with his trident, but Laura's speed is too much. Her claws only scratch the vibranium, leaving not even a scratch. The warrior cries out in pain as Laura kicks him away, sending him sprawling.
Wildgirl is a whirlwind of fur and claws, her snarls echoing through the cove. She leaps at another Atlantean, tackling him to the ground. Her claws tear at his armor, but the Atlantean is strong, managing to roll them over. He slams his fist into Wildgirl's face, but her tough hide absorbs the blow.
Ben sees an opportunity and fires another sonic blast, this time targeting the Atlantean grappling with Wildgirl. The blast hits him square in the chest, and he stumbles back, disoriented. Wildgirl seizes her chance, raking her claws across his face.
The Atlantean roars in fury, but Laura is already on him. She leaps onto his back, claws extended, and plunges them into his shoulders. The Atlantean collapses, twitching.
"Wildgirl, grab the eggs!" Ben barks, his voice echoing through the helmet.
Wildgirl responds with a grunt, kicking the downed Atlantean away. She bounds toward the glowing orbs, her senses heightened. With surprising gentleness, she scoops them up, cradling them in her furry arms.
Suddenly, a figure emerges from the trees. Max, surprisingly nimble for his age, sneaks up on an Atlantean. He slams the butt of a fallen tree branch against the back of his head. The Atlantean crumples to the ground. Max grabs the warrior's dropped spear and rushes over. He shoves the vibranium weapon into Gwen's hands.
"Here, Gwen, use this!" Max shouts, panting. "Might not know how to use it, but better than nothing."
Gwen, wide-eyed, takes the spear, her fingers gripping the cool metal.
Wildgirl, cradling the precious cargo, is about to retreat when a massive form crashes through the foliage, blocking her path. The earth trembles beneath heavy footsteps.
The new arrival is an Atlantean, but unlike the others, he is huge, towering over them all. Spiked armor covers his massive frame, and a menacing, coral-like headdress sits atop his head. His blue skin is scarred and weathered, and his eyes glow with an almost maniacal intensity.
"Surface dwellers!" he bellows, his voice a thunderous roar. "You dare interfere in Atlantean affairs?"
Ben grimaces beneath his helmet. This isn't good. Not good at all.
The giant continues, his voice booming across the cove, "I am Attuma, Warlord of the Oceans! And you will learn the price of meddling with forces beyond your comprehension!"
With a defiant growl, Wildgirl doesn't hesitate. She charges toward Attuma, her claws extended, a furious ball of orange fur and sharp edges.
Attuma barely blinks. He watches her approach with a bored expression. With a flick of his wrist, he delivers a backhanded strike that sends Wildgirl flying. The force of the blow sends her tumbling end-over-end, until she crashes into a tree with a sickening thud.
"Wildgirl!" Ben shouts, his heart pounding in his chest.
He rushes to her side, kneeling beside her. "You okay, girl?" he asks, his voice laced with worry.
Wildgirl groans, but manages to push herself up, shaking her head groggily. She gives Ben a reassuring snarl, indicating she's still in the fight, though clearly dazed. He can't help but notice that the Vulpimancer Hybrid is clutching her arm. Damn, she is tough.
Attuma scoffs. "Foolish creature. Did you really think you could stand against Attuma?"
The other Atlantean warriors, who had been momentarily stunned by Attuma's sudden appearance, quickly recover. They move forward, flanking Attuma, and reclaim the glowing eggs, cradling them carefully in their arms.
Ben rises to his feet, his gaze fixed on Attuma. "Those eggs don't belong to you."
Attuma throws back his head and laughs, a deep, rumbling sound that echoes through the cove. "Silence, surface dweller! Those eggs are rightfully mine!"
"Yours? How so?" Ben retorts, crossing his arms. "Planning to make a giant omelet? Those belong to the Krakken."
Attuma's expression hardens. "You know nothing of my plans. These eggs are a means to an end, a tool to achieve a greater purpose."
"And what's that?" Ben asks, his curiosity piqued. "Gonna use 'em as paperweights?"
"Silence!" Attuma bellows, his patience wearing thin. "These eggs will ensure the Krakken's submission. A creature of such raw power… imagine the boon it will be to my army!"
