Karez: "The City of Fish is connected to the Kingdom of Atlantis."
Leo: "Really? Does that mean we can enter the Kingdom of Atlantis directly?"
Karez: "Yes."
Leo: "That''s something we''ll think about later. For now, how can we actually get into the city underwater?"
Karez: "Over there."
Karez points towards a person. "He can probably help us."
They move toward him, and Leo speaks to him: "Sir, can you help us enter the City of Fish?"
The man, whose name is Lork, replies: "Yes, yes."
Lork creates bubbles around them.
Lork: "This way, you can breathe underwater."
Karez: "Thank you."
The two descend into the water, and the city becomes visible.
The city is neither large nor small, clearly connected to the Kingdom of Atlantis.
Its clear waters create a wonderful environment for life.
The houses and buildings are made of flexible materials, and there are places where forces push you up or pull you down.
At the boundary between the city and the Kingdom of Atlantis, there is a large statue of a red fish.
Suddenly, Lork descends to them.
Leo: "Oh… hello?"
Lork: "I didnt tell you? I''m your tour guide."
Leo: "A tour guide? I see now..."
Leo smiles and then looks at the city calmly.
Leo: "Karez."
Karez: "What?"
Leo: "I feel like something is calling me."
Karez: "What do you mean?"
Leo thinks for a moment, then says: "I don''t know, but it excites me."
Karez, smiling: "I see, I hope it''s something good."
Leo: "Now that I think about it… we haven''t gone out alone like this in a long time."
Karez: "That''s why I suggested coming here with you."
Leo smiles in relief.
Lork moves, and the two follow him.
Lork: "The City of Fish alone has many different races. It was originally part of the Kingdom of Atlantis but was given to the Kingdom of Ogrolia for a trade."
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Leo, curious: "A trade? What kind of thing requires trading an entire part of a kingdom?"
Lork: "You''ll see when we arrive."
The three continue their path between the city''s buildings, moving through the calm waters.
Lork: "The City of Fish has an ancient history dating back thousands of years, even before the rise of the Kingdom of Atlantis and the Kingdom of Ogrolia. It was once called the Kingdom of the Last Hope, and in other records, it was referred to as ''The Gate.''"
Karez: "The Gate? To what?"
Lork: "No one knows."
Lork opens a portal with his teleportation magic. The three enter it and arrive at the statue of the red fish.
Lork: "It was traded away for a great warrior who was alive 250 years ago—Naren, the Water Ruler."
Leo: "Naren? Isn''t she the one Garin mentioned in the City of Elfs?"
Karez: "I think so."
Lork: "Indeed, she helped the people of the City of Elfs."
Leo: "The Earth Ruler, Skyram… the Water Ruler, Naren… rulers of the earth and water… I wonder what''s next?"
Lork: "Speaking of the Water Ruler, the current one—Poseidon—wants to meet you, Leo."
Leo, slightly surprised: "Meet me? Why me?"
Lork: "I don''t know. She just said she wants to meet you."
Karez, sarcastically: "Looks like you''ve become really famous, Leo."
Leo: "I don''t think it has anything to do with fame."
Lork: "You can bring your friend if you want. She''s waiting for you under the statue."
Lork opens a door in the statue, revealing a staircase leading downward.
Leo: "So, you led us here for her?"
Lork: "That''s right."
Karez: "Thanks for guiding us."
The two descend to meet Poseidon.
After a few steady steps, they finally reach her.
Water surrounds her body.
Poseidon: "So, you''ve arrived, Darkness Boy… and who is with you?"
Karez: "I''m Karez. Karez Lavalic."
Leo, thinking to himself: "Dark Boy? Not very nice."
Poseidon: "Karez… I''ve heard of you before. Your ability is beautiful."
Karez: "Thank you."
Poseidon places her hands on her cheeks.
Poseidon: "When I heard about your feats in the City of Elfs and the Kingdom of Sky, I felt like there was still so much good in the world."
Karez, thinking to himself: "She speaks in an overly kind manner."
Leo: "We didn''t do anything except our duty."
Poseidon: "Leo, didn''t Yaraso tell you about me?"
Leo: "No, he didn''t tell me anything."
Poseidon: "That man… never mind. The important thing is that he asked me to teach you something. Would you like to join, Karez?"
Karez: "I don''t see a reason not to."
After 18 days, Leo and Karez return to Marin''s house after their journey to the City of Fish.
Everyone welcomes them, and they eat and drink together, enjoying a beautiful time filled with tranquility.
Mary: "Leo, there''s something I want to show you. To be honest, it really caught my attention."
Leo: "Caught your attention? What is it?"
Mary: "Come with me."
Mary takes Leo outside the house, and with the help of a teleportation mage, she transports him to the border between the City of Deer and the City of Giraffes.
Leo: "What is this place?"
Mary: "I brought Sai and Kento here, and now that you''re here, I want you to see it too."
Mary quickly descends the stairs.
Mary: "It''s cold, let''s hurry."
Leo: "Okay."
They reach the bottom of the stairs.
Leo sees a wall inscribed with strange symbols.
Mary: "All of this is unimportant… Well, actually, it is important, but what really caught my attention is this."
She points toward the word: onak.
Mary: "And beneath it, the number ''22 days'' is written. I mean, how could something this old be written in our current language?"
Leo: "That is indeed interesting."
Leo touches the word onak with his hand, and it suddenly lights up.
He steps back as the number ''22'' begins to decrease—turning into hours, then minutes, then seconds.
The number reaches zero, and the word "Now" appears.
Onak flips to become Kano, and beside it, the word "Traitor" is written.
Leo and Mary are shocked, their eyes about to pop out of their sockets.
Leo: "Kano… Traitor?..."
Just as Leo is about to move, another phrase appears:
"From us to you, O Vita, after 1500 years."
Leo, to himself: "Huh?... What is this?... No, this isn''t important right now—I have to hurry!"
Mary: "Something like this… It can''t be natural!"
Leo: "I''ll go ahead!"
Meanwhile, at Marin''s house, there''s a knock on the door.
Kano: "Open the door."
Kani: "It''s your turn now."
Kano: "Whatever."
Kano opens the door to find the teacher Corner standing before him. Before Kano can utter a word, Corner grips his head tightly—then suddenly lets go.
Kani: "What happened?"
Kani moves toward the door to check, seeing teacher Kornar.
Kani: "Professor? I didn''t expect someone from the acade—"
Kornar suddenly shocks her with electricity.
All the students rush to the house''s entrance after hearing the shock, only to witness a disaster.
Neron and Kyotai draw their swords and charge at Kornar, but he blocks their attacks.
He forms an electric field around him, grabbing Kano and pulling him outside. Just then, Leo arrives.
Kano regains consciousness and speaks to Leo:
Kano: "How are you, our little treasure?"
Leo: "Kano!! What does this mean?!"
Neron: "Kornar! Kano! What is this?!"
Kano: "Leo, don''t worry, and don''t be sad. And don''t call me your friend, because we never were. The curtain has been lifted on my lost memories. My mission is over."
The ground beneath Kornar and Kano begins to rise.
Leo, in a state of shock, yells:
Leo: "Don''t joke with me like this!"
Leo launches spears of darkness at Kano and Kornar, but Kano blocks them with a wall of sand.
Mary arrives.
Kornar and Kano begin speaking simultaneously:
"When the Seven Sins descend with the King, terror will strike the heart of every wretched being. They will kneel in humiliation, begging for mercy, but their cries will be in vain. For our King is the only one who grants mercy. Let the world witness the age of eternal light."
The students are separated into different barriers....
Sai''s Barrier:
Sai, visibly exhausted, speaks:
"I''m so tired of this."
Kyotai''s Barrier:
Kyotai, suppressing his anger, mutters:
"Won''t you ever stop?"
Kento''s Barrier:
Kento: "I will cut off the head of whoever stands against me here. Then I''ll go outside and behead the rest."
Kento''s expression burns with fury.
Leo''s Barrier:
Leo: "Again…."
A familiar figure appears before Leo.
"How are you, our little treasure? Don''t you remember me?"
Leo: "How could I ever forget your disgusting face, Ilo? And of course… you''re a dreamer right now."
Ilo: "Exactly. You''re getting smarter, Leo."
Leo: "I cut off your head before… and I''ll cut it off again now."