Ben's eyes widen in realization. "You want to control the Krakken? To use it as a weapon?" The thought of such a powerful creature being enslaved by someone like Attuma made his blood boil.
Attuma smirks, revealing rows of pointed teeth. "Precisely. With the Krakken under my command, no one can stand against me!"
Ben clenches his fists, his Omni-Exo armor humming with contained energy. He won't let Attuma get away with this. The Krakken, whatever its flaws, was just trying to protect its young. He couldn't allow Attuma to turn it into a weapon of war.
"Not if I can help it,"
Ben shouts, launching himself at Attuma. He raises his sonic gauntlets, firing a barrage of concentrated sound waves. Attuma meets the assault head-on, deflecting each blast with his bare hands.
The Warlord of the Oceans moves with unnatural speed, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. He throws a punch, connecting with Ben's chestplate. The force sends Ben staggering backward, the Omni-Exo armor groaning under the impact. This guy hits like a truck!
Wildgirl snarls, lunging at Attuma's legs. Attuma leaps into the air, avoiding her swipe. As he descends, he kicks out, connecting with Wildgirl's jaw. She howls in pain, falling backward and clutching her face.
Seeing his opening, Ben unleashes another sonic blast, catching Attuma off guard. The Warlord stumbles, momentarily stunned. Ben presses his advantage, launching a flurry of punches.
Attuma blocks each blow with ease, his movements precise and practiced. He grabs Ben's arm, twisting it with incredible strength. Ben cries out, the Omni-Exo armor straining under the pressure. Attuma throws Ben across the cove, sending him crashing into a pile of driftwood.
Meanwhile, Laura engages the other Atlanteans. The first warrior lunges with his spear, but Laura sidesteps, her reflexes honed by years of training. She slashes at his arm, drawing a bead of blue blood.
The Atlantean roars, swinging his trident. Laura ducks under the blow, closing the distance between them. She claws at his face, but the Atlantean blocks with his armored gauntlet. He retaliates with a kick, sending Laura skidding across the sand.
Another Atlantean charges, his trident aimed at Laura's heart. She rolls to the side, avoiding the strike. She kicks out her foot, connecting with his knee. The Atlantean stumbles, giving Laura the chance she needs. She leaps onto his back, plunging her claws into his neck.
As Laura battled, Max and Gwen charge into the fray, vibranium spear in hand. An Atlantean warrior spots them, rushing forward. Max may be old, but he has some moves and he knows how to fight.
Max and Gwen move with surprising coordination, blending Plumber training and skill. The Atlantean warrior brings his trident down. Gwen thrusts the spear forward, meeting the trident head-on.
The two weapons collide, sending sparks flying. The Atlantean is stronger, pushing Gwen back. Max moves and uses his fist and hits the Atlantean on the jaw. As the Atlantean falters, Max grabs a nearby rock and slams it against his head. The warrior crumples to the ground.
Ben struggles to his feet, his body aching from Attuma's brutal attacks. This guy is way out of my league! He summons Update and merges it with the Omni-Exo armor. Now he can use Update's abilities to match him.
Attuma approaches, a predatory grin on his face. "Is that all you've got, surface dweller? I expected more from the wielder of the Chaquetrix."
Ben doesn't respond. Instead, he unleashes a powerful seismic blast. Attuma raises his hands, creating a shimmering barrier that absorbs the impact.
Damn it! This guy is too skilled! Ben thinks. I can't break through his defenses!
Suddenly, the ground trembles. The Atlanteans halt their fighting, their eyes widening with fear. The waves begin to churn, growing larger and more violent. A low, guttural growl echoes through the cove.
Attuma glances toward the water, his expression turning grave. He turns and shouts to his warriors, "We must leave now! The eggs are secure; that is all that matters!"
The Atlanteans, cradling the glowing orbs, begin to retreat toward the shoreline. But then, a colossal form rises from the depths, its silhouette eclipsing the setting sun.
The Krakken emerges from the water, shaking the earth. Its massive form is a terrifying sight, with sharp claws and tentacle-like arms that writhe in the air. Its bioluminescent eyes glow with primal rage, and its roar shakes the very foundations of the cove.
The sound reverberates through the cove and sea. The beast had arrived to reclaim its stolen young.
***
Leave a comment and review of your thoughts
Give some power stones to support this novel.
Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz